MELBOURNE’S 14-goal haul against the Hawks was its highest return of the season, with the new-look forward line firing on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons have tried numerous set ups inside 50 this season, but the addition of Sam Weideman and Luke Jackson over the past two weeks looks to have given them their best mix yet.

In the 43-point victory at GIANTS Stadium, the Dees looked dangerous in the attacking half of the ground, and Mitch Hannan says that stemmed from his teammates’ intensity around the ball.

“We saw it right from the get-go in the first quarter,” he told Melbourne Media.

“Especially in the forward line – running around, trying to lay tackles, create pressure and we were just hungry for the ball, so it was a good way to start the game.”

With 54 inside 50s, the Demon forwards had ample opportunity to hit the scoreboard, benefiting from the ferocity further up the field.

“I could see it from the forward line, that we were winning the ball quite often,” Hannan said.

“Maxy was dominant in there, people like Clarry (Clayton Oliver) and Trac (Christian Petracca) were winning the stoppages and giving the forwards plenty of supply, so as a forward it was a great day to be a part of.”

Melbourne had over double the inside 50s throughout the game, and despite conceding two early second half goals, it was able to control the majority of the contest.

“It’s always going to happen in a game, you can’t always just have the foot on the pedal the whole time, the team’s always going to come at you,” Hannan said.

“I’m just happy that within about five minutes of that third quarter we were able to turn it around and have it back on our terms and have that momentum back our way.”

From the mid-point of the third term, the Dees went on a run of five unanswered goals, with some young draftees showing why they were so highly touted last year.

“It’s really good to see people like Lukey Jackson and Kozzy (Pickett) not only playing, but having an impact,” Hannan said.

“They’re doing some really good things down there and learning along the way.

“And then also people like Weids hitting the scoreboard, and some experienced heads like (Jake) Melksham – there’s a bit of a mixture of some hybrids, talls and smalls.

While the goals were shared throughout the match, and Hannan was able to get on the end of two himself, the numbers aren't what he’s worried about.

“From the coaches’ perspective, they tell me that a lot of the stuff that I do off the ball is what has an impact on the game for me,” he said.

“I don’t always have to necessarily look for possessions. For me it’s pressure, tackles, occasionally hit the scoreboard and just kind of adding a different element to that forward line.

“So if I can do that, I feel like my job’s done.”

Watch Hannan’s full post-match interview below: