MELBOURNE, stung by accusations it plays "bruise-free footy" and inspired by a mid-week pep talk from its ill president Jim Stynes, has played its best match of the season to defeat Essendon by 33 points at the MCG on Friday night.

After the Demons' 15.11 (101) to 10.8 (68) win, set up by a barnstorming six goals to nil third quarter, victorious coach Dean Bailey revealed details of Stynes' stirring speech, given just "12 to 14 hours" before the club legend went into surgery.

"It probably all started when Jimmy spoke to the players during the week … about the importance of showing resilience," Bailey said.

"He also mention when he handed the jumper over to (first-gamer Max Gawn) that after the first game he played he got dropped the next week.

"He was making the point that it doesn't matter how often you get knocked down, it's how you get back up."

There can be no doubt that Melbourne's young team, who in Gawn, Jeremy Howe, James Strauss, Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans had five players with a combined five games' experience coming into the match, took the message to heart.

Comprehensively knocked down in a sub-standard performance against the Blues the previous week, they got back up to open in spirited fashion against the Bombers.

Excessive handballing cost them in the first half, as they struggled to clear Essendon's forward press and went into the main break seven points down.

Again Bailey's team climbed back, handballing less, running harder and tackling with vigour as they turned the half-time deficit into a five-goal three-quarter-time lead in a stunning 30 minutes of football.

As much as hard-bodied, experienced midfielders Brent Moloney and Nathan Jones were crucial, so too were the fleet of talented youngsters.

Jordie McKenzie (28 disposals, seven clearances, 13 tackles) had a night out, Jordan Gysberts (30 disposals, four tackles, four clearances) was everywhere, and Tom Scully (24 disposals, six tackles, six clearances) amazed with his endurance in his long-awaited return from a knee injury.

Down back, Jared Rivers led a superb defence - which didn't allow one Essendon goal from 14 Essendon inside 50s in the third quarter - and young ruckman Stefan Martin (20 disposals, 15 hitouts) again stood up in the absence of 2010 All Australian Mark Jamar.

Essendon though was not without some fight of its own.

With the club's leading 2011 goal-kicker Stewart Crameri well held by Joel McDonald and gun big man Michael Hurley out injured, the Bombers struggled to find a forward target all evening.

Paddy Ryder, playing as the lone key forward in Hurley's absence, booted two second-quarter goals in an otherwise quiet game to be the team's only multiple goal-kicker.

While Melbourne’s blitz in the third quarter looked to have decided the match, Essendon suddenly found some room inside 50 in a 15-minute burst to start the last term, and the Bombers slotted three quick goals through David Hille, Angus Monfries and David Zaharakis.

Had Crameri then converted one of two comfortable chances in quick succession, the Bombers would have been within two straight kicks and roaring home with the red and black army at their backs.

But again, just as Stynes had urged them to do, the Demons buckled down.

Skipper Brad Green, a lively contributor from start to finish, kicked his fourth goal of the night with an opportunistic soccer-style hack out of mid-air, and the Bombers' charge was halted.

Green's four majors made him the game's leading goal-kicker, while livewire forward Liam Jurrah booted three to have the better of his duel with Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher.

A trio of goals deep in time-on in the final quarter through Jurrah, Neville Jetta and Moloney put the icing on a memorable victory.

Influential players
It was hard to find a best player for Melbourne in a game where every player in the red and blue did his bit.

McKenzie got the nod for best on ground, just ahead of Gysberts, Scully and Martin.

What it means
For all the heat on its coach and scrutiny on its supposed softness and ineffective game plan, Melbourne sits just two points out of the top eight.

In statistics that would be immensely satisfying for Bailey, the Demons won both the contested possession (148-133) and tackle (77-51) count.

As Bailey admitted post-match, the challenge now is to get off the "roller-coaster" and get that type of effort on a consistent basis.

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Moloney (127 points), McKenzie (125), Gysberts (121) and Jack Trengove (116) all produced games that would have had their Dream Team coaches smiling.

Next four
It's the big Queen's Birthday Monday clash with Collingwood next week, followed by dates with Fremantle at home, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.

What the coach said
Dean Bailey
“As a coach, you expect the best from your players. You try and challenge them but you also try and encourage them. I was a very proud coach today watching our players put on the performance they did.”

QUARTER BY QUARTER

FIRST QUARTER
Melbourne jumped Essendon at the start of the term, hitting the Bombers hard and kicking the first two goals of the match. Brad Green kicked the first goal at the three-minute mark before Colin Sylvia marked strongly on the edge of the goalsquare and kicked truly. The Bombers started to work their way back into the contest when Jake Melksham kicked their first goal. Demon Jack Watts started forward, and when he out-marked Kyle Hardingham in front of goal, the Demons extended their lead. The Bombers imposed their much-vaunted forward press, and when Brent Stanton goaled and Hardingham finished off the excellent work of Nathan Lovett-Murray and Dyson Heppell, Essendon had the lead.
 
SECOND QUARTER
Sylvia continued to be hampered with the corked quad he had suffered midway through the second quarter and eventually had to be subbed off the ground. It was a blow to Melbourne, who needed his strength in the packs. The Bombers started the quarter perfectly with a goal on the run to Ben Howlett within the first 20 seconds. Soon after, a fighting effort for Nathan Jones kept the ball in play, and his handball found a running Green for the Demons’ first goal of the term. The quarter then became an arm-wrestle, but Essendon gained some advantage when an otherwise quiet Patrick Ryder kicked two goals in a row. The Demons answered late with a goal to Liam Jurrah after the forward played on to advantage after a holding free kick was awarded to Watts.

THIRD QUARTER
The quarter belonged to Melbourne, which kicked 6.2 and allowed Essendon just a solitary point to turn the game on its head. The Demons had 50 more disposals than their opponents for the quarter and controlled every line. The Melbourne backline was outstanding, with young players Jamie Bennell and first-gamer Jeremy Howell giving the Demons plenty of run. The midfield grabbed control and there were plenty of marking targets in the forward line. Goals came to Green, Brent Moloney, Jurrah, Tom Scully, Howe and Neville Jetta. Melbourne’s tackling went up another gear, and the Demons ran the Bombers off their feet.

FOURTH QUARTER
Trailing by 30 points at the last change, Essendon mounted a comeback in the opening minutes of the final quarter, kicking the opening three goals of the before the Demons could steady. The Bombers were full of run and attack, and Melbourne started making mistakes. Consecutive misses by Stewart Crameri eased some of the pressure, and when Green kicked his fourth with a well-taken soccer snap, the Demons steadied. Melbourne kicked the last three goals of the game, and the final score represented the largest margin of the night.   

Melbourne      3.0    5.4    11.6    15.11 (101)
Essendon       3.2    6.5     6.6     10.8 (68)

GOALS
Melbourne: Green 4, Jurrah 3, Jetta 2, Moloney 2, Sylvia, Watts, Scully, Howe
Essendon: Ryder 2, Melksham, Stanton, Hardingham, Howlett, Hille, Monfries, Zaharakis

BEST
Melbourne: McKenzie, Jones, Scully, Martin, Green, Gysberts
Essendon: Melksham, Lonergan, Heppell, Hibbert

INJURIES
Melbourne: Sylvia (corked right quad)
Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Colin Sylvia replaced by Daniel Nicholson in the second quarter.
Essendon: Tom Bellchambers replaced by Alex Browne in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Rosebury, Mollison

Official crowd: 53,077 at the MCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.