Injuries to two key forwards have compounded a miserable Easter Monday for Melbourne at the MCG.

The Demons fell to Hawthorn 14.10 (94) to 17.14 (116).

Melbourne fought bravely despite trailing by 29 points at the last change, threading together six unanswered goals. Jeff White’s goal on 17 minutes closed the gap to just seven points, but thereafter the challenge faded.

Perhaps more crucially, the Demons finished the game with skipper David Neitz and key forward Russell Robertson both on the bench with knee injuries.

Neitz appeared to dig his knee into the turf while completing a mark midway through the first quarter, and although he kicked truly for the Demons’ second goal, he left the ground soon afterwards.

Defender Wheatley joined his captain on the bench with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, although he returned to play out the game. And with Melbourne's final term comeback barely begun, key forward Russell Robertson landed badly on his left knee and was taken from the ground.

Robertson returned late in the game but played only a few seconds in the goal square before hobbling off once more.

Neitz's injury seemed to deflate the Melbourne side, which had had the best of the opening quarter.

The Demons kicked four of the first five goals, showcasing the kind of direct, fluid football the side had promised after last week's scrappy handball game.

But they struggled to match Hawthorn in the crucial second and third quarters. The Hawks added eight goals in the third term to blow the game open, with the Demon's gutsy final term in the end little consolation.

Until injured, Robertson presented a target up forward, but he increasingly looked to be playing a lone hand as Melbourne struggled to win the ball and control clearances.

Cameron Bruce threw his body in, winning a handful of important contested possessions, while Nathan ‘Doggy’ Brown held his head up after being brought into the side that lost to St Kilda last week. Brad Miller contributed three goals; his third closing the gap to 13 points nearing time-on in the final term.

Melbourne will look to open its 2007 account against on-fire Geelong at the MCG next week.

MELBOURNE 4.5 5.7 10.10 14.10 (94)

HAWTHORN 2.4 7.8 15.9 17.14 (116)

Goals:

Melbourne: B Miller 3 B Moloney 2 S Godfrey 2 M Jamar 2 M Bate D Neitz D Ward R Robertson J White.
Hawthorn: M Williams 6 T Boyle 3 B Dixon 2 T Croad 2 S Crawford B McGlynn L Franklin C Young

Best:

Melbourne: C Bruce J McDonald B Miller M Bate N Brown
Hawthorn: B Sewell R Ladson M Williams S Mitchell R Campbell J Lewis

Injuries:

Melbourne: D Neitz (knee) R Robertson (knee) C Bartram (knee) replaced in selected side by S Godfrey
Hawthorn: C Bateman (thigh) replaced in selected side by B McGlynn

Reports: Nil

Umpires: B Rosebury D Sully S Ryan.

Official Crowd: 43,197 at the MCG.