MELBOURNE has moved off the bottom of the premiership ladder after fighting out a thrilling 11-point win over Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

With ill president Jim Stynes released from hospital and watching from home, the Dees were able to recapture the fighting spirit that saw them defeat West Coast last week to overcome the Power 15.11 (101) to 13.12 (90).

The Demons led by 32 points during the third quarter, but Port came back and threatened to run over the top of the home side in the last term.

A goal to Justin Westhoff sliced the margin to just seven points midway through the final quarter, but the Dees put their bodies on the line in the frantic remaining minutes to come away with their third win of the season.

Cameron Bruce was inspirational with 37 possessions with Brad Green (28), Brent Moloney (28) and Brock McLean (25) all important.

But it was Ricky Petterd and Liam Jurrah who stole the show up forward - each contributing four goals to the winning total.

Jurrah gave supporters plenty to cheer about with his exciting play, especially in the first half, a highlight.    

Domenic Cassisi and Kane Cornes were the standouts for Port with 36 and 35 possessions respectively.

On a sour note for Demons' fans, Daniel Bell left the ground cradling his right shoulder late in the third quarter and did not return.

It was evident early that the Dees were switched on with Matthew Bate and Jurrah capitalising on their teammates good work through the middle with the first two goals of the game.

The Power did well to edge back through Brendon Lade and Kane Cornes, but Jurrah's superior judgment in marking contests saw him come down with the ball twice with the resultant goals putting his side 12 points up late in the term.

A late major to Westhoff made it a five-point game at the first break, but the Demons continued to push their advantage around the stoppages with Moloney's goal the perfect way to start the second.

Lynden Dunn made the most of some ill-disciplined play from Chad Cornes with his set shot following a 50 m penalty sailing through the middle. The Dees were really starting to get on top in general play now, but spurned several opportunities to translate that into scoreboard dominance.

Port was able to muster answering goals with relative ease compared to how hard Melbourne was working for its majors with Dean Brogan, Danyle Pearce and Steven Salopek all getting on the score sheet to keep their side within arm's reach.

Jurrah continued to excite, but couldn't add to his goal tally, instead setting up Petterd for his first. Bate added his second as the Dees again threatened, but Warren Tredrea sent his side into half-time 12 points down with a timely goal.

With the match finely balanced the Demons came out firing in the third with Petterd and Jurrah again at the forefront of the charge with another goal each.

The Power looked wobbly as McLean's goal made the margin 32 points, but seemingly from nowhere they produced a fight back.

Kane Cornes, David Rodan and Lade all kicked truly as Port slashed the margin to just 13 points, but Russell Robertson's late snap made it a 19-point break at the last change. 

Port came home strongly with goals to Robbie Gray and Jason Davenport setting up Westhoff's major, but fittingly it was Petterd with two final-term goals that steadied the ship for Melbourne.


Melbourne        4.2 9.6 13.9 15.11 (101)
Port Adelaide        3.3 7.6 10.8 13.12 (90) 

GOALS
Melbourne: Jurrah 4, Petterd 4, Bate 2, Robertson 2, Moloney, Dunn, McLean
Port Adelaide: K. Cornes 2, Lade 2, J. Westhoff 2, Brogan, Pearce, Salopek, Tredrea, Rodan, Davenport, Gray

BEST
Melbourne: Bruce, Jurrah, McLean, Petterd, Moloney, Jamar, Green, Frawley, Tredrea
Port Adelaide: Cassisi, K. Cornes, Salopek, Thurstans, Davenport, Rodan 

INJURIES
Melbourne: Bell (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Brogan (ribs)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: James, Sully, Wenn

Official crowd: 15,888 at the MCG


The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.