A SEVEN-goal second quarter has propelled West Coast to a 48-point win over Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Eagles kicked 16.14 (110) to 9.8 (62).

Melbourne was as good or equal to the Eagles for the best part of three quarters but let themselves down in the second quarter.

The only negative was a hamstring injury to young star Luke Shuey.

Andrew Embley was damaging around half-forward and up the ground for the winning team. He finished with 25 disposals.

Melbourne had its chances in the first quarter but failed to capitalise.

Their endeavor could not be faulted but their disposal, particularly that of Clint Bartram was not up to scratch.

The Demons did make it hard for West Coast to work the ball up the ground with Colin Garland and James Frawley frequently cutting off the attack. Garland did a good job on Le Cras but good players don't need many opportunities to be damaging and Le Cras got away for three goals even though he probably broke even at best.

Melbourne had won the midfield battle early on but once West Coast won the clearances 14-3 in the second term, the impressive Eagles forward line finished the job.

A Josh Kennedy goal in the opening minutes of the third quarter put West Coast 53 points up and a blow-out looked on the cards.

But the Demons seemed to find something out of nothing, booting four out of five goals in a six-minute burst to turn the momentum their way.

Melbourne started to play with intensity and pressure around the contest and finished with five goals for the quarter and 26 tackles after they had just 20 in the entire first half.

It was a goalless struggle for the early part of the fourth quarter until Dean Cox put one through from the goal square to eradicate the tiny hope the Demons may have held.

But there were plenty of positive signs from a Melbourne team that had undergone a horrific past month.

Quarter by quarter

First quarter
After back-to back thrashings at the hands of Geelong and Carlton, Melbourne's effort in the first quarter against the Eagles couldn't be questioned. They hit the scoreboard early, kicking 1.2 in the first 10 minutes. The Demons led the way in clearances, inside 50s and contested possession, but were let down by poor skill execution. The Eagles' ball movement was far superior, and through several Melbourne turnovers were able to score three goals in a row to finish the quarter.

West Coast by 12 points.

Second quarter
The Eagles showed exactly why they will be a threat come September. They punished the Demons with their superior ball movement and pressure, kicking the first five goals of the second term and extending their lead to 47 points. A brilliant mark from young Demons forward Jeremy Howe at the 21-minute mark seem to spark Melbourne, and the Demons kicked they next two goals, before the Eagles steadied again with two late goals through Matt Priddis and Andrew Embley, who kicked his 200th AFL goal.

West Coast by 47 points.

Third quarter
Interim coach Todd Viney must have inspired his charges at half-time because the Demons looked revitalised in the third term. Some of their more experienced players in Colin Sylvia and Brent Moloney started to find the football and the Demons burst out of the blocks, kicking four goals to the Eagles' two in the first 10 minutes. A more physical Demons unit found some run and began to find their feet up forward. Melbourne had all the momentum and should have made more inroads into West Coast's lead but was wasteful in front of goal. Sylvia, Clint Bartram and Howe all missed gettable goals before Jack Trengove kicked truly after the siren, giving the Demons their fifth major for the term.

West Coast by 32 points.

Fourth Quarter
After an exciting contest in the third term, the final quarter didn't live up to the crowd's expectations. Both sides missed opportunities early and it wasn't until the 15 minute mark that the first major was registered through Eagles ruckman Dean Cox. Cale Morton replied for Melbourne a few minutes later but that was the only goal they could manage for the term, while the Eagles kicked two more through Josh Kennedy and Cox again.

West Coast by 48 points.

Match details
Melbourne       1.2      3.4        8.7         9.8    (62)
West Coast       3.2    10.9       13.9     16.14   (110)

GOALS
Melbourne:  Howe 3, Petterd, Dunn, Watts, Sylvia, Trengove, Morton
West Coast:  Nicoski 3, LeCras 3, Kennedy 2, Cox 2, Kerr, Scott Selwood, Naitanui, Adam Selwood, Priddis, Embley

BEST
Melbourne:  Howe, Frawley, MacDonald, Jones, Blease, Garland
West Coast:  Gaff, Priddis, Embley, Shuey, Schofield, Cox, Brown

INJURIES
Melbourne: Brad Green (general soreness) replaced in selected side by Dan Nicholson
West Coast: Luke Shuey (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Luke Tapscott replaced by Dan Nicholson in the final quarter
West Coast: Luke Shuey (hamstring) replaced by Ashton Hams in the final quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McBurney, Kamolins, Ryan

Official crowd: 15,709 at Etihad Stadium