MELBOURNE has won its first game under caretaker coach Todd Viney, with the Demons surviving a scare against Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Demons defeated Gold Coast 17.10 (112) to 12.10 (82).

Viney took over after Dean Bailey was sacked in the wake of Melbourne's woeful 186-point loss to Geelong at Skilled stadium in round 19.
 
Since then he has endured losses to Carlton, West Coast and Richmond before breaking through with his maiden win against the Suns in the second last game of the season.
 
After a tight contest in the first half, the Demons powered away in the third term, kicking six goals to one, to set up their first win since beating Port Adelaide in round 17.
 
In the club's first appearance at the MCG, Gold Coast battled hard despite facing a 35 point deficit at the final break, launching a late charge in the final term.

The young team kicked four goals to one in the opening 10 minutes, reducing the deficit to 17 points.
 
But Melbourne skipper Brad Green steadied his side with a goal at the 12-minute mark, his fourth for the day, and the Demons were able to regain the ascendency.
 
After starting as the substitute last Sunday against the Tigers, Green led from the front but was well assisted by youngster Sam Blease (28 disposals) who provided the Demons with some much needed run off half back, and midfielder Nathan Jones (25 disposals).
 
The Suns were competitive for most of the day but appeared to fall away from their structures at times, allowing Melbourne's loose man Colin Garland to dictate the game on his terms.
 
To their credit, the visitors managed to hold their own at the stoppages, winning the clearances 41 to 32 despite Melbourne ruckman Mark Jamar dominating the hit outs.
 
The Demons finished with 49 hit outs for the match - 39 of those to Jamar, while talented Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith only managed 13.
 
Once again, Suns skipper Gary Ablett was impressive with 28 touches and six clearances while his brother Nathan (11 disposals) struggled to have an impact and was gifted a goal by Gary in the final term.
 
It was the first time the two brothers have played at the MCG together since the 2007 Grand Final when Geelong beat Port Adelaide, in which Nathan kicked three goals before calling it quits.
 
In a performance described as "there-abouts" by coach Guy McKenna, a decision over the AFL future of the youngest Ablett brother will be made in the coming weeks with McKenna confirming seven or eight players would be cut from the list at season's end.
 
The only sour note for the Demons was losing exciting forward Liam Jurrah in the third term.
 
He took a fantastic pack mark but landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. He was subbed off straight away and spent the remainder of the game on the bench with his arm in a sling.
 
Viney confirmed Jurrah would have scans this week and he looks to be in doubt for next week.
 
Influential players
In just his fourth AFL game, young Melbourne defender Sam Blease was outstanding. He provided the Demons with some dash off half-back with seven rebound 50s from his 28 touches, and looks to be a player of the future. Also superb in defence for Melbourne was Colin Garland (29 disposals) and James Frawley (21 disposals). Hard working midfielders Brent Moloney (22 possessions, eight clearances) and Nathan Jones (25 possessions) were also important players for the Demons.
 
For the Suns, midfielder Michael Rischitelli was one of their best with 30 disposals, six clearances and two goals. He had a superb first half with19 touches but went missing in the third term along with the rest of his teammates, before finishing off the game well. Captain Gary Ablett was as usual another solid contributor with 28 touches as was David Swallow (25 disposals).
 
What it means
It's relief for Viney, who recorded his first win as a senior coach. It was all smiles in the Melbourne room after the game, with the players showering Viney in enegry drinks as they belted out their club song. The players seemed very relaxed and happy for the first time in weeks, and they will be hoping that confidence can be taken into the final game of the season against Port Adelaide.
 
For the Suns, it was the first time many of the club's young players had played on the hallowed turf of the MCG. While they didn't get the win, it will be an incredible experience that many of them will remember for the rest of their careers.
 
What the coaches said
Todd Viney
"It was great to have a win. It certainly wasn't the standard we are striving to, we understand it's going to be a journey for us. It was a great opportunity for us to have a win at the MCG and I'm certainly happier this week than last week, but there's still plenty of work to do because we set the standard here pretty high."
 
Guy McKenna
"For the boys to turn it around as far as the clearances go, that was good. But there were parts of the game where we lost our structure and allowed them to get their loose player going and ... it's very hard for us to stop. To start the way we did in the last quarter, there was certainly a flicker of fight there from the fellas and if we kick a bit straighter, who knows?"
 
New faces
The Suns' seventh pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft, Josh Caddy, made his first AFL appearance after a horror run with injuries delayed his debut. McKenna named him as the substitute, but he didn't have to wait too long for his chance. Subbed on in the second term, Caddy finished the game with 10 disposals and two clearances. He became the 33rd AFL debutant for Gold Coast this year, a figure that equals the second most debutants at a club in a single season. The record number is 35 debutants, set by St Kilda in 1909.
 
Tom McDonald made his debut for the red and blue after being selected in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft at pick number 53. The key defender slotted in nicely into the Demons' back six with a solid 18 touches in his first game.
 
The crowd
The 21,534 fans who turned out were treated to a glorious day at the football, with the MCG bathed in sunshine from the first bounce. Usually a $7000 fine is handed to patrons who step out onto the 'G but not today. As soon as the second final siren rang out, the race to the centre square was on as fans were given the rare opportunity after the game to have a kick with their family and friends.

Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Melbourne
Defender Colin Garland was a surprise leader for the Demons, finishing with 124 points, followed by Brent Moloney with 104. After starting as a substitute last week, captain Brad Green returned to form with 99 points.

Gold Coast
The Suns were led by Michael Rischitelli, who continued his outstanding form with 119 points. Next best for the Suns was Jarrod Harbrow with an even 100.
 
The run home
Melbourne
Melbourne's stop-start season finishes with a clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next Sunday, with the Demons desperate to finish with back-to-back wins. 

Gold Coast
The Suns' inaugural season comes to an end as they host the high-flying Hawks at Metricon Stadium next Saturday.

Quarter by quarter

First quarter
The Demons, who had won only three of their 12 opening quarters at the MCG this season, took 11 minutes to score their first major after a costly turnover from Seb Tape. Both sides seemed to lack confidence early, with sloppy skills and missed marks marring the opening term. With the Suns wasting opportunities in their forward half, Jamie Bennell brought the home team to life with a blistering run from defence before delivering a perfect pass for Liam Jurrah to kick his first of two opening quarter goals. Bennell's cousin Harley kicked his side's first ever goal at the MCG but the Demons held a handy lead at the first change.

Melbourne by 19 points

Second quarter
The quarter belonged to Gold Coast. Bennell kicked his second as the Demons struggled to clear from their defensive 50. Led by Zac Smith and Michael Rischitelli, the Suns were on top at the stoppages, with a brilliant goal from the outside of the boot by David Swallow reducing the margin to a single point. Josh Caddy came on after Tom Hickey succumbed to injury and didn't look out of place. Melbourne lacked dare and run and had it not been for some missed targets in the forward half, the Suns could have held a surprise lead at the main break.

Melbourne by 6 points

Third quarter
With both sides desperate to end their five game losing streaks, Melbourne captain Brad Green answered the call and slotted home the first goal of the half from a tight angle. Opportunities for the Suns were lacking, while Luke Tapscott and Neville Jetta made the Suns pay with majors at the other end. Jurrah was subbed out of the match with a shoulder injury after landing awkwardly in a marking contest. The Gold Coast midfielders went into their shell and stopped to a walk as the Demons piled on six goals to one for the term to open up a comfortable lead.

Melbourne by 35 points

Fourth quarter
Gary Ablett kicked off the quarter with a sublime piece of skill, stripping Jared Rivers of the ball before dishing off to his brother Nathan to slam home the first goal of the quarter. The Suns put a scare through the Demons with four of the first five goals as their midfield began to take charge at the clearances. Green was the man again to settle their nerves, kicking his fourth major of the match. And when substitute Jeremy Howe kicked his second of the quarter and Moloney slotted his third, the Demons had done enough to hold off the fast-finishing Suns and record Viney's first win as caretaker coach.

Melbourne by 30 points

Melbourne       4.3     7.5     13.7     17.10 (112)
Gold Coast       1.2     6.5      7.8       12.10 (82)

GOALS
Melbourne: Green 4, Jurrah 3, Moloney 3, Howe 2, Jones, Tapscott, Martin, Garland, Jetta
Gold Coast: Bennell 2, Smith 2, Rischitelli 2, Russell 2, Swallow, Stanley, N. Ablett, Thompson

BEST
Melbourne: Blease, Garland, Moloney, Jones, Jamar, Green, McDonald
Gold Coast: Rischitelli, G. Ablett, Swallow, Prestia, Stanley

INJURIES
Melbourne: Jurrah (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Hickey (corked quad)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Liam Jurrah (shoulder) replaced by Jeremy Howe during the third time.
Gold Coast: Tom Hickey (corked quad) replaced by Josh Caddy during the second quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ritchie, Steward, Schmitt

Official crowd: 21, 534 at the MCG