DESPITE losing a rampaging Mitch Clark to injury just before half-time, Melbourne has scored a convincing 78-point win against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday at the MCG.

Melbourne kicked 20.15 (135) to the Giants' 9.3 (57), kicking 14 goals to four after quarter-time.

It was Clark who kicked four goals in the first quarter to tilt the game back in Melbourne's favour after the Giants started positively.

He was the best player on the ground until he crashed heavily into James Magner's knee just before half-time and left the ground groggy. He did not re-appear but his teammates went on with the job.

Former Demon Tom Scully received plenty of boos as he jumped out of the blocks with six touches in the first quarter - his first coming 12 seconds into the game - however the raspberries were delivered without malice as the contest petered out. Scully finished with 19 touches.

His pace and run worried Melbourne early as it seemed unsettled and overzealous. However as soon as Jordie McKenzie came off the bench to take Scully, the Demons took control.

Melbourne's midfield began to win the ball with Mark Jamar dominating the ruck. The midfield shared the ball and the Demons tackled ferociously inside 50. The Demons had 13 forward tackles in the first half.

Clark had good support up forward from defenders turned forwards Jared Rivers and Colin Garland. Garland and Rivers kicked seven goals between them. Leading into the game the duo had kicked a combined 12 goals in 208 games.

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The Giants were disappointing in their first appearance at the MCG. They did not move the ball well, making poor decisions.

Toby Greene and Taylor Adams battled hard but the Giants had few winners. Their much touted forward combination in Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton had little opportunity as Melbourne dominated the inside 50s. Patton was subbed off at three-quarter time although he played reasonably well kicking one goal while Cameron kicked three.

For the Demons, there were some positive signs, with Colin Sylvia playing with trademark explosiveness and Aaron Davey winning the ball inside 50.

More importantly for the team's future, Tom McDonald was strong in defence against opposition he is likely to meet many times in the next 10 years.


MELBOURNE   6.1   11.4   18.8   20.15  (135)                 
GWS                   5.1    6.2     6.2     9.3      (57)         
 
GOALS
Melbourne: Clark 4, Rivers 4, Garland 3, Sylvia 2, Davey 2, Howe, Trengove, Jamar, Blease
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 2, Wilson 2, Patton, Greene, Adams, Bugg
 
BEST
Melbourne: Jones, Rivers, Clark, Watts, Howe, McDonald,Garland, Jamar
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Greene, Treloar, Davis, Adams, Cameron
 
INJURIES
Melbourne: Bail (concussion) replaced in selected side by Blease, Clark (concussion)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Mitch Clark replaced by Sam Blease at half-time.
Greater Western Sydney: Jonathon Patton replaced by Luke Power in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: McBurney, Ryan, Hay
 
Official crowd: 20,070 at the MCG
 
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs