MELBOURNE has climbed into the top eight for the first time since round seven after a 27-point victory over Richmond on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

The Demons stalled in the opening stages of the game and trailed by 16 points in the first term, which prompted game great and 3AW commentator Leigh Matthews to muse if the "bad Melbourne" had turned up to play.

It was as if the players heard his words as suddenly the "good Melbourne" arrived, jolted into action and stormed into the quarter-time break with a 20-point lead after kicking six unanswered goals.

They didn't relinquish the lead from the 23-minute mark of the opening quarter and got as far as 38 points clear in the third quarter.

Then, they held off final quarter surges by the Tigers that saw them get within three goals twice to win their third straight clash with the yellow and black, 17.16 (118) to 13.13 (91).

It is also just the second time this year the Demons have won consecutive games with their first pair coming in rounds three and four against the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast.

Essendon's loss to Hawthorn on Friday night presented the opportunity for Saturday's winner to take its place in the top half of the competition, and for the Tigers, it would have been the first time in more than three years they were in the top eight.

But even a light week on the track after their recent tour of Australia that saw them visit Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane in the past month, and an appearance from Ben Cousins in the rooms before the game, weren't enough to help them over the line.

Despite winning the clearances 22 to 16 in the first half, it was the Tigers' tardiness down back that cost them with the Demons scoring five goals as a result of turnovers in the defensive half.

After the main break, the Demons - mainly led by clearance king Brent Moloney - hit back at the stoppages and won the count 38 to 33 for the day, but allowed the Tigers to remain in the contest until midway through the final term because of wasted opportunities in attack.

Influential players
After a slow first quarter where he had just four touches and one clearance, Brent Moloney broke away from his opponent Daniel Jackson and heavily influenced the game. He ended with 30 possessions and a game-high 11 clearances.

Mark Jamar, in his first game since round seven, had 27 hit-outs and four clearances despite spending time in the forward line while Jack Watts looked stronger on his way to 19 touches - 11 of which were contested - and three goals.

The crowd
With a top eight spot on offer for the winning side, supporters of the recently success-starved clubs turned out in force with an attendance of 61,900. It was just the fourth time in history the clubs have played each other in front of a 60,000-plus crowd, and the second biggest attendance for the head-to-head in a home-and-away game after the 76,387 that turned out for the round 22 match in 1998. The only other crowd to surpass Saturday's between the Tigers and Demons was the 70,330 recorded for the 1940 grand final.  

What it means
It means Melbourne is in the eight for the first time in seven weeks and will hold that spot until next weekend regardless of what happens in the rest of round 14 with six wins on the board. It also sets up a big month for the Demons that could determine whether they will play finals for the first time since 2006 with a clash with the Western Bulldogs lined up for Friday night, then a week off, and then a winnable match with Port Adelaide in Darwin.

What the coach said
Melbourne - Dean Bailey
"Today was really important because of the build-up with both clubs having a lot of young players, with both clubs developing players, but I thought a bloke like Brad Green was good for us again today. His last couple of weeks have been outstanding.

Jared Rivers down back was great, Brent Moloney was terrific and Nathan Jones was one of our leaders as well who just gives his all every week.

Although the game was built up around a lot of the young players I thought our senior guys were very good."

Dream Team highlight
Melbourne: Moloney ($359,000) led all comers with 119 points on the back of his 30-possession performance, while Ricky Petterd ($263,900) scored a season-high 112 thanks largely to his 14 tackles.

Quarter by quarter
First quarter
The Tigers bounced out of the blocks at the MCG, but registered four behinds in succession before Dustin Martin booted his team's first goal from long distance.

Damien Hardwick's men looked in ominous touch on their way to a 16-point lead, but Melbourne skipper Brad Green sparked the Demons with two goals that changed the entire complexion of the contest.

The Tigers' run and enthusiasm deserted them as Melbourne scored the last six goals of the quarter to lead it by 20 points at the first break.
Melbourne by 20 points

Second quarter
Tyrone Vickery re-ignited Richmond's challenge with the first two goals of the second quarter and when Jack Riewoldt followed up with one of his own the Tigers were right back in the contest.

But the Demons were equal to the challenge with Moloney leading the charge with 10 possessions for the quarter including four clearances. Stef Martin, Jack Trengove and Nathan Jones hit the scoreboard as Melbourne extended its lead to 29 points at half-time.
Melbourne by 29 points

Third quarter
The Demons should have put the game out of Richmond's reach in the third, but managed just 2.10 from 17 inside 50s. Jack Watts contributed the second of those goals just seconds before three-quarter time after brilliantly dispossessing Bachar Houli.

Nathan Foley had 10 possessions for the term, but the Tigers struggled to bring the ball inside 50 efficiently with Riewoldt well held by James Frawley.

Both teams activated their substitutes with Reece Conca (head knock) replaced by Jeromey Webberley and Joel Macdonald (knee) coming off for Cale Morton.
Melbourne by 29 points

Fourth quarter
With Riewoldt struggling to have an influence it was Vickery, who bobbed up for his third goal, that kept Richmond's hopes of a come-from-behind win alive. Mitch Farmer had Tigers' fans on their feet when he sliced the margin to 18 points soon after but, as they had for much of the contest, the Demons were able to reply when called upon with Jack Trengove booting his third late in the term to seal the win.
Melbourne wins by 27 points

Next four: The fixture ahead
The Demons face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday night before they get their second bye for the season. Then it's off to the Top End to play Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium before they face Hawthorn for the second time this year at the MCG.

Richmond         3.5   7.5    10.9     13.13  (91)
Melbourne       7.1   12.4   14.14   17.16 (118)

GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 3, Farmer 2, Newman 2, Deledio, Edwards, Foley, Grigg, Riewoldt, Martin
Melbourne: Watts 3, Green 3, Trengove 3, Jones 2, Martin 2, Jurrah 2, Howe, Sylvia

BEST
Richmond: Foley, Deledio, Newman, Nahas, Edwards, Houli, Vickery 
Melbourne: Moloney, Watts, Jones, Frawley, Scully, Green, Petterd, Jamar

INJURIES
Richmond: Conca (head knock)
Melbourne: Macdonald (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Reece Conca (head knock) replaced by Jeromey Webberley in the third quarter
Melbourne: Joel Macdonald (knee) replace by Cale Morton in the third quarter

REPORTS
Richmond: Nil
Melbourne: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Stevic, Findlay

Official crowd: 61,900 at the MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs