EMERGING star Jesse Hogan, rookie Aaron vandenBerg and captain Nathan Jones have inspired Melbourne to a gutsy 32-point triumph over Richmond, kicking-off the Anzac weekend in style and dealing an early blow to the stuttering Tigers' credentials as a genuine finals threat.

In their first Friday night match for nearly three years, the Demons rose to the occasion and built on their promising start to 2015 by securing their second win of the season, 12.11 (83) to 6.15 (51) at the MCG.

Hogan, the Dees' great hope up forward, showed why he is one of the most exciting talents in the game by outpointing the League's in-form defender, Alex Rance. The 20-year-old booted two goals and provided a strong marking presence, while first-year midfielder vandenBerg (13 tackles) and Jones outworked the Tigers' vaunted engine room in slippery conditions.

Five talking points: Richmond v Melbourne

But while the Dees are clearly developing under the guidance of coach Paul Roos and his host of experienced assistants, more questions will be asked of the Tigers.

Shane Edwards fought hard, but skipper Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin had little influence while star forward Jack Riewoldt was well-beaten by the impressive Tom McDonald.

It was Melbourne's appetite for the contest that broke the game open.

Melbourne led by two points at half-time and, after rain thumped down during the long break, the Demons went to work and strangled Richmond's ball movement. The Tigers booted just one goal for the second half, while the Dees bagged six – four in the third term - as they chiseled a match-winning 20-point lead at the final change.


Speaking post-match, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was brutal on his side's lack of fight.

"To put up that second-half performance when you don't hunt the ball, the side looks stronger than you over the contest – we were fumbling and bumbling away – you're never going to win a footy game," he said.

"It was as poor an effort as I've seen from our footy club in a long time."

Both sides sustained casualties, with Richmond debutant Nathan Drummond appearing to suffer a serious knee injury after he landed awkwardly from a marking contest late in the second term.

Minutes earlier, Melbourne's Dean Kent pinged a hamstring in a desperate chase, and when Neville Jetta didn't emerge from the rooms after half-time the Dees were down to two players on the bench.

"The performance across the board and with two down in the second half, which makes it really hard…to come out with a five-goal win against a finals team from last year is a very, very good effort," Roos said after the game.

The injuries marred an entertaining but error-riddled first half, which followed a moving pre-game service where AFL legend Ron Barassi lit a commemorative flame ahead of Anzac Day. Both teams were guilty of basic skill errors and wastefulness in the early going despite perfect conditions.

The Tigers booted 5.9 from 32 inside-50s to trail the more efficient Demons (6.5 from 19 entries) by two points at half-time.

With Hogan on top of Rance, the Dees went long and direct with confidence to their rising star. Hogan took three contested marks, and gave his side an early lift when he threw Rance aside to set up Chris Dawes for Melbourne's opening goal.

At the other end, Ben Griffiths had the ball on a string in the first quarter and, with his confidence through the roof, took a hanger over Tom McDonald. But the key forward was wasteful in front of goals, kicking 1.2 with one out on the full, and Griffiths – like his team - faded before suffering a calf injury, which is likely to rule him out of playing next weekend.


After slipping to 2-2, Richmond has to regroup quickly before a challenging run to the bye against Geelong, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Fremantle. Melbourne faces a tough encounter against the Dockers back at the MCG in round five.

Ron Barassi was part of a solemn ceremony to kick off Anzac Day round. Picture: AFL Media

RICHMOND    3.5   5.9    6.13   6.15 (51)
MELBOURNE  4.2   6.5   10.9   12.11 (83)

GOALS
Richmond: Edwards 2, Gordon, Arnott, Griffiths, Hunt
Melbourne: Hogan 2, Dawes 2, Garlett 2, Kennedy-Harris, vandenBerg, Watts, Jones, Brayshaw, Vince

BEST
Richmond: Edwards, Ellis, Martin, Miles, Riewoldt, Cotchin
Melbourne: vandenBerg, Hogan, Jones, McDonald, Brayshaw, Tyson, Lumumba

INJURIES
Richmond: Drummond (right knee), Griffiths (calf), Hunt (right knee)
Melbourne: Kent (left hamstring), Jetta (possible concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Matt McDonough replaced Nathan Drummond in the second quarter.
Melbourne: Viv Michie replaced Dean Kent in the second quarter.

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Harris, Jeffery

Official crowd: 58,175 at the MCG