Nathan Drummond's AFL debut ended just before half-time, with the 20-year-old Tiger suffering what is feared to be a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament rupture. A cold consolation was that he showed he has the hardness to make it at the highest level. The No.52 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft showed admirable courage to run with the flight of the ball into the path of Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones, only to twist his right knee on landing. The pacy blond from Shepparton had collected five possessions, including four kicks, and had displayed some dash and dare with a bouncing run through the centre in the first term.

Jesse Hogan justified all the hype that has surrounded him for the best part of two years. In just his fourth AFL game, the Demons' 20-year-old key forward kicked two goals and posed enormous problems for no less an opponent than Alex Rance – hailed by some as the competition's premier tall defender. Hogan set the tone just five minutes into proceedings, outmuscling Rance to take a chest mark and set up Chris Dawes for Melbourne's first goal. Later in the first term Rance slipped and Hogan marked uncontested, converting from 35 metres. Just before the half-time siren Hogan showed superior judgment to take another contested mark, this time from behind. From a tight angle he hit the post – Melbourne's fourth poster for the half. A superb pack mark in the wet in the final term, and clinical finish from a similar spot put an exclamation mark on an eye-catching performance.

 

Richmond forward Ben Griffiths looked like taking the game apart early, claiming several marks, including a contender for the mark of the year. Late in the first term he had the sit on his direct opponent Tom McDonald and took a big ride that brought a huge roar from the Tiger army. However, as was his pattern for the night, he failed to capitalise, missing badly from 35 metres. It was his fourth shot for goal, resulting in 1.2 (including a poster) and another out on the full – all from set shots. A disappointing return for a player regarded as such a good kick. In contrast with his earlier marking heroics, and after the rain came in the third term, Griffiths dropped a simple chest mark when unattended at half-forward. He finished the game with a sore calf. Meanwhile, Demons frequent flyer Jeremy Howe took an obligatory spectacular mark in the third term.

There was much talk during the week about the attention Tiger skipper Trent Cotchin would receive from Bernie Vince, who came under enormous scrutiny for his tight-checking tactics against former Crows teammate Patrick Dangerfield. Vince opposed Cotchin for much of the night, although Cotchin did spend considerable time in attack on Colin Garland, but there was never a question of Vince stepping over the edge in terms of aggression. Both won the ball but Cotchin wasn't the influence the Tigers would have hoped. Vince kicked a crucial long goal early in the last quarter. Another Demon to come under the spotlight last week was Jack Watts, who was questioned yet again for a seeming lack of intensity. Watts struggled for much of the night and was left firmly in the shade of Jesse Hogan.

It was Melbourne's first Friday night game since 2012, but if their irrepressible performance against the Tigers was any indication, they will demand more fixtures next season. It was the manner in which the Demons ran away with the game that was most impressive. The game was in the balance midway through the third term but the Dees piled on eight of the next nine goals to shell-shock Richmond. And they could have won by more – they hit the post no fewer than five times. The Demons ran, they linked up, they took the game on and they had an exciting tall and small attack that proved too good and diverse for the Tigers to handle.