The Demons booted the first five goals of the match – including an unlikely nine-pointer from centre half-back Alistair Nicholson – and thereafter held sway, to run out winners 4.11.11 (113) to 2.10.13 (91).
With the mercury sitting at 36 degrees Celsius for the duration of the match, both sides were afforded eight men on the interchange bench – two more than the regular six – and an extra five minutes break at half-time.
The Demons and the Roos also took the unusual step of retreating to the change rooms during the quarter and three-quarter time intervals.
Melbourne midfielder Cameron Bruce was almost as hot as the temperature, leading his team to victory with three goals – including the game-sealing nine-pointer in the final quarter.
The Demons won the contest due to a more efficient forward line and a superior running game off the half-back line, with Brad Green, Adem Yze, Scott Thompson and Daniel Ward prominent.
Number one ruckman Jeff White proved an effective foil for spearhead David Neitz early in the match, booting two goals – including a nine-pointer – in the first half, before being shifted into his regular position after Darren Jolly left the field after receiving an accidental elbow in the face.
And White dominated the ruck, giving his small-men first use of the ball.
Kangaroos’ leadership trio Adam Simpson, Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant worked hard all afternoon, with Harvey and Grant the pick of the Roos’ players, booting three goals each and working hard around the ball.
Staring at a 33-point deficit midway through the first quarter, former skipper Anthony Stevens brought the Kangaroos back into the contest with two marks and goals from just inside the 50-metre arc.
Veteran defender Glenn Archer was a stabilizing influence in defence early in the piece, but took no further part in the game after half-time, with what appeared to be a corked thigh.
The Demons led by as much as 39 points late in the second quarter, helped by a contentious ruling that allowed Peter Vardy to take a free shot at goal from the goal-square, after the umpire penalised Roo Jess Sinclair for kicking the ball away in disgust, following a Jeff White nine-pointer.
The game also included the first nine-pointer to be adjudicated by a video umpire – with the game being delayed for at least a minute and a half, before nine points were awarded to Brent Harvey late in the first quarter.
The Roos reduced the margin to 11 points half-way through the third quarter following goals to Sav Rocca and Brent Harvey, but replies from Yze and Paul Wheatley gave the Demons some breathing space and they were never again seriously challenged.
Melbourne will play the winner of Saturday night's clash between West Coast and Collingwood at Subiaco Oval in the second round of the Wizard Cup, while the Kangaroos are now destined for the Wizard Regional Challenge practice match series.
KANGAROOS: 1.2.2, 2.5.4, 2.7.9, 2.10.13 (91)
MELBOURNE: 1.4.2, 3.8.3, 3.10.7, 4.11.11 (113)
NINE POINT GOALS: Kangaroos: M.Stevens, B.Harvey.
Melbourne: Nicholson, Wheatley, Bruce, White.
SIX POINT GOALS: Kangaroos: Grant 3, B.Harvey, A.Stevens 2, J.Clayton, Rocca, Hale.
Melbourne: Johnstone, Vardy, Bruce 2, Yze, Robertson, Wheatley, White, Davey 1.
BEST: Kangaroos: Grant, B.Harvey, Brown, A.Stevens, J.Clayton, Makepeace, Hale.
Melbourne: Bruce, White, Green, Thompson, Ward, Yze, Johnstone, Walsh.
INJURIES: Kangaroos: Archer (thigh).
Melbourne: Jolly (concussion), Brown (concussion).
REPORTS: Nil.
UMPIRES: Head, Ellis, Dore.
At Manuka Oval.
