IT WAS the 'untippable' game. The competition's two most untrustworthy and inconsistent sides pitted against each other following big defeats last week.
Throw in short Anzac Day-related breaks, and picking the winner of Essendon and Melbourne was like predicting Victoria's weather.
But after seven goals to one in the third term for the Dees, it was clear your tip would be true with the red and the blue as Melbourne went on to comfortably defeat Essendon by 36 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
GAME BREAKER: The great Gawn
The odds might have been even coming into the contest, but the game was far from it.
The 16.12 (108) to 10.12 (72) win was Melbourne's third of the season and comes after last week's belting to Richmond.
WATCH: Gawn's altercation with a fan
There was nothing fancy about it, however it should provide some confidence after a challenging start to their 2018 campaign.
Their forwards – including Bayley Fritsch, Charlie Spargo and Mitch Hannan, who combined for eight goals – were too lively for a lacklustre Essendon defence, while midfielders Nathan Jones, Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes were also impactful as Max Gawn ran riot in the ruck and near goal in a commanding display.
"Our second half resembled the way we want to play. Our hunt and our pressure and our contested work and clearance work came back and we obviously started to connect better with the ball," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
"That made a massive difference to us in the end. We acknowledge that Essendon had to come off a four-day break, but it was a step in the right direction for us last week and I thought today we carried that through."
TALKING POINTS: Max cops a gobful and gives it back
The positives were harder to find for the Bombers, who have slumped to 2-4 after six rounds and will need to find form quickly before their season, and finals hopes, evaporate.
In another sluggish showing that came four days after their Anzac Day shocker against Collingwood, the Bombers conceded 12 goals in the second half and managed just five in an effort that will raise more questions about their midfield and underperforming forward line, with Joe Daniher held goalless.
Coach John Worsfold lamented his side's costly third term. "We didn't play the perfect game in the first half, but it was on. But the third quarter we turned the ball over, dropped marks, fumbling … everything was well below what we'd shown earlier in the game," he said.
WATCH: Clumsy Bombers hand it to Hannan
The Demons didn't have control throughout, though. It took 11 minutes for the game's first goal, as Devon Smith strolled in to boot one for the Bombers, but there were only two more for the term as the out-of-form sides battled hard to get on top.
It was Essendon with the early ascendancy, as the Bombers held a six-point lead at the first break, but ut neither team looked set to break out of early-season malaise with a burst of goals and glory.
SHOWREEL: Demons find glow through Spargo
The second quarter didn't reveal any signs of that being forthcoming either. Essendon began to move the ball with more fluency out of their backline, and stung the Demons a couple of times with players free in attack to get out to a 16-point break midway through the term.
WATCH: Stringer benefits from Salem error
But sparked by debutant Spargo, who kicked two classy goals for the quarter and provided some bite near goal, the Demons clawed their way back to be six points down at the main break.
Skill errors more than scintillating moments will stick in the mind, however, with the first half drowning in missed kicks, wayward handballs, dropped marks and a couple of out-on-the-fulls for good measure.
WATCH: First-gamer Spargo at the double
Melbourne found its feet after the main change, booting the first four goals of the third quarter in the opening 10 minutes to streak ahead by 18 points. It meant the Demons had kicked six goals in a row as the Bombers started to tire and be beaten to the ball.
Gawn, who pushed forward more to exploit Essendon opponent Matthew Leuenberger, kicked two checkside goals from the pocket for the quarter in a dominant display and when former Bomber Jake Melksham followed that with his own major, the Demons had been able to build a match-winning 31-point advantage at the last change that wouldn't be headed.
MEDICAL ROOM
Essendon: The Bombers appeared to get through the contest without any major injury concerns.
Melbourne: Star Demon Jesse Hogan limped from the field in the third term with a right knee issue and headed straight to the changerooms for assistance. He returned a little later in the quarter and played out the game.
NEXT UP
The Demons are back at Etihad Stadium next Sunday when they tackle St Kilda, while Essendon faces Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.
ESSENDON 2.3 5.7 6.9 10.12 (72)
MELBOURNE 1.3 4.7 11.10 16.12 (108)
GOALS
Essendon: Stringer 3, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Smith 2, Laverde, Stewart, Zaharakis
Melbourne: Hannan 3, Fritsch 3, Spargo 2, Gawn 2, Hogan 2, T McDonald 2, Melksham 2
BEST
Essendon: Z Merrett, Zaharakis, Ambrose, Hurley, McGrath, Smith
Melbourne: Gawn, Salem, Hannan, Hibberd, Fritsch, O McDonald, T McDonald
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Melbourne: Hogan (right ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Williamson
Official crowd: 35,964 at Etihad Stadium
