WEST Coast has embarrassed a disappointing Melbourne at Patersons Stadium on Thursday night, comprehensively outworking the Demons to notch a 54-point victory and move into the top eight.
The 15.16 (106) to 6.16 (52) scoreline flattered the Demons, who fell 31 points behind after a completely one-sided opening term.
The much-improved West Coast, which moves to a 3-2 record, won the inside-50 count 65-36 and tackled fanatically in its forward half to force Melbourne into repeated errors.
The lacklustre Demons, on the other hand, didn't tackle with anywhere near the same ferocity, and fell to their 11th consecutive loss at Patersons Stadium.
There were encouraging signs all over the ground for West Coast, with midfielder Daniel Kerr (27 possessions and six clearances) playing his best game since returning from a serious hamstring injury and Brad Ebert (24 and six tackles) significantly improved.
But it was the forward line that most impressed, with Quinten Lynch, Andrew Embley and Jack Darling kicking three goals each and applying defensive pressure when they didn't have the ball.
Melbourne's most honorable player was ruckman Mark Jamar, who jumped into Eagles counterparts Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui all night but had little support at ground level.
Eagle Matt Priddis (33 possessions, 20 contested) was the game's dominant midfielder, with important Demon Brent Moloney convincingly beaten at the stoppages. Aaron Davey was also shut out of the game by Adam Selwood.
The Demons were ambushed from the first bounce and they didn't respond, conceding the first five goals and failing to kick a major of their own in the first quarter.
The Eagles dominated the forward entries (22-3) and locked the ball inside 50 once it was there, with the first quarter effectively being played in the home side's half.
The Demons' disposal was woeful early, particularly on the rare occasions when they went forward. They entered the first break 31 points behind.
The second term appeared much like the first, but without the scoring. West Coast continued to control the contest, Cox got more involved and Darling gave the side a 37-point lead with his second goal.
Colin Sylvia and Davey kicked back-to-back goals late in the term to bring the margin back to 26 points and Melbourne went on to win the quarter.
If the visitors were to go on and win their third consecutive match and break their Perth hoodoo, the Demons needed to hit the ground running in the third term.
They didn't, conceding three goals to one for the term before a fourth-quarter formality.
Influential players
Workhorse Matt Priddis continues to play to his strengths, having a great influence on Thursday's result by winning 20 of his 33 touches in contests and finding a teammate with his clean hands. Add to that seven inside 50s and a game-high eight clearances, he was the best player on the ground. Ruckman Dean Cox continued an outstanding season with 23 possessions and 20 hit-outs.
Key match-ups
The Selwood brothers did what they do best, locking down key Demons Brent Moloney and Aaron Davey to give the Eagles their midfield edge. Moloney, with Scott Selwood as his opponent, finished with 18 possessions and one clearance, ending a two-week run of hot form. One goal aside, the only time Davey (17 possessions) got on top of Adam Selwood was when he slung him across the boundary line late in the third quarter.
What it means
The Eagles have a tough month ahead, starting with Essendon on the road, but they enter it with confidence, a winning record and a game style that stacks up in 2011.
Dream Team highlight
West Coast: Half-back Sam Butler hasn't been one to rack up the big numbers, but he was prolific on Thursday night in a loose backline role. He set up his game-high score of 122 with 12 possessions and eight marks in the first quarter.
Next four:
West Coast: Essendon (Etihad Stadium), Fremantle (Patersons Stadium), Western Bulldogs (Patersons Stadium), Collingwood (MCG)
West Coast 5.3 7.8 10.12 15.16 (106)
Melbourne 0.2 3.6 4.8 6.16 (52)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 3, Lynch 3, Embley 3, Kennedy 2, Nicoski 2, LeCras, Rosa
Melbourne: Jones, Sylvia, Davey, Moloney, Watts, Dunn
BEST
West Coast: Priddis, Kerr, Cox, Ebert, S Selwood, A Selwood, Nicoski
Melbourne: Garland, Jamar, Grimes, Jones, Watts
INJURIES
West Coast: Priddis (dislocated finger)
Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTIONS
West Coast: Mark LeCras replaced by Andrew Gaff at three quarter-time
Melbourne: Jordan Gysberts replaced by Lynden Dunn in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Rosebury, Stewart
Official crowd: 36,298 at Patersons Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
