A last-gasp thriller at the Adelaide Oval has seen the Demons win a crucial away game 15.6 (96) to 13.11 (89) over Port Adelaide by seven points.
Melbourne matched it with the hosts all night, before clutching up in the final quarter with five goals to secure another four points in Jack Viney’s 200th game.
Demons skipper Max Gawn was monumental for the visitors, registering 20 disposals, 50 hitouts and a goal in a best-on-ground performance.
Midfielder Willem Drew arguably finished at Port’s best player, getting 25 disposals, 11 tackles, 10 clearances and nine inside 50’s himself with increased.
After a week in the headlines, Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson said it was impressive the way the Demons responded on the field.
“The doubters were there and they really showed that their system stands up,” Johnson said on Fox Footy.
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It took Darcy Byrne-Jones just 18 seconds to kick Port Adelaide’s first goal for the night, before Jed McEntee followed suite less than two minutes later with a great snap around his body in traffic.
McEntee, who returned to the side after a concussion in Round 1, set up Port’s third with a ripping tackle at the top of Port’s goal square that allowed fellow forward Francis Evans to join the goal kicking party.
Bayley Fritsch, Clayton Oliver and Ben Brown then kicked three goals in a row of their own for the Demons, before Charlie Dixon kicked a snap from the boundary after the quarter time siren to give the hosts a five-point lead at the first break.
Tommy Sparrow saw Byrne-Jones’ goal in the first quarter and raised it, opening Melbourne’s account in the first 16 seconds of the term.
The second quarter remained a tug-of-war, with the Dees kicking four goals to Port’s three to tie it up at half time 45-45.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s coverage at half time, Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson labeled the game fast-paced from the get-go.
“It’s exciting footy, it’s a fast game of footy too… I think both teams will be liking a spell at the moment,” Johnson said.
Five-time Hawthorn premiership player Dermott Brereton was pleasantly surprised with where the contest sat at the halfway mark.
“It hasn’t gone the way I envisioned it going, I thought one team might take control in the middle,” Brereton explained.
Willie Rioli was busy early on after half time with the first goal for the quarter, as Melbourne eventually replied at the 17-minute mark through Alex Neal-Bullen.
Skipper Max Gawn pulled a 10-point Port lead back to four with a massive goal after the three-quarter time siren, and set up a thrilling final term.
Neal-Bullen and Sparrow started the Dees charge in the final quarter with two goals in the first five minutes, with Caleb Windsor kicking them out to their match-high 14-point lead.
Jeremy Finlayson and Connor Rozee fought back in the middle part of the quarter kicking crucial goals; with Rozee’s goal coming off the back of a free-kick reversal in a sling tackle after the whistle.
Ben Brown kicked his third for the night to make it difficult for the hosts with just a few minutes to go, before Bayley Fritsch kicked his second for the night with an impressive set shot from the left pocket to seal the game for Melbourne.
“He really gave it to the crowd, it’s a tough place to win,” Brereton said.
Despite a quiet night all round from Fritsch, his polish when the game was on the line had to be highlighted as the Demons won their third on the trot.
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