Australian Football

Match Report

Melbourne fans would have come away with a sense of renewed optimism after the Demons narrow loss to St Kilda in round one. Despite going down, Melbourne showed many positive signs in that match and the Paul Roos era looked likely to be a productive one. It may yet be so, but the club was dealt a severe reality check on Sunday as the Demons were slaughtered by a rampaging West Coast Eagles team that is staking early claims to flag favouritism.

The Demons did not even have a brief moment in the sun early in the match. The Eagles were relentless from the very first bounce and Melbourne could conjure no more than a behind to Shannon Byrnes in the first term while West Coast slammed on six goals. By the six-minute mark of the second quarter it was eight goals to none and fans and commentators were beginning to wonder if Melbourne would even score a goal. Fortunately Byrnes did so a minute later but the Demons managed no more in the first half and only three more for the match as the Eagles ran away to win by 93 points.

While Melbourne was largely made to look inadequate because of the superior strength and skill of the Eagles, coach Paul Roos was flabbergasted by some particularly poor skills displayed by his players when they were under little or no pressure. The season is only two rounds old, but Melbourne's long past period of mediocrity means the public eye will turn critically towards the Demons even this early in the year. Melbourne will have a chance to turn things around when it meets GWS in Sydney next week. The Eagles, who have given new coach Adam Simpson a dream start to his career, will be odds-on to defeat St Kilda at home on Saturday and continue his unbeaten run.

GOALS
Melbourne: Byrnes 2; Kennedy-Harris, Toumpas
West Coast: Kennedy 4; Darling 3; Masten, LeCras, Shuey 2; Naitanui, Mackenzie, Cripps, Sinclair

BEST - THE AGE
Melbourne: N Jones, Tyson, Vince, Terlich, Byrnes
West Coast: Shuey, Naitanui, Kennedy, Masten, Gaff, Darling, Rosa, Selwood

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Melbourne: Cross, Tyson, Jones, Byrnes
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Masten, Kennedy, Selwood, Priddis, Naitanui, Darling

INJURIES
Melbourne: Michie (cut eye)
West Coast: Hurn (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Jay Kennedy-Harris replaced Jack Fitzpatrick during the third quarter.
West Coast: Brad Sheppard replaced Shannon Hurn (knee) during the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Donlon, Hay, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Tim Watson, Cameron Ling