Demons making strong points against Carlton

A potent Melbourne surged into the top four by thrashing Carlton by 109 points at the MCG yesterday.

Jack Viney breaks clear at the MCG yesterday. Picture: Getty Images.

A potent Melbourne has surged into the top four, kicking the biggest score of the season and thrashing Carlton by 109 points at the MCG.

After a stuttering start to the season, the Demons have built confidence over the past month when pitted against lower-ranked rivals, and produced another outstanding performance yesterday.

After an even opening term, the Demons powered away to post the first triple-figure winning margin of this season, reducing Carlton to a rabble.

It is their biggest winning margin since a victory over Richmond in 1993. And it is their biggest win over the Blues.

Their score of 25.9 (159) is also their largest tally in more than two years.

Had Tom McDonald kicked truly with a shot after the siren, the Demons would have recorded their highest score since 2000.

Melbourne’s percentage jumped more than 14 points as a result of the thrashing, allowing them to move ahead of the Adelaide, Sydney, Port Adelaide and into third position.

Coach Simon Goodwin is pleased with the way Melbourne have rebounded from a disappointing fortnight against Hawthorn and Richmond in rounds four and five.

“It is pleasing. We have been building since the Hawthorn game,” he said.

“I thought our selflessness and team-first attitude … was outstanding.”

It is the Demons’ best start since 2005, a year they finished the home-and-away season in seventh spot.

They have not managed to play a final since the following year, but are clearly well positioned to challenge in 2018, at least for the eight and possibly top four.

And as the past two Septembers have shown, from there, anything can happen. The Demons certainly boast the capacity to kick big scores.

They have scored at least 100 points in all six of their wins to date this season and over the past fortnight they have kicked the two biggest scores recorded by any club this year.

As result, they top the league in terms of points scored after nine rounds.

Goodwin said their ability to finish strongly against the Suns and the Blues over the past fortnight is a testament to the strength and focus of Melbourne’s leaders.

Although young, Clayton ­Oliver is clearly one of those. ­Despite undergoing surgery on a broken finger on Monday, he was able to perform strongly in gathering 26 disposals.

A significant test of their ­credentials comes next weekend in Alice Springs when they host Adelaide.

Despite an astonishing run of misfortune with injury, last year’s runners-up continue to perform well and are positioned third after a strong win over the Western Bulldogs in miserable conditions on Friday night.

“It sets up a great game in Alice Springs against a really strong footy club in Adelaide,” Goodwin said.

On a positive day for the ­Demons, Melbourne co-captain Jack Viney played his first game for the season and spent time on Carlton star Patrick Cripps.

And it was not long before he was in the action, with the tough midfielder starting the rout when kicking the first goal of the second term.

Melbourne seized control of the match during the second term by kicking seven goals for the quarter.

The frequency of which they were able to score when the football spilled into the path or arms of a Demon with no Blue between them and the goal line was alarming.

McDonald, in particular, must have been chuffed at this recurring theme, for he was the main beneficiary with four first-half goals.

His presence alongside Jesse Hogan gives Melbourne two agile, powerful marking key forward targets. And Jake Melksham, who kicked five goals, was outstanding when lurking at their feet.

In a battle of two elite ruckmen, Max Gawn had the better of Blues stalwart Matthew Kreuzer with his 44 taps doubling his classy rival.

A week after the Blues fought gamely to claim their first win of the season when too tough for Essendon, their performance from quarter-time onwards was an abject disappointment.

Carlton 7.8 (50)

Melbourne 25.9 (159)