The Melbourne skipper has a blinder to see off a feisty challenge from West Coast Max Gawn during the round eight AFL match between West Coast and Melbourne at Optus Stadium, May 3, 2025. Picture: Getty Images MELBOURNE captain Max Gawn produced one of his great performances to lead the Demons to a third straight win, overrunning West Coast at Optus Stadium to win by 32 points on Saturday night. Gawn turned the game in a phenomenal third quarter and finished with a career-high 35 disposals as the Demons built their form in a balanced performance to win 16.12 (108) to 11.10 (76). EAGLES v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats Given a scare by the Eagles and trailing by six points at half-time, Melbourne sharpened up in the second half and crushed West Coast at stoppages, kicking their highest score of the season despite losing key target Harrison Petty to concussion. Gawn was the reason for their dominance both at stoppages and then around the ground, playing like a midfielder and winning 22 contested possessions, nine clearances and finishing with a game-high 12 score involvements in one of the individual games of the season, finishing his night with a fourth-quarter goal. With star midfielder Clayton Oliver managed this week, premiership sidekicks Christian Petracca (29 disposals and eight clearances) and tagger Jack Viney (18 and seven) lifted as the Demons dominated clearances 48-26. ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 08:15 Highlights: West Coast v Melbourne The Eagles and Demons clash in round eight of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season 01:05 Debutant immediately remorseful after clipping Viney high West Coast first-gamer Bo Allan reacts instantly after collecting Jack Viney with a stray arm while contesting the footy 00:51 Young Eagle hobbles off after nasty ankle injury West Coast suffers another blow as Archer Reid goes down after appearing to injure his ankle in an innocuous incident 00:42 Windsor wonder: Young Dee dazzles from range Caleb Windsor brushes off a tackle, bursts forward and drills a sensational goal 00:51 Hunt hits one to perfection as Eagles keep flying Jayden Hunt scores a ridiculous goal from the tightest of angles to continue West Coast’s hot run 00:59 Is Demon in hot water for push on McGovern? Jeremy McGovern takes his time getting up after a push from Jake Melksham sends him into a heavy contest 00:56 Electric Elijah fires up the home faithful Elijah Hewett bursts forward and slots a thrilling goal to get the Eagles fans up and about 00:42 Melksham missile travels all the way Jake Melksham wheels around after taking a mark and launches a monster effort from distance 00:42 Petracca pinches opener with so much class Christian Petracca shows his smarts with this dazzling finish in tight space They had a deep list of contributors, including young gun Harvey Langford (25 and five clearances) and Caleb Windsor (20 and five inside 50s), and should draw great confidence ahead of a clash against Hawthorn at the MCG next Saturday. The result extended West Coast's worst start to a season to 0-8, with the team's stoppage struggles laid bare against Gawn as the Eagles’ midfielders struggled to impact the contest. Learn More 08:15 Defender Reuben Ginbey was assertive, while co-captain Oscar Allen continued in his role down back and looked comfortable, with Jake Waterman and Elijah Hewett each kicking three goals. They copped a blow at half-time when star defender Jeremy McGovern was substituted following a hit to the head in a marking contest, with Jake Melksham likely to be scrutinised after nudging the backman into traffic. The Demons got the game on their terms early through stoppage dominance, winning the first 10 clearances of the game as Viney, Gawn and Petracca asserted themselves in a scrappy contest. Learn More 00:42 They repeatedly won the ball at the coalface and got it into space, but it was a familiar case of breaking down inside 50, with 2.2 for the quarter and a nine-point lead well under what they should have expected. The pattern continued in the second term and the Demons looked more assertive with their ball movement, but more missed opportunities kept the contest alive before the Eagles pounced with four goals in 10 minutes. Aside from the first quarter against Brisbane in round two, it was probably the best period of football West Coast has played this season, with Jack Williams, Elijah Hewett, Jayden Hunt, and Tyler Brockman all kicking excellent goals as the Eagles grabbed a six-point lead at the main break. Learn More 00:56 The intensity lifted early in the third and the Demons welcomed it, making their move with a seven-goal quarter that broke the Eagles' spirit, with Gawn racking up 14 disposals, four marks, 10 hit-outs, and four clearances in a phenomenal quarter that ensured the final term was a formality as both teams lapsed defensively. Melksham push sidelines star Melbourne forward Jake Melksham will come under Match Review scrutiny for an incident in the second quarter that led to Jeremy McGovern entering concussion protocols. Melksham nudged the star Eagle into Harrison Petty in an aerial contest, resulting in contact to McGovern's head, with the defender undergoing assessment and not returning after half-time. While the Melksham incident was not clear cut, the AFL has clamped down on similar incidents and warned clubs about pushing players into traffic, with Richmond's Rhyan Mansell among those suspended after copping a three-week ban. Learn More 00:59 Forward turn could give Dees solution Harrison Petty's concussion in the second quarter opened the door for Daniel Turner to swing forward in the second half, and the key Demon was excellent in the role after kicking 17 goals from 15 games last year. Turner kicked three goals and was sharp with his set shot kicking, but his ability to provide a clear target was just as valuable after the Demons had looked disconnected going inside 50 earlier in the game. Crying out for a key forward with presence, Turner looked the Demons' best option and should stay in the role. WEST COAST 0.5 4.7 6.7 11.10 (76) MELBOURNE 2.2 3.7 10.12 16.12 (108) GOALS West Coast: Waterman 3, Hewett 3, Cripps 2, Williams, Hunt, Brockman Melbourne: Turner 3, Fritsch 2, Langdon 2, Petracca, Melksham, Windsor, Viney, Pickett, Chandler, Sharp, Gawn, Spargo BEST West Coast: Waterman, Ginbey, Hewett, Allan, Maric, Baker Melbourne: Gawn, Petracca, Langford, Turner, Chandler, Viney INJURIES West Coast: Ginbey (nose), McGovern (concussion), A Reid (lower leg) Melbourne: Petty (concussion) SUBSTITUTES West Coast: Tom Cole (replaced Jeremy McGovern at half-time) Melbourne: Harry Sharp (replaced Harrison Petty at half-time) Crowd: 41,991 at Optus Stadium