Melbourne Demons secure dominant win over Essendon Bombers

Harley Reid comes out of a tackle right on the three-quarter time limping, but it looks like he's going to be alright to continue.

Another fascinating quarter in the books as the Kangaroos extend a half-time lead as North kicks 4.3 to 2.2.

The Kangaroos will feel that they should be out of sight at this point, but the Eagles refuse to go away.

West Coast leads the inside 50 count 38-35, while the Kangaroos lead the clearances 33-28.

Roos star Harry Sheezel leads all players with 24 touches and also has eight clearances, eight score involvements and seven inside 50s.

Tim Kelly leads the way for West Coast with 19 touches, while Harley Reid has 17 touches and a goal.

Jack Darling has kicked 4.1 while Nick Larkey has kicked 3.1 to pace the Kangaroos.

Jake Waterman the only multiple goalkicker for the Eagles with two.

The Kangaroos have won five of their last eight games against the Eagles, are they going to add another one to the tally?

Kysaiah Pickett's superb season has continued, starring along with Max Gawn in Melbourne's 45-point triumph over struggling, injury-hit Essendon at the MCG.

Melbourne have maintained their perfect MCG record in 2026, celebrating the life of Neale Daniher with a comfortable 45-point triumph over lowly Essendon.

After a shock defeat to the Bombers in April in Gather Round, the Demons didn't slip up this time as they made light work of the likely wooden spooners, 13.17 (95) to 6.14 (50).

In a further blow for the beleaguered Bombers, Archie Roberts — who would almost certainly be leading the club's best-and-fairest — badly hurt his shoulder in the second quarter and played no further part in the match.

During an attempted tackle on Kysaiah Pickett, Roberts collected the Melbourne superstar around the neck to give away an inside-50 free kick.

The prolific left-footer then immediately came off the ground cradling his dislocated right shoulder.

Conceding the first four goals, Essendon never looking like challenging a team they comfortably accounted for only two months ago, even with a more spirited effort in the second half.

Dees captain Max Gawn (23 possessions, 10 clearances, two goals) was in peak form, slotting the opener with a snap that was more like a crafty small forward than the towering ruckman he is.

Gawn then bombed through a set shot from outside 50 in the second quarter, humorously given no chance of making the distance by West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson in radio commentary.

The eight-time All-Australian combined superbly with Pickett, who always loomed large in the midfield and up forward.

Pickett had a game-high 18 possessions and three goals by halftime, finishing with 32 and a game-high 676 metres gained.

Melbourne (9-5) moved to 8-0 at their MCG fortress this year, taking them to fourth on the ladder under first-year coach Steven King.

The Demons were also left one down on the bench, debutant Lukas Cooke suffering a cheekbone injury following a collision in the second term.

Cooke's fellow mid-season draftee Joel Fitzgerald made an impressive start to his AFL career, gathering 24 possessions during time in Melbourne's high-flying midfield.

Key defender-turned-forward Ben McKay briefly came from the field following a clash of heads, but the former North Melbourne tall again looked lively inside Essendon's forward 50.

Interim coach Dean Solomon made the McKay switch straight after taking over when Brad Scott was sacked last month.

But Solomon, who is understood to be in contention to be permanent Bombers coach, remains searching for a breakthrough win after three losses to begin his time in charge.

Midfielder Will Setterfield had a career-best 34 disposals and eight clearances to be Essendon's best.

The Bombers (1-13) are tracking to claim their first wooden spoon since 2016 when the club was forced to use top-up players because of the supplements saga.

Both clubs celebrated Daniher, a former Melbourne coach and Essendon player, after the fearless MND campaigner's death on May 26 and emotional state funeral last Wednesday.

Daniher's favourite song, Mr Brightside by The Killers, was played pre-game, while banners with his face were put at both ends of the ground.

AAP