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Melbourne have improved to a 6-0 record in their best start to a season since 1965 after beating reigning premiers Richmond by 34 points.
Melbourne have announced themselves as a genuine AFL flag threat, extending their unbeaten start to the season with a stunning 34-point win over reigning premiers Richmond in the Anzac Day eve clash.
The Demons kicked four unanswered goals during the second quarter to take control of a tough contest as rain fell at the MCG on Saturday night, setting the platform for a 12.10 (82) to 6.12 (48) victory.
The result was the perfect way to celebrate club stalwart Nathan Jones' 300th game and it improved Melbourne's record to 6-0, in what is now their best start to a season since 1965.
Christian Petracca (38 disposals), Clayton Oliver (36) and Christian Salem (39) starred in the Dees' engine room as Kysaiah Pickett showed exciting flashes and Tom McDonald kicked three goals.
Steven May returned from a nasty eye injury and marshalled Melbourne's defence with Jake Lever, shutting down Tigers forward Tom Lynch in the process.
Richmond's recent dominance over the competition has been underpinned by their famed pressure and surging attack, but it was the Demons who mastered those arts in wet conditions.
"It was clearly going to be a contest and surge game on the back of the conditions being slippery and that's a Richmond way of playing, but we're good in that space as well," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
"We enjoy playing that way and we started to get more contests going our way."
The battle between explosive midfielders Petracca and Dustin Martin was a huge focus of the build-up and it was the Demons' challenger who had a far greater impact than the game's pre-eminent star.
Petracca registered 10 clearances, six tackles, seven inside-50s and a goal in a massive contribution.
In stark contrast, Martin (eight disposals) was kept quiet by Dees stopper Michael Hibberd in his 250th game and sat out the final quarter on the bench with concussion after copping a stray arm to the head.
Richmond had dominated the early exchanges and spearhead Jack Riewoldt cashed in with the first two goals to help his side build a 15-point lead before Melbourne managed a score.
But the Demons weathered the storm and upped their pressure late in the first term, piling on seven consecutive goals to open up a match-winning 30-point lead soon after half-time.
The Tigers were rattled late in the match, with Pickett's sealer from a free kick and subsequent celebration sparking a melee a few minutes before the final siren.
Shane Edwards (24 disposals and two goals) and Shai Bolton worked tirelessly for Richmond, who were well beaten.
"It was disappointing," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
"We didn't play the way we'd like to and a lot of that was down to the good play of Melbourne - I thought they were very good tonight.
"Defensively they did some nice things and we really struggle to score inside-50 ... we had nearly 60 entries but just couldn't kick a winning score and a lot of that was down to their pressure."
McDonald will come under scrutiny for a high strike on Dylan Grimes off the ball during the third quarter.
Melbourne will start favourites against North Melbourne next week, while Richmond are set to be without Martin and Kane Lambert (calf) for their huge Friday night clash with the ladder-leading Western Bulldogs.
