Melbourne ran out 32-point winners over West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Demons consolidating their recovery from the rough first three rounds with a 15.9 (99) to 9.13 (67) result on Mother's Day. Jacob van Rooyen kicked five for the home side, Bayley Fritsch added three through the third, and Kysaiah Pickett produced one of the goals of the round with a high crumb and snap from outside the boundary line. The Demons move to 6-3 and stay alive in the top-eight picture, while West Coast slip to 2-7 and extend their record-equalling losing streak at Marvel Stadium to 10 games.
Demons Find a Rhythm Early
Melbourne kicked five goals to one in the opening quarter, with Van Rooyen marking strongly and finding space against a West Coast defence missing Tom Barrass. The home side led 5.3 to 1.2 at quarter time and the contest had the structural feel of a one-sided afternoon. Christian Petracca had 15 disposals and a goal in the first half, with Clayton Oliver racking up 26 touches by the main break. Max Gawn, partnered now in the ruck by Max Heath, finished with 21 disposals, 27 hitouts and a goal of his own. Daniel Turner, the Demons' first-year backman, held Jake Waterman to three goals despite the Eagles spearhead taking eight shots on goal.
West Coast were not without their moments. Harley Reid kicked the opening goal of the day and added the kind of contested marks that suggest the Eagles' rebuild has at least one untouchable centerpiece. Bo Allan had 22 touches and Andrew Gaff produced 14 in his first game back from a hamstring scare. But the structural problem for the visitors is the same one that has dogged them for three seasons: a forward 50 reliant on Waterman, a midfield without genuine clearance grunt outside Tim Kelly, and a defence that gives up an average of 11 marks inside 50 per game.
Ten Straight at Marvel
The Eagles have now lost 10 consecutive games at Marvel Stadium, a streak dating back to Round 3 of the 2024 season. The roof, the contained acoustics, and the central ruck contest are all variables that West Coast has not solved across that two-year period. Of the 10 losses, eight have been by more than 30 points. Sunday's was the typical kind. By half-time the contest was over, and the contest stat differential reflected the score: marks 112-78 the home side's way, disposals 378-365, tackles 68-56.
Where the Markets Land
The Demons' top-eight market has firmed from $2.10 to $1.65 at dabble across the round, with Sydney top of the ladder at 8-1 and Fremantle $1.20 about a top-four finish. Melbourne's $9 premiership market has firmed to $7 at Picklebet, the Demons now back in the genuine contention conversation after the slow start. West Coast remain the wooden-spoon favourites at $1.85 ahead of Carlton at $4 and Richmond at $5. The Eagles host Adelaide at Optus on Saturday at -22.5 the Crows' way, the kind of fixture that confirms whether the upset can come at home.
Round 10 closes Sunday night with the Sydney Swans hosting Carlton at the SCG, the kind of fixture the bookmakers have framed at $1.18 about the home side with the line at -34.5 the Swans' way. Full Sunday match details and the Van Rooyen post-match interview are at AFL.com.au.