MELBOURNE produced its most impressive performance of the season over the weekend and loom as the most likely threat to North Melbourne after seven rounds. The Dees completely dismantled bottom two side Gold Coast by 87 points in a dominant 13.15 (93) to 0.6 (6) result.

Demons coach Mick Stinear was particularly pleased with the way his side finished off, having lost the fourth quarter against West Coast last week, but putting the foot down with six unanswered goals against Gold Coast to blow the margin out from 46 points to 87 in the space of a quarter.

“I think off the back of last week, it felt like we competed really well, we were pleased to a certain point and then in the last quarter we just mentally lapsed and obviously West Coast didn’t let up last week,” he said. “The driving force during the week was to be a four-quarter team, and really pleased I thought it was a really good team effort today, but the attention to detail, the mental effort and physical effort right to the end, that’s what we’re most pleased about.

“We’d been a little bit inconsistent with our form and ability to play four quarters, so pleased with where we’re at in the season to put together a performance like that. Hopefully that’s a sign of things to come and what we’re capable of as a team if we apply ourselves for the full four quarters.”

With the Casey Fields wind again wrecking havoc, Stinear opted to use his wildcard of Tayla Harris in defence when against the breeze, with the tall forward working well in tandem with Eden Zanker to clear the ball down the ground.

“Tayla’s ability to take a kickout if she’s in the ruck, target Edo’s (Zanker) aerial strength and just those little things, but it’s the players driving it,” he said. “There’s only so much you can do from up stairs.

“I felt today we were able to put players in their best positions, we’ve got versatility like Eliza Mac (Eliza McNamara) to go inside late in the game and just use her running power. “Really pleased with where the group is at, but just the capacity to play to their strengths which their driving is helping us as a team.”

There was no shortage of standouts for the Dees, as Megan Fitzsimon (21 disposals, 15 tackles and a goal) and Maeve Chaplin (25 disposals, eight marks and six tackles) both playing key roles in the victory.

“She (Fitzsimon) was our Demon Spirit player of the year last year and with Liv Purcell getting injured, it’s probably hurried her introduction into the midfield more permanently, so she’s really grabbed that and just competing really well. Just loves the game of footy and I think it’s nice for her to get a little bit of external recognition, but I know internally she’s much loved and we love her competitiveness.

“I think like Shelley Heath today, her ability to play as a mid, and swapping with Maeve at times. She created space for Maeve to play to her strengths, and then at critical times Shelley Heath is getting back helping our defence, exiting it out of d50. But from a stats point of view, might have a had a quieter game on the stats sheet, but a critical part of our game today.”

While Melbourne has a stack of highly talented stars who often catch headlines, Stinear said the club made a point of highlighting key performances from players who perform their role, week-in, week-out.

“I think we’re conscious of making sure we reward those role players during the week and I think the group understands our strength as a team is everyone doing their little bit,” he said. “Knowing some days you might get a little bit of external recognition or you might hit the scoreboard more than others, but collectively if we are able to perform like that, that’s why we sign up, and that’s the kind of team we want to be.”

Melbourne sits with a win-loss record of 6-1 and percentage of 294.2, behind only the Kangaroos, and equal with the Hawks on half a dozen wins. The Dees coach said he was pleased with where the club was placed entering the last five rounds of the season.

“We really chase that performance over the last couple of weeks so now that we’ve been able to execute that, that’s sort of our benchmark now for how we want to approach the week, get the work in on the track, get that four-quarter effort, and when we’re challenged, be able to respond,” Stinear said.

“I thought in the second quarter, Gold Coast lifted their intensity and we couldn’t quite win contest forward of centre, but after half-time the team rectified that. Just being able to wrestle back momentum when we’re challenged in the next couple of months, and keep growing as a team. Pleased with where we’re at, but we’ve got a long way to go.”