MELBOURNE has returned to the winners list in style with a 96-point defeat of Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons kicked 22.17 (149) to 8.5 (53) in what was its greatest ever winning margin over the Crows. The previous highest was 51.

The margin could have been much higher as Melbourne was the better side in the first half but were wasteful in front of goal, kicking 6.11.

Liam Jurrah was the main culprit with 1.4 to his name at the main break.

For all the excitement Jurrah brought, he got caught out trying to score from tight angles and the main frustration of every AFL coach, kicks for goal dribbling along the ground.

The Demons clicked into gear after half-time, booting eight goals to one in the third term to ensure the scoreboard was a more accurate representation of the contest.

They booted another eight in the final quarter but it was the third where they truly proved a point.

The subject of scrutiny for the best part of 10 days after the loss to West Coast, the Demons made plenty of emphatic statements at the MCG.

Ricky Petterd had been presenting his case for a senior game for several weeks and did not disappoint when he was finally given his chance. Petterd booted four goals to show he belongs in the senior side.

Senior players Brad Green and Aaron Davey had their leadership skills questioned after an indifferent start to the year but they made their presence felt at half-forward and half-back respectively.

And coach Dean Bailey had a point to prove of his own. While a coach's influence is hard to measure, if he was to be so harshly judged for his team's efforts in Perth, then he should be equally praised for how they bounced back this week.

The Crows had few bright spots in a bleak day. They were pulverised in the middle, with a team total of 11 centre clearances. To put that in context, Demon Brent Moloney had 10.

The only positive signs for Adelaide were the clean rebounding of half-back Matthew Jaensch and the tireless efforts of defender Graham Johncock.

The only lowlight for Melbourne was the sight of Jack Grimes on crutches after injuring his ankle in the opening minutes of the game.

Melbourne                 2.7    6.11  14.16  22.17 (149)
Adelaide                     2.0    5.3    6.4      8.5 (53)

GOALS
Melbourne: Petterd 4, Sylvia 4, Jurrah 3, Watts 2, Wonaeamirri 2, Green 2, Dunn, Tapscott, Bartram, Bate, Jones
Adelaide: Tippett 3, Reilly 2, Thompson, van Berlo, McKernan

BEST
Melbourne: Moloney, Jones, Sylvia, Davey, Green, Maric, Trengove, Frawley
Adelaide: Jaensch, Reilly, van Berlo, Johncock, Schmidt

INJURIES
Melbourne: Grimes (foot)
Adelaide: Dangerfield (concussion), S. Thompson (calf), Wright (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Jack Grimes (foot) replaced by Austin Wonaeamirri in the first quarter
Adelaide: Patrick Dangerfield (concussion) replaced by Jared Petrenko in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Jeffery, Keating

Official crowd: 19, 987 at MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club