Four goals from star forward Jesse Hogan has helped Melbourne to a 32-point win over Fremantle at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
 
In steamy Top End conditions on Saturday night, the Demons set up the 12.15 (87) to 8.7 (55) win with a dominant first half.
 
Jack Watts booted three goals in the first term as his side leapt to a 29-point lead at the first break, with Melbourne stretching that lead to 50 points in the third quarter before Freo mounted a belated challenge.
 
Freo's Lachie Neale impressed with 33 disposals, but the Freo Dockers came out on the wrong side of a lopsided 465-329 possession count.

Talking points from Melbourne loss
 
Former skipper Matthew Pavlich booted three goals in a side that wasted late opportunities to close the gap further.
 
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said it was a frustrating game to watch as his team "couldn't get near" the Demons in the first half before they were able to outscore Melbourne after the main break.

"When the game was up for grabs we just looked right off the pace," Lyon said post-game.

"The numbers were frightening [in the first half]. We arrested that a bit in the second half but it was really disappointing."

He pointed to Stephen Hill's second half as a positive, and also highlighted youngster Ed Langdon for his encouraging showing with 16 disposals, but said the Freo Dockers midfield was "obliterated".

Ross Lyon post-match Q & A

The win ended a run of four losses in a row in Darwin for the Demons and broke a seven-match losing streak against Fremantle.

MEDICAL ROOM
Melbourne: Midfielder Dom Tyson required his head to be taped up following a collision with teammate Ben Kennedy in the second term, but played out the game without any problems.

Fremantle: Freo appeared to get through the loss unscathed.

NEXT UP
Fremantle will be hoping for a closer contest next Friday night when it hosts Geelong at Domain Stadium. The Demons will be back in Melbourne, taking on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a contest they'll need to win to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.

MELBOURNE               6.5   9.8    11.11   12.15   (87)                  
FREMANTLE                2.0   3.1    7.4       8.7      (55)           

GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 4, Watts 3, Kent 3, Vandenberg, Jones
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Mayne 2, Suban, Taberner, Ballantyne

BEST
Melbourne: Hogan, Viney, Jones, Watts, Hunt, Tyson, Grimes
Fremantle: Neale, Hill, Sutcliffe, Pavlich, Blakely

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Lachie Weller (Fremantle) reported for high contact against Jayden Hunt (Melbourne)

Umpires: Margetts, Ryan, Mitchell

Official crowd: 8163 at TIO Stadium