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Melbourne march on, beat Blues in AFL win

Oliver CaffreyAAP
Melbourne have stretched their unbeaten start to the AFL season, accounting for Carlton at the MCG.
Camera IconMelbourne have stretched their unbeaten start to the AFL season, accounting for Carlton at the MCG. Credit: AAP

Melbourne's stunning AFL win-streak has given Demons supporters hope their 57-year premiership drought could finally end this year.

The Demons went 9-0 for the first time since 1956 with a comfortable 26-point victory over Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.

The previous five times (1941, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1964) Melbourne have won at least nine-straight games during a season they have gone on to claim the flag.

The Demons lit up a wet and gloomy Victorian day with some red-hot football, downing the disappointing Blues 13.16 (94) to 10.8 (68) in front of 38,581 fans.

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It was actually their 11th straight triumph, counting the two victories they had to round out the 2020 season, equalling the second-best win-streak in club history.

"It's a brilliant platform that we've clearly laid, and I think it's just great for the work people have put in and the reward for our players," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.

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"And I think it's also just magnificent for the supporters who continue to rock up here at the MCG and see them so excited with how their team play.

"Our challenge as a club is to continue to reset, do it again next week and take up the next challenge."

Rejuvenated Demons forward Tom McDonald continued his dominant start to the season with three first-half goals, while Bailey Fritsch also finished with a trio of majors.

Exciting small forward Kysaiah Pickett produced another goal-of-the-year contender when he expertly dribbled the ball through from a tricky angle in the third quarter.

In the final term, Pickett looked to have snapped another extraordinary goal but he immediately indicated to the goal umpire that Carlton defender Adam Saad touched the ball off his boot.

The Blues dominated clearances 48-33 but Melbourne had answers across the ground to quell any disadvantage at the stoppages.

Carlton's injury list grew with David Cunningham suffering a suspected season-ending knee injury in the first quarter.

The 24-year-old clutched his knee and was subbed out of the game for Michael Gibbons, with fears he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

Star forward Harry McKay put another scare through the Blues camp only minutes later when he hurt his right shoulder, but was cleared to return to the field and played out the game with pain killers.

The Coleman Medal leader finished with three goals, including two in as many minutes during the third quarter, to again be one of Carlton's best performers.

"That one was probably more disappointing than some of our other games," Carlton coach David Teague said.

"I just thought today we didn't adjust to the game as well as we have in other periods. Some of our ball use going forward wasn't at the level it needs to be."

Melbourne head to Adelaide next Saturday for a clash with the struggling Crows, while Carlton (3-6) are back at the MCG for a must-win game against Hawthorn, who are coming off a shattering loss to North Melbourne.

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