Plenty of pep in rebuilt Dees

IF HAWTHORN needed any further evidence about what a rebuild can bring, the Demons laid it out for them with the performance of their young brigade in a big 43-point win at Giants Stadium yesterday.

It was goals to Sam Weideman (pick nine), who kicked three for the match, Luke Jackson (pick three), and Kysaiah Pickett (pick 12) which put the icing on the cake for Melbourne.

Christian Petracca (pick two) and Clayton Oliver (pick four) were among the best on ground for the Demons.

Melbourne has now joined Hawthorn on three wins, but back-to-back triumphs against the Hawks and Suns have shown there is plenty of life in the Demons yet, despite their poor start to the campaign.

It’s the first time since the 1990s that the Demons have won three in a row against Hawthorn.

Hawthorn kicked the first goal of the match, before the Demons quickly asserted their dominance to kick the next five straight.

The Demons led by 30 at halftime before Hawthorn staged a mini-recovery early in the third quarter to peg back the advantage to just three goals.

But rather than wilt under pressure, Melbourne continued to back its fluid ball movement, and a steadying goal to Weideman virtually put Hawthorn to bed.

A second goal for Pickett restored the halftime margin and by three-quarter time the Demons were surging to the finish line with a 42-point lead.

The Demons dominated territory and were far too intense around the ball for the Hawks. Forward-50 pressure and tackling put Hawthorn under the pump and they had no response.

Hawthorn’s injury dramas were compounded after forward Tim O’Brien limped off the field with an ankle injury.