WEST COASTÂ Â 2.1 Â Â Â 5.2 Â Â Â Â 8.4 Â Â Â Â 10.6Â Â Â (66)
MELBOURNE Â Â 2.2 Â Â Â Â 5.4 Â Â Â Â 8.10 Â Â Â Â 8.12Â Â Â (60)
GOALS West Coast:  Kennedy 3, Gaff,Cripps, Darling, Hill, Duggan,  Priddis, Lycett. Melbourne: Garlett 3,  Dawes 2,  Petracca,  Kent,  M Jones.
BEST West Coast: Priddis, Shuey, Gaff, McGovern, Lycett, Hurn. Melbourne: Tyson, N Jones, Viney, M Jones,  Garlett,  Petracca.Â
UMPIRESÂ Farmer, Hosking, Foot.
CROWDÂ 33,908 at Domain Stadium.
We can almost scratch West Coast off the list of potential premiers this season. Even though they scored their fifth consecutive win, the Eagles narrowly avoided  an upset  loss to Melbourne at Domain Stadium on Saturday.
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Eagles find a way to win
Despite trailing at every change West Coast somehow beat Melbourne by 6-points at Domain Stadium.
They scored the only two goals in the final term to beat the Demons by just six points, a week after they fell over the line against Carlton at the MCG.
In the final term when the game was still up for grabs though, the Eagles players were the ones staying on their feet on the slippery surface. They were the ones that made the better decisions. Most importantly, they were the ones that kicked goals when they were provided with opportunities.
Trailing by six points at the start of the fourth term, Andrew Gaff and Josh Hill kicked the first two goals of the quarter in the first eight minutes.
For most of the game though, Melbourne was the best side. They just lacked the ability to finish off hard work being done up the field.
Jeff Garlett, three goals, was the only one that looked capable of kicking goals consistently. Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts and Chris Dawes will need to make better use of 66 inside 50 entries if the Demons are going to progress next season under Simon Goodwin.
Perhaps if they'd have kicked better than 1.7 from nine shots at goal from late in the second term to the midway mark of the third term, the Demons may even have recorded their eighth win of the season.
![Matt Priddis was almost a lone hand in providing pressure on the Melbourne midfield at times.](/web/20160919150700im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/c/d/b/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqcd9p.png/1469330634779.jpg)
Melbourne hadn't won in Perth in their 16 previous attempts, spanning back to 2004.They hadn't beaten West Coast on the West Coast since 2002. Christian Petracca was only six years old when they last did.
Of the two sides, the Demons weren't the one that finished runners-up last season and aren't eying off a spot in the top four.
![Big boot: Luke Shuey gets a kick away during West Coast’s win over the Demons on Saturday.](/web/20160919150700im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/c/d/a/3/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gqcd9p.png/1469330634779.jpg)
They were the ones providing the intensity in the content though.
At half-time, they had 20 more contested possessions and 44 more uncontested possessions that the Eagles.
![Scott Lycett and big Demon Max Gawn jostle for position.](/web/20160919150700im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/c/d/9/4/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gqcd9p.png/1469330634779.jpg)
West Coast was fortunate to be only two points behind at half-time.
The Demons had been forward twice as many times as the Eagles (36-18). The Demons led by as much as 13 points and just before half-time they wasted two chances to extend the margin to the same amount.
But Jack Viney sprayed his set shot at goals over the boundary line and two minutes later Bernie Vince hit the post, again while taking a set-shot that he earned through a free kick.
The run was there though, provided by Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Viney, Matt Jones and Vince. They dominated a near full-strength Eagles midfield of Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey, Chris Masten and Andrew Gaff.
Early in the game, when the rain was falling and the ball was wet, Petracca was the one who showed poise and polish.
But as West Coast has done so often, especially at home, it was able to score quickly and remain the contest.
They do have the leader in the Coleman Medal race Josh Kennedy, who kicked three important goals to take a one-goal lead over Lance Franklin.
The Eagles went from 13 points down early in the second term to be leading by a goal seven minutes later, through some solid work from a couple of big men in the forward line.
Kennedy kicked two goal and Scott Lycett one, both while opposed to Demons youngster Oscar McDonald. Then late in the third term, when the margin had again got out to 12 points, Kennedy, Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps all added goals in the space of eight minutes to give their side the lead.
Every time the Eagles threatened, it was Priddis that gave them the chance to do so.Â
Priddis' work in the packs was outstanding and he was almost a lone hand in providing plenty of pressure on the Melbourne midfield at times.
The Eagles may gain some momentum when ruckman Nic Naitanui returns from his Achilles surgeries. He is back in full training and is looking to play as early as next Saturday when the Eagles play Collingwood at the MCG.
West Coast ganged up on Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn on Saturday, with Lycett and Jonathan Giles getting regular assistance from Elliot Yeo.