If Mark Neeld is to retain his post as coach, there needs to be some proof to the Melbourne fans, and supporters of football in general, that they are heading in the right direction. The third term, which the Demons won by three points, was not enough. They equalled their inside-50 count of the first half in one term and kicked three goals - two from the boot of Jeremy Howe. But that says more about their first half, than the start to the second. It was just the first third-quarter victory for Melbourne this season and only the sixth quarter in nine rounds of football that they have outscored their opponent. Bottom side Greater Western Sydney has also won six quarters.

The game was well and truly over by quarter-time, despite some of the amazing comeback victories of the 2013 season. And the once famous description from former Carlton coach Brett Ratten of Melbourne's playing style being ''bruise-free'' again came to mind. But that was 2011 and the Demons were supposed to have improved since then. Sure, they were without Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia and Jack Viney, but the Dockers were missing Jon Griffin, Stephen Hill, Matt Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Michael Walters. The Dockers set up a 71-point half-time lead without as much as a yelp from Melbourne.

Fremantle had almost 90 possessions more than its opponent in the opening two terms, 64 more uncontested than the Demons. The home side kicked six of its 13 first-half goals directly from marks inside 50 - mostly uncontested. Fremantle's final tally of 157 uncontested marks was a club record and the most of any side this season. The Demons had entered their attacking 50 zone only eight times for the half. As a result the forwards didn't see much of the ball and Chris Dawes was kept goalless, with just three marks and eight touches. Fremantle went forward 30 times in the same period of time and 10 players contributed to its 13 goals. But as bad as Melbourne was though, Fremantle was just as good. The Dockers seem to have grasped the Ross Lyon style of play and the Demons struggled against their zone, particularly early.

And after a win against Collingwood and a draw against the reigning premier Sydney in the past two weeks, the competition has to start taking notice. Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Michael Barlow have developed into a quality midfield and despite Sandilands and Griffin being sidelined, Zac Clarke and Jack Hannath are filling the big man role with effect. Fremantle finished with 12 goal scorers, so its options in attack are plentiful and Pavlich and Walters still need to return. GENEROUS GESTURE Rumour has been rife this week that Melbourne's top draft pick Jack Watts could be playing with Fremantle in 2014. While his audition against the Dockers was short of fantastic, he may already be being welcomed by the Fremantle player group. Watts kicked the first goal of the game against the Dockers, the result of a neat little pass out of defence straight on his chest from usually reliable Freo midfielder Michael Barlow. DEMON DROUGHT

The Dockers' win takes their streak at home against the Demons to eight games. Only one Demon, Aaron Davey, played in the club's last win at the Subiaco-based oval, which was against the Dockers, in round 11 of 2004, by 31 points. You have to go back to round 19 of 2002 to find the Demons' last win over West Coast in the west - a six-point margin. Loading COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN Many Demons fans would suggest that the message is not getting through from the coaching staff to the players. Well at Patersons Stadium, that was certainly the case. A technical issue from the coach's box in the first half prevented any communication from Mark Neeld to the bench. The besieged coach had to head to the boundary line for much of the second term.