With their new-look attack showing encouraging signs of potency, Melbourne burst from the blocks before completing a seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs in their AFL NAB Challenge clash at Eureka Stadium.

Former Carlton goalsneak Jeff Garlett got the Demons up and going with the first two goals of Saturday’s game which Melbourne won 0.10.9 (69) to 0.9.8 (62).

Melbourne had the match pretty much sewn up by halftime, when they led by 45 points and had amassed more than double the amount of possessions than the Bulldogs.

No Demon has reached the modest 30-goal mark in any of the past three home and away seasons.

But judging on Saturday’s showing, that could be about to change in 2015.

Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris (two goals apiece) provide dangerous small options, while Jesse Hogan – given an overdue run of luck on the injury front – looks set to finally make his mark on the competition.

The Demons would also have been thrilled with the midfield run and carry provided by ex-Collingwood star Heritier Lumumba.

The Bulldogs lifted after the long break, kicking eight goals to just two from the Demons in the final two quarters.

Marcus Bontempelli and Mitch Honeychurch were among the Bulldogs’ better players at a venue where they plan to be playing a couple of regular-season games per year from 2017 onwards.

Melbourne made only two changes to the team which ran Fremantle to within 18 points in their NAB Challenge opener, bringing in Jack Viney and Jack Watts.

The Bulldogs rested a host of big names for their second pre-season match including skipper Robert Murphy, livewire Luke Dahlhaus and young guns Tom Boyd and Jackson Macrae.