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Eagles’ top-two hopes dealt a blow in loss

West Coast’s bid to land a top-two berth faces a nervy test after they suffered a 17-point AFL loss to Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Eagles forward Jack Darling lasted just 10 minutes before being forced out of the game with concussion, and the Demons capitalised to post the 16.12 (108) to 14.7 (91) win in warm conditions.

Melbourne’s 13th win of the season secured their spot in the finals, ending the club’s 12-year drought.

West Coast would have locked up a top-two berth with victory, and they now need to beat Brisbane at the Gabba next Sunday in order to secure two home finals.

If they lose to Brisbane, they could drop as low as fourth.

West Coast led by a point when Mark LeCras kicked truly at the 19-minute mark of the final term.

But the Demons booted the last three goals of the match to steal the win.

Jake Melksham booted four goals, while Tom McDonald and Mitch Hannan kicked three goals each.

Willie Rioli booted three goals for the Eagles, but West Coast lacked a good target in attack once Darling went down.

Melbourne entered the match with the unenviable record of being 0-7 against the competition’s top-nine sides this season.

The week of criticism seemed to fire up the Demons, who booted the first four goals of the match to race out to a 26-0 lead.

Demons ruckman Max Gawn played an influential role in the early onslaught, and it was 175cm Eagles goalsneak Rioli who helped lead the fightback.

Rioli booted a goal and helped set up two others to close the margin to 10 points by quarter time.

West Coast swung Jeremy McGovern forward in the second term to cover the loss of Darling, but the Eagles failed to make a dent in the margin.

The third-quarter became a topsy-turvy shootout, with the Demons opening up a 27-point lead, before West Coast booted four straight goals to close the margin back to two points.

The home crowd went crazy when LeCras put the Eagles in front in the final term, but Melksham’s three last-quarter goals were enough to get his side over the line.

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