After three barren weeks when a lot went wrong, Melbourne made a lot go right in their upset AFL win over Essendon.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin praised the character of his players, who broke Essendon in the second half and stormed to a 38-point win.

Melbourne were coming off a three-game losing streak and had suffered a succession of injuries to their ruckmen.

Jordan Lewis and Jesse Hogan served high-profile suspensions, then Hogan had to pull out of Sunday’s match after the death of his father.

And there’s always the matter of their abysmal Etihad Stadium record.

But after a scrappy first half Melbourne took control in the third term and ran over the top of Essendon.

It gives the Demons a 3-3 record in a season in which they are aiming for a finals return.

Goodwin acknowledged it was a big win.

“There’s been a lot going on and that’s what I said to the players after the game,” Goodwin said

“We had an opportunity, in a lot of ways, to reset the footy club, to get back to 3-3.

“Today, to find a way, under duress and pressure of what we’ve been going through, was just a sign of character for this footy club.”

Melbourne also reset at half time, particularly with how they were kicking into attack.

Essendon defender Michael Hurley had taken nine marks, but he only had two possessions in the third term.

“He was definitely giving us some grief in the first half, he took some mark intercepts,” Goodwin said.

“We were probably playing into his hands a little bit with the way we were moving the ball.

“The way we changed a little bit at halftime and adjusted with our ball movement gave our forwards a better look down inside 50.”

Goodwin was full of praise for their forwards – Jack Watts and Christian Petracca kicked four goals apiece, while Jeff Garlett and Mitch Hannan kicked three.

Cameron Pedersen, recalled to pinch-hit as a ruckman, also had a strong game, while defender Tom McDonald dominated and managed to kick a goal.

Lewis made a welcome return, capping his game with a goal from an impossible angle in the last term.

Goodwin said they will talk to Hogan this week about when he returns to the team, but stressed it is up to the key forward.

“He’s obviously going through a lot, his welfare is first and foremost to us,” he said.

“There’s no pressure from the football club.”

The Demons will fancy their chances next Sunday against Hawthorn, but Goodwin said he came away impressed last weekend when he scouted their win over West Coast.