MELBOURNE has kept its top-four chances alive with a 76-point defeat of Port Adelaide on Saturday night.

But the 20.12 (132) to 8.8 (56) win was soured by an ugly incident which will almost certainly see forward Jacob van Rooyen face MRO scrutiny for an attempted spoil on Power 200-gamer Aliir Aliir.

The second term hit, late and ill-guided, left Aliir concussed and puts van Rooyen in danger of missing a final.

With Port Adelaide’s season over for several weeks now, Melbourne wasted no time getting to work and had established a 36-point lead by quarter time.

Port’s willingness to kick long and high quite literally worked straight into the hands of the Demon defenders, who intercepted and propelled time after time. Melbourne was far more efficient having scored nine times from their first 11 inside-50s.

Port Adelaide improved after the first change, showing more intent to lower their eyes and use the corridor, but it didn’t stop the Demons from narrowly increasing their advantage.

With Aliir ruled out for the second half, an already-inexperienced Power defence missed their anchor, with the sting all but evaporated by halfway through the third quarter as the Demons continued to hit the scoreboard, registering six multiple goalkickers for the match.

Despite losing the clearance battle 44-30, Steven King’s side moved the ball without much fuss all game as it recorded their largest ever margin of victory over the Power.

The relentless Kade Chandler was outstanding all night in his 100th match, finishing with 18 disposals, nine tackles, six inside-50s and four goals.

Max Gawn (25 disposals and nine clearances) was as dominant as ever, while Bayley Fritsch (four goals) and Jack Steele (27 disposals) also impressed.

Ollie Wines and Jason Horne-Francis toiled hard for the Power and forward Mitch Georgiades booted four goals on return from illness.

Melbourne improved to 15-7 to be only percentage behind fourth-placed Hawthorn heading into the final round.

Melbourne will head back to its MCG fortress to take on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, while Port Adelaide’s season will draw to a close next Sunday against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.

PORT ADELAIDE      1.2     3.2     6.6      8.8 (56)
MELBOURNE             7.2     9.3    15.5     20.12 (132)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 4, Sweet 2, Marshall, Durdin
Melbourne: Fritsch 4, Chandler 4, Jefferson 3, Petty 2, van Rooyen 2, Laurie 2, Sparrow, Windsor, Steele

BEST
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Wines, Bergman, Sweet, Richards
Melbourne: Chandler, Gawn, Fritsch, Steele, Laurie, Jefferson, Tholstrup

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Aliir (concussion)
Melbourne: Nil

Crowd: 28,417 at Adelaide Oval