Eden Zanker has kicked four goals to help Melbourne close in on a top-two finish, steamrolling Sydney with a 44-point victory.
All eyes were on Kate Hore at Casey Fields to see whether the Demons captain would become the first AFLW player to kick 100 career goals.
But it was Zanker who led the way as the Demons held the Swans goalless across three quarters to set up a 9.11 (65) to 3.3 (21) win in Saturday's Pride Round fixture.
Hore is on 97 goals after kicking one major to go with her haul of 25 disposals and six clearances against the Swans.
Eliza McNamara was also busy for the Demons, as ruck Lauren Pearce dominated against Swans counterpart Ally Morphett.
Bouncing back from a loss to Fremantle last week, Melbourne move to second (8-2) after fellow top-four side Hawthorn suffered a surprise defeat to Port Adelaide on Friday.
But Saturday's result is a massive blow to the Swans' finals hopes, with Scott Gowans' side sitting ninth (5-5) with just two rounds remaining.
Sydney were sorely missing captain and star forward Chloe Molloy (back).
Laura Gardiner (31 disposals) saw plenty of the ball, but her efforts were not enough for the Swans.
Sydney held their nerve in a red-hot start to take a five-point lead at quarter-time, with Cynthia Hamilton drawing first blood.
Melbourne looked set to lose Sinead Goldrick after the reliable midfielder's head clashed with the Swans' Sarah Grunden in a tackle just seconds after the first bounce.
But Goldrick was able to return in the first quarter and she set up Hore's eye-catching goal with a daring run down the corridor.
Hore had pulled off a sensational dribble goal from the tightest of angles to keep Melbourne in the game early.
Jemma Rigoni, daughter of 107-game Demons player Guy, slotted her first AFLW goal to get the hosts off to an ideal start in the second half.
Melbourne flexed their experience in the second quarter to kick four goals to none and build a 19-point lead at halftime.
Unable to keep up with the tempo, the Swans could only add one behind in the second half after losing the contested possession count 100 to 129.
