Melbourne have shocked the Brisbane Lions in a rampant final quarter to notch an 11-point comeback win that breathed life into an AFL campaign that looked shot.
The Demons trailed by 24 points in the first half as the Lions flashed some of their brilliant best.
But it fell apart for the reigning premiers as a 4.8 to 1.1 final term Lions coach Chris Fagan described as an "annihilation" helped the Demons triumph 14.15 (99) to 13.10 (88).
The result follows the Lions' (7-2-1) lacklustre draw against another bottom-four side North Melbourne last week, and adds fuel to the under-pressure Demons' (4-6) season that looked in turmoil at 0-5.
"It took three quarters of hard work to reel that in; I'm so proud they hung in there," Dees coach Simon Goodwin said.
"In terms of how we're starting to transition our team ... tonight's a night you start to get some reward and belief.
"But it's one win. Still a lot of work to do to be the team we want to become."
Clayton Oliver (23 disposals, seven clearances, one goal) surged back into form, using his tagging role on Lachie Neale (30 disposals) to build confidence and have an impact in attack.
Max Gawn bossed the ruck against Darcy Fort, winning hit-outs 54-17, after Oscar McInerney was a late out for the Lions with soreness.
Darcy Gardiner had shaped as the unlikely match-winner for Brisbane, the remodelled forward kicking a career-high four goals after managing just nine in his previous 168 AFL games.
Logan Morris kicked three and was among the many Lions looking sharp in the first half as they threatened to blow the game open.
But Jake Melksham (three goals) was impressive in his duel with Harris Andrews at the other end and the Lions kept turning the ball over - invitations the Demons eventually accepted.
"We're a team. Just because you played a certain role at one stage in your career," Goodwin said of Oliver's second week in a tagging role.
"We saw tonight Clayton starting to evolve himself back to the player we all knew.
"The last two weeks has given him genuine purpose. He wanted to take this up and really show he can help the team around the ball."
The Lions led by 14 points at the final break but lost their run as the Demons moved the ball freely and had 21 inside-50s.
Keidean Coleman had early impact in his first game for 14 months, his first touch a laser-like kick that surged the Lions forward and led to a Jaspa Fletcher goal.
That triggered some sharp ball movement and when Gardiner marked and goaled to begin the third term the margin was four majors.
Oliver helped swing momentum, his desperation allowing Pickett an easy goal before the midfielder snatched possession and snapped a rare goal of his own.
A series of misses early in the fourth quarter weren't costly for the Demons, who kept coming as Brisbane relinquished top spot on the ladder to Collingwood.
"That's two weeks in a row now where we've had a lead at half-time and we've coughed it up," Fagan said.
"The last quarter they annihilated us, really. On entries, on scores, you name it, they got the better of us.
"We've got a bit of work to do after that."
