The confluence of two events ensured it wasn't going to be Melbourne's night at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The first was those god-awful away jumpers that the Demons were forced to wear. We're generally in favour of some sort of arrangement where the home team gets its choice of strip and the away team wears a predominantly white jumper.

But the Demons have never got it right. They've tried a few different types of away jumpers, some grey, some white, but the Demons have never looked fearsome, never appearing as though they've come to play.

That was the first strike against the Demons. The second was the venue. The Demons hadn't won at Etihad Stadium in 10 attempts and Friday night's feeble 64-point loss to the Western Bulldogs made it 11.

Ricky Petterd's genuine mark-of-the-year attempt aside, it was a dreadful night for the Demons. Smashed in the midfield and rarely dangerous close to goal, there was nothing to get excited about if you are of the red and blue persuasion.

And it was the sort of performance that quite rightly puts the pressure on coach Dean Bailey. It was an important game for Melbourne, in the eight and able to control its own destiny, yet with so much to play for, they looked soft and uncommitted. The football world, and even more so, Demon supporters are crying out for their side to show some consistency and to win the games they're supposed to, or to fight their way through some adversity. On Friday night, they got nothing and not for the first time, the heat is back on the coach.The team will again be labeled as a bunch of downhill skiiers and this time, deservedly so.

The Demons are in the eight and will drop out if North beats St Kilda. And the Dogs are back in the finals hunt, a game and a half out of the eight.

A look at the best four players for the Bulldogs is most instructive. Ryan Griffen was their best with 28 touches and two goals and he is a bit of a barometer. When he plays well, the Bulldogs usually win. And Griffen was in everything, despite a brutal bump from Brent Moloney in the third quarter that sent him from the ground for a bit.

Adam Cooney had 26 touches in his best effort for the year. The knee soreness appeared to be gone and the way he hit the contest at the opening bounce of the third quarter would have gladdened all Bulldogs hearts. It was 2008 all over again.

Callan Ward had 25 touches, showed his class again and if nothing else, drove up even further the price a) the Bulldogs will have to pay to keep him or b) the Giants to pinch him.

And then there's Daniel Giansiracusa, who added another four goals in what is becoming a good season, particularly since Jason Akermanis said his uncalled for two cents' worth.

Credit to the Dogs for lifting when the heat was on. Shame the Demons could not do the same.