Edenhope product Tom McDonald made an emphatic return to form on Saturday afternoon.
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The big man collected 28 disposals, seven marks and booted three goals, as his Melbourne Demons secured a 13.7 (85) to 11.5 (71) victory against Fremantle.
McDonald started shakily in the opening stages at the MCG, but later proved to be the match winner.
With 17 minutes gone in the final quarter and the Demons just two points in front, McDonald took a stellar contested mark 50 metres out from goal and kicked truly to extend his side's lead.
Minutes later, McDonald collected a bouncing ball in the forward pocket, turned toward the boundary line and dribbled his kick through the big sticks, putting the game to bed.
"It was probably a bit of a yuck game to watch in the first half - scrappy, a lot of mistakes," McDonald said in a post-game interview with Melbourne Demons media.
"(but I'm) really happy with how the guys responded in the second half. (It was) a really good game for us."
McDonald has faced a litany of criticism so far this season.
After starting his career as a key defender, McDonald was a revelation up forward for the Demons in 2018, booting 53 goals in 20 matches.
But the former Edenhope-Apsley footballer has struggled to recapture that same form this season, having booted only eight goals across 12 games.
He said it was good to be back to his best on Saturday.
"It's a much better feeling coming in (to the locker room) afterwards," he said.
"And the fact that we won ... having it in combination is a nice feeling."
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said it was reward for McDonald's effort in his press conference.
"I was really proud of Tom, he's been under a lot of pressure externally," Goodwin said.
"First half he was touching the ball but it just wasn't going his way. But he worked hard ... he started marking the ball forward of center, and it makes a massive difference to our game."