Melbourne overcame a significant COVID-19 disruption to beat Richmond by 17 points at the Punt Road Oval, starting their AFLW season with back-to-back victories.
Premiership favorites were forced to drop Maddie Gay, Shelley Scott, Sarah Lampard, Casey Sheriff and Shelley Heath under the league's health and safety protocols.
And after facing an early Tigers blitzkrieg, the Monsters responded fiercely, scoring six goals in a row before running Friday night's 8.6 (54) to 6.1 (37) winners.
Richmond was also affected by COVID-19, with Sarah D'Arcy, Maddie Shevlin and Tayla Stahl all forced to sit out of the match, as well as Amelia Yasser (concussion) and Poppy Kelly (knee).
Kate Hoare (14 disposes) was instrumental in turning the tide in Melbourne's favour, kicking four scoring shots in the first quarter of the second quarter to give the Monsters the lead for the first time.
Veteran Karen Paxman was also impressive with 23 touches and a crucial goal just before three-quarter time was to quell the rising Tigers.
Monique Conti was the standout for Richmond with 25 disposals (15 contested), seven clearances, six tackles and a brilliant goal from 40m over the boundary.
The Demons took a major advantage in ball control, with 48 more disposals (228–180) and 31 more points (50–19) to capture the competition after quarter-time, giving the Tigers a clearance (22–19) and Inside 50s (20-13) in the last three quarters.
Richmond burst out of the blocks and made most of the attack early as they dominated the field fight and, thanks also to their fierce forward pressure, jumped through the first quarter to a 13-point lead.
The Tigers scored the first two goals, including a ripper on the run from Tessa Levy in the opening 15 seconds, and her pressure was seriously affecting Melbourne's kicking proficiency, causing the Demons to score several turnovers.
The Tigers won the final tackle count 61-40.
However, the visitors inspired by Hoare absorbed the opening attack and began to weigh down the Tigers at stoppage, booting the next six goals.
Making the most of the momentum, Demons teenager Alyssa Bannan kicked those two goals in the space of two minutes - a sensational goal-of-the-year contender that saw her sprint down the middle, took two bounces and made it to the 30m. drilled out from; Second a superb set shot from 35m at a sharp angle.
Demons champion Daisy Pearce's advance into the second stint, after a quiet start, was also instrumental in helping the visitors hold a 26-point lead at half-time.
And when Richmond refused to fly the white flag, scoring four goals in the second half, Melbourne's class and experience prevailed.