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Melbourne have beaten a wasteful Greater Western Sydney by 16 points, snapping a four-game losing run to keep their slim AFLW finals hopes alive.
Coach Mick Stinear says allowing Melbourne to relax, get back to basics and enjoy their footy proved the spark that delivered a win over GWS and reignited their AFLW season.
The injury-ravaged Demons snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday night, with skipper Kate Hore starring and Alyssa Bannan kicking two goals to set the tone in a 6.5 (41) to 3.7 (25) win at Ikon Park.
With their first win since round one, Melbourne (2-4, eight points) rise to 13th on the ladder, four points and percentage behind eighth-placed St Kilda, who have a game in hand.
"It was just good to see them enjoy that winning feeling. Really proud of them," Stinear said.
"At the end of last week it was 'OK. How do we help this group, get the best out of it. How do we help them enjoy their footy, connect a bit more?'"
"Today was more about still getting back to having strong weeks and letting go of any expectation and then just playing the game.
"As coaches, we probably simplified things and allowed them to do their thing. Perhaps we've been the ones getting in the way."
Injury relief is on the horizon too, with Paxy Paxman (foot) and Eliza McNamara (nose) potentially returning within a week.
For 15th-placed GWS (1-1-4, six points), the loss was a hammer blow to their own finals aspirations with five games to go.
Hore (27 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 12 clearances) was typically prolific in warm conditions, with support from Tyla Hanks (seven clearances, 19 disposals).
Alyce Parker (29 disposals, 18 contested possessions, eight clearances), and skipper Rebecca Beeson (28 touches) were busy while Brodee Mowbray sparked the Giants with two third-term goals.
Beeson could come under scrutiny for a fourth-quarter tackle on Hore where the Demons skipper's head slammed into the turf.
Cracking goals to Bannan and Alyssia Pisano gave Melbourne the perfect start.
Melbourne led by 11 at quarter time, then put the foot down to lead by 22 at halftime.
Mowbray's two goals cut the three-quarter time margin to 18 while Zarlie Goldsworthy dribbled through a late major to reduce the deficit to 10 with two minutes to go.
But GWS couldn't complete their comeback.
"Tonight's just the story of our first half of the season," coach Cam Bernasconi said.
"We've improved so many facets of our game, and we're in games for longer, but just our inability to execute in moments has just cost us, and that's why we've only won one game.
"I just wish we started games with that mindset of being a bit more fearless, instead of always chasing teams down."
Melbourne face Adelaide away next Wednesday, while the Giants face St Kilda at Frankston's Kinetic Stadium on Tuesday.