Melbourne have escaped any serious injuries and will enter Friday’s semi-final against Hawthorn threatening to become the fairytale club of the 2018 AFL season.

Following drought-breaking wins by Western Bulldogs (in 2016) and Richmond (2017), Melbourne are shaping as a similar tale, trying to win their first premiership since 1964. In their first final since 2006 against Geelong at the MCG on Friday night, the Demons won by 29 points.

Coach Simon Goodwin paid tribute to the influence of the club’s supporters who helped pack the MCG with more than 91,000 people.

“To have 91,000 there for a Melbourne final, the support we got tonight was absolutely unbelievable and they played a huge part,’’ he said. “They get in behind a team they can believe in, and we need them again next week because they were pretty instrumental for us tonight.’’

The Hawks, who are set to lose versatile defender Ben Stratton through a hamstring injury, beat Melbourne easily in round four in their only meeting this year.