MELBOURNE fell 16 points short of West Coast on Friday night, but was brave on the big stage of Optus Stadium.

Check out the best photos taken throughout the night by Melbourne Media and AFL Photos (Daniel Carson).

James Harmes

Billy Stretch

Nathan Jones

Jayden Hunt

Simon Goodwin watches the boys warm-up

Bayley Fritsch

Indigenous ceremony 

Team huddle

Jack Viney

Alex Neal-Bullen

Max Gawn

Marty Hore

Angus Brayshaw

Billy Stretch

Post-game