Geelong slumped to its fourth successive AFL loss as Melbourne wound back a 21-point third-quarter deficit to win a thriller by six points at the MCG.

In a wet weather arm-wrestle, the Demons won 13.9 (87) to 11.15 (81) - a victory which seemed unlikely until late in the third quarter.

Geelong led narrowly at both quarter-time and halftime, then turned on the power in rain-swept, slippery conditions to lead by 20 points midway through the third term.

The Cats could have opened up a 26-point lead had Josh Hunt not missed a sitter from 25m directly in front.

But the Demons, led by midfielders Cameron Bruce, Brock McLean and Adem Yze, stormed back late to grab a three-point lead going into the final change.

Three goals in time-on in the third term to Aaron Davey, Matthew Bate and Jeff White brought Melbourne back from the dead, before Davey scored a remarkable goal from the boundary eight minutes into the final term to push the lead out to nine points.

Yze kicked a goal to extend the Demons' lead to 13 points, but Geelong fought back to within five points at the 23-minute mark when James Bartel kicked his third goal.

But despite Geelong's Matthew Scarlett putting Demon hearts in mouths with a scrambling behind with seconds remaining to cut the margin to a goal, Melbourne hung on to post its third victory of the season.

Geelong now slumps to 2-4 after winning its opening two matches of the season.

Davey, Bruce, Russell Robertson and first-gamer Lynden Dunn kicked two goals each for Melbourne.

Bartel and Paul Chapman led the Cats' scorers with three each.

Geelong skipper Steven King, who had been named in the Cats team, was a late withdrawal because of his ongoing hamstring problem.

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