On a windy afternoon, the reigning A-League premiers were in no mood to lose their fifth consecutive game in the Western Australian capital, showing their intent in the sixth minute as Hernandez fired them ahead.

Despite being without striker Branko Jelic, a late withdrawal with a virus, Glory refused to be bowed, drawing level through a spectacular Mile Sterjovski strike in the 19th minute.

Perth upped the intensity and should have gone ahead through a series of attacks just before the break that were miraculously saved by some desperate Melbourne defence.

But having weathered the storm, Melbourne responded in fine style 23 minutes from time, as Hernandez slid in to meet a powerful cross from Victory substitute Nathan Elasi, slipping the ball home to end Perth's unbeaten record at ME Bank Stadium this season.

The result sees Melbourne maintain the pressure on table-topping Sydney. Victory may remain in second position following their sixth win from the last seven games, but are just one point behind Sydney, as Glory slip to fifth by the end of this round and have now lost three matches on the trot.

Glory controlled the opening exchanges, though, but found themselves behind in the sixth minute as Melbourne took advantage of its first attack.

Perth's defence held off as Hernandez took possession and the Costa Rican whiz waltzed into the box and fired home a curling shot that deflected in off Chris Coyne.

Five minutes later, Hernandez tried once more with an effort flying over the bar, allowing Glory to breathe again and mount a few attacks of their own as an impressive Todd Howarth on the left sent a low effort skidding wide of the upright.

It was a sign of things to come, however, as Perth levelled proceedings through a venomous counter-attack two minutes later, with defender Jamie Coyne sweeping forward along the right wing and picking out Sterjovski.

Glory's marquee man may have spent two matches on the sidelines with an ankle injury but he controlled and turned with supreme class before slamming it into the back of the net from 25 metres.

It was just the lift the Glory faithful needed as their side upped the intensity and controlled proceedings before the break.

Coyne fired one cross-cum-shot narrowly over while Melbourne's goal led a charmed life deep in the half as Kevin Muscat cleared Eugene Dadi's header off the line, before Moss produced an incredible save to deny Dadi from point-blank range.

The break came at the worse possible time for Perth as it robbed the hosts of momentum and allowed Melbourne to re-group and produce a much more composed opening to the second period.

Neither side seemed likely to threaten the goal the goal however until Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick brought striker Nathan Elasi on for Mate Dugandzic in the 64th minute.

Within seconds Elasi had a chance, firing over the bar when he should have done better after being set up by the tireless Archie Thompson's unselfish cross.

But the youngster made amends in the 67th minute as he was picked out by Thompson again on the left. The Melbourne No. 10 scrapped desperately for the ball, before slipping it to Elasi, whose cross-cum shot found a lunge from Hernandez at the far post to give Victory the lead once again.

Having restored the advantage, Melbourne seemed content to soak up the pressure, but their defence was almost caught out when the ball landed perfectly for Adriano Pellegrino to attempt an on-target long-range effort that cannoned into Kevin Muscat's shoulder and over the bar.

And, deep into injury time, young Glory substitute Ludovic Boi fired in a superb cross that Glen Moss did well to see against the sun, allowing Melbourne to take the points.