MATCH REPORT - SLIM ODDS

[Demonland 73,281]

SLIM ODDS by Bewitched 

An errant Melbourne blew its premiership chances with a five point loss in the rain against previously winless Greater Western Sydney Giants at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney.

The Demons simply could not find the goals in a game in which they doubled the home team's scoring shots and managed 29 inside 50s to 13.

The game was lost in the opening quarter when the Giants scored two goals to nil. After that they managed 1.1 to 1.8 and that was the story of the game.

The Demons' big guns in Karen Paxman and Daisy Pearce played strongly but the team simply didn't have the firepower up forward in the wet conditions to convert the opportunities that came their way. 

With Carlton winning their game at the weekend Melbourne's chances of making the grand final are slim. They must win both remaining games and hope that other results fall their way but when you go through a game and have so many opportunities and finish with just a single goal, the odds are slim.

Melbourne 0.1.1 0.3.3 1.4.10 1.9.15

Greater Western Sydney Giants 2.1.13 2.1.13 3.1.19 3.2.20

Goals

Melbourne Phillips

Greater Western Sydney Giants Barclay Beeson Schmidt 

Best

Melbourne Paxman Pearce Mithen

Greater Western Sydney Giants Dal Pos Swanson Collier Williams Barclay

Injuries

Melbourne A Newman (corked)

Greater Western Sydney Giants Nil

Umpires Barr Garroway Geddes

Estimated crowd 2,000 at Blacktown International Sportspark 

[puntkick 325]

I' m almost totally lost as to how to reply to this but how good was Sarah Perkins 28 tonight ?

Stuff your body profiles and training !

[Akum 2,660]

On the one hand, it's been a ridiculous Feb & March. Out of the 5 games so far, they've played one (Bris) in a thunderstorm, one (Carl) in a strong wind blowing straight down the ground, and one (GWS) on a wet slippery surface. The worst of midwinter conditions, but in the opposite part of the year.

On the other hand, they play a great brand of dry-weather football, moving it quickly & accurately and hand passing their way out of tight spots ...

... which completely falls apart in adverse conditions.

And suddenly it's all over. The pity is that their performance was great - they dominated every game - but don't have the results to show for it.

[puntkick 325]

Akum Its not quite over yet.When did you last have an interest in Feb or March in the MFC

Hang a bit longer boyou

[beelzebub 23,388]

When you can't hurt the scoreboard, it's over.

When your coach knows only one idea of football but can't read Bom map it's over before it starts.

Shame. Dees deserve better in this format.

[Akum 2,660]

4 hours ago, beelzebub said:

When you can't hurt the scoreboard, it's over.

When your coach knows only one idea of football but can't read Bom map it's over before it starts.

Shame. Dees deserve better in this format.

Yeah. The irony is that in the wet, teams that try to move it systematically won't do as well as teams that just hack it forward any old how.

[Akum 2,660]

11 hours ago, puntkick said:

Akum Its not quite over yet.When did you last have an interest in Feb or March in the MFC

Hang a bit longer boyou

Perhaps their last two games will be on sunny days with no wind and a firm surface, and we'll have percentage-boosting wins against Crows & Freo. 

[Little Goffy 14,678]

It is still plausible to make the top 2 if we give Adelaide a nice belting next week. But you'd have to say, 3rd/4th is the level we've played at overall.

On the bright side, aside from a few top veterans, we did select a young team and we are setting up for a dynasty.

It remains as clear as ever, the clubs which commit the most resources to get their women's team up to professionalism will dominate for years, especially once there's the full year to prepare, instead of a short pre-season with people plucked out of obscurity by surprise.