Jump to content

AFLW: Rd 2 vs Collingwood

Demonland
Demonland
in AFLW Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

Great fun attending Vic Park yesterday.

I admit to struggling to engage with AFLW on TV and didn't really enjoy my only previous game, which was Round 1 last season on a baking hot day at Casey.  (Casey doesn't seem to work for me, either).

Yesterday's game was very entertaining and Melbourne could have / should have won by more.

What impressed me:

  • Melbourne's ruck and midfield was so much better than Collingwood's.  Melbourne's 2 rucks, in particular, seemed to win every hit out.  Statistically, the rucks only won 27 to 24 but none of their hit outs could have been to advantage.
  • Melbourne's structure around the contested ball was superb.  Time and time again, Melbourne players on the inside found good handball options.  Also, Melbourne player's skills in keeping their arms free in the tackle to lay off was superb.
  • Melbourne's tackling was ferocious, as were our spoiling skills.

Areas to improve:

  • Kicking and handball efficiency was rather frustrating.  I'm always a bit cautious as I find it hard to judge how much pressure players are under, but the blokes just kick it much better.
  • General awareness was poor at times when players took just a little too long to hand off.

Overall, I was very satisfied by both Melbourne's professionalism and the entertainment level.  Regarding the disposal efficiency, it may just show how much we take the men's team's accuracy and distance for granted.

Go Dees!

Edited by Traja Dee
Added another dot point to the "Impressed me" list.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    What impressed me (or rather who), Tyla Hanks. She is obviously going to be very good for us. Is there an AFLW market for rising star? If so, could be worth a dollar or two.

  • Quote
    •  

    COLLINGWOOD     0.2     0.2     0.2     1.3 (9)

    MELBOURNE     0.2     2.4     2.5     3.8 (26)

    GOALS

    Collingwood: Dargan

    Melbourne: O'Dea, Pearce, Hanks

    BEST

    Collingwood: Brazill, McIntosh, Rowe

    Melbourne: L Pearce, O'Dea, Mithen, Paxman, Emonson, Cunningham

    INJURIES

    Collingwood: Emma Grant (shoulder)

    Melbourne: TBC

    Reports: Nil

     

  • Quote

    Might be early days, although I’m unsure how long we can wait in a 7 week season before we make judgments, but it seems there’s quite an imbalance of strength with the conference system thus far. Top 5 teams in the league are from Conference A.

  • Quote

      On 11/02/2019 at 00:45, Dee Zephyr said:

    Might be early days, although I’m unsure how long we can wait in a 7 week season before we make judgments, but it seems there’s quite an imbalance of strength with the conference system thus far. Top 5 teams in the league are from Conference A.

    Freo’s improvement is a surprise but otherwise this was predictable. North recruited very well. Collingwood were decimated (by north) and Brisbane not far behind. Carlton were weak last year and haven’t substantially improved. I suspect conference A will win both semi finals fairly comfortably when we get to that stage

  • Quote
      On 09/02/2019 at 06:24, Demonland said:

    Lauren Pierce kicks the Dees second major. 

    Dees by 14. 

    I thought it was funny that no-one in the commentary seemed to noitice that the ball got into our forward fifty courtesy of a superb kick out of the centre by a Magpies player (can't recall who).  It was not mentioned once or even replayed.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Great atmosphere at Vic Park - by which I mean thousands of very quiet Pies supporters and a bunch of happy Dees! Just the way it should be.

    Again the wind wreaked havoc but we played it much better than they did. I liked our players' persistence and willingness to go again and again even when we weren't quite linking up. We looked much tighter and steadier down back. Although the Pies forward structure was nothing to write home about, we'll gain some confidence from being able to shut them down. Solid returns from Guest and Kemp. We looked better with Jakkobson down back and Cordner, Lampard and Downie took it up a notch. Emonson is very composed. Woodland also seemed more comfortable in game 2.

    Mithen is having the kind of season I was hoping for in the absence of Daisy. Her positioning's spot on and she's finding some space. L.Pearce's workrate and follow-up are great. Would love to know how many times she was able to take possession straight out. O'Dea and Paxman brought their usual level although Paxman really should have converted some of those chances.

    Not great conditions for getting the ball to Cunningham on the lead and Zanker didn't have many opportunities either but both found ways to be involved. Probably needed more out of Scott, Hore and Newman. On the other hand, Hanks showed some real spark.

    Must-win game next week. They all are, plus we'll be counting on some upsets down the track...

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
     

    Thanks for the report DIO.  Yes agree Jakkobsen looks better in defence and I thought O’Dea played above her ‘usual level’.

    Where do you see midfielder Maddie Gay?  Never noticed her at Carlton but read she sought tackling advice from Daisy coming from a netball background.  

    I am hoping the win builds confidence for a successful trip to Brisbane this week. Go Dees.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    I live a stone's throw from Victoria Park. Sadly I had another commitment that afternoon. Would love to have seen the Dees beat the filth.

  • Quote

      On 11/02/2019 at 07:32, Meggs said:

    Thanks for the report DIO.  Yes agree Jakkobsen looks better in defence and I thought O’Dea played above her ‘usual level’.

    Where do you see midfielder Maddie Gay?  Never noticed her at Carlton but read she sought tackling advice from Daisy coming from a netball background.  

    I am hoping the win builds confidence for a successful trip to Brisbane this week. Go Dees.

    Yeah, by 'usual level' I meant 'amazing' but maybe she was better than that - named in the team of the week!

    Can't say I noticed Gay's input much on the weekend, definitely more impact last week.

     

    Early days yet, but here's where the Dees stand for some key stats across the first 2 rounds:

    1st: handballs, contested possessions, hit outs, cont. marks, clearances

    2nd: behinds

    3rd: goals

    7th: marks

    8th: disp. eff. and kicks

    9th: tackles

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 66 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 526 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Richmond

      The match up of teams competing in our great Aussie game at its second highest level is a rarity for a work day Thursday morning but the blustery conditions that met the players at a windswept Casey Fields was something far more commonplace.They turned the opening stanza between the Casey Demons and a somewhat depleted Richmond VFL into a mess of fumbling unforced errors, spilt marks and wasted opportunities for both sides but they did set up a significant win for the home team which is exactly what transpired on this Anzac Day round opener. Casey opened up strong against the breeze with the first goal to Aidan Johnson, the Tigers quickly responded and the game degenerated into a defensive slog and the teams were level when the first siren sounded.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All