GIANT KILLERS by Meggs

No Paxy, no problems, as Melbourne kicked the equal third highest score in AFLW history to romp home against Greater Western Sydney (GWS) in Canberra by 77 points. Paxman had played in all the Demons previous 65 games but was a late withdrawal due a quad injury. Speedy recovery Paxy.

Our Giant Killer, Captain Kate Hore was awesome with 23 disposals, 420 metres gained, 6 tackles and 5 goals 2 behinds. Her confidence in her ability to win the ball seems sky high and she plays all over the ground with such aplomb. 

When all the AFLW captains were asked ‘if you could recruit another player from any AFLW club who would it be?’, three captains chose our number 10.  They know what they’re talking about. 

Clearly the longer games and rotation cap is advantaging teams like Melbourne and North Melbourne. The Dees slammed on seven goals in the last quarter and the Roos kicked five goals in theirs.

We will continue to see more goals this year, across the league. Gold Coast matched the Dees kicking 99 points too. 

The forward line was really strong on Sunday and always looked dangerous. As for the defenders, Chaplin did well in her first game back while Goldie, Gillard, Birch and crew appeared more confident this week. 

Our best players Hore, Lampard, Hanks, Pearce, Purcell were well supported by an even team effort.

Our list management has been meticulous, and we have managed to keep and develop our players at Melbourne. There are 16 players with 30 AFLW games or more of which 8 players have over 50 games. 

Melbourne now has a historical win loss ratio of 75.8%, the highest in the competition.

It really was an outstanding performance by the team. So many contributors which highlights our even spread of talent and that versatility to which Mick Stinear often refers.

The Dees are second on the ladder after two games with the Top 4 looking strangely like Meggs predicted, that is North Melbourne, Adelaide, and Geelong.  All teams have percentages over 200%.

In terms of the game:

Q1 GWS win the first centre clearance and goal within 20 seconds. Impressive start but weren’t we going to open with higher intensity this week?

Spoke too early. Within a minute our skipper had kicked two wonderful goals, one from a contested mark and the other was a nice snap.

Zanker snags another for the Dees before Doyle marks and goals for the Giants’ second. 

Goldie finds Hore directly in front who kicks her third goal.  What an impressive quarter by Kate.

¼ time: GWS 2.1.13 Dees 4.1.17

Q2 Within 2 minutes of the restart Mackin has kicked another goal. 

Hanksy’s skill level is on another plane. Her precision by hand and foot is sublime  Her pass to Bannan is perfectly weighted and she outsprints her opponents and to kick a nice goal.  We are getting on top. 

Hanks then hits up Harris inside 50 on the boundary line.  Tayla then centres to Lampard who marks and duly converts.  Our number 8 is having a good game.

½ time: GWS 2.1.13 Dees 7.5.47

Q3 GWS come out a bit stronger after halftime and it’s an arm wrestle for the quarter with each team scoring just the one goal. One from the experienced GWS campaigner Eva but the Dees‘ goal deserves a special mention. 

Kate Hore marks inside 50 from a well-weighted long pass from Liv Purcell. Kate knows this shot looks close to the edge of her kicking distance. As the ball heads straight towards goal, Tayla first bumps tall defender Cambridge McCormick to her left and then solidly bumps Pepa Randall to her right to clear a path for Kate’s kick to sail through at head height.  Nice one Tay!

¾ time: GWS 3.3.21 Dees 8.7.55

Q4 A seven goal to nil last quarter was a procession but still entertaining to watch. Well fun for Dees fans anyway.

A botched kick in by GWS results in a nice snap by Purcell for her first goal. Bannan gets her second, the result of a Lauren Pearce forward 50 entry.  Loz is playing really well today.

Purcell and Lampard both score their second goals.  57 points up.

Another forward 50 entry by Pearce results in a goal from a free kick after Lily Mithen was tripped.

Banno gets her third goal from a clever snap from the pocket.

The last goal was created by Dees keeping the ball alive and aptly it’s Kate Hore who gets on the end of the good play to score her fifth goal.

GWS have only kicked a solitary point in this half while the Dees have managed 44 points in the final term alone.

It’s a convincing 77 point win and 99 points is Melbourne’s second highest all time score.

Full time: Dees 15.9.99 defeated GWS 3.4.22

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said GWS played a good brand of contested footy. A taxing game. Versality is a strength of our playing group.  He was happy to earn the four points on the road.

GWS coach Cam Bernasconi was disappointed with Melbourne’s seven last quarter goals which created a ‘sour ending’ to the night for his team. He felt GWS was still in the game at ¾ time. 

Next week we take on old rivals, the Western Bulldogs at Casey Fields on Saturday September 16 at 3:05pm.

MELBOURNE 4.1.25 7.5.47 8.7.55 15.9.99

GWS GIANTS 2.1.13 2.1.13 3.3.21 3.4.22

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hore 5 Bannan 3 Lampard Purcell 2 Mackin Mithen Zanker

GWS GIANTS Doyle Eva Garnett

BEST

MELBOURNE Hore Hanks Purcell Lampard Pearce

GWS GIANTS Barr Eva Evans Parker Beeson

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

GWS GIANTS Nil

LATE CHANGES

GWS GIANTS Annalyse Lister (calf) replaced in selected side by Caitlin Miller

MELBOURNE Nil