﻿SISTER ACT by Meggs

Posted September 23, 20231 yr

In the twilight at Frankston Oval, for the first ever match between Melbourne and Hawthorn, the Demons were clinical winning by 59 points and remain undefeated in Season Eight.

The Melbourne team ran out to a wonderful #DeeArmy banner paying tribute to Ron Barassi, ‘a football legend, the greatest Demon’.

So true!

Meggs was super excited to see Irish recruit Aimee Mackin playing her first game. Aimee quickly showed us that she belongs out there with composure, game sense and footy skills. She even outshone her li’l sister in the disposal count (13/11). Our competition-leading forwards group just got a bit better.

Vice-captain Tyla Hanks starred again amassing 26 disposals, 3 clearances, 10 contested possessions and 10 score involvements, surely another 10 coaches’ votes.

Eden Zanker (14 disposals, 8 marks) was a shining presence in our post-Daisy forward line and delivered a purple patch in the third quarter kicking a career-high three goals in as many minutes. Superstar Edo!

Tayla Harris has been awesome this season with her 1%ers and contested marking. Her strength at the contest must lift her teammates.

Other mentions include Pearce and Campbell who won the ruck contest, game-high possession winner Liv Purcell (29) was everywhere, as was Mithen, Westy, McNamara and Paxy. Hore and Heathy continue their fine seasons too.

Thirteen players on the ground had less than ten disposals for the match but only two of them were Demons. Such an even team contribution makes us difficult to stop.

The setting sun was playing havoc with TV camera people, commentators, coaches, and players. Presumably this timeslot was scheduled to suit the Men’s Preliminary Final. Not ideal.

The Hawks had taken some learnings from their earlier practice match against us by winning the tackle count (79/57) and the inside 50s (31/30) but ultimately the Demons were unstoppable.

The Hawks midfield group including Bates, Lucas-Rodd, Kashy, and young Fleming got their hands on the ball enough and tried to unsettle the Dees at times with great pressure.

Irishwoman Aine McDonagh impressed with her goal and Stratton took a couple of forward 50 marks but one goal for a match won’t win you many games.

In terms of the game:

Q1 With under 5 minutes left to play, the Demons using their trademark run and carry, take the ball from deep in Hawthorn’s forward 50 all the way to the goal square where resting ruck Lauren Pearce kicks the opener.

Meggs’ favourite bit of this play was Georgia Campbell bumping Hawk midfield maestro Bates out of the contest so she loses control of the footy, allowing Maeve Chaplin to intercept and kick downfield.

Hanks then artfully directs this play (with three handballs), and Westy, Zanker, B Mackin, Sherriff and Banno are all involved. Scintillating stuff.

Then two minutes later, that sibling moment!

A Mackin traps the ball, baulks, and left foots it toward goal and B Mackin is waiting near the goalpost. We all think the ball will bounce through for a goal but it’s a Sherrin and has its own ideas. No probs for Blaithin who controls the footy under pressure from two Hawks and finishes off her sister’s good work.

¼ time: Dees 2.4.16 Hawks 0.1.1

Q2 Mithen hits up Hore who goals. How many times has Lil passed to Kate? (And vice versa?)

Another end-to-end Demon goal results in a Bannan major. Casey Sherriff is down with what looks like a corkie but Banno’s ankle seems fine.

A goalless first half by Hawthorn. Defenders doing well.

½ time: Dees 4.6.30 Hawks 0.3.3

Q3 Tyla Hanks hits up Kate Hore on a nice lead inside 50. Kate then passes to Eliza Mac directly in front. Lize goals and celebrates in her unique dancing style. Number 22 is a joy to watch.

Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh wins a free kick and slots a lovely left foot goal from the boundary line.

Next is that hat-trick of goals by Eden Zanker.

The last one features a ‘don’t argue’ from Hanksy, a brilliant defensive smother by Loz Pearce who recovers and handballs to Hore who kicks to the top of the square to Edo.

We are blitzing them.

Interestingly our ¾ time score of 8.7.55 was the same as it was against the Bulldogs last week, but the Bulldogs had scored 5 more goals.

¾ time: Dees 8.7.55 Hawks 1.5.11

Q4 No one scores a goal against Melbourne in last quarters (well not for a long time). This game was to be no different with the Hawks failing to even score a point.

Kate kicks one goal and Tayla the other (after some nice work from the busy Liv Purcell).

The siren sounds and it’s a convincing 59-point win. Dees 10.10.70 Hawks 1.5.11.

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Assistant Shae Sloane was the matchday coach. She was pleased with how her team was able to stay calm with ball in hand under heaps of Hawthorn pressure.

Hawks coach Bec Goddard was pleased with her team’s pressure and happy the Hawks won the inside 50 count.

Next week Melbourne take on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday September 28 at 6:15pm. The Cats will be a much stiffer opponent, especially at home.

MELBOURNE 2.4.16 4.6.30 8.7.55 10.10.70

HAWTHORN 0.2.2 0.3.3 1.5.11 1.5.11

GOALS

MELBOURNE Zanker 3 Hore 2 Bannan Harris B. Mackin McNamara Pearce

HAWTHORN McDonagh

BEST

MELBOURNE Hanks Purcell Paxman Zanker Heath Mithen

HAWTHORN Bates Lucas-Rodd McDonagh Wales Eardley Fleming

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

HAWTHORN Nil

REPORTS