RELOAD by Meggs

The last game of Indigenous Round 7 sees Narrm flying to Perth to take on the 17th placed West Coast Eagles at the Perth Demons home ground, Mineral Resources Park, starting at 5:05pm Melbourne time.  

After being comprehensively outgunned by the Crows in last week’s second and third quarters, Narrm responded brilliantly to get within three points in the last, but alas it wasn’t enough.  

Eden Zanker was unstoppable with five goals against the best defensive unit in the AFLW.  Edo earned 8 coaches votes and is now top of the goalkicking table with 15 goals above Kate Hore with 14.  

Hanksy too was recognised with four coaches votes for her superior midfield exploits.  

With five wins and a good percentage we have a strong platform to reload our season heading into finals and we must aspire to secure a Top 2 position and the double chance.  

This all means they must make short work of West Coast on Sunday.  

AFLW ladder crystal ball gazing fun

Looking at the draw for the final four rounds, Meggs expects the Dees to have percentage boosting wins against West Coast and Fremantle (at Casey in Round 9).  

The blockbusters against North (Round 8 at Ikon) and Brisbane (Round 10, grand final rematch in Ipswich) will help determine the shape the Top Four.

The Brisbane game may well decide who wins the McClelland Trophy.  

If the Demons win all four matches, we are certainties to finish Top Two.  Drop 1 game and other results and percentage come in to play.

North has gimme games against Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs, but Meggs expects North to lose to Melbourne (Round 8) and Adelaide (Round 9 in Adelaide).  

Adelaide will continue winning, but Brisbane might outperform at their home ground in Round 8 and cause an upset.

This leaves Melbourne finishing as minor premiers by percentage from Adelaide and four teams on 28 points.  Meggs has Carlton, Richmond and Fremantle finishing outside the 8 on 20 points.  

It looks like it could be a very exciting finish to the home and away season.  

Irish players Aimee Mackin and Sinead Goldrick both suffered lateral ankle sprains against Adelaide.  The AFLW Head of High-Performance said that “if all things go to plan, they should be okay” to play on Sunday.  

Unfortunately, Loz Pearce suffered an AC sprain and is still sore so she will likely be replaced by Georgia Campbell.  Paxy will miss again due to concussion protocols.

Mick Stinear commented in the post-match presser that there are 3 or 4 non-playing squad members putting their hands up for selection.

After witnessing a lot of quiet performances last week, he may well select some fresh names.  Ivey, Chaplin, Wilson, Johnson, and Watt are a few experienced names available.

Our opponents, West Coast

The Eagles squad is similar to last season with no new key signings.  

Captain Emma Swanson is a consistent performer leading her team and is supported in the midfield by the capable Isabella Lewis, Irish player Aisling McCarthy and Dana Hooker.  Defenders Charlotte Thomas and Belinda Smith are important high possession players.  

West Coast had a nice win against the Power in round 5 but have been otherwise one of the competition’s weakest opponents.

Carlton beat them by 53 points in round 3 at Sunday’s venue.

Meggs view

Megg’s is anticipating a four quarter effort, where we maintain the contested footy rage, apply early scoreboard pressure and fly home with the four points. (plus a nice percentage boost).  

That’s not too much to ask?

Kate Hore, Tyla Hanks and Eden Zanker continue to play starring roles each week but a key strength of Narrm remains the depth and versatility of this playing group.  

We’ll miss Paxy again of course but we know that Liv Purcell, Lily Mithen, Eliza West and plenty of others will step up.  Last week Mick set Goldie and Blaithin Mackin midfield duties and they both excelled.

Time to reload and get back on the winners list.  

Go Dees!

Narrm by 48 points

THE GAME

West Coast v Narrm at Mineral Resources Park, Perth, on Sunday 15 October 2023 at 5:05pm (Melbourne time)

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Narrm 2 wins West Coast 0 wins

At Mineral Resources Park (Lathlain Park) West Coast Eagles 0 wins Narrm 0 wins

The Coaches Stinear 1 Prior 0 wins

MEDIA

TV - Fox Footy, Kayo
Mobile – AFL Live Official App
Radio – Check local guides

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 11.13 (79) defeated West Coast 0.1.1 (1) at Casey Fields, 29 October 2022

Daisy’s Dees scored a huge 78-point one-sided win against West Coast in challenging windy and wet conditions at Casey Fields in Sarah Lampard’s 50th game.

The match was the final round of the home and away season but the huge win felt more like a 1-point loss because one extra point would have secured the Season 7 minor premiership and the potential for a home grand final.

But with 9 goal kickers and a dominant midfield there were no complaints about finishing Top 2 from the Coach Mick Stinear.

Besides, only a few weeks later, we won our inaugural premiership so joyously on that sunny afternoon in Springfield.

MELBOURNE 3.5.23 5.8.38 7.12.54 11.13.79

WEST COAST EAGLES 0.0.0 0.1.1 0.1.1 0.1.1

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hore Zanker 2 Paxman Fitzsimon Purcell Bannan Mackin Hanks Heath

WEST COAST Nil

BEST

MELBOURNE Paxman Purcell Birch Hore Mithen

WEST COAST Thomas Roberts McCarthy Lackay

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

WEST COAST Nil

REPORTS 

MELBOURNE Nil

WEST COAST Nil

CROWD 726 at Casey Fields

THE TEAMS

WEST COAST

B Z. Wakfer S. McDonald
HB B. Smith E. Gooch C. Thomas
C J. Britton A. McCarthy C. Rowley
HF K. Gibson E. Roberts S. Davison
F A. Franklin D. Hooker 
FOLL S. Lakay I. Lewis E. Swanson
I/C (from) K. Bartlett E.  Elkington E. Hartill E. Humphries A. Schmidt J. Sedunary E. G. Smith L. Wakfer,

IN E. Elkington A. Franklin E. Humphries S. Lakay J. Sedunary

OUT S. Goranova (knee) M. Western (omitted)

NARRM

B L. Birch T. Gillard
HB S. Goldrick M. Chaplin S. Heath
C B. Mackin T. Hanks E. McNamara
HF A. Bannan M. Fitzsimon C. Sheriff
F E. Zanker K. Hore
FOLL G. Campbell E. West L. Mithen 
I/C (from) G. Colvin G. Gall J. Ivey S. Lampard A. Mackin O. Purcell R. Watt C. Wilson

IN G. Campbell M. Chaplin G. Gall J. Ivey  R. Watt C. Wilson

OUT M. Gay (soreness) T. Harris (hamstring) L. Pearce (shoulder)

MILESTONE 50 club games – Libby Birch (Narrm)

Injury List: Round 7

A Mackin (ankle) test
S Goldrick (ankle) test
L Pearce (Shoulder) test
P Paxman (concussion) 1 week