BACK ON TOP by Meggs

[Demonland 73,207]

There was buzzing in the grandstand, for the word had passed around that the mighty Crows had fallen during the day.  It had opened up a glitch for one of the two teams on the pitch to sit alone atop of the array.  

By the end of the night, it was Narrm, with our trademark #DemonSpirit, just too good for too long and BACK ON TOP, on percentage, of the AFLW Season Eight premiership ladder.  

It was an impressive defensive display by Narrm at its favourite home ground, with North scoring a solitary point after quarter time.

The modest crowd numbers would have disappointed the powers that be but nevertheless, it was a pleasure to feel the twilight atmosphere at Ikon and witness the football spectacle on such an immaculate playing surface.  

The majority crowd were Narrm supporters who Meggs is sure thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Vice-Captain Tyla Hanks was clearly the best player on the ground and should earn the 10 coaches votes this week.  

The media heaps praise on coaches votes leader Jas Garner (who is typically outstanding) but she won’t vote this week thanks to Shelley Heath’s monumental containment effort.  

Liv Purcell too was prolific too with her characteristically strong performance.  

The Dees really spread the load having 13 different players with more than 10 possessions while North had only 9.  Meggs had Hanks, Purcell, Hore, Mithen, B. Mackin, Gillard and Heath as the best players but there were quite a few others that could have been mentioned.

It was said that Libby Birch looks comfortable behind the microphone and her defensive group was truly excellent on Saturday.

Now having secured top spot, they need to maintain it by knocking off Freo next week at Casey and then defeat Brisbane in Round 10.  If they do, we the minor premiership, Dr McLelland Trophy, a handy $1m plus first dibs on a home grand final.  

This season is so much fun to watch, hope you are enjoying it too.

 In terms of the game:

Wurundjeri elder Uncle Bill Nicholson Jnr gives a rousing welcome to country, Emma Kearney with Mia King wins the coin toss and finally we are underway.

Q1 Lots of talk from the commentators about how to stop Jas Garner.  It doesn’t take them long to work out that the Narrm Coach Mick Stinear has sent Heater (Shelley Heath) to blanket her.

North with some good pressure score the first goal by Irish player Niamh Martin, her first in AFLW.

Meggs notices Fitzsimon, a late inclusion, picking up goal-sneak Alice O’Loughlin. A 50-metre infringement by Erika O’Shea leads to Casey Sherriff taking her shot from 30 metres and she nails it. All square.

Isn’t it great to see Paxy back out there? Hanksy seems to be everywhere.  

The Dees fail to clear the ball and it ends up with North’s Tess Craven who kicks a long bomb from 45 metres to take the lead.  

¼ time: Dees 1.1.7 Kangaroos 2.1.13

Q2 Maeve Chaplin is tackled by Amy Smith, sister of Joel, and goes off hurt.

Soon Kate Hore takes a ripper contested mark 25 metres out and converts. Kate you star!

The Dees are starting to win the ball and run and carry.  Some exciting passages.  

Heathy is having a great quarter. Kate then gets on the end of good run but hits the post.

Thankfully we see Chappy ready to come back on. She’s one tough cookie.

Georgia Campbell wins a ruck infringement and goals. A very happy team celebration ensues.

A good quarter from Narrm and Paxy confirms that it’s a hot contest out there.

½ time: Dees 3.4.22 Kangaroos 2.1.13

Q3 Narrm continues to apply team pressure.

Hanksy outclasses everyone from a ball up, showing off her speed and skill, to kick a brilliant goal.

With the first four inside 50s for the quarter it feels like Narrm is in control. But then the final few minutes of the quarter are played out in North’s forward half.  

Charlotte Wilson with stoic defence has some of her best moments in a Narrm jumper.

No score for North that quarter.  ¾ time: Dees 4.5.29 Kangaroos 2.1.13

Q4 Narrm proves yet again they are the 4th quarter specialists by keeping their opponents goalless.

Gilliard taking lots of contested marks while Purcell, Hanks, Heathy and everyone are buzzing and making it impossible for North to get back into this game.

Eventually Zanker takes a strong contested mark and superbly goals from 40 metres out and it is game over Roos.

Dees 5.7.37 Kangaroos 2.2.14.

Coaches and next week

Narrm Coach Mick Stinear said it was a really tough game of footy and we showed effort for four quarters.  

He was particularly pleased with the strength of our team defence and our ability to maintain the ball in the forward half. He wasn’t worried about the lack of scoring, citing a couple of misses on the goal line.  

He praised Shelley Heath for her run-with roll on Jasmine Garner, using her speed to limit Jas’ usual output.

North coach Darren Crocker said his team tonight was not the real North Melbourne, that’s not the way we want to play.  He said to Narrm’s credit they put North under a lot of pressure and his team couldn’t move the ball like they have against lesser sides.  

Next week we are back at Casey Fields to take on Fremantle at 1:05pm Saturday 28 October 2023 while North journey to the City of Churches for another testing Top Four clash against Adelaide next Sunday.

NARRM  1.1.7 3.4.22 4.5.29 5.7.37 

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.2.14

GOALS

NARRM Campbell Hanks Hore Sherriff Zanker

NORTH MELBOURNE Craven Martin 

BEST

NARRM Hanks Purcell Hore Mithen B Mackin Gillard 

NORTH MELBOURNE Riddell Kearney M King Garner O'Shea Ferguson

LATE CHANGES 

NARRM Aimee Mackin (ankle) and Gab Colvin (Achilles) replaced in selected side by Megan Fitzsimon and Charlotte Wilson

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

INJURIES 

NARRM Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

REPORTS 

NARRM Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

UMPIRES Howard Morgan Simmonds

CROWD 2,704 at Ikon Park