ALLY’S FIELDS by Meggs

[Demonland 71,120]

It was a sunny morning at Casey Fields, as Demon supporters young and old formed a guard of honour for fan favourite and 50-gamer Alyssa Bannan.  Banno’s banner stated the speedster was the ‘fastest 50 games’ by an AFLW player ever.

 

For Dees supporters, today was not our day and unfortunately not for Banno either. A couple of opportunities emerged for our number 6 but alas there was no sizzle.

 

Brisbane atoned for last week’s record loss to North Melbourne, comprehensively outplaying Melbourne for four quarters winning by 3 goals.  

The Lions won the contestedball (129/104), clearances (33/19) and hitouts (37/30).  They had winners on each line and dynamic spearhead, Dakota Davidson, kicked 3 goals.

 

Brisbane’s decorated midfielder Ally Anderson racked up, an AFLW record, 43 possessions, while gaining 599m.  Our Coach Mick Stinear would later comment that maybe he should have sent Shelley Heath to mark Ally earlier than the final quarter.  Yep.

 

It was Ally’s ‘Casey Fields’ today, she was outstanding.  She’s locked in the 10 coaches’ votes, for sure.

 

For the Dees

 

Our best player Kate Hore spent time in the centre square and forward but could not emulate her heroics of last week.  The close company of Brisbane Captain Bre Koenen kept Kate to 10 possessions, but she never gives up and scored a late goal and laid a game-high 10 tackles. 

 

It didn’t help that our number one ruck Loz Pearce injured her scaphoid (wrist bone) at training on Thursday. Her place in the selected side was taken by debutante and goal sneak Alyssia Pisano. 

 

Georgia Campbell was selected for the injured Tayla Harris, played the number one ruck role and did well.   

 

Sarah Lampard tagged the dangerous Sophie Conway and Irish midfielders Blaithin Mackin and Sinead Goldrick (who was the Dees’ top disposal winner with 20) were both super again.

 

Tyla Hanks was probably Melbourne’s best and most effective player. The quality of her disposals and clearance work was back to her usual high standard.

 

Paxy did well marshalling our embattled new-look defence which mostly held up for long periods under duress.  Chaplin had another good game and audibly crunched Ruby Svarc in the last quarter.  

 

Unfortunately, only 7 players managed to have more than 10 possessions.  Not enough contributors today. A meagre two goals will not win you many matches (notwithstanding our S7 grand final effort on hastily laid new turf).

 

What’s Your Decision?

 

In the third quarter Ruby Svarc marked the ball in front of goal which was deemed not 15 metres and called ‘play on’.  Goldie immediately tackled Ruby who clearly dropped the ball.  The umpire adjudicated that Goldie’s tackle lingered and paid Ruby a free kick from which she converted.  

 

From where Meggs was watching, it was incorrect disposal.

 

Moment of the match

 

With less than 2 minutes to play in the third quarter, debutante Alyssia Pisano kicks her first goal in AFLW.  She was involved a couple of moments of excellent coast-to-coast play by the Dees.  

 

Hopefully it’s an exciting glimpse of what fans can expect to see from our new number 3.

 

Coaches and next week

 

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said Brisbane won contest, won clearance and outworked us.  He said we defended okayfor large parts of the game, but he gave full credit to the Lions, they deserved the win.

 

Losing high quality All-Australian players Purcell, Harris and Pearce in the past few weeks was definitely a factor.  However, he says we have list depth which has givenopportunities to Georgia Campbell in the ruck, Sarah Lampard and Sinead Goldrick in the midfield, and Alyssia Pisano to play her first game. 

 

Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich was pleased that the Casey Fields win/loss ledger is now in Brisbane’s favour. A four-quarter effort.

  

Restricted the opposition and did well in transition.  Ally Anderson was phenomenal today; she just keeps improving.  

 

We are back at Casey Fields next Sunday to play North Melbourne.  Another tough game, this time against the 2024 premiership favourite, starting at 1:05pm.  

 

Looking forward to us bouncing back. Go Dees!

 

MELBOURNE 0.2 0.3 1.3 2.3 (15)


 

BRISBANE 2.0 2.0 3.3 5.3 (33)

 

GOALS 


 

MELBOURNE Hore
 Pisano

 

BRISBANE Davidson 3 Smith R Svarc

 

BEST 


 

MELBOURNE Hanks Mackin Goldrick Paxman


 

BRISBANE Anderson Boltz Koenen Davidson Dawes

 

INJURIES 


 

MELBOURNE Zanker (right elbow) [Meggs heard Mick say Edo will be ok for next week]


 

BRISBANE Nil

 

LATE CHANGES 

 

MELBOURNE Lauren Pearce (wrist) replaced in selected side by Alyssia Pisano


 

BRISBANE Nil

 

CROWD 1,534 at Casey Fields

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,037]

Thanks, @Meggs.

And it was incorrect disposal from where everyone was standing!