With Casey Fields basking in sunshine, an enthusiastic throng of young Demons fans formed a guard of honour for the evergreen and much admired 75-gamer Paxy Paxman.

As the home team ran out to play, Paxy’s banner promised that the Demons would bounce back from last week’s loss to Brisbane and reign supreme.  

Disappointingly, the Kangaroos dominated the match to win by 50 points, but our Paxy certainly did her bit.  She was clearly our best player, sweeping well in defence.

The Roos won the contested footy and clearances on the day and capitalised on pressuring the Demons into turnovers.  North Melbourne’s total of 71 points is the highest score against Melbourne by any team in AFLW history.  
 

Melbourne has been considered one the ‘Big 3’ teams alongside Adelaide and Brisbane and held the best win loss ratio in the competition until last week.  

North Melbourne, after having beaten us by a combined 91 points in our last two matches, are premiership favourites and have pushed Melbourne down the heavyweights pecking order.
 

Today, North’s stars Riddell, Garner and Kearney were supreme.  Kate Shierlaw kicked 5 goals and was too good for Gaby Colvin.  Midfield bull Mia King laid a game-high 12 tackles and ruck Emma King dominated with 31 hit outs.

For the Dees

It seemed at the ground that the Melbourne players gave a solid 4-quarter effort but our errors through constant North pressure caused the eight-goal drubbing.  

Eliza McNamara was everywhere, laying 10 tackles, with 21 disposals and kicked a goal.  
Kate Hore started in centre bounce, played as a forward, as a spare in the backline and even tagged Ash Riddell in the last quarter. She threw herself into the fray, including a monster tackle on former teammate Libby Birch in the third quarter.

  
The Irish girls Mackin and Goldrick never gave up and worked hard to create opportunities.  We would be lost without their combined spread and contest work.  

Lily Mithen, Tyla Hanks, and Sarah Lampard stayed involved all day while Maeve Chaplin provided her usual grit and run from defence.

Mick later rued turnovers which led to North scoring: such as kicking off the ground instead of picking up the ball, miskicks in defence and giving away unnecessary free kicks in front of goal.

Remember, Westy played 2 seasons of VFLW when cross-coding from basketball.  So wasn’t it great to see draftee Grace Beasley kicking a ripper first AFLW goal today in only her third game!
 

Melbourne has now lost 5 of its last 6 games.  It will be fascinating to see whether Mick Stinear, in the last year of his extended contract, can turn this season around.

Moment of the match

In the centre square, Blaithin Mackin, while being tackled by two North players, cleverly kicks it Goldie and Alyssia Pisano streams by for a hand pass.  

Pisano shows off her turn of speed and ball bouncing skills to kick from just inside the 50-metre arc and the ball is bouncing towards the big sticks.  

Eden Zanker, with Sarah Wright in hot pursuit, makes afateful split-second decision to try and catch the ball and kick it before crossing the line.  
Unfortunately, Edo manages only to touch the ball, and a certain goal is now only a point.

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said North Melbourne won the contest and clearance today and cited North’s scoring of 50 points from turnovers as the real difference.  

It was important to celebrate Paxy’s milestone match and Mick highlighted how much Paxy brings to the playing group.

North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker was pleased with how his team responded from last week’s draw against the Cats.  He was delighted with how his team won the contest, pressured the Dees and transitioned the ball.  He gave special mentions to Kate Shierlaw with 5 goals, Mia King and Taylah Gatt.

The Demons head to Perth next Sunday to take on the in-form Dockers at Fremantle Oval.  A good chance for some team bonding and regrouping.

Looking forward to us bouncing back. Go Dees!

MELBOURNE 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.2.14 3.3.21

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1.13 6.1.37 8.2.50 11.5.71

GOALS 

 

MELBOURNE Beasley Fitzsimon McNamara

 

NORTH MELBOURNE  Shierlaw 5 Bruton O'Loughlin Riddell 2

 

BEST

 

MELBOURNE Paxman Mithen Goldrick Fitzsimon

 

NORTH MELBOURNE Riddell Shierlaw M King Garner E King Kearney

 

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

 

CROWD 2,023 at Casey Fields

Good summary Meggs.  

I thought the team tried hard all game but were outclassed by bigger and more experienced bodies.  It was always going to be difficult with four of our keys out and what has been a hard draw to start the year.

Will be interesting to see how they go in the remaining games with Adelaide remaining the hardest upcoming game (on paper anyway).

Not sure how you feel Meggs but I so hope Nth do not win the flag.  They are such a team of whingers, ably lead by the best of that breed in Kearney.  For such a good player she doesn't need to but constantly ducks her head and unnecessarily draws free kicks.   I think for all her bravado she really does not like the hard contest.  As for Libby, well best I say nothing further there.  

Loving the addition of Grace Beasley and Alyssia Pisano and can see a lot of potential in our two Georgia's.  You can see how much better they will all become.  I would like to see Alyssa Bannon go into defence for a few games and try and run the ball out for us and give Maeve Chaplin some time in the middle

On to Fremantle and hopefully some time away as a team together will help.  Would be good to see Denby Taylor get a game and add some poise to our backline.

Anyway love the girls and very proud of their effort.  They just need to keep the same intensity and a few more wins will come this season.   Would be happy for an early draft pick in a now finally national system and pick up a taller skillful mid.

Time for a rebuild. Season over

3 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Time for a rebuild. Season over

We just did “the rebuild”.  Got the2 early picks and effectively swapped out 6 experienced players with new draftees 

In: Alyssia Pisano #5 Delany Madigan #54, Ryleigh Wotherspoon#12, Jacinta Hose (ACL #24) , Lily Johnson (port Adelaide) Jemma Rigoni #29

Out: Maddi Gay (bombers), Libby Birch (NMFC ) , Eliza West (hawks) Casey Sherriff (hawks ) Jordan Ivey (pies) Charlotte Wilson (suns) 

That was the rebuild !! 

Likely paxy is playing her final season probably.  

New coach likely for 2025. 

What to do ?  Get in Emma McDonald (priority) as our new key forward and develop the draftees and get Purcell, Harris, Aimee Mackin and Pearce back in.   

Injury to insult:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1657628/injury-report-paxman-ruled-out