REDLEG PRIDE by Meggs

[Demonland 72,192]

Hump day mid-week footy at the Redlegs home ground is a great opportunity to build on our recent improved competitiveness playing in the red and blue.  

The jumper has a few other colours this week with the rainbow Pride flag flying this round to celebrate people from all walks of life coming together, being accepted. AFLW has been a benchmark when it comes to inclusivity and a safe workplace.  The team will run out in a specially designed guernsey for this game and also the following week against St Kilda. 

Despite having a 100% winning record at Norwood (hmmm, only the one game), we are longshots with the bookies this week.  

However, Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks led brilliantly last week from the centre square alongside Heathy, Mitho and Fitzy.  Let’s hope the team can back it up to celebrate Kate’s 75th game!

Maeve Chaplin is having a stellar season (Libby who?), and 50-game milestoner Sinead Goldrick has been energised all year and are two key components of the new-look Demon defence.

While the Dees were really encouraging last week, we should note that GWS, our opposition, was one of the least experienced teams in this year’s competition.  

This week’s challenger Adelaide is a heavyweight of the competition and will surely be wanting to make a statement for their home crowd.

Selection this week

Just one change with the indefatigable Eliza McNamara in and debutant defender Delany Madigan omitted.

Experienced top-up player Sarah D’Arcy keeps her spot.  Meggs was enthused by her work against GWS.

Demon emergencies this week are Madigan, Jemma Rigoni and Saraid Taylor.

The Crows have lost 3 players to injury: Teah Charlton,Hannah Munyard, and Abbie Ballard

Lily Tarlinton will make her AFLW debut in their absence, while both Taylah Levy and Rachelle Martin have been recalled after being managed last week.

Meggs’ view

Eliza McNamara, who looks like she’s preparing early for Halloween with those black eyes, is a welcome return on the wing.  Adelaide’s Niamh Kelly is a real danger for the Dees.

In the last game against the Crows, St Kilda threw players behind the ball to help restrict Adelaide from scoring and making it a tough physical game. 

This worked to a point, but it meant that the Saints weren’t able engage in run and carry to counterattack.  But it was only a 4-point margin in the end.  

Our scoring will likely rely on Alyssa Bannan and Alyssia Pisano getting busy again.  

At the other end Tahlia Gillard will need to be on her A-game as dangerous tall forward Caitlin Gould has kicked 7 goals in her last 4 games.

The midfield battle and centre clearances usually determine results, and Adelaide has strong experienced bodies in Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff to name two.  

Wednesday evening will be a huge test for the Dees.  Hopefully we can surprise on the upside with a competitive performance but allow for the fact we have a long list of high-quality players unavailable.  

Go Dees!  

Adelaide by 24 points

THE GAME

Round 7: Melbourne v Adelaide Wednesday 9 October 2024 at 7:45pm (Melbourne time)

Norwood Oval, Adelaide - Kaurna

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 5 wins Adelaide 5 wins
At Norwood Oval Melbourne 1 win Adelaide 0 wins
The Coaches Stinear 5 wins Clarke 5 wins

MEDIA

TV – 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo.
Radio - WARF Radio

THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Round 6 Adelaide 8.8.56 defeated Melbourne 7.4.46 at Casey Fields, 7 October 2023

MELBOURNE 2.4.16 2.4.16 3.4.22 7.4.46

ADELAIDE 0.0.0 2.4.16 6.5.41 8.8.56

GOALS


MELBOURNE Zanker 5 McNamara 2


ADELAIDE Hatchard Marinoff Ponter 2, Gould Jones

BEST

MELBOURNE Zanker Gay Goldrick Hanks Hore McNamara


ADELAIDE Marinoff Hatchard Kelly Allan Randall

CROWD 1,975 at Casey Fields

Scores were level at half-time but a third quarter domination by Adelaide rattled the Dees.

Midfield beasts Hatchard and Marinoff led the way as the Crows kicked 6 unanswered goals.

Deep in the third quarter and against the run of play, Eliza McNamara kicked a desperately needed running goal to halt the momentum.

Melbourne fights back to within 3 points in the last quarter with Zanker on fire but Caitlin Gould goals and we fall short by 10 points.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE 

B Colvin Gillard
HB Chaplin D. Taylor Goldrick
C Lampard Hanks McNamara
HF Gall Mithen Pisano
F Bannan Campbell
FOLL Watt Hore Heath
I/C D'Arcy Fitzsimon Hill Johnson Wotherspoon
EMG Madigan Rigoni S Taylor

IN McNamara

OUT Madigan (omitted)

ADELAIDE

B Prowse Randall
HB Mueller Allan Goodwin
C Kelly Hatchard Thompson
HF Levy Gould Martin
F Biddell Ponter
FOLL Allan Marinoff Newman
I/C Boileau Boyle-Carr Kustermann Tarlinton Varnhagen
EMG Henry Tonon Waterhouse

IN Levy Martin Tarlinton

OUT Ballard (knee) Charlton (adductor)  Munyard (foot)

Injury List: Round 7

Melbourne

Saraid Taylor Calf Test
Paxy Paxman Foot 1 week
Olivia Purcell Face 2-3 weeks
Lauren Pearce Wrist 3 weeks
Blaithin Mackin Calf 3 weeks
Eden Zanker Knee TBC
Grace Beasley ACL Season
Tayla Harris Shoulder Season
Jacinta Hose ACL Season
Aimee Mackin  ACL Season

Adelaide

Najwa Allen Hamstring 1-2 weeks
Abbie Ballard Knee 1 week
Teah Charlton Adductor 1 week
Hannah Munyard Foot 1 week
Brooke Smith Collarbone 7-9 weeks
Eloise Jones Achilles Season