THE HEAT IS ON by Meggs

[Demonland 73,277]

FNQ will be hot and sultry this Thursday night when the mighty Demons take on the highflying Hawks at up there Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.

 

The Demons once again rebrand for Indigenous Round as ‘Narrm’, the Woi Wurrung name for Melbourne in the language of the traditional owners.

 

Narrm has surged back up the ladder and sits just outside the eight on percentage with 5 wins. Our opponents Hawthorn sit second with 8 wins and have been become really offensive.  

 

Having previously won only 6 out 20 games at an average score of 27 ‘points for’ under their former coach, the Hawks are humming with 8 wins from 9 games and scoring 59 points a game.  

 

The single biggest factor in the Hawks rapid improvement seems to be the appointment of new coach Daniel Webster. As an understudy to Craig Starcevic at Brisbane, Webster had oversight of the Lions elite premiership winning midfield and he has shaped the component parts of his new squad brilliantly.  

 

The Hawks have recruited a bevy of experienced players from other clubs. AFLW Champion Player of the Year, Emily Bates leads the midfield. She is supported by ex-Demon Eliza West who is in career best form and top 4 for competition disposals. Former skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd has transformed into a defensive sweeper and Kashy an evergreen runner on the wing.

 

The Hawks’ experienced midfielders have been complemented with young stars Jas Fleming and the strong bodied Mattea Breed. Irish players Gilroy and McDonagh aredangerous forwards.

 

The Happy team also have Hokball, but Meggs is not sure what is.

 

Selection this week

 

Gaby Colvin returns after her concussion issues and last week’s debutant Saraid Taylor is omitted.  

For the Hawks, Demon premiership player Casey Sherriff, returns from injury against her old club.

 

Meggs’ view

 

The Hawks are playing at an incredibly high standard.  

 

Their Round 5 match against Geelong was the best AFLW game Meggs has seen. The ball movement, contested marking, accurate kicking and pressure was elite.  If you have Kayo, you should watch it.

 

Mick Stinear and his playing group have their work cut out this week.  

 

Promisingly, we have been building since the Essendon debacle.  

 

Tyla Hanks, Kate Hore and now Liv Purcell have been awesome in the midfield.  Loz Pearce is fit, doing her ruck thing.  Eliza Mac has her wing buddy Blaithin back.  

 

A sound defensive unit has emerged with Chappy, Goldie, Tahls, Heathy and Denby T really stepping up.  Plus, Gaby returns this week. Yay!

 

With Banno kicking goals, Zanker making her presence felt and Gally clunking marks, our forwards are on song. 

 

If it’s slippery, get it forward any way you can.  Precision footy in the predicted weather conditions will likely end up in turnovers. And please kick straight.

 

The bookies overwhelmingly favour Hawthorn ($1.39) this week, but Meggs senses an upset which keeps our finals hopes alive.  😊

 

Melbourne by 6 points

 

THE GAME

 

Round 10: Narrm v Hawthorn Thursday 24 October 2024 at 7:45pm (Melbourne time)

Cazalys Stadium, Cairns – Yidinji

 

HEAD TO HEAD

 

Overall Melbourne 1 win Hawthorn 0 wins

At Cazalys Stadium Melbourne 0 wins Hawthorn 0 wins

The Coaches Stinear 0 wins Webster 0 wins

 

MEDIA 

 

TV – Fox Footy, Kayo

 

THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Season 8 Round 3 Melbourne 10.10 (70) defeated Hawthorn 1.5 (11) at Frankston Oval, 22 September 2023

 

MELBOURNE 2.4 4.6 8.7 10.10 (70)

 

HAWTHORN 0.1  0.3 1.5 1.5 (11)


 

GOALS


 

MELBOURNE Zanker 3 Hore 2 Bannan Harris B Mackin McNamara Pearce

 

HAWTHORN McDonagh

 

BEST


 

MELBOURNE Hanks Heath Gillard Mithen Purcell

 

HAWTHORN Bates Everist Fleming Elliott Lucas-Rodd


 

INJURIES

 

MELBOURNE Nil 

 

HAWTHORN Nil

 

CROWD 2,917 at Kinetic Stadium

 

The setting sun at Frankston Oval caused havoc for spectators, TV camera people, commentators, coaches, and players alike.

 

A wonderful #DeeArmy banner paid tribute to the great Ron Dale Barassi.  

 

It was Aimee Mackin’s debut game.  

 

The Hawks applied pressure winning the tackle count and inside 50s but the Demons withstood everything they could muster and blitzed them easily by 59 points.

 

Tyla Hanks starred with 26 disposals, 3 clearances and 10 score involvements. Eden Zanker kicked 3 goals, all in the 3rd quarter.

 

Melbourne Assistant Shae Sloane was the matchday coach.  She was pleased with how her team was able to stay calm with ball in hand under heaps of Hawthorn pressure.

 

THE TEAMS

 

NARRM

 

B Colvin Gillard

HB Chaplin Heath Goldrick 

C B Mackin Hanks McNamara 

HF Fitzsimon Mithen Zanker

F Bannan Gall

FOLL Pearce Hore Purcell

I/C Campbell Lampard D Taylor Watt Wotherspoon

EMG Johnson Rigoni S Taylor

 

IN Colvin

 

OUT S Taylor (omitted)

 

HAWTHORN

 

B Kemp Eardley

HB Elliott Richardson Smith

C Ashmore Lucas-Rodd Fleming

HF Breed McDonagh Gilroy

F Hipwell Baskaran

FOLL Wales West Bates

I/C McLaughlin Sherriff Stephenson Vukic Williamson 

EMG Butterworth Fellows Locke

 

IN Eardley Sherriff

 

OUT Locke (omitted) Butterworth (omitted)

 

Injury List: Round 10

Narrm

Gab Colvin (concussion) test
Paxy Paxman (foot) TBC
Grace Beasley (ACL) season
Tayla Harris (shoulder) season
Jacinta Hose (ACL) inactive
Aimee Mackin  (ACL) inactive

Hawthorn

Greta Bodey (toe) 1 week
Kristy Stratton (ankle) 1-2 weeks
Emily Everist (illness) TBC
Laura Stone (ankle) TBC

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,482]

Thanks. Meggs.

Can you pull the other thread over here @Demonland?