Jump to content

SLIP SLIDING AWAY by Meggs

Demonland
in AFLW Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

It was a sweaty, slippery night at Cazalys Stadium, a tough slog with low scoring and missed opportunities. 

The Hokball Hawks hung on to win by a goal and sit second on the ladder, relegating the disappointed Demons to, almost certainly, finals spectators.  

We had to win this match.

When news broke of late withdrawals of talisman Kate Hore and key back Gaby Colvin, expectations plummeted, and Demon fans despaired.  The bad news was the signature song of 2024, a season that’s breaking us in two as we watch it slip away.

Narrm began Indigenous Round brightly. A Tyla Hanks sublime kick to Georgia Gall in the first quarter was well marked and she goaled to open the scoring.  A promising start.

The hot and humid conditions slowly exhausted the players and footy became more slippery as the match went on. Ambitious handballs and pressured kicking were not helping our connection nor our chances of scoring.

The Hawks really got on top in the second and third terms, missing several chances to extend their lead.  

A match highlight was Hawks and Tiwi Islander player Mattea Breed’s brilliant flying mark-of-the-year contender in the third quarter.

To change it up, Mick moved Eliza MacNamara into the midfield which gave the team more drive. Liz alongside our key playmakers Hanks, Goldrick, B Mackin, Purcell and Fitzsimon were critical in keeping the margin to only eight-points at the last change.

Two key Hawks were later praised by Mick Stineaer in ruck and ex Casey VFLW player Lucy Wales who took 9 marks and 21 hit outs and veteran defensive sweeper Tilly Lucas-Rodd.  He could also have mentioned Westy’s 6 clearances and game-high 25 disposals or young superstar Jas Fleming, Emily Bates or Kashy.

In the end the chances were not taken and Narrm failed to bridge the gap. While payers and spectators are understandably crestfallen, we all know it was not due to a lack of effort.  

The Hawks were the better team.

Goldie is good

Sinead Goldrick has played outstanding football for Narrm this year.

Thursday night against the Hawks was no different with her 20 possessions, familiar attack on the ball and lots of run and carry.

Worryingly, Goldie was taken from the ground in the final quarter looking groggy from a head knock after Emily Bates kneed her with both knees.  No free from the umps?

Earlier Goldie had been dumped by Mackenzie Eardley in a nasty dangerous tackle but on that occasion, she jumped straight back up to take her free kick   

We hope Sinead is Good as Gold(ie).

All we need is a Miracle

Essendon looks set to pip Narrm, Geelong and St Kilda into a finals berth.  Expecting the Saints to lose to Brisbane next week and Narrm to defeat Collingwood.

Essendon have played 3 matches against fellow top 8 teams, losing each game whereas Narrm has played 7 matches against Top 8 teams winning 2.  

The Bombers will likely defeat the Blues next week and end on 26 points with Demons on 24 points.  

Essendon will have defeated us and 5 of the bottom 7 teams to make it. 

The Narrm wins have been against superior quality: Adelaide, Richmond, Geelong, St Kilda and only 2 of the bottom 7 teams.   

The Demons hierarchy could not be happy to miss out on finals once again to the uneven AFLW fixture.

Season 2024 is up to the footy gods now. We beat Collingwood and hope the Bombers blow an engine.

For the Dees

Alyssa Bannan, who some were critical of early in the season,has really turned it around with some exciting footy. She looked our most dangerous forward and kicked 1 goal 3 behinds.

Youngster Ryleigh Wotherspoon, who hails from Mackay, looked right at home in the tropical conditions. Ry was a solid contributor tonight, one of her best games so far.

Coaches and Next Week 

Mick Stinear and the playing group were shattered with the loss.  He was proud of the way they fought out the game but acknowledged that the better team won on the night.

He expects Kate Hore and Goldie to be chipper for next week.

Daniel Webster said his team produced a high-level performance against quality opposition and was rapt with the win. He praised the hard stuff that Eliza West does and her work getting hands on the ball and setting up teammates.

The Demons next play Collingwood at Ikon Park on Saturday while the Hawks take on Richmond at Punt Road on Sunday. 

Good luck Dees!

NARRM 1.0.6 1.1.7 2.2.14 2.5.17

HAWTHORN 2.0.12 3.2.20 3.5.23 3.5.23

GOALS

NARRM Bannan Gall 

HAWTHORN Fleming Hipwell McDonagh

BEST

NARRM McNamara B Mackin Hanks Bannan Goldrick Purcell 

HAWTHORN Fleming West Lucas-Rodd Wales Bates Ashmore

LATE CHANGES

NARRM Kate Hore (quad) and Gabby Colvin (concussion) replaced in selected side by Saraid Taylor and Lily Johnson

HAWTHORN Nil

INJURED

NARRM Goldrick (head)

HAWTHORN Nil

REPORTS

NARRM Nil

HAWTHORN Nil

CROWD 2,602 at Cazaly Stadium 

AFLWReportRd102024.png

  • Quote
    • Thanks 2
     

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 195 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Haha
      • 253 replies
      Demonland
    View All