PAR-TAY ON FRIDAY by Meggs

What a perfect night for footy. Fourteen degrees, a gentle breeze, a vibing crowd, Awifties humming the new album, a pristine pitch — and pink socks.

This was a night for purpose, pride, and a little payback. The Dees donned pink socks to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer, brought the fight — and added some flair.

The DeeArmy roared, and the team responded.

The match

Bang. Bang.

Melbourne exploded out of the blocks. Within three minutes, tall targets Tayla Harris and Georgia Gall had goaled. Zanker missed, but then Tay got her second and the scoreboard read 3–zip. The Bombers? Still checking flight plans.

From there, it got scrappy. Essendon did their best to clog the lanes and disrupt the Dees’ ball movement. But Melbourne had the game stitched up early in the third when Megan Fitzsimon slotted a classy goal on the run to lead by 24 points.

It was a physical contest, and our leaders stood tall. While Max Gawn and Tom McDonald looked on from the stands, the team put on a masterclass in @demonspirit and selfless play, keeping the Bombers goalless in the middle quarters.

The pressure was relentless — 86 tackles, 24 inside 50. Essendon managed 70, with just five inside 50s. That’s a chokehold.

Wow! Maeve Chaplin was majestic.

Defensive Demon, intercept queen, metres gained majestrix. She didn’t just read the play — she rewrote it. Her stat line:

• 24 disposals (with 83.3% disposal efficiency)

• 9 rebound 50s

• 611 metres gained

• 14 intercept possessions

• 3 intercept marks

BOG. No debate.

Tayla Harris was a wrecking-ball. Brutal, brilliant everywhere.

• 17 disposals

• 7 hit outs

• 5 tackles

• 2 goals

• Late-game defensive heroics

For the Bombers, 75th game milestoner Maddie Prespakis led the way with 29 disposals.

The other Maddi — Gay — was a welcome return, distributing from defence with 421 metres gained. Georgia Nanscawen (12 tackles, 4 clearances) was busy, while co-captains Bonnie Toogood and Steph Cain stood up.

Essendon kicked a couple late to trim the final margin to 14 points. But the damage had been done early. Not a classic, but a win that matters in a 12-match season.

Match ‘ouch’ moment

Fitzy, fresh off her career-best game last week, was again electric — pressure acts, midfield magic, and a goal. Fitzy’s night ended with a bang — but not the good kind.

In the final 10 seconds, young Maggie Mahony flushed a drop punt in traffic — straight into Fitzy’s face. Accidental, but brutal. Ouch.

Sinead Goldrick was ill at half-time and sat out the last quarter. Meanwhile, Shelley Heath dislocated a finger and sucked on the green whistle while the medicos worked their magic.

Here’s hoping the crew is patched up and ready for the final season stretch.

Meggs’ musings

The leadership group (on the park) — Kate Hore, Tyla Hanks, Paxy Paxman, Eliza McNamara, Maeve Chaplin — are delivering week-in, week-out. Superstars, every one of them. Fitzy and Tayla too have been sensationally awesome this season.

Melbourne now sits at 7–1 with a healthy percentage. We are competing with the Hawks in the battle for 2nd place with home final advantages.

North Melbourne now has a record 20 wins on the trot. Unstoppable? We’ll see.

Our run home:

• Fremantle (away)

• Swans, Cats, Lions

Win three of those and we’re top four. That’s the mission. Top four gets us a shot. The flag? Absolutely in play, but the Roos remain a daunting prospect.

Coaches and Next Week

Mick Stinear praised the fast start and credited Essendon’s pressure for the scrappy middle. He highlighted Tayla and Chappy as standouts and didn’t see much wrong with the Harris–Gaylor collision.

Natalie Wood was disappointed with the start but proud of her team’s fight across the final three quarters.

Next week: Fremantle at Fremantle Oval, Sunday 5:05pm.

A shout out to Demon fans in Perth to get along if you can and support our incredible team.

Go Dees.PS: the Storm take on the Broncos this Sunday night. It’s the Storm’s 12th grand final

appearance since joining the NRL in 1998. What a powerhouse. Good luck Melbourne!

MELBOURNE 3.1.19 4.2.26 5.3.33 5.6.36

ESSENDON 1.0.6 1.1.7 1.3.9 3.4.22

GOALS

MELBOURNE Harris 2, Fitzsimon, Gall, Wotherspoon

ESSENDON Brooker, Gee, Ridewood

BEST

MELBOURNE Chaplin, Hore, McNamara, Fitzsimon, Harris

ESSENDON Prespakis, Gay, Nanscawen, Clarke

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Shelley Heath (dislocated finger)

ESSENDON Nil

CROWD 2,681 at Ikon Park