NOT DONE YET by Meggs

Given a second chance

Melbourne returned to its city citadel, IKON Park, boasting a 10–2 home record and celebrating its 100th AFLW matchwith 3,711 fans creating a finals atmosphere. But in a repeat of Round 11, Brisbane proved too strong, too fit, and too relentless.  They brought their kicking boots: 9 goals, 2 points.

Missing key players—Goldrick, Chaplin, and Purcell—the Dees started brightly but couldn’t sustain their intensity, eventually falling by 13 points.

Captain Kate Hore led magnificently from the front with a game-high 31 disposals, 8 clearances, 94% time on ground, and her 100th career goal. But she can’t do it all alone.

Brisbane now earns a week off, while Melbourne must regroup quickly for a knockout semi-final against Adelaide. Still not done – but hopefully not just taking the scenic route to disappointment!

The Match

Kate won the toss and chose the grandstand end, and the Dees looked sharp early.

Molly O’Hehir intercepted the opening mark of the match, sparking a chain of play that ended in an opportunistic goal from Tayla Harris, who read Heater’s kicking limitations and slipped past for the handball. Hore’s 100th career goal milestone soon followed—celebrated quietly, with eyes on a bigger prize.

But the game turned quickly.

Power forward Eden Zanker copped an accidental head knock and came off wobbly, sent for a mandatory Head Injury Assessment.

Although she passed the HIA, she was ruled out for the remainder of the match as a precaution — a cruel blow to Melbourne’s chances.

Brisbane’s brute-force style began to overwhelm Melbourne’s clean ball movement.

Davidson kicked the Lions’ first, and a series of poor decisions and costly free kicks from both Taylors handed Brisbane momentum. By halftime, the Lions had wrestled control—physically and on the scoreboard.

The third quarter began ominously with Molly missing a sitter in the goal square and Hodder punishing the error. Melbourne players were repeatedly caught or their kicks smothered, while Hore tried hard to lift the side, setting up Maggie Mahony for her first AFLW goal.

Brisbane’s superior conditioning and numbers at the contestwere telling. Hampson’s goal on the three-quarter time siren extended the lead to 14 points.

Melbourne rallied briefly in the final term. Ry Wotherspoon missed a set shot but soon made amends with a classic front-and-centre rover’s goal. However, best on ground Ally Anderson’s two goals and Postlethwaite’s mark and finish sealed the result. Gall and Bannan added late consolation goals, but the damage was done.

Match Moment

The turning point came late in the second quarter when three consecutive free kicks—two involving Saraid Taylor and the other from her namesake Denby—gifted Brisbane a trio of goals and the lead. It was a killer momentum swing, and from that point on, Melbourne never looked likely to win.

Meggs Musings

Brisbane’s game style—chaotic, physical, relentless—is a reflection of their well-drilled strong-bodied personnel. Melbourne, by contrast, relies heavily on a few stars, has important players missing and lacks depth.

Tyla Hanks, who had Bella Dawes for company, got going after half-time, while Megan Fitzsimon was below her usual output.  

Eliza McNamara (27 disposals, 480 metres gained) was Miss Reliable.  

The Dees needed more players to compete for the full 80 minutes. The absence of Purcell, Goldrick, Chaplin, and Zanker exposed the work-in-progress nature of the list.

Fitness and conditioning were glaring issues too. Brisbane consistently outnumbered Melbourne at contests with superior ability to run out the game. There’s still at least one game to go but review of list management and S&C programs is essential if we are to compete with the top sides in 2026.

The lack of rotation with Zanker benched and missing her forward firepower was evident.  Harris was another with lower output, but fullback and defensive leader Gillard was stoic and steady all day.

Veterans Lampard and Paxman looked a step off the pace at times, and the team’s structure suffered with too many talls on the field simultaneously.

It was great to see a strong contingent from the Demons men’s program in attendance supporting the women. One Club. #demonspirit.

Coaches and Next Week

Mick Stinear said, “we’ve got to play for 80 minutes”.  Today’s loss hurts.  He was proud of the effort but emphasised the need for a whole-of-team performance. Disappointed to lose Eden Zanker who is now in concussion protocols. Maeve and Edo unlikely for next week but maybe Goldie returns.

Craig Starcevich said, “we were up against it at quarter time” but was proud of his team’s response.  He said, “it doesn’t have to be pretty, just getting it forward does the job”.  Sure did.  He made a particular point of praising the IKON Park playing surface.

Mick Stinear faces a tough 6-day turnaround. Confidence in the playing group needs to be revived, a significant challenge to lift them for the semi-final against Adelaide.

The Crows will be confident after squashing the Saints and they have wrecking-ball Chelsea Randall back in their side.  

The winner of this semi-final earns a preliminary final against the flying Kangaroos — a true Mission Impossible.

NEXT WEEK

Semi Final: Melbourne v Adelaide Saturday 15 November 2025 at 1:05pm (AEDT) at IKON Stadium, Melbourne | Wurundjeri

Mick was clearly angry at the presser and will channel that energy into planning and rekindling his playing group for nextweek.

C’mon Demons, give it your best shot.

MELBOURNE 2.3.15 2.4.16 3.6.24 6.7.43

BRISBANE 0.1.1 3.1.19 6.2.38 9.2.56

GOALS

MELBOURNE Bannan, Gall, Harris, Hore, Mahony, Wotherspoon

BRISBANE LIONS Anderson, Hampson 2, Davidson, Dooley, Hodder, Mullins, Postlethwaite

BEST

MELBOURNE Hore, Mackin, Gillard, McNamara, Paxman, Wotherspoon

BRISBANE LIONS Anderson, Koenen, Davidson, Hampson, Campbell, Mullins

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Mackin (right ankle), Eden Zanker (concussion)

BRISBANE LIONS Dunne (knee)

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

BRISBANE LIONS Nil

CROWD 3,711 at IKON Park