SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT by Meggs

Semi Final Showdown

Noffy, Hatchy and Randy lead Adelaide’s finals-hardened flock to IKON Park for a blockbuster semi-final against Kate Hore and Hanksy’s mighty Demons.  Adelaide has dropped four of its past five matches at this ground — let’s hope that trend holds.  But don’t expect charity — Doc Clarke brings an experienced, battle-worthy murder of Crows.

Melbourne, finished second, faces Adelaide, the sixth-placed serious contender, on a perfect Saturday afternoon—20 degrees, sunny skies, and a gentle breeze. It’s a clash steeped in history and rivalry. The ledger reads six wins to Melbourne, five to Adelaide, and the last time we met here was a Season 7 qualifying final that launched the Dees toward its maiden premiership glory.

For years, the Crows’ bigger bodies bullied us — Season 6 Grand Final still stings — but we’ve learned, adapted, and built a midfield to match their muscle. Now, it’s about execution under pressure. Win this, and we’re into a Preliminary Final. Lose and it’s thank you and goodnight.

Match Ups

Adelaide’s engine room remains elite: Ebony Marinoff (Noffy), Anne Hatchard (Hatchy), and Chelsea Randall (Randy) are fit, firing, and finals-ready. Irish woman Niamh Kelly runs all day on her wing and Madi Newman and Sarah Goodwin are great link mids who take advantage of the contest work. Danielle Ponter and young gun Rasheed loom as dangers inside 50.

Melbourne counters with craft, class and confrontation—Kate Hore’s leadership and goal sense, Tyla Hanks’ clearance wizardry, Megan Fitzsimon’s one-percenters, Eliza McNamara’s indefatigable two-way running. Add confronting moments from elite pressure player Shelley Heath.

Our reworked defence, minus Maeve Chaplin, will lean on Tahila Gillard’s aerial presence and hopefully Sinead Goldrick’s speed and pressure. Up forward, we’ll miss Zanker’s power, so others must step up. Anticipate the Georgias Gall and Campbell and Tayla Harris to clunk a few.  

Expect a tactical chess match. Veteran coaches scheming in the dugouts: Adelaide wants stoppage dominance; Melbourne wants speed and spread.

Mick’s Century

Something to crow about—Mick Stinear coaches his 100th AFLW game in his 10th season at the helm with a win rate of circa 71%. He’s just missed one Melbourne game, 2021 Round 8 when Jane Lange stepped in.  

A foundation coach, Mick’s influence runs deep: Daisy Pearce, Tamara Hyett, and a host of ex-Dees now in leadership roles across the league thanks to his mentorship. But here’s the twist — Mick is out of contract. With a new broom sweeping through the Melbourne Football Club, could this be his last stand?

Media chatter has Kate McCarthy and assistant Shae Sloane in the mix as potential successors. For now, Mick’s focus is simple: win and keep the dream alive.

Funny how footy works—his milestone match could also be his farewell.

Selection This Week

Twenty players from last week are available, plus seven fresh options: Goldrick, Colvin, Ebert, Beasley, Pisano, Dethridge, Johnson. Injured: Chaplin, Zanker, Purcell, Hose. There’s a rehab watch on Blaithin too.

So Goldie comes in (if fit)—her experience and gameday brilliance could be the difference in a finals arm wrestle. Rigoni was quiet last week, Ebert was rested, and a few others were below their best.  Expect Mick to make a couple of changes—maybe more.

Meggs’ curveball? Grace Beasley. Strong body, loves the contest, great hands, and could shake things up if match fit. Finals footy rewards bold moves — don’t rule it out.

Meanwhile training over at Norwood, the Crows enjoy a near full-strength list.  Imagine if we had Chappy, Zanks, and Liv out there.  Lucky them.

Meggs’ musings

The anger from Mick’s postgame presser last week has evolved into a group steely determination, echoed by Tyla Hanks when she addressed the Men’s team in a joint huddle with her team at Wednesday’s training session. Stirring stuff.

This is why we play. Adelaide’s aura is real, but so is Melbourne’s resilience and the brilliance of our two stars Hore and Hanks. To win, our midfield must absorb the heat and then burn them on the outside. Defence will be tested—Gould and Ponter lurk, young Rasheed impressed with two goals last week—but if our leaders get rolling with plenty of support, and Bannan stretches them with speed, we’re in business.

There are no draws in AFLW finals. 2 x 3-minute quarters (with time on) are played after a 6-minute break and the process repeated until there is a winner. So, for one team or the other, they’ll be something to crow about.

Bring the pressure, bring back the Demon dare, and bring the noise #DeeArmy and fans.

Don’t let this be our last week—let’s make it ours.

Tip: Melbourne by 3 points. Heart rate around 150.

A fantastic afternoon for fans on a pristine playing arena—Meggs will be there and hopes to see you cheering on the Mighty Dees to a momentous win.

THE GAME

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

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Melbourne 6 wins | Adelaide 5 wins

At IKON Stadium: Melbourne 1 win | Adelaide 0 wins (Season 7 Qualifying Final)

Coaches: Stinear 6 wins | Clarke 5 wins

MEDIA COVERAGE Seven, 7 Plus, Foxtel, Kayo, Binge AFL Live Official Listen App

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Season 9, Round 7 – 9 October 2024 at Norwood Oval

MELBOURNE 2.1.13 2.2.14 2.3.15 2.4.16

ADELAIDE 0.1.1 0.5.5 1.5.11 1.8.14

BEST 

MELBOURNE Hanks, Hore, Goldrick, McNamara

ADELAIDE Marinoff, Randall, Hatchard, Newman

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

ADELAIDE Nil

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

ADELAIDE Nil

CROWD 2,586 at Norwood Oval

Under the Norwood Oval lights, Melbourne pulled off a gutsy two-point win over Adelaide in a game that was anything but boring. The Dees led all night in a low-scoring arm wrestle, matching the Crows’ famed physicality with relentless pressure and a simplified game plan that demanded every player’s buy-in—and a slice of luck.

Milestone marvel Sinead Goldrick embodied the spirit of the night, racking up 19 disposals, six tackles, and near full-game time. Her chase-down tackle in the third quarter was pure heavy mettle. Tyla Hanks was best afield with 24 touches and seven tackles, while Kate Hore and Eliza McNamara were everywhere, Eliza even landing a bone-cruncher late to snuff out Chelsea Randall’s last-gasp surge.

Adelaide dominated the stats—inside 50s, clearances, hit-outs—but Melbourne’s defensive wall held firm. Tahila Gillard blanketed Caitlin Gould, Maeve Chaplin quelled Danielle Ponter, and Denby Taylor impressed with 6 tackles. Up forward, Alyssa Bannan stood tall despite copping a hit from Randall that drew a fine.

It was Melbourne’s lowest winning score on record—just 18 points—but the sweetest kind of ugly win. Mick Stinear hailed it as a four-quarter, team-first triumph and a fitting celebration for milestone stars Goldrick and Hore. The Dees left Adelaide with four points, belief, and a finals dream still alive.

THIS WEEK’S TEAMS (to be loaded when available)

MELBOURNE

ADELAIDE

Injury List: Semi Final

Melbourne

Sinéad Goldrick — eye / Test

Eden Zanker — concussion / Protocols

Maeve Chaplin — hamstring /  TBC

Olivia Purcell — knee / Season

Jacinta Hose — knee / Inactive

Aimee Mackin — knee / Inactive

Adelaide

Georgia McKee — knee / Season