Kate Hore says, this way!

Last week’s bitter disappointment turned into player-led resolve as Captain Kate Hore marched her team onto a pristine Princes Park under perfect skies.

The #DeeArmy banner said Bring The Heat and the Demons delivered a fierce, high-quality contest and ultimately outworked and outpaced the gallant Adelaide Crows to win by 11 points.

Hore — the first AFLW player to record 25+ disposals and 3 goals in a final — produced a captain’s game for the ages. Reminiscent of Daisy Pearce’s iconic 2022 snap, but this time it was a sustained four-quarter masterclass.

Mick Stinear, coaching his 100th match, masterminded a tactical turnaround after halftime to keep Melbourne’s season alive.

Second chance taken. Still alive. Still believing.



The Match

Melbourne burst out of the blocks. Speedy Shelley Heath set the tone, winning the first clearance on her way to the most influential game of her career: 24 disposals, 8 tackles, game-high 375 metres gained, and 6 clearances.

Fitzsimon’s classy snap opened the scoring before Hore pounced for her first goal. After five minutes, Adelaide lifted their pressure and Gould capitalised on a defensive error to peg one back. Mahony’s brilliant buzzer-beater gave Melbourne a two-goal lead right on quarter time.

The second term belonged to Adelaide. Goals to Allan, Charlton (another defensive lapse), and N. Kelly — plus a dubious 50m penalty goal to Prowse — swung momentum. Ponter’s set shot on the halftime siren stretched the Crows’ lead to 13 points.

The Demons looked flat heading to the rooms, but Stinear’s halftime moves — including Harris into the ruck — sparked a revival. Blaithin Mackin’s brilliant snap ignited the comeback, and Hore’s trademark show-stopping dribbler levelled scores at three-quarter time. 

Goosebumps!

The final term was all Melbourne. Hore struck early, then came the play of the day: Campbell’s follow-up effort, Heater’s juggling sprint, and Mahony’s vision ended with Wotherspoon outmarking Biddell and calmly converting. Campbell added another, and despite Marinoff’s late goal, the Dees held firm. The penultimate roar came when Tahlia Gillard chased down Chelsea Randall in a mammoth sprint along the wing — a moment that summed up Melbourne’s #demonspirit. What a win!

Match Moment

Hard to pick just one: Hore’s highlights reel dribbler, Mahony’s buzzer-beater, Gillard’s colossal chase-down on Randy, Heater’s wing tackle on Hatchy, or Kate’s captain-on-captain dump tackle on Noffy. 

Take your pick! 😉.

Meggs Musings

What a game! Skills and pressure from both teams were first class — this was elite entertainment.

Crowd of 2,624? AFLW deserves bigger. Time slot? Marketing? Spread the word: this is unmissable footy.

Footy thoughts:

• Goldrick and B Mackin together give us speed and pressure. Add D Taylor and we’re a more mobile, dangerous squad.

• Ry Wotherspoon (4 marks, 1 goal) continues to impress — tough and talented, a real find.

• Molly O’Hehir had strong moments. Speed, height, and courage. With fitness, a wing could be hers.

• Laela Ebert always makes smart choices with ball in hand.

• Maggie Mahony (12 disposals, 2 goals) delivered a breakout game. The small forward Melbourne has craved. Quality stuff, Maggs.

It was a more even team performance this week — and that’s why we won.

Champion forward Eden Zanker watched on, cheering every moment. She’ll be back next week along with intercept queen Maeve Chaplin.

Confidence high, stars returning — good signs for the Prelim.

One Club. #demonspirit.

Coaches

Mick Stinear: “Kate told me, ‘There’s no way we’re losing this.’ She led from the front.” He praised Hore, Fitzsimon, Heath, McNamara, Gillard, and emphasised the importance of Goldrick’s return. Loved the efforts of the young brigade, especially Mahony and Wotherspoon. Emotional in his 100th game. Selection headache looms with Zanker and Maeve set to return.

Matthew (Doc) Clarke: “Great quality match as a fan, not so much as the losing coach.” No excuses — he praised Melbourne’s efficiency. Steps down after 10 seasons as Adelaide coach.  Doc departs as a triple premiership coach and one of AFLW’s most respected figures — a true pioneer.

NEXT WEEK

Preliminary Final: Melbourne v North Melbourne Saturday 22 November 2025 at 3:05pm AEDT at IKON Park, Melbourne | Wurundjeri

The unbeaten North Melbourne awaits in a preliminary final. North’s unbeaten run is built on contested ball dominance — Melbourne’s speed and pressure will be key to breaking through.

Mission Impossible? Maybe. But Mick, Kate, and the returning stars will throw everything at it. Demons alive in 2025 — and believing.  

PS Carlton looked awesome on Saturday night and might give those lethal Lions a few sleepless nights this week.

MELBOURNE 3.2.20 4.3.27 6.5.41 9.6.60

ADELAIDE 1.2.8 6.4.40 6.5.41 7.7.49

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hore 3 Mahony 2 Campbell Fitzsimon B Mackin Wotherspoon

ADELAIDE J Allan Charlton Gould N Kelly Marinoff Ponter Prowse

BEST

MELBOURNE Hore Hanks Mahony Gillard Heath Harris

ADELAIDE Marinoff Biddell N Kelly Newman Hatchard

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

ADELAIDE Nil

REPORTS 

MELBOURNE Nil

ADELAIDE Nil 

UMPIRES Baigent Coyne Devenish 

CROWD 2,624 at Ikon Park

Best thing apart from the win is the “Nil” in the injury column.

very interested to see the changes for next week

zanker straight in; could bannan be the unlucky winner to lose her place?

is maeve going to be able to come back?

19 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

very interested to see the changes for next week

zanker straight in; could bannan be the unlucky winner to lose her place?

is maeve going to be able to come back?

It’s hard to imagine Banno being dropped but maybe that’s what might happen. Mick knows what he’s doing and we’ll trust his selection.

I’m not sure about Maevo. Last week she said she was hoping to be available for the prelim should we make it. We made it so I hope she’s right 🤞