Dees Fall Short in a Classic

No team had come close to cracking North Melbourne all season, and Melbourne — up by six at the final change — nearly broke that trend in a pulsating preliminary final at IKON Park.

Under perfect finals conditions — 24 degrees, sunny, and dry — a crowd of 7,057 packed Princes Park for a high-class showcase of AFLW football.

The occasion was marked with black armbands following the passing of Tahlia Gillard’s grandfather, a stirring Welcome to Country by Colin Hunter Jnr, and a live rendition of the national anthem before the bounce. A strong contingent of Demon men — led by Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Jake Melksham, and Steven May — were on hand to support their AFLW sisters. 

One Club, one dream, #demonspirit.

The Match

Melbourne came out breathing fire. Paxy Paxman wound back the clock with the opener, then found Ry Wotherspoon for the second. Eliza McNamara was everywhere early, while Zanker and Lize missed chances before Captain Kate Hore roved and goaled for a sizzling 3-zip start.

North hit back hard. Blaithin Bogue responded, her Irish speed worried the Dees, the important return of Sheerin who converted and Bogue outbodied Hore for her second. 

Suddenly, it was a one-point game.

Tyla Hanks and Kate Hore combined to set up Tayla Harris, who drilled a trademark long bomb and pumped her fist — her 13th finals match, and played like the superstar she is.

Quarter time: Melbourne 4.2 (26) to North 3.1 (19).

The second term tightened. Riddell goaled, while technical 50m penalties frustrated fans and commentators alike. Randall missed hers; Hore nailed hers. Melbourne’s defence held firm, and at halftime the Dees clung to a slender lead: 5.2 (32) to 4.6 (30).

The third quarter was a grind. Harris again started at centre bounce, Hore missed, Bannan rushed, Ry missed, Hanks missed. North failed to score anything at all, but Melbourne’s inaccuracy had hurt. Three-quarter time: 5.6 (36) to 4.6 (30).

The last quarter was finals footy at its fiercest. After nine minutes of trench warfare, Bogue kicked her third to snatch the lead. A minute later, Jasmine Garner—best on ground—pounced with a classic Jazzy stealer. Melbourne threw everything at it, but fatigue told. North, fresher after a week off, finished stronger to win by 10 points and earn their chance of back-to-back premiership glory next week.

Spent but Proud.

Final Score: North Melbourne 6.10 (46) def Melbourne 5.6 (36).

Match Moment

Meggs loved Tayla Harris’s spectacular mark-of-the-year contender on Ash Riddell and Paxy’s crunching bump on Alice O’Loughlin — but the theatre belonged to Eden Zanker. After flattening Libby Birch in play, Eden mocked Birch’s complaints with a cheeky “cry-baby” gesture. Fiery finals footy!  Meggs just laughed.

Birch, once a Demon, may have burnt some bridges but she played her matchday role well and as they say winners are grinners.  All the best next Saturday Libby.

Meggs Musings

Felt flat immediately after the game but gee haven’t the finals games been super entertaining.  

Footy thoughts:

• Melbourne’s four key defenders — Gillard, Taylor, Chaplin, Goldrick — were magnificent. Radar’s best game in the Red and Blue.

• Our skippers Hore and Hanks led from the front all day. 

• Tayla Harris had some spectacular moments.

• Loz Pearce battled hard in the ruck, aiding clearances. 

• Shelley Heath had defensive duties this week and led with 9 game-high tackles.

• Paxy Paxman turned back time today, at nearly 37 years old does she go again?

• Melbourne’s missed chances in the third term; sliding doormoments.

Bouncing back now.  Melbourne has a highly promising crop of young players.  Our future is bright.

Coaches and Next Week

Mick Stinear was proud and emotional post-game, praising his team’s effort but lamenting missed opportunities and late fatigue. Out of contract after 10 seasons and a premiership, Mick’s future is a hot topic. With Geelong’s Dan Lowther gone and Mick Anglesea-based, speculation swirls. Possible successors? Shae Sloane, Emma Kearney, Daisy Pearce. Watch this space.

North coach Darren Crocker acknowledged the benefit of the week off and lauded his team’s ability to “stick fat” and surge late.

Melbourne bows out of Season 10 with pride intact. North marches on to face Brisbane in next Saturday’s grand final at IKON Park.

Congratulations to all our wonderful players, coaches and support staff on a very competitive 2025 season.  Super proud of our women’s team and absolutely love supporting them.

Carn you mighty Demons!

Postscript 

Stay tuned in a couple of weeks for Meggs’ Season Review including some 2025 AFLW draft and trade period insights —coming soon!

MELBOURNE 4.2.26 5.2.32 5.6.36 5.6.36

NORTH MELBOURNE 3.1.19 4.6.30 4.6.30 6.10.46

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hore 2 Harris Paxman Wotherspoon

North MELBOURNE Bogue 3 Garner Riddell Sheerin

BEST

MELBOURNE Gillard Chaplin Hore Hanks Goldrick McNamara

NORTH MELBOURNE Garner Kearney O'Shea Riddell Smith Sheerin

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

NORTH MELBOURNE Nil

CROWD 7,057 at Ikon Park

Congrats on a fine year, Meggs @ @Demonland

Geez, we were in the running.

I was going to say something along the lines of comparing it to the men's 2000 season where it was 'always going to be Essendon', but... no, it wasn't like that at all. We were right in this one and a few deep breaths at the right moments could have tipped it.

I'm already in hunt mode for 2026. For a couple of seasons now I've been stewing on the feeling that we are on the cusp of being terrifying, and having some really promising young players, both tall and small, just makes me look forward to next season all the more.