Demonland

On a blustery Saturday afternoon when the conditions affected marking skills and the ball bounced unpredictably, the Mighty Dees stuck fat against a determined Kangaroos outfit to break away with two final quarter goals to none to win AFLW Preliminary Final 2 by 17 points — an all-time high winning margin between these two teams. From the outset it was a fiercely fought contest with Melbourne unable to find the ball in space. North really amped up their one-percenters and tackling pressure and played an extra player behind the ball, making it difficult for Melbourne to score. With the Dees up by 5 points at the main break, the Kangaroos came out and dominated the third quarter holding Melbourne scoreless. The ball spent 82% of the time the Roos’ forward half but they could only muster two points. Bella Eddey had their best opportunity, but her reverse torpedo missed to the right. It was only 3 points the difference at ¾ time. Melbourne came out in the last with its own increased level of determination and soon increased the lead to 10 points. Then, with less than three minutes to go, skipper Daisy Pearce secured her team’s second straight grand final appearance by kicking a stunning long-range bomb to rapturous applause. For North, its best player was skipper Emma Kearney with 10 strong intercepts and 17 disposals. Tyla Hanks helped limit the usual impact of star player Jazzy Garner. Hanksy herself had 12 tackles to go with 20 disposals and her usual outstanding creative playmaking. Riddell, Bruton and Bresnehen were busy for the Roos while Paxman and Mithen were terrific for the Dees. As a result, Melbourne will play the Brisbane Lions at ‘Brighton Homes Arena’, a newly constructed home ground for the AFLW in Springfield, a suburb of Ipswich, located southwest of Brisbane. Meggs was seated near the Demons’ race and really enjoyed the audible support coming from the non-playing Demons and family friends. Q1 A flying start by the Kangaroos ended with a Gavalas kick off the ground to the goal square where Randall took advantage of a Tahlia Gillard fumble to turn around and goal. We all took a deep breath, hoping it wasn’t a repeat of last week’s slow start against Adelaide. Hanksy and Paxy were where the action was, creating good ball movement. Paxman hit up Fitzy who worked in front of her opponent and cleverly marked the ball low. She went back and kicks dead straight. Excellent skills, has our number 24. On the other side of the ground to where we were sitting, a 50-metre penalty was given to Mithen. We asked around for an explanation, but no matter. She too kicked it dead straight. Loves a finals goal does Lily. Tayla Harris hurt her shoulder in a ruck contest late in the term that saw Melbourne 2.0.12 lead North 1.0.6 at the first break. Q2 Kearney was having a great game for North while Ferguson and Wright were working well defensively. Libby Birch’s greatest asset is her ability to read the play and take intercept marks. It looked to Meggs as if she had lost a bit of confidence on the day with the swirly wind but on watching the replay, it appears she suffered from tonsilitis during the week. A couple of unnecessary frees were given away by the Dees key defenders. Emma King kicked truly for North’s second goal — their last of the match. Some fine fluid corridor footy from the Dees saw a couple of set shot opportunities emerge with Mackin getting involved again and Goldie playing on as always. Casey Sherriff marked, went back and kicked it dead straight for the Dees’ third goal (and her first for the season) which made it three times where the goal umpie did not have to move. Late in the quarter Meggs saw Bannan landing awkwardly and looking proppy, perhaps an ankle roll. At half time Melbourne 3.1.22 led North 2.2.14 Q3 A furiously tight contest continued in the swirly conditions. It was tense. Incredibly North had 18 forward entries to Melbourne’s two for the quarter but they could muster only two points. North had been dogged all day and were winning the contest but the Demons’ all-team defence was stoic and held up incredibly well. At this stage, Zanker, sharing ruck duties with Loz Pearce and Harris, was forward but looking sore. Gillard was impressive since being shown up early by Randall. We were later surprised to see she misses out on being named in the best players. The third was a scoreless quarter for the Dees and it was a 3-point game. Melbourne 3.1.22 to North 2.4.16 Q4 Crowd support seemed evenly split and getting vocal with everyone hoping we could lift our teams. The Dees came out firing in the last and the Melbourne supporters could feel the anticipation. The ball was kicked to a one on one with Daisy outsmarting Sarah Wright out the back and then running on into an open goal. The Melbourne faithful got excited, but inexplicably Daisy kicked out on the full. Everyone around us sat down, flummoxed. Daisy looked rueful. Later, Mithen, who was still in everything, kicked it high to full forward. Kate Hore playing in front of her opponent, anticipated well, marked and then goaled. The Dees supporters went wild, it was the first goal of the last. Some slight easing of the collective Demons’ blood pressure. Then something unanticipated happened right in front of us which was difficult to describe. Did her preceding miskick galvanise her to execute such a marvellous piece of play? With the game still in the balance, Daisy snatched a loose ball, shrugged off Ash Riddell, ran away, and slammed it on to her boot from 40 metres out. It sailed through post high. Around us we could see the direction of the ball mid-air, so we jumped up and cheered with unabashed delight as it sailed through. Daisy had driven it home. Magic stuff, game over! We’re in the Season 7 Grand Final and a date with destiny. Melbourne 5.3.33 to North 2.4.16. Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said it was hard work, but he was proud of the effort. North is a hard team to play against and conditions were swirly which made it difficult. They were not able to get the game going which was a credit to North’s pressure. It was far from perfect but that’s finals footy. Excited to enjoy the week ahead. Stinear said he couldn’t see Tayla Harris missing next week. North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker said his team had a crack. He sees a trend in games against Melbourne where the Dees get a run on and make the most of their opportunities whereas North have tended to rush theirs. MELBOURNE 2.0.12 3.1.19 3.1.19 5.3.33 NORTH MELBOURNE 1.0.6 2.2.14 2.4.16 2.14.16 GOALS MELBOURNE Fitzsimon Hore Mithen D Pearce Sherriff NORTH MELBOURNE E King Randall BEST MELBOURNE Paxman Mithen Hanks Heath D Pearce Birch NORTH MELBOURNE Kearney Garner Riddell Wright Bruton Rennie INJURIES MELBOURNE T Harris (left shoulder) NORTH MELBOURNE Nil REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil NORTH MELBOURNE Nil CROWD 5,592 at Ikon Park

Perhaps the 1:30pm AEDT is the Channel 7 broadcast start time and they will be giving the girls and the AFLW the respect of a decent pre-game. Having said that they are just as likely to come on and start the broadcast minutes before the first bounce.

The AFLW Season 7 fixture was carefully crafted to purposely handicap the better teams and give the expansion and developing sides an easier draw. Nonetheless, this weekend’s Preliminary Finals will showcase the Lions, Demons, Crows and Roos, teams widely accepted as the best 4 in the competition. In Friday night’s Prelim 1 the minor premiers, Brisbane, will start warm favourites at home against Adelaide. On Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park, Prelim 2 between Melbourne and North is expected to be a tighter affair. The Dees and Roos have met five times and all the games have been close. The average winning margin has been less than a goal and their most recent encounter at the MCG in Round 2 was 2-point nailbiter. The Roos navigated the tough draw playing 7 matches against the final top 8 teams, losing only only to heavyweights, Melbourne (by 2 points), Adelaide (14) and Brisbane (7). Melbourne played 4 matches against Top 8 teams winning 3 and losing to Brisbane. Meggs musings on the opposition North have followed a similar upward trajectory to Melbourne, noticeably building and improving across Season 7. Their recent convincing victories against Collingwood in Round 9 and Richmond in the Semi Final demonstrate their premiership challenger bona fides. Initially North supporters were worried about offseason player movements with Kashy, Duffin, Gilroy, Bannister and Daisy Bateman departing but concerns have been allayed. Their Irish replacements: speedster Erika O’Shea (subject to a fitness test this week) and the powerhouse Vicki Wall, have rapidly adapted to our game. The development in young players such as Mia King, Tess Craven, Taylah Gatt, Bella Eddey and Alice O’Loughlin is evident. Darren Crocker has his team firing at the right time and would be pleased with his structure and game plan. Tahlia Randall with her contested marking and 11 goals this year is a key forward success. Skipper Emma Kearney is now a leading dashing halfback commander. Defenders Brown and Bresnehan have likewise performed well this season. North possess, arguably, the best player in the competition in Jazzy Garner and have excellent midfield depth with the skilful Jenna Bruton, ball-magnet Ash Riddell and tyro Mia King. North has an excellent competitive ruck combination in Kim Rennie and Emma King (who plays mainly as a forward/ruck). Amy Smith has emerged as a key tagger, has played every game this year, and boasts a Melbourne connection in her brother @joelsmithh44. Another Melbourne connection is young defender Hannah Bowey, sister of @jakebowey. But if O’Shea is declared fit, expect Hannah to unfortunately make way. North’s small forward group of Abbatangelo, O’Loughlin, and Eddey have looked dangerous at times this season, kicking 20 goals between them. How Melbourne wins This game promises to showcase two highly skilled teams. Both sides are strong at the contest and play an attractive attacking game style, switching and heading down the corridor. The Demons’ courageous midfield group led by the silky skilled Tyla Hanks, extractors Liv Purcell and Westy, and aerobic wingers Paxy, Mithen and the marvellous Mackin are all ready to unleash their firepower on the Kangaroos. The midfield battle will be fierce. Loz Pearce and Tayla Harris, with support from Zanker match up well against Rennie and King. I’m expecting the Dees to hold sway in the ruck on Saturday. That miserly defence, statistically in S7 the meanest, is led by Libby Birch and emerging youngster Tahlia Gillard. The key backs are well supported by Goldrick, Gay, Lampard, Chaplin and Heath. This group will make it tough for North to score. None of North’s small forwards are quick but they can be dangerous. The point of difference (other than when Tay is rucking) is the range and strength of forward targets. Vice-Captain Kate Hore is having her best season, Bannan is a highlights reel, Zanker will be a difficult match up for Wright or Ferguson, while Daisy is so wily and Harris when forward is a strong target. Plus, Sherriff and Fitzsimon bring the forward pressure. It has been joy watching the Dees this year. Here’s hoping Mick Stinear has the team firing right from the outset after we failed to light the fuse in the first quarter of the Qualifying Final. Since joining the AFLW North has a 71.1% winning record and Melbourne even better at 74.2%. Meggs expects no changes for us this week. Everyone should be refreshed with the week off. We love playing at Ikon Park and this is our third game there this season. Demon fans should not miss a moment of this game. I’m expecting them to play with lots of #demonspirit, get the job done and ultimately earn their place in the Season 7 Grand Final next week. Melbourne by 8 points THE GAME Melbourne v North Melbourne at Ikon Park, on Saturday 19 November 2022 at 3:10pm (Melbourne time). The weather forecast says there may be rain, but the ground will be in prime condition. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 4 wins North 1 win At Ikon Park Melbourne 4 wins North 3 wins (they have never played against each other at Ikon) The Coaches Stinear 3 wins Crocker 0 wins MEDIA TV live on 7mate and Kayo. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 3.8 (26) defeated Kangaroos 4.0 (24) at the MCG, 2 September 2022 There was a late venue switch for this Round 2 clash against North Melbourne which became a curtain-raiser to the AFL Qualifying Final between Melbourne v Sydney at the MCG. It was a cold evening and North defended valiantly all night. Daisy only had four kicks during the match but thankfully two of them were opportunistic goals. The Dees racked up 3.8 with several very gettable shots missing the target while North had only four shots on goal and snagged them all. Key defenders Birch and Gillard mostly did well but did look vulnerable when the ball hit the ground. Bannan threatened to break away during the match on several occasions, but North’s Irish speedster Erika O’Shea had her covered for pace. However, in the final minute of the game, this time matched up on Brooke Brown, Alyssa Bannan weaved some of her magic to kick a miraculous goal and Melbourne snuck past North to win by two points. GOALS Melbourne D Pearce 2 Bannan North Melbourne Emma King 2 Gavalas Smith BEST Melbourne Paxman Hanks Purcell Birch Heath North Melbourne Rennie Bruton Riddell Garner Wright THE TEAMS MELBOURNE - No change