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The Demons enter Season 8 as the reigning premiers and are considered the favourite to go ‘back-to-back’ by 14 of the other 17 AFLW Captains (82.4%). So, what could go wrong? Well for starters there is the dreaded premiership hangover, the difficult fixture, the most interstate travel of any team, potential injuries to key players, emergence of rising teams, the Daisy Factor … AFLW SEASON 8 LAUNCH The MFC Season launch held in early August was slap bang amidst the palpable excitement of the Matilda’s Quarter Final heroics over France and the upcoming Semi Final against England. Cub Chairman Kate Roffey highlighted the importance of team confidence and what it can achieve. With a roomful of players, their families, coaches, MFC staff and execs, coterie, supporters and @deearmy, you could feel how proud she was that our group had shunned expansion signings to stay on target with @demonspirit for Season 8. Seemingly AFL Head Office was less pleased with our list management success than our Chair and her football department was 😉. There was no sign of a premiership hangover when new skipper Kate Hore (10) confidently spoke to the Demon faithful on behalf of her team. She spoke well, as she does with everything. Recognition about her is coming from rivals and observers too. AFLW captains were asked ‘if you could recruit another player from any AFLW club who would it be?’ 3 answered Captain Kate (and 1 chose Tyla Hanks). AFLW Footy journalist, Sarah Black has Kate at number 7 in her AFLW 2023 Top 30. Yes Daisy, she’s ready. The FIXTURE Just to recap, Season 8 is a 10-round season (like last year), and the top 8 teams make it to the finals. There are 18 AFLW teams playing, as there are for the AFL men. However, the shorter season means teams don’t play 7 of the other 17 teams during the home and away season. In order to create a fixture which produces more even matches, the league has handicapped the better teams. Expansion was too fast and until the time that all teams are competitive, the league deems that a 10-week season works best. Notable for the Dees, they play the big 3 Season 7 preliminary finalists (Adelaide, Brisbane and North) and miss games against Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda and Sydney. Fixture highlights include the season opener against the Pies at Ikon Park and then a trip to Kardinia Park for its first game against Geelong (28 September 2023). The Dees also have more travelling than other Melbourne-based teams, with trips to Canberra, Perth and Brisbane. Fun fact: the only sides to beat Melbourne since March 2021 are Brisbane and Adelaide. THE PLAYER MOVEMENTS League-wise there were some big, noteworthy moves. Grand Finalist Brisbane lost their leading goal kicker Jessie Wardlaw to the Saints, their decorated midfield general Emily Bates and All-Australian forward Greta Bodey to Hawthorn. Brisbane’s coach Craig Starcevich still has a talented list, but these player losses present a challenge for him. Collingwood lost their co-captain Steph Chiocci to St Kilda (along with tough mid Jaimee Lambert) plus gun utility Chloe Molloy moved to Sydney as their co-captain. The Pies do see the return from long term injury of stars Bri Davey and Brit Bonnici. We’ll see on Friday’s opener whether these net changes have made any impact on the Pies premiership credentials. If results in practice games are indicative of what she can do during the season, then Kate Shierlaw’s move to North will seriously strengthen their forward line. The G-Train has moved to Richmond (from St Kilda) and presumably takes the retired Courtney Wakefield’s full forward position. NEW (AND RETURNING) DEMONS Melbourne have quietly added Saraid Taylor (28), a young tall from Richmond and Georgina ‘Chook’ Fowler (12), a forward with a Rugby7s background, from GWS. Generating some excitement for the Dees is the recruitment of premiership player Blaithin Mackin’s (31) sister, Aimee (21). Everyone seems impressed by Aimee’s Gaelic Football videos where she demonstrates her speed with the ball, kicks lots of goals on her preferred left foot and ‘sells candy’ like her li’l sis. Aimee is recovering from a hamstring injury, but we hope to see her in action soon. Lastly, we have Eliza McNamara (22) returning after fracturing her spine in a weightroom accident and Gaby Colvin (32) back from an ACL. We love hearing that they are back playing and doing well. BEST TEAM Melbourne was last season’s statistically best defensive team and the second highest offensive team and of course had a harder draw than most teams given it was a Season 6 Grand Finalist. With no significant changes in personnel and a year of development we are fabulously placed to excel in Season 8. WHO ARE THE LIKELY CHALLENGERS TO THE DEMONS? The danger team for Meggs is North Melbourne. They have 6 or 7 standout players and have steadily recruited better role players over the past few years. Though Brooke Brown, who moved to Essendon, will be missed. The games between these clubs last year were epic battles that could have gone either way. The other Season 7 preliminary finalists, Adelaide and Brisbane will be highly competitive again. The other team to watch is Geelong. They have an excellent midfield, a settled defence and just need to get their forward line working against the top teams to win those games. Expect the Cats to be around the Top 4. So that’s your Top 5 (Dees, North, Adelaide, Geelong and Brisbane). For the rest, there will be a logjam in the middle of the ladder as teams jostle for finals positions. One comment on the expansion teams. Expect Sydney to record their first ever win at some point this season. They knocked off both Gold Coast and Carlton in the practice matches. RANDOM SEASON 8 DISCUSSION POINTS Recent statistics on attendance and TV viewership has sparked debate over the quality and marketability of the AFLW product (mostly in comparison with soccer). Yes, it is early stage, a work in progress, but improvement is evident; everyone involved is dedicated and passionate; women’s sport is attracting global attention; kids are looking for different sporting opportunities; more girls than ever are playing junior football so expect a bright future to steadily build. Needless to say, we need to remunerate the women players fairly as we continue the journey. At the AFL AFLW season launch, the AFL announced it will award equal prizemoney for the men's and women's competitions for the first time in 2023. The total pool of player prizemoney for both the men's and women's competitions of $1.1 million will be split among the top four teams in the AFL, and among the top eight teams in the AFLW. The AFL has reinstated the McClelland Trophy to include AFL and AFLW (now that we have all 18 teams in both comps). The winner collects $1 million in prizemoney which will be shared between the club and all its players. Four points are awarded for AFL wins, while eight points are granted for AFLW wins (as the AFLW season runs for only 10 rounds). The Dees are in the frame with 64 points for the men but Collingwood (72) and Brisbane (68) lead at this point. It will now be up to the women. “The Daisy Factor” — the loss of inaugural captain and premiership star player Daisy Pearce to retirement — is not as serious as would seem. Coach Mick Stinear has said that we are at ‘ground zero’ and we know that #demonspirit is our secret sauce. A succession plan has been executed skilfully. We will be even better, you’ll see. Meggs will be back with a preview of the Round 1 Season 8 opening match which starts at 7.20pm on Friday 1 September at Ikon Park. Melbourne FC will unfurl their Season 7 premiership flag and then take on the mighty Collingwood Magpies. THE MEDIA: When the Herald Suns’ Lauren Wood recently ran the rule over the players most likely to ignite the AFLW competition, she referenced two Demons. Here’s what she wrote — KATE HORE, 28, (Melb) Hore, a premiership forward, has the unenviable task of stepping into the captaincy after one of the game's best players - Daisy Pearce - retired at the end of last season. But ask anyone at Melbourne - including Pearce - and Hore is more than ready to relish the challenge. Booted 17 goals last season given her aerial danger and brings the pressure, with an average of four tackles per game. TAYLA HARRIS, 26, (Melb) One of the game's most-recognisable faces, Harris finally tasted premiership success in season seven, playing a crucial role in the Demons' victory over Brisbane in her home state of Queensland. Harris, who is tattooed with the moniker "oxymoron", does things a little differently - even competing for a national boxing title just weeks out from the season beginning. Her contested marking ability is second-to-none, with her height and reach also utilised with some ruckwork at times last season. Simply a can't-look-away-from player.

The Demons ran out for their Qualifying Final match against the Fremantle Dockers at Casey Fields as the sounds of Midnight Oils’ “Power and the Passion cascaded over the mainly friendly pro-Melbourne crowd. It was a far cry from the season opener at Carrara in late January where few of their fans were in attendance in high 20’s heat and humidity and silence greeted every score from the slow-starting Demons. They ran away from the lowly Suns, won comfortably in the end and followed that with another easy win against the Tigers. But there were no easy games after that and a mid season two-game slump had coach Mick Stinear and his assistants burning the midnight oil to get the team’s season back on track. They did so to stunning effect bringing a more attacking style to the table and the results have been evident ever since with win after win over highly ranked opponents The Qualifying Final victory - Melbourne’s second in a fortnight against the early season premiership favourites - was emblematic of the team’s new power and passion. The conditions were just as hot as in their opening game but this time the team was strong out of the blocks even against a stiff breeze. Youngster Alyssa Bannan scored the only goal for the opening quarter and the feat of holding the Dockers to a mere two points during that stanza was to prove decisive. Two quick goals to Shelley Scott in the opening five minutes of the second term saw the visitors gasping for air and in arrears by 19 points at the main break. But this was a finals game and the Dockers hadn’t travelled across the continent to be brushed aside so easily. They pushed hard for ten minutes to narrow the gap to 11 points before a goal to Melbourne’s Brenna Tarrant steadied the ship. Then followed another surge that netted two more goals and, at the final break, it was game on with the Demons’ lead cut to a mere four points. Except that the ill winds that often sweep across Casey Fields were in full operation. For the remainder of the game, the ball was mainly in Melbourne’s forward line but goals were hard to score. Seven consecutive behinds were punctuated by a couple of shots out of bounds. The weight of those points had already made the game safe when Maddy Gay finally goaled from a free kick with a minute left to go. Gay (19 touches, 9 tackles) had been great in an all round team effort but, as usual, perennial All Australian Karen Paxman (20 possessions and five tackles) challenged her for the best on ground. Lily Mithen was tigerish in her attack on the footy, Scott’s two goals invaluable, Tegan Cunningham at her best for a while and Eden Zanker demonstrated why she’s regarded as one of the best young talents in the game. Lauren Pearce won in the ruck. The other Pearce — the team’s spiritual leader, Daisy — sat this one out with a knee injury and might not be back out on the field again this season. Whatever the case may be, her Demons proved yesterday that they have the power and the passion to take on Adelaide next week and continue on the path to ultimate success. MELBOURNE 1.2.8 3.3.21 4.3.27 5.10 (40) FREMANTLE DOCKERS 0.2.2 0.2.2 3.5.23 3.5 (23) GOALS Melbourne: Scott 2, Bannan, Gay, Tarrant Fremantle Dockers: Duffy, Houghton, Sharp BEST Melbourne: Paxman, Gay, Scott, Mithen, Cunningham, Zanker Fremantle Dockers: Bowers, Miller, Sergeant, Cain, Seth INJURIES Melbourne: Nil Fremantle Dockers: Nil REPORTS: Nil VENUE: Casey Fields

This was my first game for points involving the Demons in more than a year and a half and the long march to Carrara turned out to be worthwhile. The game was won in a single withering quarter that was dominated by Melbourne on the back of an outstanding display from Karen Paxman. The four-time All Australian picked up 13 touches for the stanza to set up a five goal to nothing second term after a lacklustre start in which the cleaner, sharper Gold Coast notched up the first two goals of the game in quick time. The goals came when the Demons steadied to square the game before a goal on the siren had the Suns back on top. Melbourne’s strong midfield and its marking prowess with Paxman (who finished with 25 touches) and Lily Mithen controlling the middle and Kate Hore and Tegan Cunningham converting led them to a 22-point half time lead in the warm humid conditions. Lauren Pearce had a tough task in the ruck and while beaten in the hit outs she made up for it with her work around the ground. Tyla Hanks continues to improve and will be a leading light in the team as the season goes on. Debutant Eliza McNamara, drafted from the Dragons at #15 in last year’s draft was the most impressive of the newcomers. While not in the play all that much, veteran Daisy Pearce hovered around the ground directing proceedings with her experience. Krstel Petrevski was dangerous around the big sticks and was well rewarded with her two goals. The Demons’ half time score of 7.1 was outstanding for a team not noted for accuracy in front of goal. At the time, they were on course for a club record but both teams tired and the final quarter yielded no goals for either. The final score was still the club’s fourth highest in its history and the win was its first against Gold Coast because it was the first time they’ve met. The Suns’ cause was destroyed by their inexperience and lack of discipline - they gave away three 50 metre penalties and a couple more goals through unnecessary frees. Their best player was ex-Demon Sarah Perkins, who the club was unable to retain after last season - a pity because her strength up forward was an asset for her team. We’ll take the win especially in the circumstances of a same day fly-in/fly-out. There’s a lot do as the season unfolds but it was good to come home with the four points, especially in front of 1,902 fans of who, I think I was one of the two Melbourne fans, such were the sounds of silence when the Demons scored their goals. MELBOURNE 2.0 7.1 9.1 9.2 (56) GOLD COAST 3.1 3.3 5.4 5.5 (35) GOALS Melbourne: Cunningham 2, Hore 2, Petrevski 2, Zanker, Mithen, Heath Gold Coast: Perkins 2, Stanton, Kaslar, Perry BEST Melbourne: Paxman, Mithen, McNamara, L.Pearce, Cunningham, Hanks Gold Coast: Stanton, Perkins, Keaney, Ahrens, Drennan INJURIES Melbourne: Nil Gold Coast: Bradfield (knee) REPORTS: Nil ATTENDANCE: 1902 at Metricon Stadium

There is a quote that is often misattributed to Albert Einstein which goes along these lines: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” meaning that if you always follow an unsuccessful pattern, you will inevitably always fail. It turns out that Einstein never said it but whoever did, perfectly encapsulated the 2018 campaign of the Melbourne women's team. Since after the opening round, the Demons have been shooting themselves in the foot with strong starting quarters followed by poor kicking for goal and performances that were punctuated by hesitancy and indecisive play, some absolute howlers (missing after running into open goals has been a special) that ultimately cost them a grand final place. Against the Bulldogs, the same mad pattern was there for all to see although this time, they had first use of the breeze after captain Daisy Pearce won the toss so they were always likely to hold a lead at the end of the opening term. And so it was, that Melbourne controlled the ball for much of the term when kicking to the southern end. As usual they had a lopsided inside 50 advantage of 11 to 2, but all they had to show for the dominance was a seven point lead thanks to a solitary Richelle Cranston goal. After the break, the Bulldogs showed the Demons how things should be done properly by going on the attack and, after a couple of early behinds, the goals came regularly - they snagged three goals in the first 12 minutes and though the visitors came back with a goal to Karen Paxman in a rare foray forward, it would have taken a genius like Einstein to get them across the line from there. Katherine Smith’s snapped goal just three minutes into the the third term offered some hope but those insane Demons lapsed into their pattern of wastefulness. They kept the Doggies scoreless for what is often known as “the premiership quarter” but they managed only one goal from seven scoring shots with their second use of the breeze. It was the old familiar pattern from that game in Fremantle. No urgency and no desire to go in for the kill but rather, a slow approach that gave opposition defenders the chance to apply that little bit of extra pressure when going for goal. They tried hard to stem the flow in the last and even tantalised the fans by regaining the lead with Kate Hore’s diving mark and goal but, as fate would have it, the Bulldogs’ Brooke Lochland kicked accurately for the winning goal with less than a minute and a half left to play. The pattern had been followed: the season was over. Melbourne 1.1.7 2.1.13 3.7.25 4.7.31 Western Bulldogs 0.0.0 3.2.20 3.2.20 5.3.33 Goals Melbourne Cranston Hore Paxman Smith Western Bulldogs Berry Brennan Conti Kearney Lochland Best Melbourne Paxman Smith L Pearce Downie O'Dea, Jakobsson Western Bulldogs Kearney Blackburn Bruton Spark, Conti Birch Injuries Melbourne Lampard (knee) Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Mirable, Dore, Johanson Official crowd 7,593 at VU Whitten Oval

Melbourne’s record-breaking six goal opening quarter against Carlton at Ikon Park on Sunday set up an all-important 35-point win that catapulted the club into second place on the AFLW ladder with one round remaining before the Grand Final, separated from the top placed Bulldogs by percentage only. The win came at a cost for the Demons as vice-captain and All-Australian defender Mel Hickey came off the ground in the third quarter with a knee injury and awaits the result of scans to determine her fate for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond. Aliesha Newman was also off late in the game suffering an apparent back complaint. The team opened in sensational fashion with six unanswered goals, three of them to the indefatigable Elisa O'Dea and two to tall forward Tegan Cunningham who recovered from last week’s head knock and also finished the game with three goals. At the first break, the team’s disposal count was 73 to 20 and the Blues had yet to mark the ball. Given that Carlton has yet to kick more than three goals in a match this season the game was well and truly over and that turned out to be the case even though Melbourne was characteristically, like its men’s team earlier in the week, outscored by a few points for the remainder of the match. They went on to win easily 8.9.57 to 3.4.22 although it appeared that there was an element of self-preservation in their game with the grand final so close to their grasp, especially after Hickey came off the ground. O’Dea was the outstanding player for Melbourne in an even side that will approach next week’s game against the Bulldogs with some confidence knowing that they have the depth to go all the way. Melbourne 6.3.39 7.5.47 7.8.50 8.9.57 Carlton 0.1.1 2.1.13 2.2.14 3.4.22 Goals Melbourne Cunningham O'Dea 3 Hore 2 Carlton Gee Harris Vescio Best Melbourne O’Dea Cunningham Grierson Hore Scott L Pearce Carlton Gee S Hosking Moody Injuries Melbourne Hickey (knee) Newman (back) Carlton Attard (hand) Reports Nil Umpires Simmonds, Guy, Johansen Official crowd 6,300 at Ikon Park

After last week’s horror defeat at the hands of bottom of the ladder Collingwood in Alice Springs, Melbourne turned its season around last night with a heart-thumping six point victory over Brisbane at Casey Fields. The result came after selectors swung the axe in response to last week’s showing and the fact that this was yet another six day break after a fortnight on the road. The Demons were inspired by a return to form by skipper Daisy Pearce who led the charge with two goals as her team opened proceedings with a now familiar early domination that has seen the opposition kept scoreless in the first quarter for three weeks in a row. The inside 50 advantage at that stage was 11 to 3 in Melbourne’s favour. Predictably, it was the home side’s inaccuracy in front of goal that kept the second placed Lions in the hunt. By half time, the Dees led by just 11 points despite having 80% of the scoring shots and dominating most of the game’s statistics. Brisbane was not to be denied and kept coming back hard after the main break thanks to Sabrina Frederick-Traub whose banana kick for goal reduced Melbourne's lead to just six points halfway through the third quarter. Tegan Cunningham returned the compliment with a goal of her own to put the Demons in a strong position at the final break. Not long after, Cunningham suffered a nasty collision with an opponent and consequently played no further art in the game. Brisbane played its best football of the evening in the last quarter, reversing Melbourne’s forward dominance but strong defence in the end ensured that the club song would be sung on the final siren. The strength of the team was the team’s leading trio of Karen Paxman (24), Elise O'Dea and Daisy (23 each) who dominated the disposal count with Kate Hore, the heroin with the team’s only final quarter score - a goal out of a pack midway through the term. Frederick-Traub put the visitor’s back in with a chance after seeming to push her opponent out of a ruck contest near goal, but time ran out for the visitors who finished a six points in arrears as the Demons pressed home their finals prospects after a heavy week of introspection. They have a break of eight days before facing the Blues at Ikon Park in the penultimate round on Sunday week. Melbourne 2.3.15 2.6.18 3.10.28 4.10.34 Brisbane 0.0.0 1.1.7 2.2.14 4.4.28 Goals Melbourne D Pearce 2 Cunningham Hore Brisbane Frederick-Traub 3 Gibson Best Melbourne D Pearce Paxman O’Dea L Pearce Smith Hore Brisbane Frederick-Traub Lutkins Ashmore Anderson Zielke Injuries Melbourne Cunningham (head knock) Brisbane Hildebrand (head knock) Reports Nil Umpires Dore Buwalda Atkins Crowd 2,100 at Casey Fields, Cranbourne

Melbourne’s hopes of winning AFLW silverware in 2018 melted away dramatically in the 37 degree hear at TIO Traeger Park when it wilted after holding its opponents scoreless then losing its grip on a game for the second time in the space of less than a week. This time the Demons suffered a complete mauling at the hands of previously winless Collingwood who applied power and pressure against a team that was a premiership fancy just seven days ago. After the first break, the Magpies embarrassed and outscored them by eight goals to winning 9.4.58 to 3.6.24. The fact that the team was on a six day break on the road and in the heat was no excuse for the sloppy play and capitulation to a team that was sitting on the bottom of the ladder. The Demons’ playmaker Daisy Pearce was well held, leaving much of the hard work to far to few. The best of the bunch were Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea but it was disappointing that so few stood up against a tough Magpie outfit that had all of the answers. The Dees were somehow still in the game early in the last quarter when down by 17 points but in the end they were far too easily brushed aside. In particular, the defence was easily ruffled and gave away too many easy goals. The team returns home this week to regroup for a must win game after another six day break against Brisbane at Casey Fields on Friday night. Melbourne 2.2.14 2.2.14 3.4.22 3.6.24 Collingwood 0.0.0 3.2.20 6.4.40 9.4.58 Goals Melbourne Hore Mifsud O'Dea Collingwood Hope Edwards 2 Barden Bernardi Chiocci Hutchins Kuys Best Melbourne Paxman, Downie O'Dea Cunningham Jakobsson Collingwood Bernardi Lambert Chiocci Bonnici, Hope King Injuries Melbourne Cranston (hand) Smith (concussion) Collingwood Nil Reports Nil Umpires Galbraith, Crosby, Broadbent Estimated crowd 2,000 at TIO Traeger Park

How could they possibly have lost this one? At quarter time, they held a lead of 1.5.11 to their opponent’s score of nothing. The Dockers had barely gone into attack and certainly not once had they gone inside 50 to the Demons’ 15 entries. It had all of the hallmarks of a rout except for a litany of wasted opportunities that saw Tegan Cunningham as the only goal kicker, scored at the seven-minute mark. It was not only the five behinds but a few other potential goals missed the sticks altogether or failed to make the distance. The game should have been sewn up, such was Melbourne’s dominance. They were playing like careless millionaires who had no regard for their money and when you take such a course, you need to watch out because you could well end up in the poor house. So despite Daisy Pearce’s complete dominance (she had 15 disposals by the half time break), the Dees lapsed a couple of times in the second quarter to let the home side in for two goals to hold a slender one point lead at the halfway mark. Things got worse after the break when Fremantle opened up with another two goals to lead by 13 points less than four minutes into the second half. Just when we thought it was all over, the Demons hit back hard with goals to Aliesha Newman, Cunningham (who kicked her second) and Karen Paxman. The lead at the last change was a single goal but Melbourne had all of the momentum. Surely they would get up and win to take top spot on the AFLW ladder? No. The Dockers kicked the only two goals for the final quarter and the last roll of the dice for the Demons, yielded yet another minor score and poverty for the frustrated Demons who missed out on their quest for top place. Melbourne 1.5.11 1.5.11 4.6.30 4.7.31 Fremantle 0.0.0 2.0.12 4.0.24 6.0.36 Goals Melbourne Cunningham 2 Newman Paxman. Fremantle McGuire 2 Lavell Antonio Webb Caulfield. Best Melbourne Pearce Cunningham Paxman O’Dea Hickey Fremantle Donnellan Webb Gooch Antonio Filocamo McGuire Injuries Melbourne C Phillips (ankle) Fremantle Nil Reports Nil Umpires J Howorth D Johansen A Heffernan Official crowd 3,125 at Fremantle Oval

Despite a slow start that saw it lead by a solitary point at quarter time even though it had first use of a strong breeze at Casey Fields, Melbourne thrashed reigning premier Adelaide by 32 points to retain their unbeaten record in the 2018 AFLW competition. The AFL hierarchy had made clear its edict for higher scoring and the adoption of a a 5-6-5 structure and the Demons responded with four goals against the wind in the second quarter to well and truly stitch up the game. With the lead out to 20 points at the main break, the home side continued to control proceedings and coasted home in the last for back to back victories. In just two matches, they have passed 100 points for the season and gained recognition for their attractive play. The highlight was no doubt the Buddyesque goal from Aliesha Newman who carried the ball from the wing with three bounces evading two opponents and curved the ball through the big sticks to record the early contender for goal of the year. But the adage about a dominant midfield was no more pronounced than in this game with Melbourne’s Karen Paxman, Daisy Pearce and Elise O'Dea setting the tone from the very start with Paxman dictating terms after her injury scare in the opening game when she left the ground before quarter time with back spasms. This week she was leading possession gatherer with 21 disposals despite being afforded the luxury of a rest in the final term with the game well and truly done and dusted. O’Dea and Pearce worked hard all game and were not far behind her in the possession count. The Demons worked harder than the Crows and were well rewarded with the four points for a game in which they held sway across the ground. Lily Mithen continued her impressive start to the season and Bianca Jakobsson again showed that she will be a vaualable addition to the ranks. The team travels interstate for its next clash against the Dockers at Fremantle Oval. Melbourne 1.1.7 5.2.32 7.4.46 8.8.56 Adelaide 1.0.6 2.0.12 3.0.18 4.0.24 Goals Melbourne Cunningham Newman 2 Cranston Hickey L Pearce Scott Adelaide Hewett Holmes McCormick Wallace Best Melbourne Paxman, O'Dea Jakobsson Hore, Mithen D Pearce Adelaide Marinoff Cox Randall Varnhagen Cox Injuries TBA Reports Nil Umpires Gibson McGinness Heffernan Official crowd 3,800 at Casey Fields

Melbourne overcame a sloppy start to its AFLW season with six straight last half goals including a late snap from Richelle (“Rocky”) Cranston which knocked Greater Western Sydney out of the contest and gave her team the win by six points. The Demons, with midfielder Karen Paxman in great early form with nine possessions, dominated proceedings in the first quarter but their poor disposal and the Giants’ ability to score goals on rare forays up forward, saw them trailing by four points at quarter time. By then, Paxman was off with a back injury (later diagnosed as “back spasms”) and things were not looking good for the Dees when their opponents scored their third goal early in the second term. At the main break they were down by 9 points. However, with skipper Daisy Pearce, the strong and reliable Elise O'Dea and the new look Richelle Cranston all lifting, the Demons willed themselves back into the game after half time. It took just three minutes for them to snatch the lead for the first time and by the 10 minute mark, they were in front themselves by 9 points. But GWS were not to be denied. They fought back against the run of the game with two goals to go into the last break with a 5-point lead. It was still anybody’s game. As it was, the lead changed hands early in the final term with goals from Cranston and Shelley Scott but the Giants were undeterred and fought back to level the scores. Then followed a tense five minutes until Rocky’s snap gave the home side the lead and the win. After the game, Cranston said, “I had no idea how that goal went in – I just heard Daisy say ‘get it on the boot’ and lucky it went through.” Other players who stood out were Meg Downie across half-back, Lily Mithen up forward and newcomers Bianca Jakobsson from Carlton and 194 cm recruit Erin Hoare who had 20 hit-outs in the ruck. The Demons are at home again next week with a clash against reigning premiers Adelaide, smarting from their first up loss last night to Brisbane. Melbourne 1.2.8 1.3.9 4.3.27 7.3.45 GWS Giants 2.0.12 3.0.18 5.2.32 6.3.39 Goals Melbourne Cranston 3 Scott 2 Hore Cunningham GWS Giants McWilliams 3 Barclay 2 Staunton Best Melbourne D Pearce O'Dea Downie Cranston Scott Mithen GWS Giants McWilliams Farrugia Barclay Staunton Injuries Melbourne Paxman (back) GWS Giants Nil Reports Nil Umpires Gibson Johansen Curtis Official crowd 5,100 at Casey Fields

Saturday’s match kicks off at 4.35pm AEDT and will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Footy from 4.30pm. Melbourne AFLW team: round seven Backs: Jasmine Grierson, Mia-Rae Clifford, Katherine Smith Half Backs: Daisy Pearce, Laura Duryea, Richelle Cranston Centres: Harriet Cordner Half Forwards: Karen Paxman, Alyssa Mifsud, Lily Mithen Forwards: Sarah Lampard, Shelley Scott, Cat Phillips Followers: Lauren Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea Interchange: Emma Humphries, Maddie Boyd, Aliesha Newman, Ainslie Kemp, Brooke Patterson, Deanna Berry Emergencies: Pepa Randall, Jessica Anderson Unavailable/injured: Stephanie De Bortoli, Meg Downie ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This could either be our last game of the season or the second last depending on how things go. For those who remember the Melbourne V Brisbane exhibition match at the MCG last year will also remember our score being 91-20 in our favour. Yes - it was an all-star Melbourne side against an extremely weak Lions outfit, but jeeez if we managed to repeat that score this weekend then we are a lock to make history and make the inaugural AFLW Grand Final (not to mention it will be the first granny this club has appeared in for 16/17 years). If we win by 70 points, this will boost our percentage over Adelaide's. If Adelaide win though, and by a large margin, then the boost won't really have an impact. As disgusting as it is, we have to hope that the filth beat the Crows next week. This will be the most likely scenario to see the Melbourne Football Club contend for the 2017 AFLW flag. We have Brooke Patterson coming back who has been quite a handy player and may provide some fresh legs for the side who pushed it to the absolute limit last week in Darwin. What's not in our favour is Freo coming off of a win and bringing that confidence in this week. Don't think they will be used to playing at Casey and also do not think they will match our confidence, team unity, etc. Adelaide would also be feeling the effects from the last round and on top of this they have to travel again to VIC to play the filth at their home ground. The scumbags have come off a large win last week and are on a run, and me thinks that their ego will want them to get a big scalp in Adelaide and end their season. Will be very disappointing and very Melbourne-like to throw in the towel and lose on Saturday, but I am confident that we are going to absolutely belt the living christ out of the Dockers and barge our way into the granny. Dees by 70 (or at least we win/crows lose).

It's no secret that the Women of Melbourne don't like rain. They opened the season scoring four consecutive points in muggy wet conditions before the rain got really heavy and thunder and lightning forced their game at Casey Fields to be temporarily abandoned just before half time. After a short break, they lost their ascendency and their first ever game to the Brisbane Lions. A couple of weeks ago, they did even worse on a wet track in Sydney despite having more than double the inside 50 count. You don't normally win games when you kick one goal from 12 scoring shots. And so, in the final game of the inaugural AFLW season and in perfect weather conditions against Fremantle at Casey Fields, it rained again but this time, it rained goals. In a must win game, the Demons kicked their first ten goals on the trot without missing once. It started in the first minute of the game with a mark dead in front by Alyssa Mifsud and although the Dockers quickly replied, their defences were quickly penetrated once again when Shelley Scott marked for another and the floodgates opened. Cat Phillips added two more before the 10 minute mark of the game and Deanna Berry added the team's fifth. It was hard to comprehend how this was happening with a team that only a fortnight ago conceded the wooden spooners their only victory for the season. The Docker resistance was minimal. They did goal again just before the siren sounded to signal the first break and raised a few yelps in the early stages of the second, but the Demons were now on the march for a percentage boosting game which would hopefully allow them match that of their rivals. At half time, it was eight goals straight. Only once before has a team kicked that many in a game and that was Carlton's 8.6.54 in Round 5. The scoring record was 7.13.55 by Collingwood in Round 6. By the end of the game those records had been surpassed as the Demons coasted to a record AFLW win (9 goals) to match the record score (11.4.70). The competition's premier footballer is Melbourne skipper Daisy Pearce who once again stood out with her creativity all over the ground. Her performance was matched by the strength of Elise O'Dea (25 disposals) and the youthful exuberance Lily Mithen but there were so many more who made a contribution over the game - Melissa Hickey, Karen Paxman, Richelle and Scott were among the others. It was also great to see so many multiple goalkickers in a game of women's footy. And so it came down to 21 hours of nail biting and waiting for the result of the game from Olympic Park where the Magpies and Crows were battling it out in the penultimate game before the finals. Sadly, we got the wrong result but that's what happens when you have given away the control over your destiny. Never before would I have been so glad to welcome a Collingwood victory and never before have I been so disappointed by a Collingwood defeat. Well done Women of Melbourne. Let's win it next year come rain, hail or shine. Melbourne 5.0.30 8.0.48 10.0.60 11.4.70 Fremantle 2.0.12 2.3.15 2.4.16 2.4.16 Goals Melbourne Berry Mifsud Phillips Scott 2 Humphries Newman Paxman. Fremantle Antonio Houghton Best Melbourne D Pearce Mithen O'Dea Scott Paxman Cranston Fremantle Hooker Lavell Filocama Injuries Melbourne Nil Fremantle Angel (knee) Reports Melbourne Nil Fremantle Nil Umpires Michael Pell Ryan Guy Annie Mirabile Crowd 2,500 (est) at Casey Fields, Cranbourne

2017 NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 6 Adelaide Crows v MelbourneTIO Stadium, DarwinSaturday 11 March, 5.40pm Gates Gates open 3.45pm CST Access and Ticketing This is a non-ticketed event. Entry is free from 3.45pm! TV Times The match will be broadcast live nationally on Channel 7 and Fox Footy from 7.00pm EDT. Social Media Keep up-to-date on game day with our live coverage of the game on Twitter (@melbournefc) and follow the hashtag #AFLWCrowsDeesGet a behind-the-scenes insight into the day by following us on Instagram (@melbournefc), liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/melbournefc) and adding us as a ‘friend’ on Snapchat (melbourne_fc). Melbourne AFLW team: round five Backs: Jasmine Grierson, Mia-Rae Clifford, Katherine Smith Half Backs: Daisy Pearce, Laura Duryea, Richelle Cranston Centres: Harriet Cordner Half Forwards: Karen Paxman, Alyssa Mifsud, Lily Mithen Forwards: Sarah Lampard, Shelley Scott, Cat Phillips Followers: Lauren Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea Interchange: Emma Humphries, Maddie Boyd, Aliesha Newman, Ainslie Kemp, Deanna Berry, Elise Strachan Emergences: Sarah Jolly, Jessican Anderson In: Scott, Strachan Out: Anderson, Jolly Unavailable/injured: Stephanie De Bortoli, Meg Downie, Brooke Patterson, Pepa Randall --------------------------------------------------- Was apprehensive about this week's preview after Round 5's loss to GWS, but it brings me great joy to say that Carlton lost against Freo. This is the first step in our last attempt at making the granny. If Adelaide lose in Round 7 and we win against freo then we will have made it to a Grand Final position. We MUST outshine our performances in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 and really bring it to Adelaide otherwise we are officially done for the season and next week's match against Fremantle won't count for much. Adelaide are a good team, we all know the hype surrounding Erin Phillips and Sarah Perkins. I've got the feeling though that with their backs against the wall, Daisy & Co will take it up a level and get the chocolates. Dais is much better than Erin and I hope to christ she puts this on display for the National TV audience on a Saturday night. Perkins is a good forward, so I'm not sure the best defensive approach for her. Expose her lack of fitness or put either a Duryea or Rocky on her and curb her impact? Must also watch out for Chelsea Randall, she's like their Karen Paxman. We don't play well in the wet, but this will be muggy conditions and I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the players wearing gloves. Shelly Scott is back in the team this week after she stuffed her shoulder, we really missed her last week. We're also going to play Elise Strachan, hope to see some of that brilliant kicking action. It's a big event for Adelaide in that a large number of their list actually live in Darwin and don't train week to week with the rest of the players in Adelaide. They will want to put on a show in their 2nd home town, but I think this is their biggest weakness. While Bec Goddard may have been coaching well up to this point, that group surely would not have the close, tight-knit bond that the Dees girls do and we might just have that added edge of wanting to play for each other just that bit extra. Melbourne to get the win over the Crows. Hopefully by a large amount to boost percentage. Go Dees - let's keep the premiership hopes alive. P.S. Great videos of Irish and Rocky this week on the website. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-03-10/breakthrough-stories-richelle-rocky-cranston http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-03-06/breakthrough-story-laura-duryea

The hot conditions would probably have proved too much for Bernard Tomic but, for the women of Melbourne, the heat and the humidity were the perfect conditions to enable them to overcome the Adelaide Crows after a now standard slow start in the nation's Top End. What is it about the slow starting Demons? Only once during this inaugural AFLW season have they held a quarter time lead and that was in the opening round against the league-leading Brisbane Lions when they scored three points to nothing and failed to goal until just before half time. Their best quarter time score to date stands at 1.1.7 when they trailed the Doggies by a couple of goals in round three. And so it was last night at TIO Stadium with a listless start that, as in Sydney the week before, saw the opposition on 2.1.13 at the first change (only this week the Dees hadn't even scored a point). It was almost as if last week's shock loss had sucked the life and the fight out of the team - but all that changed in the second quarter. Led by inspirational skipper Daisy Pearce, they fought their way back into contention for a grand final berth. After Deanna Berry bobbed up for the team's first goal early in the second quarter, an arm wrestle ensued and the Crows took sway with a goal in response midway through the term. However, from that moment on until late in the night it was all Melbourne with Daisy leading the way. She was everywhere. At one stage she goaled up forward and moments later was marking strongly deep in defence. Along with Karen Paxman who had 21 possessions for the game, Pearce (20) was fantastic and so were the hard tackling Elise O'Dea and youngster Lily Mithen. It looked as if their fast start in the thirty degree sauna-like conditions had taken its toll over the Crows. They were completely shut out in the third quarter and when Aliesha Newman scored Melbourne’s fifth goal at the 10-minute mark of the final term, they seemed to be up against an unassailable lead. But as is usual for Melbourne sides, that was not the end of the drama because two late goals from Adelaide, one after the other, led to a heart-stopping finish. The final siren couldn't come too soon. The equation for next weekend is simple. The Dees must beat Fremantle at Casey Fields on Saturday and then hope for a Pies victory over Adelaide on Sunday to set up a replay of the opening round clash in the grand final due to take place in Brisbane. Melbourne 0.0.0 2.1.13 4.3.27 5.4.34 Adelaide 2.1.13 3.1.19 3.1.19 5.2.32 Goals Melbourne Berry Mifsud Newman D Pearce Scott Adelaide Bevan Gibson Perkins Randall Riley Best Melbourne Paxman Pearce Newman O'Dea Mithen Smith Berry Adelaide Foley Bevan Randall Randan Phillips Injuries Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil Umpires Andrew Crosby, Brodie Raynor and Nathan Toner Crowd 5,100 at TIO Stadium, Darwin

NAB AFL Women’s - Round 5 GWS GIANTS v Melbourne Friday, March 3 Blacktown International Sportspark 5:05pm JLT Community Series - Round 3 GWS GIANTS v Sydney Swans Friday, March 3 Blacktown International Sportspark 7:40pm Gate Opening: Gates open from 4:30pm. Tickets: Entry is FREE to both games for all 2017 GIANTS and GIANTS AFLW members with game access, simply present your membership card at the gate for entry (subject to capacity). You can upgrade your membership to ensure entry in to this game by clicking here and entering your barcode. General admission tickets start from $20 for an adult and are available here. Broadcast details: The AFL Women’s game will be shown live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 5pm with a live stream on AFL.com.au. The men’s game will be live on Fox Footy from 7:30pm. Getting to the game: Public Transport: Bus: Busways 728 service from Blacktown & Mount Druitt Stations stops directly at Blacktown International Sportspark, standard fares apply. Shuttle buses will operate from Doonside Railway Station to Blacktown International Sportspark every 15-20 minutes from 3pm to 10.30pm Car: Limited paid parking is available at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney via Gate A and Gate B. A fee of $10 per vehicle applies. Match Day Activities: Free slushies at AFL W Fan zone Meet and greet AFL W players at half time of AFL match Face painting AFLW Match Day Partner: Sydney Airport is proud to be a foundation partner of the GIANTS’ AFLW team, supporting women who are leading the way in their chosen field. The three-year partnership forms part of the airport’s commitment to leading and learning in the Sydney community. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We've got our first interstate game this week and it happens to be against the bottom of the ladder GWS Giants. This reeks of a danger game in my opinion - Melbourne needing a win to keep finals hopes alive against a winless team. Suffice to say if we do not bring it and we lose then not only are we are out of the running for the first AFLW flag, but it'll be in the most embarrassing circumstances. GWS pushed Carlton in Round 2 I believe, nearly got a win over Collingwood but were then rolled last week by the Lions. Who knows what they'll bring, but there is a lame-ish video of Stevie J training them on their website so maybe that might have some kind of impact. One thing I do know is that we have been increasing the intensity and skill across the whole team after each round so if we continue that then this week we could potentially belt the living christ out of the opposition and gain some good percentage in the process. Here's hoping Daisy outdoes her 29 touches against Carlscum and becomes the 1st AFLW player to crack 30. If we get the chocolates then we'll have won 4 in a row, which is fantastic (and required) momentum in this short comp. This will see us at a minimum 3rd place on the ladder, and if Adelaide lose to the Lions then we will be equal with them albeit on a lower percentage. Will the travel and weather have an impact on the team? Hard to say. I'm hoping they recover well as we have Adelaide in Darwin the following week in another must-win game. At the end of the day, I'm tipping we will get a big win here - but there's always the chance with the MFC of being let down at the most integral moment. Team should be released Thursday night.

NAB AFL Women’s Competition / JLT Community Series double header NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 4 Melbourne v Carlton Casey Fields Saturday 25 February, 11.35am EDT JLT Community Series – Week 2 Melbourne v Carlton Casey Fields Saturday 25 February, 2.05pm EDT Gates Gates will open at 11.00am. Gate 1 is for membership scans, entering with pre-purchased tickets and those tickets purchased on the day and Gate 2 is for membership card scans and pre-purchased tickets only. Access and Ticketing Entry is free with a Melbourne Football Club membership. If you are not a member, as this is a fully ticketed event, a ticket to the 2017 JLT Community Series match will need to be purchased for entry to the JLT Community Series and AFL Women’s matches. We encourage you to pre-purchase your ticket for both games through Ticketmaster. Access to JLT Community Series matches is subject to capacity and is not guaranteed. Family Fun Day Visit our free Family Fun Day located on the Village Green near the main entrance for a range of great activities! The Family Fun Day will run from 11am-2pm. Parking Limited public parking will be available on site at the south end of Casey Fields. Get there early to secure your spot. Nearby street parking is also available. Membership and Merchandise Memberships and merchandise will be available for sale from the Melbourne marquee located outside the main entrance at Gate 1 from 10.45am. Support the women’s team with a membership from $75! 2017 scarves will also be available for members to collect. Kick to Kick Kick to kick will take place on the ground following the completion of the JLT Community Series match. Bring your footy and enjoy one of footy's greatest traditions! TV Times NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 4: Fox Footy –11.30am EDT Live JLT Community Series match: Fox Footy – 2.00pm EDT Live Social Media Keep up-to-date on game day with our live coverage of the game on Twitter (@melbournefc) and follow the hashtags #AFLWDeesBlues and #JLTSeries Get a behind-the-scenes insight into the day by following us on Instagram (@melbournefc), liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/melbournefc) and adding us as a ‘friend’ on Snapchat (melbourne_fc). Website melbournefc.com.au will also publish quarterly updates live from the game. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Backs: Brooke Patterson, Mia-Rae Clifford, Katherine Smith Half Backs: Daisy Pearce, Laura Duryea, Shelley Scott Centre: Harriet Cordner Half Forwards: Karen Paxman, Deanna Berry, Lily Mithen Forwards: Sarah Lampard, Jessica Anderson, Cat Phillips Followers: Lauren Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea Interchange: Emma Humphries, Richelle Cranston, Aliesha Newman, Jasmine Grierson, Maddie Boyd, Alyssa Mifsud Emergencies: Sarah Jolly, Ainslie Kemp In: Newman Out: Jolly Injured/unavailable: Stephanie De Bortoli, Meg Downie, Pepa Randall ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The last thing we should do is get arrogant, but jeez I've got a good feeling about the Melbourne AFLW team. OUR team. 'Twas a great win last week against the Dogs and thank christ we didn't have to hear that horribly remade 'Daughters of the West' team song. We're going in to this round with the momentum off of our back to back wins against what is considered to be one of the top 2 teams in this comp. What's working in our favour this week is their best player Brianna Davey is out with a back injury and another key defensive player is out for the season with an ACL. This is a massive advantage having her out as she is probably one of the best in the comp and according to Carlscum match preview, they are resorting to putting Darcy Vescio up at CHB. As always, this mightn't be the case on game day but the advantage this provides shouldn't be understated. Need to capitalise and dominate. They came off second best against Adelaide last week by a whopping 3 in points in a thrilling one goal game. After being so heavily beaten they will be looking to come out firing this week. Many will refer to the practice match we had prior to Round 1 where we got one goal and they beat us by 44 points. I think that's irrelevant now as the team has well and truly clicked and are starting to look dangerous up forward. Not to mention that the Demon ladies themselves will want to make up for the praccy spanking - Laura 'Irish' Duryea (Number 11) looked absolutely filthy so lets hope she irons someone out. This is another MUST win game as we sit 4th on the Ladder, equal with Carlton, and we simply have to get the win to jump over them to 3rd and keep our grand final chances alive. Also looking for Freo and the Giants to get a win as well to keep the Lions and Adelaide stagnant. Alyssa Mifsud found her feet last week and booted 3 majors, giving us a great key forward target to work alongside Jess Anderson. Considering our forward line was considered to be our weakness, it's great to see it finally gelling together. Rocky was back in the team last week and again missed an easy shot on the run in front of goal, but I'm willing to let it slide as she wasn't in the Round 2 game where we lifted as a team. Hopefully she steps up this week and boots a couple. Daisy Pearce again was terrific, getting 26 touches and showing the comp that she's still the best. Kazza Paxman did even better by getting 27, could these two be the first AFLW players to crack 30 disposals in a shorter game? I think we can seriously win this one.

THE DAISY CHAIN by Georgina on the Outer In a must win match against Carlton Light (the colours worn by their AFLW opponents), Daisy Pearce with a great 29 disposal game, led her team to a victory which has kept the Demons final hopes alive. Similarly, the result dropped the early season favourite out of contention. The Demons must keep winning to stay in the hunt, but the two competition leaders in Adelaide and Brisbane play each other in a fortnight, when one must lose and that could give Melbourne the chance to break into the top two. A scrambly (is that a word?) first quarter saw each team register a solitary behind, although Melbourne played with more fluency one it got the ball outside. However, unforced errors continued to give the Blues opportunities and on a number of occasions left the Demons well exposed. In the second quarter, Melbourne came out firing as the Daisy chain started in motion. All around her we had players starting to blossom and Cat Phillips started to give Daisy first use of the ball and the goals came. While the Light Blues also managed a couple of goals these were both from dubious free kicks and fifty metre penalties. The AFLW seriously has to look at the fifty metre penalty for the competition, as it is simply too harsh, given that the majority of players at the moment are barely capable of kicking anything near that distance. Melbourne was moving the ball quickly by handball and benefitting from the clearer air after the first quarter congestion. Carlton on the other hand was almost solely dependant upon Vescio who continued to get the ball out and up forward. The third quarter saw a more aggressive Melbourne with tackling the highlight. It shut the Light Blues down, as they could only manage two points in 20 minutes while Melbourne scored 2 goals 4 behinds. The Demon forwards were still found lacking when needed in contests - they were often simply not there and it was up to the mids and flankers to do the hard lifting. Surely a three goal lead when the Light Blues had only scored two in ¾ of footy would be enough, but the Demons took the foot off the accelerator and fell asleep in the last. Suddenly, they found the scores level at the nine minute mark and from then on it became a great physical contest. This was the challenge and Daisy, Alyssa Mifsud, Elise O’Dea and Richelle Cranston all stood up to it do well. There was one more goal for the game - to Cranston - and that was enough to put the team in front and eventually win the game. With plenty of time remaining, others were asked to stop the furious charge from Carlton, and Brooke Patterson took a particularly telling mark in the backline to deny them their final opportunity and turn them into an even lighter shade of pale. Melbourne 0.1.1 3.2.20 5.6.36 6.6.42 Carlton 0.1.1 2.3.15 2.5.17 5.6.36 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 2 Berry Cranston O'Dea Scott Carlton Ayre 2 Jackobsson Sheirlaw Vescio Best Melbourne Pearce O'Dea Paxman Mithen Mifsud Carlton Hosking Exon Vescio Ayre Injuries Melbourne Nil Carlton Nil Umpires Patrick Burns Ben Cheever Brodie Rayner Crowd 3,965 at Casey Fields, Cranbourne

In a must win match against Carlton Light (the colours worn by their AFLW opponents), Daisy Pearce with a great 29 disposal game, led her team to a victory which has kept the Demons final hopes alive. Similarly, the result dropped the early season favourite out of contention. The Demons must keep winning to stay in the hunt, but the two competition leaders in Adelaide and Brisbane play each other in a fortnight, when one must lose and that could give Melbourne the chance to break into the top two. A scrambly (is that a word?) first quarter saw each team register a solitary behind, although Melbourne played with more fluency one it got the ball outside. However, unforced errors continued to give the Blues opportunities and on a number of occasions left the Demons well exposed. In the second quarter, Melbourne came out firing as the Daisy chain started in motion. All around her we had players starting to blossom and Cat Phillips started to give Daisy first use of the ball and the goals came. While the Light Blues also managed a couple of goals these were both from dubious free kicks and fifty metre penalties. The AFLW seriously has to look at the fifty metre penalty for the competition, as it is simply too harsh, given that the majority of players at the moment are barely capable of kicking anything near that distance. Melbourne was moving the ball quickly by handball and benefitting from the clearer air after the first quarter congestion. Carlton on the other hand was almost solely dependant upon Vescio who continued to get the ball out and up forward. The third quarter saw a more aggressive Melbourne with tackling the highlight. It shut the Light Blues down, as they could only manage two points in 20 minutes while Melbourne scored 2 goals 4 behinds. The Demon forwards were still found lacking when needed in contests - they were often simply not there and it was up to the mids and flankers to do the hard lifting. Surely a three goal lead when the Light Blues had only scored two in ¾ of footy would be enough, but the Demons took the foot off the accelerator and fell asleep in the last. Suddenly, they found the scores level at the nine minute mark and from then on it became a great physical contest. This was the challenge and Daisy, Alyssa Mifsud, Elise O’Dea and Richelle Cranston all stood up to it do well. There was one more goal for the game - to Cranston - and that was enough to put the team in front and eventually win the game. With plenty of time remaining, others were asked to stop the furious charge from Carlton, and Brooke Patterson took a particularly telling mark in the backline to deny them their final opportunity and turn them into an even lighter shade of pale. Melbourne 0.1.1 3.2.20 5.6.36 6.6.42 Carlton 0.1.1 2.3.15 2.5.17 5.6.36 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 2 Berry Cranston O'Dea Scott Carlton Ayre 2 Jackobsson Sheirlaw Vescio Best Melbourne Pearce O'Dea Paxman Mithen Mifsud Carlton Hosking Exon Vescio Ayre Injuries Melbourne Nil Carlton Nil Umpires Patrick Burns Ben Cheever Brodie Rayner Crowd 3,965 at Casey Fields, Cranbourne

Watched the AFLW replay of the Dees and Dogs game and only just realized they've re-recorded their theme song with a female singer and have slightly modified the lyrics. To put it nicely, it's atrocious. Absolutely shocking. Very cheesy and cringeworthy. Love how teams have modified jumpers etc but messing with the theme song seems sacrilegious and if they are going to do it then at least try to make it work. Very glad we have not meddled with our great song, but even if we did it would still be better than this mess. https://audioboom.com/posts/5591215-daughters-of-the-west-western-bulldogs-aflw-team-song

NAB AFL Women’s Competition / JLT Community Series double header JLT Community Series – Week 1 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne VU Whitten Oval Saturday 18 February, 4.40pm EDT NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 3 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne VU Whitten Oval Saturday 18 February, 7.40pm EDT Gates Gates will open at 2.30pm for the men’s JLT Community Series match commencing at 4.40pm. Access and Ticketing AFL and Club access members have free general admission entry to the men’s JLT Community Series match. However, as access to the venue is subject to capacity and not guaranteed, the AFL strongly recommends that members wishing to watch either game upgrade their membership to a reserved seat or register for a general admission ticket to guarantee entry on the day. Upgrade HERE. Subject to capacity, fans have free entry to the Western Bulldogs v Melbourne NAB AFLW match after three quarter time of the Western Bulldogs v Melbourne JLT Community Series match. The AFL advises that VU Whitten Oval has a limited capacity of 10,000 and considering anticipated demand for both matches, strongly recommends that all members and fans guarantee their entry by using their membership card to register or purchase a general admission ticket via Ticketmaster. Tickets are subject to availability on a first come, first serve basis and subject to an additional fee. Guarantee your entry now at ticketmaster.com.au Parking Limited street parking is available around the venue, however supporters are encouraged to catch public transport. Whitten Oval is a short stroll from West Footscray station - on the Sydneham/Watergardens line. Membership and Merchandise Memberships and merchandise will be available for sale from the Melbourne marquee (location and time TBC). Support the women’s team with a membership from $75! TV Times JLT Community Series match: Fox Footy – 4.30pm EDT Live NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 3: Channel 7 – 7.30pm EDT Live; Fox Footy – 7.30pm EDT Live Social Media Keep up-to-date on game day with our live coverage of the game on Twitter (@melbournefc) and follow the hashtag #AFLWDogsDees Get a behind-the-scenes insight into the day by following us on Instagram (@melbournefc), liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/melbournefc) and adding us as a ‘friend’ on Snapchat (melbourne_fc). Website melbournefc.com.au will also publish quarterly updates live from the games. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What a second half last week - for many reasons. Not only did we get the chocolates but we also sensationally came from behind, kept the filth´s losing streak intact and most impressively... the team clicked. It was only a matter of time before the girls stood up and really kicked into gear. The key moment for most will be our sudden burst of goals where we ran over the scumbags and kept them goalless, but for me it was seeing Daisy Pearce going absolutely hard when winning the ball. Is this the week where she unleashes and boots several sausage rolls? I won´t go on about the highlights of the game, as I´ve watched the 2nd half about 5 times now, but see below for video if interested. Err, in saying that - I will mention though that I was totally in love with Mel Hickey but Karen Paxman, Elise O´Dea and Cat Phillips have seriously challenged her for the mantle. Cat´s speed is outstanding and will likely deliver many more Jayden Hunt-like sprinting goals. O´Dea loves this club and she shows it by continuously smashing through packs alongside her superior experience/skills and of course that nice precision kick into f50 in the last moments of the game that secured our last goal from Jolly. Karen Paxman is so unassuming but runs all day, gets involved in everything, goes forward and back, plus kicked a ripper of a goal in our onslaught. Special mentions also goto Katherine Smith, Lily Mithen (Rising Star) and Laura ``Irish´´ Duryea who was terrific in defense and is doing the number 11 proud. Unfortunately, Meg Downie was knocked out in what´s known in official terms as a ´´dog act`` and has subsequently been ruled out for the rest of the season. Even though it´s still early days in the comp, Downie´s contribution on-field shouldn´t be underestimated. What is good news is that this week should see the return of Richelle ´Rocky` Cranston who´s physicality and running ability will hopefully substitute for this. At this point in the season, like most teams, we cannot afford to lose a game. If we do lose one, then we are relying on other teams to lose games as well. For once in my life, and it sickens me to say this, but I hope the filth beat Brisbane as we need to keep them at 2-1 rather than 3-0. Collingwood getting the win won´t affect our chances if we beat the Dogs and at worst if we lose, then we are even with them and will be riding on the luck of certain teams losing for us to climb the ladder. The Dogs were tipped to be flag favourites before the season started yet where taken apart last round by Adelaide. Inaccuracy in front of goal and Adelaide´s superior play was the main result of this, but it gives us a great chance. If we storm them from the start and bring it like the way we did against the filth, then I am confident that our ladies will get the win. That will automatically put us up the ladder into 4th position, and depending on percentages, could even see us jump over the Lions and get into 3rd position. Working even more in our favour is that the Dogs skipper and main goal kicker Katie Brennan was seen in the last game wearing a moon boot and is reported to have a stuffed ankle. What is also not widely known is that she was in this position a couple of years back at Darebin with a fractured foot and she still played and kicked majors to score the win for the Falcons. Not wishing injury on players, but if she remains out of the side then this makes the job significantly easier and we MUST take advantage of that. Being a Melbourne supporter, I have the other superstition in our favour being that we are going in the underdogs. God help us when we eventually become favourites. Strangely this game is on after the Men´s JLT game. If all goes well our boys will win then surely this will inspire our girls to get pumped up and finish the job. Team should be released later this evening. Side note: Was great last week to see on Jack and Todd Viney bigging up the girls on Social a Media, as well as Neita.

TRADITIONAL RIVALS by Bewitched There is no greater "traditional rivalry" in women's football in the early days of the game at its highest level than that between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. The two clubs virtually single-handedly lifted the profile of the game in recent years to a level where the new national competition under the aegis of the AFLW could even be contemplated. Melbourne won all of their early exhibition games until the very last one in 2016 when it copped a bit of a hiding so it was fitting that the Demons would finish on top in their first encounter for premiership points yesterday at Whitten Oval. And what could be more fitting than for the skipper Daisy Pearce to be the star of the game in her team's 14 point win in the first male/female AFL double header in a game that saw her team go to a 2 - 1 record and enter the top four for the first time in the history of the competition? It was the Bulldogs that controlled proceedings early but Harriet Cordner from the famous Melbourne family making history with a late goal to put the team within a couple of points at quarter time. It was then Daisy's turn to take over in the midfield and the Demons dominated the second quarter with the wind at their backs. Goals to Deanna Berry and Alyssa Mifsud saw them to a 14 point half time lead, an advantage they held at the end of the game. The Bulldogs fought back early in the third quarter but two goals to Mifsud restored the advantage and the team's scored one each in the final term. Full marks to the strong Demon midfield of Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea who kep their team on top for most of the game and to Mifsud for her three exciting goals. Melbourne's prospects of contesting the AFLW grand final will be enhanced if it can overcome Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday. Melbourne 1.1.7 3.5.23 5.7.37 6.7.43 Western Bulldogs 1.3.9 1.3.9 3.4.22 4.5.29 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 3 Berry Cordner Hickey Western Bulldogs Clarkson Gardner McLeod Wildes Goals Melbourne D Pearce Mifsud O'Dea Hickey Paxman Mithen Western Bulldogs Blackburn Kearney Scott Wildes Injuries Melbourne L Pearce (shin) Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Michael Pell, Ryan Guy, Nathan Toner Crowd 8,000 (estimate) at the Whitten Oval https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZsxbf_eiEU&sns=em

There is no greater "traditional rivalry" in women's football in the early days of the game at its highest level than that between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. The two clubs virtually single-handedly lifted the profile of the game in recent years to a level where the new national competition under the aegis of the AFLW could even be contemplated. Melbourne won all of their early exhibition games until the very last one in 2016 when it copped a bit of a hiding so it was fitting that the Demons would finish on top in their first encounter for premiership points yesterday at Whitten Oval. And what could be more fitting than for the skipper Daisy Pearce to be the star of the game in her team's 14 point win in the first male/female AFL double header in a game that saw her team go to a 2 - 1 record and enter the top four for the first time in the history of the competition? It was the Bulldogs that controlled proceedings early but Harriet Cordner from the famous Melbourne family making history with a late goal to put the team within a couple of points at quarter time. It was then Daisy's turn to take over in the midfield and the Demons dominated the second quarter with the wind at their backs. Goals to Deanna Berry and Alyssa Mifsud saw them to a 14 point half time lead, an advantage they held at the end of the game. The Bulldogs fought back early in the third quarter but two goals to Mifsud restored the advantage and the team's scored one each in the final term. Full marks to the strong Demon midfield of Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Elise O'Dea who kep their team on top for most of the game and to Mifsud for her three exciting goals. Melbourne's prospects of contesting the AFLW grand final will be enhanced if it can overcome Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday. Melbourne 1.1.7 3.5.23 5.7.37 6.7.43 Western Bulldogs 1.3.9 1.3.9 3.4.22 4.5.29 Goals Melbourne Mifsud 3 Berry Cordner Hickey Western Bulldogs Clarkson Gardner McLeod Wildes Goals Melbourne D Pearce Mifsud O'Dea Hickey Paxman Mithen Western Bulldogs Blackburn Kearney Scott Wildes Injuries Melbourne L Pearce (shin) Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Michael Pell, Ryan Guy, Nathan Toner Crowd 8,000 (estimate) at the Whitten Oval https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZsxbf_eiEU&sns=em

NAB AFL Women’s Competition - Round 2 Collingwood v Melbourne Ikon Park Saturday 11 February, 7.40pm EDT Gates Access for the public is via Gates 5 and 6. Please note this game is part of an AFLW double-header and will follow the earlier Carlton v GWS Giants match at Ikon Park commencing at 3.35pm. The ground will not be cleared or gates closed in between the two matches. Ticketing This is a non-ticketed event. Entry to this match is FREE. As there is no reserved seating areas available in the stadium, supporters are encouraged to arrive early to guarantee entry on the day. Parking There will be no public parking available on site due to Carlton’s family day activities – supporters are strongly advised to take public transport. Membership and Merchandise Memberships and merchandise will be available for sale from the Demon Shop marquee located outside Gate 5. Support the women’s team with a membership from $75! TV Times Channel 7 and Fox Footy will broadcast the match live nationally from 7.30pm EDT. Please check your local guide. Social Media Keep up-to-date on game day with our live coverage of the game on Twitter (@melbournefc) and follow the hashtag #AFLWPiesDees. Get a behind-the-scenes insight into the day by following us on Instagram (@melbournefc), liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/melbournefc) and adding us as a ‘friend’ on Snapchat (melbourne_fc). ----------------- Our game against the filth has been moved to Ikon Park in understandable, yet strange circumstances. A double header Collingwood home game against Melbourne at Carlton's home ground on Carlton's family day. Still, good reason being that there'll be a bigger crowd. List will probably be released later tonight, but there will definitely be no Richelle 'Rocky' Cranston as she's serving a one match suspension for absolutely cleaning up a Brizzy player last week. Still have reservations but also think the loss last week would have woken our girls up and HOPEFULLY our coaching team has done something about our forward structure. Despite the hellish weather last week, we were great at times with getting the ball out defensively (see below highlights video of Mel Hickey using her body and the girls working as a team to pop out the ball rather than holding it in) and you could see some the seeds of some good ball movement starting to grow. Daisy is a gun in the midfield and made some nice clearances, but alas was tagged a fair bit and had comprised impact. We have no idea how lucky we are to have gotten the best player as our skipper. Expecting a much better performance from her against the scumbags and hopefully a snag roll or two. Karen Paxman had the most touches and lived up to her rep as a hard running, good decision maker - confident that she'll back it up. Elise O'Dea aka "Junior" kept trying to lift the team and really got into the game towards the end. If she does this from the get go and doesn't get caught with the ball as often then she'll be a brilliant asset. The experience and connection that Paxman, Hickey and O'Dea share from multiple Darebin flags is visibly evident and they bring the other players into the game. If they maintain this in defense and at stoppages, I think we have a good chance at getting the win. Others to look out for are Lily Mithen, Shelley Scott and Laura "Irish" Corrigan (bit undisciplined at times but she steps up). Mo Hope was kept to 0 goals and 4 touches last week. Hope we repeat that for her again. We only really let Brisbane get away by giving up two 50's (which I still doubt was right, but anyway) so if we can clear that up and get some early scoreboard pressure then I think we can get the chocolates. There'll be plenty of butchered kicks, sloppy skills but there will also be some great exciting moments. If we get our first win, it'll be even sweeter due to the fact that the filth will have lost both of their first two games.

MAIDEN VICTORY by Bewitched After a week of soul searching after a dramatic fade out in the lightning, thunder and rain at Casey in the AFLW's opening round, the women of Melbourne had a lot to be concerned about at half time at Ikon Park last night. They were down by 19 points and being totally outplayed after recording just one goal in their past four quarters of football and staring into oblivion in a seven game competition that allows only two teams to advance to the grand final. Moana Hope, the much vaunted Magpie strong lady had wreaked havoc in the early going, setting up her team's first goal and scoring its second before Jessica Anderson's running goal opened the Demons' account but that was the team's only joy as their opponents streamed ahead. However, this time there was no storm to blunt Melbourne's style in the second half and instead, the team kept Collingwood scoreless after the main break to record their first AFLW win. The move of Mel Hickey onto Hope was a good one. The dangerous Magpie forward was hardly seen as the Demons took over. Skipper Daisy Pearce provided lots of run in the back half and Karen Paxman moved the ball forward to the likes of Cat Phillips, the ultimate Frisbee player, and Alyssa Mifsud and the flood gates opened. Phillips' goal from an impossible angle was a highlight. The team that had been starved of scoring opportunities was now alight and winning in the middle. They scored 4.1 for the term to grab the lead at the final break. The Magpie fade out continued despite some strong arm tactics which saw a late head high hit on Meg Downie force a delay in play as the Demon was concussed and stretchered off in a neck brace. Coach Mick Stinear later said his player had been cleared of any serious damage but the likely outcome should see the first tribunal sitting in AFLW history. The Dees kept on running when play resumed and finally ran out winners 7.2.44 to 5.1.31. The class of Pearce and Paxman should ensure that Melbourne remains a contender in this competition. Elise "Junior" O'Dea is a great prospect and kept going all night and Lily Mithen lived up to the family name with a solid contribution. All in all, it was a great maiden victory for the women of the Melbourne Football Club who now take on their foundation rivals, the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. The men's JLT Community Series game will be the curtain raiser to this historic match. Melbourne 1.0.6 1.0.6 5.1.31 7.2.44 Collingwood 3.1.19 0 4.1.25 4.1.25 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Phillips 2 Anderson Jolly Mifsud Paxman Scott Collingwood Cameron Edwards Grant Hope Best Melbourne Pearce Phillips Paxman O'Dea Mithen Collingwood D'Arcy Eva Barden Chiocci Crowd 6,917 at Ikon Park

After a week of soul searching after a dramatic fade out in the lightning, thunder and rain at Casey in the AFLW's opening round, the women of Melbourne had a lot to be concerned about at half time at Ikon Park last night. They were down by 19 points and being totally outplayed after recording just one goal in their past four quarters of football and staring into oblivion in a seven game competition that allows only two teams to advance to the grand final. Moana Hope, the much vaunted Magpie strong lady had wreaked havoc in the early going, setting up her team's first goal and scoring its second before Jessica Anderson's running goal opened the Demons' account but that was the team's only joy as their opponents streamed ahead. However, this time there was no storm to blunt Melbourne's style in the second half and instead, the team kept Collingwood scoreless after the main break to record their first AFLW win. The move of Mel Hickey onto Hope was a good one. The dangerous Magpie forward was hardly seen as the Demons took over. Skipper Daisy Pearce provided lots of run in the back half and Karen Paxman moved the ball forward to the likes of Cat Phillips, the ultimate Frisbee player, and Alyssa Mifsud and the flood gates opened. Phillips' goal from an impossible angle was a highlight. The team that had been starved of scoring opportunities was now alight and winning in the middle. They scored 4.1 for the term to grab the lead at the final break. The Magpie fade out continued despite some strong arm tactics which saw a late head high hit on Meg Downie force a delay in play as the Demon was concussed and stretchered off in a neck brace. Coach Mick Stinear later said his player had been cleared of any serious damage but the likely outcome should see the first tribunal sitting in AFLW history. The Dees kept on running when play resumed and finally ran out winners 7.2.44 to 5.1.31. The class of Pearce and Paxman should ensure that Melbourne remains a contender in this competition. Elise "Junior" O'Dea is a great prospect and kept going all night and Lily Mithen lived up to the family name with a solid contribution. All in all, it was a great maiden victory for the women of the Melbourne Football Club who now take on their foundation rivals, the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. The men's JLT Community Series game will be the curtain raiser to this historic match. Melbourne 1.0.6 1.0.6 5.1.31 7.2.44 Collingwood 3.1.19 0 4.1.25 4.1.25 4.1.25 Goals Melbourne Phillips 2 Anderson Jolly Mifsud Paxman Scott Collingwood Cameron Edwards Grant Hope Best Melbourne Pearce Phillips Paxman O'Dea Mithen Collingwood D'Arcy Eva Barden Chiocci Crowd 6,917 at Ikon Park