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Hang out to your hats. The strong blustery conditions made it extremely difficult for either team to execute footy skills but nonetheless an entertaining match ensured for those brave enough to venture down to Casey Fields on Saturday. Impressive Irish player Aine Tighe was a late withdrawal for Freo. Maddie Gay was also a late change, and she was replaced with 19 year-old Georgia Gall, the 6-foot ex Melbourne Stars BBL cricketer who has been impressing the coaches in scrimmage games. Fremantle came to play, boosted in confidence by their impressive 24-point win against St Kilda the previous week. With total clearances at 30 each it was tough in the middle. Fremantle possess a strong army of physical mids in Kiara Bowers, Ange Stannett, Dana East, and skipper Hayley Miller and were competitive all day. Despite our four-quarter efforts, the Dockers still managed to kick a goal in each quarter. The Demons are noted 4th quarter specialists and kicked 3 goals to 1 which was enough to run out comfortable winners in the end by 33 points. For the Dees, Paxy was ubiquitous with a game-high disposal count of 27 including 10 contested possessions. Eliza McNamara (25, 10), Lily Mithen (20,7), Liv Purcell (20, 8), and Sinead Goldrick (19, 10) demonstrated the breadth of our contributors in the hard-fought win. With 10 tackles and 20 disposals Westy is back. Her efforts around the contest were awesome as was her crafty goal using the brute strength of West against (Dana) East. It was noticeable at ground level that Freo has many quick players and at times we looked slow in comparison. They achieved a couple of running goals by breaking down our defensive wall. Not as obvious on the telly but our well drilled side has several players who read the play so well and either regain possession via intercepts or half a contest with a tackle or create a stoppage. Goldie and Mackin typically do this so well, but Meggs wanted to praise Eliza McNamara for her efforts yesterday. On numerous occasions she confidently inserted herself in the play for intercepts or tackles. A very good game Lize. Gillard continues to elevate herself to be our premier defender. Our leading scorers Eden Zanker and Kate Hore kicked 2 goals each and top the AFLW goalkicking table (20 and 19 respectively). It was Shelley Heath’s 50th game and a banner celebrating her milestone had been jointly created by DeeArmy and the Melbourne players. Unfortunately, due to the strong winds which would have ripped it to shreds, the raising was postponed. No matter, it was nice for Heathy to have a win and contribute well during her big match and she feistily laid 7 of her trademark tackles. News of Brisbane’s loss to St Kilda at RSEA Park later in the afternoon was important for the Dees as we hope to lock in the $1m Dr McLelland Trophy prize. Meggs’ quick maths suggests even if the Pies thump Sydney and Richmond in the next 2 weeks and Melbourne is thrashed by Brisbane in Round 10, we would finish on top on percentage. Adelaide plays North and West Coast and is expected to win both games, therefore the result of next week’s grand final rematch at Ipswich next Saturday evening will decide whether it’s the Crows or the Demons as Season Eight minor premiers. In terms of the game: Q1 Freo wins the toss and kicks with the wind. Fremantle wins the 1st clearance and Birch takes a nice defensive mark. She then plays on, and the ball ends up coming straight back where Freo forward pressure wins a free in front of goal. Kauffman kicks the first of her three goals for the day. It’s tough conditions but eventually Hanksy, ever the opportunist, makes something out of nothing with a great check-side goal. The Dockers hit the post again and have not taken their opportunities with the wind. ¼ time: Dees 1.2.8 Dockers 1.3.9 Q2 We now have the wind. The game is being played in the Demons forward half, with Freo defending well. It’s only a matter of time until we score, and Kate’s poster is a highlight. Then in the space of a few minutes the Dees pile on three quick goals to Zanker, Paxy and Westy. Three goals and six points for the quarter means we have not taken our opportunities. Freo’s hard work is finally rewarded when they move the ball over our defensive wall and run with speed to kick a good team goal by Kauffman, who outsprints Wilson. ½ time: Dees 4.9.33 Dockers 2.3.15 Q3 Against the wind, Kate kicks a goal off the ground. Later in the quarter Goldie is surprisingly adjudged holding the ball and Freo’s Serena Gibbs converts from directly in front. A big quarter coming up. ¾ time: Dees 5.9.39 Dockers 3.4.22 Q4 Some untidy wind impacted play in the Demons forward line is finally rewarded via a long-range snap on goal by Blaithin Mackin. Brilliant B. Kauffman then marks and goals from up throw up. Freo are not going away. Some clever vision from Liv Purcell who long bombs into space to Sherriff who outruns her opponents cleverly taking control of the footy and giving to Kate Hore for a nice team goal. A defensive kick in error sees Zanker mark and goal to take back her outright leadership of the AFLW goalkicking table. And that’s that, a 33 point win. Dees win 8.13.61 to Dockers 4.4.28 Coaches and next week Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear was really pleased with the outcome in the end. It was challenging conditions against a tough, physical side. A good four quarters with 21 scoring shots. He highlighted our versatility. Tayla Harris and Aimee Mackin should be available next week and provide him with a selection headache. A massive test on the road next week. Dockers coach Lisa Webb was disappointed they were not able to get the result but was particularly proud of their exceptional effort. She noted Freo were down a couple of soldiers, namely Aine Tighe and Ebony Antonio. Next week is the last round of Season Eight. The reigning premiers play a grand final rematch against Brisbane at the same venue, Brighton Homes Arena, Ipswich on Saturday evening November 4 at 7:05pm. Beat Brisbane and we finish minor premiers plus (if we make it that far) a home grand final at our fortress Ikon Park. MELBOURNE 1.2.8 4.9.33 5.9.39 8.13.61 FREMANTLE 1.3.9 2.3.15 3.4.22 4.4.28 GOALS MELBOURNE Hore Zanker 2 Hanks B Mackin Paxman West FREMANTLE Kauffman 3 Gibbs BEST MELBOURNE Paxman West McNamara Fitzsimon Mithen Hore FREMANTLE Kauffman Bowers Stannett East Lally MillerINJURIES INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil FREMANTLE Flynn (back) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil FREMANTLE Nil UMPIRES Devenish Howard Talbot CROWD 1,650 at Casey Fields

Foundation teams Fremantle and Melbourne clash early Saturday afternoon at the Demons’ fortress at Casey Fields in this penultimate round of the 2023 home and away season. It’s Shelley Heath’s 50th game this week and there is not one Melbourne supporter who doesn’t love Heater. The way she goes about it at 160 cms, big smiles and then takes on some of the biggest names in AFLW reducing them to shadows of their former selves. Her tackles are a joyful work of art to be savoured. Heater earned 1 coach’s vote last week for her efforts running with one of the league’s best players in Jasmine Garner. Meggs presumes Mick voted for Heath, but he cannot believe that North coach Darren Crocker gave Jazzy 1 one vote for her game. Gosh, Emma Kearney and Erika O’Shea were much better choices for him if he wanted a North player. Our group really jelled and felled North Melbourne last week and held them to a miserable 1-point for the last 3-quarters. Incredible team defence Dees. Such a driving force from Hanksy and Liv Purcell, with Tahlia Gillard an impenetrable wall with her punching and marking. Fremantle, who were Season Six preliminary finalists, haven’t defeated any team in the eight this season and their form line suggests nothing different will occur on Saturday. Selection this week Some were debating whether Tayla Harris is in our best side. Well to Meggs there is no doubt Tayla brings so much to this team. Selfless, incredible physical presence, arguably the best contested mark in the league, kicks the ball a mile, just makes a contest when it looks impossible. So, if Tay’s fit, she’s selected for sure. The selection committee will also have to decide whether to bring back Gaby Colvin at the likely expense of Charlotte Wilson. Willo was excellent last week in defence especially in the third quarter. Will there be mystery injury of the week? Maeve went down nastily last Saturday but we presume she’s good to go. A tough cookie is Maeve. Our opponents, Fremantle For Fremantle the bad news is that Ebony Antonio is out for the Season. Freo have a couple of tests for Round 9 in Amy Mulholland and the experienced Sarah Verrier. Irish export Aine Tighe is a tall, athletic, rangy player who has taken to AFLW and is really exciting to watch. Her pace and skills allow her to be such a dynamic forward and certainly a hard one to match up on. The Dees brains trust has a conundrum. Who has the pace and size to run with Aine? Expect it won’t be Birch but Gillard or more likely Goldie or Gay. In the midfield they have league champion Kiara Bowers, skipper Hayley Miller and Irish newcomer Orlagh Lally who was impressive last week against the Saints. Dana East was busy too. Ruck Mim Strom has impressed this year and will test Loz Pearce and Georgia Campbell on Saturday. Freo are 4 wins 4 losses and won well at home against St Kilda last week. Meggs’ view No rain is forecast for Saturday, and it will be sunny, a coolish 17-19 degrees with gusty winds. Meggs is heading down the Monash and anticipates a Dees victory but expects Freo to bring a committed effort. Hopefully our contested ball work and slingshot run and carry game style will prevail. It would not surprise if one of our top-drawer forward titans kicks a bag on Saturday. Having three league leading goal scorers in your side (Zanker, Hore and Bannan) must give Mick Stinear supreme confidence that his team can always kick a winning score. Watch out in the 4th quarter. Freo’s defenders will have their work cut out for them for sure. A little percentage boost won’t hurt our minor premiership aspirations so let’s win and win well. Keep our eyes on the prize. Go Dees! Melbourne by 38 points THE GAME Melbourne v Fremantle at Casey Fields, on Saturday 27 October 2023 at 1:05pm (Melbourne time) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 5 wins Fremantle 2 wins At Casey Fields Melbourne 2 wins Fremantle 1 win The Coaches Stinear 0 wins Webb 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Footy, Kayo. Mobile – AFL Live Official App Radio – Casey Radio 97.7 fm from 12:35pm. THE LAST TIME THEY MET (Round 6, Season 7) Melbourne 10.6 (66) defeated Fremantle 5.6 (36) at Fremantle Oval, 2 October 2022 The Dees were unconvincing for 3 quarters as Fremantle at home were highly competitive and only down by 4 points at the 4-minute mark of the last quarter. Melbourne’s skilled ball movement and marking superiority proved too powerful in the last quarter with 4 unanswered goals to win by 30 points. This placed the Dees 5-1 and inside the top-four with Brisbane, Adelaide and Collingwood. Kate Hore starred with 3 classy goals, while midfielders Tyla Hanks (21 disposals and 5 clearances) and Liv Purcell (26 and five) set up the attacking chains that proved to be the difference in that final quarter. Eden Zanker and former Docker Sabreena Duffy kicked two goals each. Champion player Kiara Bowers (26 and eight inside 50s) and their captain Hayley Miller (17 and five clearances) were the best for the Dockers. MELBOURNE 2.1.13 5.2.32 6.3.39 10.6.66 FREMANTLE 2.1.13 3.2.20 5.3.33 5.6.36 GOALS MELBOURNE Hore 3 Duffy Zanker 2 Harris Pearce Purcell FREMANTLE Bowers Franklin Kauffman Miller
 Tighe BEST MELBOURNE Hanks Purcell Hore Zanker Paxman Harris FREMANTLE Bowers Miller, East Tighe O'Sullivan INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil FREMANTLE Nil REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil FREMANTLE Nil THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B L. Birch T. Gillard HB S. Goldrick M. Gay M. Chaplin C B. Mackin T. Hanks E. McNamara HF A. Bannan L. Mithen E. Zanker F M. Fitzsimon K. Hore FOLL L. Pearce E. West S. Heath I/C G. Campbell P. Paxman O. Purcell C. Sherriff C. Wilson EMG G. Gall J. Ivey R. Watt No change FREMANTLE B E. O'Driscoll P. Seth HB R. Roux S. Gibbs M. Scanlon C J. Low G. O'Sullivan O. Lally HF H. Miller L. Pugh M. Kauffman F S. Wielstra K. Bowers FOLL M. Strom D. East A. Stannett I/C J. Flynn M. Hyde T. Mulder A. Mulholland A. Runnalls EMG E. Fiedler A. Hetherington M. Tuhakaraina IN A. Mulholland S. Wielstra OUT A. Tighe (knee soreness) M. Tuhakaraina (omitted) Injury List: Round 9 Gaby Colvin - Achilles | Test Tayla Harris - Hamstring | Test Aimee Mackin - Ankle | 1 Week Sarah Lampard - Wrist | 2 - 4 Weeks

The Narrm Football Club found a second way in the space of 12 months less a day to unexpectedly lose a home game against Walyalup on Saturday afternoon. The equivalent match of last year has been described as Melbourne’s “ground zero” of 2022 where things went wrong for the club after a long run of wins that included its 57 year drought-breaking premiership triumph. Unfortunately for the Demons, the 2023 version was a case of deja vu with the Dockers overcoming a half time deficit and running over the home team in the decisive third quarter. During that term last year, the visitors won the centre clearances 7-0 to shock the reigning premiers and end their 17-game winning sequence. This time our Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca was healthy enough to hold up his end and Tom Sparrow did as good a job as any human can do in filling the cavernous hole left by the absence of Clayton Oliver but the Demons still fell apart badly in the middle of the ground. This was especially so even after Walyalup’s Sean Darcy was subbed off the ground with a hamstring injury leaving Narrm’s All Australian ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy to contend with previously out of form former Demon premiership ruckman Luke Jackson. It should have been a ruck mauling to lead the team to a big massacre but, once again, there was a major deficiency in the engine room that led to an anomalous statistic in take always from stoppages. How does a side that dominates the ruck hit outs by 56 to 28 lose the clearance battle by 37 to 39? Simple answer (for the second week in a row). The Walyalup midfield had enough talent and was prepared to work a damn sight harder than its counterpart to get their hands on the football. The consequence was that like Butters and Rozee of last week, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong busted the Demons open and won the day for the Dockers. It wasn’t all the fault of the Demon defence which battled manfully to stem the tide in the first half but the dam wall broke in the third term, ironically when Jackson split the middle to put his team ahead by more than a goal, after which they were never headed. The problem was that the attack was horrible, bordering on dysfunctional once again. The powerful defensive pressure that this line once applied was missing and Walyalup’s defenders were able to out position their small foes, outmark the talls, worry them with their own persistence and eventually get out of their backline methodically where, in the past, the ball would have been retrieved and returned without much trouble. The writing was on the wall last week when Narrm succumbed to Yartapuulti. The selectors ignored the signs and the team lost. NARRM 3.2.20 4.5.29 6.8.44 10.12.72 WALYALUP 2.0.12 4.3.27 9.5.59 12.7.79 GOALS NARRM Fritsch Pickett 2 Grundy Harmes McDonald Sparrow van Rooyen Viney WALYALUP Amiss 3 Banfield Treacy 2 Aish Frederick Jackson Schultz Serong BEST NARRM Petracca Gawn Brayshaw Pickett Sparrow Grundy WALYALUP Jackson Brayshaw Serong O'Meara Young INJURIES NARRM Nil WALYALUP Sean Darcy (hamstring) REPORTS NARRM Nil WALYALUP Nil SUBSTITUTIONS NARRM James Jordon (replaced Kade Chandler in fourth quarter) WALYALUP Sam Sturt (replaced Sean Darcy in second quarter) UMPIRES Chris Donlon Leigh Haussen Mathew Nicholls Andre Gianfagna CROWD 29,154 at the MCG

Just a few weeks ago when nobody had ever heard or knew about Walyalup, the outcome of Saturday’s clash at the MCG with Narrm would have been considered a foregone conclusion in favour of the Demons. The Purple Haze were wallowing in the depths. They had even lost their Round 2 matchup against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium — that’s how badly they were traveling! Meanwhile, the Demons were monstering weak opponents like the aforementioned North Melbourne to the tune of 15 goals. They were up there along with Collingwood and Brisbane in the race for flag favouritism but, after a rain-soaked night and a narrow defeat in Adelaide and a hamstring strain to one Clayton Oliver, the sky appears to be caving in. The arrival from across the Nullarbor of a Walyalup combination fresh from victories over both of last season’s grand finalists, has some Demon fans quaking in their boots with fear. The fact is that neither the Cats nor the Swans of the last fortnight are the Geelong or Sydney of September, 2022. The Dockers aren’t exactly Fremantle either because they changed their name to Walyalup Football Club for the duration of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. ‘Walyalup’ is Noongar country in and around the Fremantle region. The change of name certainly brought about a change of luck because they’ve come up against opponents stricken with injuries just as they themselves are striking form and benefiting from some crucial returnees, notably former skipper Nat Fyfe who missed the early part of the season. While the Dockers are gaining momentum, the elephant in the room for the Demons is the absence of Clayton Oliver for what seems to be at least a fortnight due to hamstring issues and Lachie Hunter for a week due to suspension. The two were close to the team’s best last week. When the Oliver/Hunter door to that room closes, another one necessarily opens for Simon Goodwin. It could invite disaster but it also could well be for the ultimate good of the club. Despite its elite standard rucks and midfielders, Melbourne/Narrm has been exposed of late in terms of winning clearances and contested ball. It wasn’t just Port Adelaide/ Yartapuulti’s Butters and Rozee last week, it was evident for more than a few brief moments against the Hawks and for much of the game against the Suns as well as in the two defeats earlier in the season. There’s no respite this week with Walyalup boasting ruck pair Darcy and Jackson to go with talented young mids Serong and Brayshaw backed up by dual Brownlow Medallist Fyfe. Demons need not go into panic however, Oliver was there when they last met but it was Viney, Petracca and the elder Brayshaw who did the damage in the engine room. The club’s two way running and tackling from the small forwards which was so effective in the premiership season has also been effectively reduced if not worked out altogether. Goodwin and the brains trust have been tinkering with the system and I don’t think it needs an overhaul, but the forced changes in personnel mean that these issues have to be met head on this week. So watch closely the changes that will be made to the lineup. The expected and logical will happen — Tom Sparrow back from suspension, James Harmes in and James Jordon from sub duties and possibly even more midfield moments from Trent Rivers and Kozzie Pickett but the Demons need a little more in the mix to meet the challenge of not only this week, but also the month to come. The 2022 story of the clashes between these teams was interesting with one win each away from their home turf. Narrm have been unmovable at home this year while Walyalup’s only win away from Noongar country, apart from an unconvincing effort on neutral territory against the Suns in the Gather Round, was over the hugely injury-depleted Swans at the SCG a fortnight ago. The Demons are goals better at home and, while I don’t condone or encourage gambling, just take a look at the odds framed by the bookies - and they know their stuff! Besides, it’s about time that the Demons proved themselves in what surely is a cutthroat game. I’m tipping them to do that and win by 25 points. THE GAME Narrm v Walyalup on Saturday 27 May 2023 at the MCG at 2.10pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Narrm 18 wins Walyalup 24 wins At the MCG Narrm 9 wins Walyalup 8 wins Last five meetings Narrm 3 wins Walyalup 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 2 wins Longmuir 2 wins LAST TIME THEY MET Narrm 12.13.85 defeated Walyalup 5.9.39 at Optus Stadium, Round 20, 2022 It was a vital game for both sides in terms of protecting their final four aspirations and the Demons were on top of the Dockers from the outset as they overturned their loss at the MCG from earlier in the season. Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Angus Bradshaw were the team’s shock troops that dominated in the midfield in an emphatic 46 point victory that stunned the West. TEAMS NARRM B M. Hibberd J. Lever J. McVee HB C. Salem S. May A. Brayshaw C E. Langdon J. Viney T. Sparrow HF B. Fritsch T. McDonald K. Pickett F K. Chandler B. Grundy C. Spargo FOLL M. Gawn C. Petracca A. Neal-Bullen I/C J. Bowey J. Harmes T. Rivers J. van Rooyen SUB J. Jordon EMG B. Laurie J. Smith T. Woewodin IN J. Harmes T. Sparrow OUT L. Hunter (suspended) C. Oliver (hamstring) WALYALUP B B. Cox A. Pearce H. Young HB B. Walker L. Ryan J. Aish C J. Clark J. O'Meara N. O'Driscoll HF S. Switkowski N. Fyfe M. Frederick F M. Johnson J. Amiss L. Schultz FOLL S. Darcy A. Brayshaw L. Jackson I/C B. Banfield E. Hughes C. Serong J. Treacy SUB S. Sturt EMG W. Brodie N. Erasmus K. Worner IN S. Sturt OUT M. Walters (calf) Injury and Suspension List: Round 11 Jake Bowey - Calf | Test Clayton Oliver - Hamstring | TBC Lachie Hunter - Suspension | One Week Luke Dunstan - Knee | 1 - 2 Weeks Kye Turner - Groin | 3 - 4 Weeks Will Verrall - Pelvis | 3 - 4 Weeks Harry Petty - Foot | 3 - 5 Weeks