Grand Final – Adelaide V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Going into their first Grand Final as underdogs, the odds were very much against a Melbourne victory. Adelaide had the advantage of a home game plus the experience of three previous finals and being crowned premiers twice. That experience would prove pivotal, as would having the best defence in the competition.

The Demons were understandably nervous and started warily. The Crows were more confident and it showed in their marking and kicking efficiency. Despite Adelaide’s pressure in their forward 50, Melbourne’s back line up was holding tight. Tellingly though, the Crows were spending over three times more in their forward half than the Dees and eventually something would have to give.

The pressure paid off when Jasmyn Hewett marked the ball right next to the upright. She slotted and Adelaide had their first major. After the goal, the Dees started to make some inroads. There were half chances but the Crows defence pounced and tackled ferociously. Some dubious calls also favoured Adelaide, making it difficult for Melbourne to gain any momentum.

The woes continued for the Dees after the break. A series of dropped marks and turnovers threatened to gift Adelaide another goal but Melbourne somehow managed to hang on. Maddie Gay limped off injured but fortunately she was was able to return to the field once strapped up.

Melbourne did make headway towards their goal but Adelaide were much more determined and aggressive in their tackling, thereby limiting the Dees’ chances.
Then, while Melbourne was still to register a point on the scoreboard, the Crows struck again. Erin Phillips saw a half chance and gather the ground ball before chipping over the pack at the edge of the goal square. The ball luckily bounced the right way and crossed the line.

Now the margin was seventeen points and Melbourne needed to make some serious changes if they were going to avoid a shellacking. The Dees realised that they needed to be more aggressive and started to push deeper into their forward half. Tayla Harris was again the go to player inside 50. She attempted the mark but again she was surrounded by Adelaide’s defence.

With a minute to go to half time, Melbourne finally got a break. As the ball was being kicked between defenders, Alyssa Bannan stole an intercept mark and ran on into the waiting goal. The impact was instantaneous and the Dees lifted. Adelaide scrambled to claw one back before the siren, but Melbourne managed to hold them off.

It was still all to play for in the second half but it was the worst possible start for the Dees when Danielle Ponter marked right on the goal line. It was an easy conversion and the deficit was back to sixteen points.

Melbourne was marking and controlling the ball better but were still hesitant when they needed to move faster. The delays gave Adelaide plenty of time to set up behind the ball while the Dees looked around, considering their options.

Just when it looked like the Crows were going to continue their dominance, Melbourne had another breakthrough. A well targeted and weighted kick by Tayla Harris picked out Kate Hore deep inside 50. Hore marked and ran on, getting a kick away towards goal before being mowed down. The gap was back to ten points and the Dees were back in contention.

The goal energised Melbourne and within a minute, Tayla Harris had marked a Daisy Pearce kick. At 40m out, Harris opted not to try for goal, instead kicking to Karen Paxman. Paxman was a little closer but the 45 degree angle was a more difficult shot. Paxman made clean contact with the ball but her effort drifted right and only registered a minor score.

The Dees pressure continued to mount and they were causing Adelaide all sorts of problems. Melbourne made repeat incursions to their forwards 50 but were unable to finish due to the relentless tackling by the Crows’ defence. Lily Mithen had a set shot in front of goal late in the quarter but was unable to convert. Demon fans were left lamenting what could have been.

With the clock ticking Melbourne knew it was now or never as they ran out at the start of the last quarter. They were determined to not die wondering. Maddie Gay had a half chance from just inside 50 but the ball didn’t bounce back far enough and just missed the goal. A few minutes later and Gay had another half opportunity but that missed to the other side.

As so often happens, Adelaide absorbed all the Dees’ pressure before breaking out and racing up the field. Danielle Ponter took another mark just inside 50, then took the advantage to run on, take a bounce and launch a kick 20m from goal. The Crows were thirteen points ahead with only six minutes left to play.

Although Melbourne fought valiantly to the end, they were unable to notch any more points on the scoreboard and the final result was 29-16 in Adelaide’s favour.

It was a great experience for the Dees and they will have learned a good deal about what it takes to win a Grand Final. All Demon fans will be hoping that Daisy Pearce hangs around for one more effort.

Now that next season starts this August, maybe the AFLW legend and footy pioneer can be tempted to give the dice another roll?

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 4 – Port Adelaide V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Playing away at Adelaide Oval is not for the faint hearted. The home fans are passionate and mostly hostile. Despite this, Melbourne took it all in their stride; even the PA system blasting out INXS couldn’t put them off.

The Dees kicked their first major within a minute, thanks to a mark taken by Bayley Fritsch, twenty metres from goal. After that, Port was able to spend a decent amount of time in Melbourne’s territory but were unable to overly bother their rivals. Each forward entry was easily dealt with by the Demons.

However we were unable to capitalise at the other end and it continued to be a low scoring quarter. Port maintained a superior inside 50 count but Melbourne’s back half proved too efficient and it was 3 – 9 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second quarter as the Power continued to play hard for no reward. Melbourne just seemed content to play their natural game and wait for the opportunities to present themselves. The chances came aplenty late in the term with Bayley Fritsch literally kick starting the process. After being awarded a free on the 50m line, he played on and launched a kick which spun into the waiting goal.

Then the floodgates opened, starting with a contested mark from Tom McDonald. Macca took a short run and converted from 30m out. Next Jack Viney had a set shot from the pocket and kicked the third of the quarter. After the bounce, Melbourne chaotically moved the ball towards inside 50 where Christian Petracca gathered up and handballed to James Harmes. Goal number five for the Dees!

Just before half time, with Port still goalless, Ed Langdon was awarded a free plus a 50m penalty. His kick, 20m from the goal line, only compounded the pain of the Power’s fans.

Then, as if they hadn’t suffered enough, Todd Marshall had a chance to kick after the siren. However the decision was reversed when Zak Butters had a rush of blood to the head and threw Jake Bowey to the ground, thereby denying Port a potential first goal.

Zac Butters had a chance of redemption early in the second half but his kick from the pocket missed to the near side. The Power kept pushing but was unable to to convert and eventually Melbourne broke back towards their forward half. Kysaiah Pickett’s vision to pick out James Harmes in front of goal, set up the midfielder’s second.

Port almost had their first major when Mitch Georgiades accelerated towards goal. Waiting until the last possible second to kick, his shot was blocked on the line by Jayden Hunt and James Jordan. Then Georgiades hand passed the rebound ball to Sam Mays whose subsequent kick was touched by Jordan. Has to be a contender for miss of the year (we need a new category at the Brownlows).

Max Gawn has developed a habit of scoring long distance goals. His effort from the 50m line to give the Demons a forty seven point lead was no exception. The silent Port fans were slowly being torn apart.

Finally though and with only four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Port Adelaide got their first goal. Sam Powell-Pepper was awarded a free kick on the 50m line. He quickly hand passed to Dan Houston who didn’t have a problem kicking from deep in the pocket.

The relief was palpable around the ground but Melbourne wasn’t ready to rest on their laurels yet. Luke Jackson marked in front of goal but was unable to convert. A minute later he had a second chance from a similar position and this time his aim was true.

Bayley Fritsch had possibly his easiest goal of the season so far when he marked Tom McDonald’s kick to the right of the posts. All Fritsch had to do was waltz through and kick his hat trick.

By now the match was beyond Port Adelaide’s reach. Facing a fifty three point deficit, they were solely playing for pride and to avoid racking up their lowest score in the Club’s history. Mitch Georgiades solve the latter when he was able to kick the ball off the turf just in front of goal.

Towards the end, Steven Motlop stepped around the Dees defence and snapped a goal. It became a late flurry for Port when Motlop was able to kick his second in the last minute.

Overall a great result for the Dees. We’re the only team to have won all of their first four games. We host the Giants in Round 5 and again nothing will be taken for granted. GWS was one of only four teams to register a win against Melbourne last season but I do fancy our chances.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Preliminary Final – Melbourne V Brisbane

Liam Chambers

Melbourne have made it to their first AFLW Grand Final! It was so close in the end, but the girls put in a valiant effort to produce the win.

It was a nervous start all around but the Dees managed to keep the ball in their forward half for the first five minutes. They were unable to capitalise on their advantage and the Lions started to make headway into Melbourne’s defensive territory. Brisbane also struggled to get on the scoreboard with the Dees keeping their defence tight.

Shelley Heath effected a great tackle on Jesse Wardlaw, preventing the Ruck from scoring an almost certain goal. The wet conditions didn’t seem to be favouring either side as both sets of players struggled to hold onto the ball.

Melbourne had dominated the first term in the majority of the stats but their kicking efficiency was letting them down. They desperately needed a goal to settle their nerves.

That breakthrough came when Alyssa Bannan initially had the chance to collect the ball inside 50. There were no Lions blocking her path but Bannan was unable to gather up the ball before being tackled. After the ensuing stoppage, the forward finally found enough space to drill one through the pack and into the open goal.

It didn’t take long for the Lions to respond. Taylor Smith dropped a mark inside 50 but was able to recover, gather up the ground ball, snapping a kick towards goal. With five seconds to go, Eliza McNamara was awarded a free kick 25m from goal. McNamara went back to take the kick after the siren but just missed to the far side where her shot scrapped the post.

After the break, the Lions looked the most likely to score first. Their effort was rewarded when Dakota Davidson got a kick away that sailed through the uprights from 35m out. Brisbane continued the pressure after the bounce but Melbourne was able to break clear and make their way up the field.

While Daisy Pearce was bringing the ball to ground then gathering it up, Alyssa Bannan was running on to a good position inside 50. Daisy got the kick to the waiting Bannan to collect and then outrun her opponents before kicking into an open goal.

The Dees then had the advantage after Lauren Pearce grabbed the ball out of the ruck. Turning towards goal, Pearce launched a kick, securing Melbourne’s third goal. Eliza McNamara then had another opportunity to go for goal and this time she opted to kick it along the ground and through the Lions’ defence, incredibly finding a gap and watching the ball dribble across the line.

Brisbane continued to chase a late goal but the Dees managed to hang on to their eleven point margin.

Melbourne had the perfect start to the last quarter when Alyssa Bannan again used her speed to chase the ball before picking it up and strolling into the waiting goal. Bannan had three under her belt and the Dees had a seventeen point lead.

The reigning premiers wouldn’t go down without a fight and for the next five minutes the Lions continually made inroads to their forward 50. They couldn’t manage a breakthrough though until Shannon Campbell was able to crumb the ball and snap a kick from 30m out.

Now with only a ten point lead and six minutes remaining, Melbourne needed to play some smart footy to prevent Brisbane kicking another two goals. The Dees had opportunities to extend their lead but the Lions defended well before initiating an offensive of their own but without much success until the last forty five seconds. Greta Bodey (who else?) kicked a goal from a set shot and clawed Melbourne’s lead back to four points.

The last thirty seconds was a frantic push forward by the Lions and equally frantic attempts by Melbourne to clear the ball. The Dees prevailed, securing their first win in a preliminary final.

There’s no doubt that Adelaide is the firm favourite. They are an extremely difficult team to score against and they have some very strong players. However, one thing we know about Melbourne is their ability to preform above expectations when they’re given the status of underdog.

Also, the team will want to do it for Daisy, arguably the one person who has done more than any other to promote and champion AFLW.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

AFLM – Round 3 – Melbourne v Essendon

Liam Chambers

It’s a cliché but no less true for that; great teams always find a way to win. While challenged for most of of the second and third quarters, Melbourne were well and truly tested in the last term but they finished strongly to make it 3-0 for the season so far.

It started off so well. Melbourne were dominating play and making it look like a practice match. Sam Weiderman was back, filling in for Ben Brown and kicked a beauty on his second attempt. Simon Goodwin has an embarrassment of riches at the moment with Jake Lever set to return next week. The fact that there are so many potentials waiting in the wings means the regulars are focused on keeping their spot.

No such worries for Tom McDonald at present as he proved himself again with his bending shot to score the Dees’ second. With Jack Viney’s round the corner kick just before the siren, it was a very comfortable looking Demons side running off at the break.

As Lao Tzu said “There is great danger in underestimating your opponent” Wise words and I’m afraid I was guilty as accused when I sat back to watch the second quarter, believing the game was in the bag. I was quickly brought down to earth when Tex Wanganeen’s set shot looked like sailing through before fortunately connecting with the post.

The Bombers were inspired though and started to bring the game to Melbourne. When Tom Cutler kicked Essendon’s first, things got serious. Straight after the bounce they were back in Melbourne’s defensive 50 and Peter Wright had marked the ball. His kick from 45m slotted perfectly and the gap was closing.

Tom Sparrow’s set shot from 40m stayed on it’s trajectory to clear the right hand upright, easing the pressure but only momentarily. Just before half time, Andrew McGrath snapped from just outside the goal square and the margin was back to nine points.

Tex Wanganeen had hit the post at the start of the previous term but didn’t miss with his second attempt; the snap kick off his left boot curled through to bring the Bombers to within three points. Essendon took the lead when their key forward Peter Wright kicked his second from a set shot and now Dees fans were sitting up and taking notice. Wright did it again a few minutes later to score his third and the lead stretched out to ten points.

James Harmes has scored some crucial goals so far this season. His shot from 40m in front was a definite ship steadier and just what Melbourne needed. Harmes scored again less than two minutes later when he launched a 45m kick that never looked like missing. The Demons were back in front. Almost immediately, Sam Weiderman was on the receiving end of an Angus Brayshaw perfectly placed kick. Sam’s kick from the pocket was also perfectly placed and it was out to a two goal margin.

Unfortunately Essendon refused to stick to the script and Jake Stringer took a mark almost on the goal line. He couldn’t have missed no matter how hard he tried. Stringer then took another mark. This time from 40m out but the result was the same and the Bombers were back in front.

The goal fired up the Dees and they won the clearance before Bayley Fritsch was deem held on the 50m line. Advantage was paid and Clayton Oliver ran on, launching a kick goalwards where Sam Weiderman was waiting to collect. Weiderman kicked his third from 25m and Melbourne was ahead again. Christian Petracca was having a quiet night and allegedly suffering some knee swelling but it didn’t prevent him kicking a rocket from edge of 50m and curling it through beautifully. Tracca actually signaled that the ball may have been touched but he seemed to be the only one who thought so and the goal stood.

It looked like a case of normal service restored when Charlie Spargo put Melbourne ahead by three goals halfway through the final term. A few minutes later and Bayley Fritsch made a four goal margin when he snuck around the defence and placed the ball directly between the posts.

Essendon weren’t going anywhere though and won the clearance before making another run towards inside 50 where Archie Perkins kept Bomber’s hopes alive with his snap on goal. Then they underlined their revival with another Peter Wright mark in front of goal. With five minutes to go the margin was only eleven points and still anyone’s game.

Angus Brayshaw had been stellar all night and he again launched a long kick to the waiting pack just outside 50. After some crumbing and gathering, the ball found it’s way to Ed Langdon. His kick from the pocket should never have crossed the goal line but somehow he managed to spin it in the right direction. Nobody was more surprised than Langdon when the major was awarded.

It was definitely game over when Bayley Fritsch marked one handed five metres from goal and snapped it through. Melbourne still had one final trick up their sleeve when Clayton Oliver had a chance to score from 30m. Instead he placed it in Sam Weiderman’s hands, who was in the exact spot where Fritsch had just scored previously. Weiderman calmly turned and tapped it in for his fourth.

It was a good result in the end with the Dees’ total just shy of the ton. We’re only one of three teams to be 3-0 and are sitting comfortable in second spot on the ladder.

Tonight we travel to Adelaide to take on Port, who have yet to register a win. Nobody is going to take Port Adelaide for granted. They finished in second spot last season and they’re notoriously difficult to beat at home. It’s going to be a tight game.

Go the mighty Dees!!!

AFLM – Round 2 – Gold Coast V Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Queensland seems to have a special kind of humidity. As soon as you cross the border, you start to sweat. The Dees would have to contend with the weather as well as dealing with a Gold Coast team that had already seen off the Eagles. The Suns are a talented side so it would be a good test for Melbourne.

Gold Coast are infamous for peaking at the start of the season but with one win under their belt, they would be eager for the top scalp. True to form, the Suns got the first major when Jeremy Sharp had a set shot directly in front. They also got the second when the marking machine Levi Casboult took a contested grab inches from the line. With only half the term gone, the Dees could have been further behind but the home side’s accuracy in front of goal let them down. Once they sort out how to kick more efficiently they’ll be really dangerous.

Even as Melbourne battled to get the ball into their forward fifty, they still looked calm and collected if not overly cool. It was only a matter of time before the Dees got a break and as is so often the case, it was Max Gawn who stepped up when he marked from 30m out. A couple of minutes later, Ben Brown marked deep in the pocket. His perfect kick, under difficult circumstances, was enough to make the footy gods weep.

I’m not sure if Goody asked that only players two metres or over kick goals in the first quarter but Luke Jackson scored a blinder with thirty seconds to go. When he grabbed the ball out of the ruck and ran on to score, he was the epitome of thinking on your feet.

Melbourne’s fourth goal showcased both their individual and team strengths. As Christian Petracca crumbed the ball from a dropped mark, he went on to break away from two sets of tackles before hand passing to Jack Viney. The midfielder wasted no time in snapping the ball through the posts.

Gold Coast struck back immediately when Mabior Chol took a contested mark and kicked cleanly to restore the margin. Twenty seconds later and Melbourne were ten points in front again. With some clever hand passing, the Dees were able to weave through the Sun’s defence, allowing Kysaiah Pickett to kick around the body and score number five. Another twenty seconds and Melbourne had a sixth when Clayton Oliver broke out of a tackle to one handedly drop the ball onto his left boot and launch the sherrin goalwards where he watched it bounce across the line. 

Gold Coast eventually arrested the one way traffic when Alex Davies marked in front of goal and converted to score their fourth. Now it was the Suns turn to score in rapid succession as Noah Anderson received a handpass on the 50m line, before running on, dodging Angus Brayshaw, lining up the kick and hitting the target.

Gold Coast continued to exert some impressive pressure on the Dees, getting players around the ball. Again their lack of accuracy meant they were unable to take full advantage of their chances. The margin remained at three points deep into the quarter following the initial flurry by both sides in the opening minutes. It looked like the Suns could make it to half time neck and neck with Melbourne. Then Ben Brown was deemed held just outside the 50m line and the big forward kicked his second.

A few minutes later, and it was back to a cigarette paper between the teams when Jack Lukosius marked ten metres away from goal. The rejoicing didn’t last long at Metricon though as the ball sailed over the heads of the waiting pack in Melbourne’s goal square. Luke Jackson saw his chance to follow the ball, collect it on the bounce and kick from point blank range. When is his contract being renew again?

With Petracca notching up so many brilliant kicks during the game, it’s difficult to pick a favourite. However his weave through traffic and subsequent kick from outside 50 to perfectly pick out Tom McDonald has to be a contender. T Mac doesn’t miss from that range and the advantage was back to three goals.

Melbourne was caught napping at the start of the second half when the Suns made a dash for inside 50 where Levi Casboult was waiting to take the mark.

Bayley Fritsch was having a quiet night but he only needs one chance and he took it. After being awarded a free kick 45m from goal, he went back and kicked beautifully to score Melbourne’s tenth.

Frustratingly, Gold Coast were proving difficult for the Dees to leave in their wake as Brayden Fiorini was able to bend the perfect kick and watch it sail through. Melbourne was also struggling to breakdown the Sun’s defence but ultimately James Harmes found enough space to snap one through and it was back to the half time margin.

Fatigue was setting in on both sides with some players feeling the effects of the heat more than others. Each team kept forging ahead though, with Melbourne missing a couple of possibilities. Then Kysaiah Pickett got goal of the match when he danced around three GC defenders and kicked sideways while managing to remain upright. Brilliant!

The heat was on both literally and figuratively as Melbourne endeavored to land the fatal blow. The conditions obviously favoured the hosts and they used their energy in a last ditch drive to overcome the Dees. Despite continuing to mount their onslaught, it took to the halfway mark of the last quarter for the Suns to finally take advantage with Noah Anderson managing to get a kick away from a stoppage and give Gold Coast a glimmer of hope.

Whereas the Suns had struggled with accuracy in the first half, now Melbourne were peppering without scoring a major. Then with only a minute remaining, Charlie Ballard marked from 35m out and converted.

It was a tight game in the end but Gold Coast were worthy opponents and look a possibility to make the top eight this year. Round 3 we play Essendon. Again, a side with lots of potential but sitting near the bottom of the table. We won’t be underestimating them though.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!