Round 5 – Melbourne V Gold Coast
Liam Chambers
Big surprise; Gold Coast took a leaf out of St Kilda and Adelaide’s playbook. Again it was game on from the first bounce. The Suns were looking for three in a row and the Dees were looking to make amends for last week’s result.
The first quarter was all pressure. Melbourne were making inroads into their forward fifty but Gold Coast kept repelling them. After ten minutes, the Dees had been continually dominating territory but only had two minor scores to show for their efforts.
The Suns only had one foray to inside 50 late in the term but it proved fruitless with the margin remaining three points in Melbourne’s favour at quarter time.
When play resumed, Gold Coast had the wind at their backs and took full advantage early on. Again though the Dees were able to push back and get close to their own goal square.
Melbourne’s determination paid off when Eden Zanker, under pressure, launched a wildly accurate kick, picking out Tayla Harris, who took the contested mark. The Dees leading goal kicker then had a set shot 30m in front but the breeze carried the sherrin to the right for another minor. A minute later, Shelley Scott did the same.
Almost immediately Gold Coast took control and the game to their own end. They had several chances in front of goal but were unable to get the points on the board. They kept up the pressure though and the Dees finally succumbed when Sarah Perkins’ spinning high kick landed fortuitously into Alison Drennan’s lap. The midfielder took the set shot and slotted the Sun’s first of the night.
Melbourne have a habit of striking back quickly and it was Daisy Pearce who again provided the inspiration. Her initial tap down 25m out then allowed her to run on and gather the footy before chipping it behind the goal line.
A minute later and Eliza McNamara was awarded a free kick after being held 30m out from goal. McNamara took note, learning from her team mates’ previous shots on goal, before guiding her kick perfectly through the sticks.
That’s the way it stayed and Melbourne went in, leading by ten points, at half time.
After a sterling finish to the first half, the Dees needed to remain focused and continue to control the game. They maintained the pressure on the Suns and waited for the visitors to make a mistake. Eventually Megan Fitzsimon was taken high in a tackle and awarded a free kick front of goal. Fitzsimon read the breeze correctly and notched up Melbourne’s third of the evening.
Again and again the Dees pushed forward but Gold Coast managed to hold them off. Melbourne then had to confront an attack by the Suns but wrested back control before Lily Mithen took off back down the field. She stole a bounce along the way before hand passing to Eliza McNamara who tried to pick out Tayla Harris with her subsequent kick.
The ball sailed over the heads of the waiting pack, but Harris was awarded a free for a push in the back. The set shot was 25m directly in front and the forward had no problems in converting to score Melbourne’s fourth of the match.
The challenge now for the Dees was to maintain the momentum and not let Gold Coast back into the game. Unfortunately Ellie Hampson scored possibly the best accidental goal of the season when her stumbling soccer kick found a way to cross the line.
Then with the seconds ticking down, Daisy Pearce took a diving mark 15m out from goal. It’s well known that the captain is adverse to taking set shots so her seemingly inexplicit action in playing on is understandable. However the Suns’ fans everywhere would have been taking a big collective sigh of relief at having dodged a very late bullet.
As the teams headed into the final term, Gold Coast were thankful to be only trailing by nineteen points.
The tackling continued at a frenetic pace but the Dees looked comfortably in control. That confidence was boosted when Daisy Pearce took another contested mark inside 50. She immediately spotted Tayla Harris and placed her kick perfectly into the path of the key forward. Harris finished flawlessly and the margin stretched to twenty four points.
A few minutes later Kate Hore had an opportunity to hammer in the final nail but her running shot veered left for a minor score.
With ten minutes to go, Gold Coast wasn’t giving up as they managed to retake the ball before launching their own offensive. There was no one at the back for Melbourne and Jamie Stanton had the inside 50 area to herself as she ran into an open goal. The Suns sensed that there was still time and the Dees knew they had to maintain possession to slow down the game.
Gold Coast kept driving forward though and eventually Kalinda Howarth was able to gather, spin and kick the ball, watching it bounce across the square for another goal.
Melbourne’s lead was cut in half but the girls managed to hold off successive Coastal waves to claim an important two goal victory.
Today it’s the Giant’s turn. We’d be foolish to expect an easy competition just because GWS has had less game time this year. They’re a tough side and made the Bulldogs look ordinary in their last outing.
When we remain disciplined, we can beat anyone. We have the talent and have proved we can handle the pressure. The final part of the puzzled; the self belief and confidence is still a work in progress but I’m backing us to take home the goods in Round 6.
Go the Mighty Dees!!!
Round 4 – Adelaide V Melbourne
Liam Chambers
As we discovered last week, the Dees are vulnerable when the opposition play a high pressure game. Unfortunately Adelaide exploited this weakness mercilessly.
The Saints maintained the rage for three quarters but the Crows are made of sterner stuff. To add to our woes, we were facing possibly the tightest defence in the competition. Throw in the highly partisan Norwood Oval and Melbourne was going to struggle to play their favoured contested game.
The girls were under the pump from the first bounce. It didn’t take Adelaide’s top player, Erin Phillips, long to make an impact. The half chance in front of goal was all she needed to turn and snap the ball through for the Crow’s first. Up the other end, Tayla Harris was awarded a free kick on the 50m line. Her set shot sailed to the left of the goal square where Daisy Pearce almost took a contested mark before it bounced behind for a minor score.
Adelaide was relentless in their forward pressure. Melbourne kept absorbing the heat but eventually Erin Phillips broke through again with an opportunistic soccer kick along the ground of the goal square. Even though the Crows dominated inside 50 for most of the term, the Dees denied them several chances to add to the goal tally. Libby Birch in particular was stellar in defence.
The signs of frustration were evident in the second quarter with Melbourne giving away unnecessary free kicks. Adelaide was determined not to let their rivals settle and the Dees had everyone back trying to contain the onslaught. The tactic limited Melbourne’s options when they had the chance to plow forward so few territorial gains were made.
Even when we eventually arrived at our forward 50, the Crows’ defence was clinical. Eliza McNamara had one of the best chances of the term but her shot in front of goal veered left.
Having failed to score a goal in the first half, the Dees had at least kept Adelaide to a fifteen point margin. Still, it would be an uphill endeavor to claw back some momentum. We needed a goal and quickly. Unfortunately the next major was again off the boot of Erin Phillips.
Melbourne went all out but the Crows’ tackling was brutal, limiting any attempts Melbourne made to gain territory. Then Rachelle Martin made a mountain out of the previously difficult hill when her set shot from 35m sailed, like a poisoned arrow, through the heart of the Melbourne faithful.
Still goalless at three quarter time, the only glimmer for the Dees was the fact that Adelaide had wasted a multitude of chances to put the result beyond doubt.
Trailing by thirty two points is never good and our prospects were looking extremely bleak. However, Melbourne can usually be counted on for a rousing final quarter. It was desperately needed.
Right on cue Daisy Pearce managed to get a toe to the sherrin on the 50m line, placing it into the path of Tayla Harris and enabling the key forward to run on and score.
With Lauren Pearce off with an ankle injury, Eden Zanker took over in the ruck. The adjustment seemed to give the Dees more opportunities to go forward. Casey Sherriff launched a long kick from 55m to Daisy Pearce, who took the mark in the goal square before tapping it in for the second of the term.
Suddenly Melbourne had their tails up but had they left it too late? Adelaide didn’t give up but the Dees looked more in control, deflecting attacks with confidence. The counter attacks were more successful but finding additional goals proved elusive.
That’s the way it stayed until the dying seconds when Daisy Pearce took another contested mark. Her set shot and goal after the siren proved decisive to keeping Melbourne’s number three position on the ladder.
While overall, the Dees’ performance was unconvincing against the potential champions, there was some very positive moments in the final term. There’s a lot of work to be done regarding how we manage the high pressure game.
Undoubtedly, the Gold Coast Suns will take note and we can expect the same intensity at Casey Fields on Saturday night. We have a talented and experienced side but we need to adjust more quickly to the circumstances.
Go the Mighty Dees!!!
Round 3 – Melbourne v St Kilda
Jacqui Parry
Our Pride Round game against the Saints is always a tough one, and this year was no exception. The Saints really lift themselves for this game every year, and matched us on the score board for the first three quarters.
Lucky we had the coolest Pride Guernsey in the league – as the team needed a bit of cool to charge over the Saints in the last quarter. In 30+degree heat (again) our guernsey bobbed up like a refreshing slice of watermelon – I wonder if the team was thinking of that as they fought through the heat??
It was a tough game, but our forwards led by Tayla Harris and Kate Hore managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over – and who could forget that massive Lauren Pearce goal (celebration of the century) ?? A captains goal to Daisy really topped the day off. Sinead Goldrick teamed well with Megan Fitzsimon for her debut goal. Eliza West showed ferocity at the ball for four quarters.
Gabbi Colvin worked really hard with Libby Birch tp keep the Saints out of their goal and the Dees in the game as Karen Pxman and Sarah Lampard fired up the midfield. Tyla Hanks was in everything and deserved her two majors. Hoping Megan Fitzsimon bears no long term effects of her spectacular injury – I hope her parents were not watching the blood streaming down her face.
Next week will be a tough clash against top of table Crows. Hoping the squad recovers well from the heat of Casey Fields as they will need to be in the game from the get go to get over the Crows.
Wishing our women a safe and successful trip to Adelaide – hoping they have time to get their hair done a buy a new frock as Adelaide is a great place to do that!!
Tegan and Krstel did a great job on our Pride Guernsey. It looked fantastic on the ground and up close. I loved the addition of the fingerprints of the players, which ensures the guernsey is owned by every player who has the opportunity to wear it. This is such a great design, I am hoping that the men also adopt this concept for the Pride Round – different finger prints of course – but overall design is really great and looked fantastic on telly.
Great to see our Mascots supporting the team and the Ruby Dees at Casey – they really brought our team home in the last quarter.
AFLW Round 2
Liam Chambers
Friday night at Punt Road and the Dees were facing the league’s most improved team on their home turf. It didn’t take the Tigers long to open the scoring when Tessa Lavey kicked the first goal after fifteen seconds. Five minutes later and key forward Katie Brennan doubled Richmond’s advantage.
Melbourne finally got on the board when Tayla Harris took a contested mark from a Tyla Hanks free kick. The big name recruit slotted nicely from her set shot in front of goal.
At the start of term two, Kate Hore evened the ledger for the Dees with her free kick from 30m out. She’s in good position to be the leading goal scorer for another year. Never backwards in being a forward, Kate later took on three Tigers in a dash for goal. Awarded a free kick for a high tackle, she launched the sherrin from 40m and watched it glide through the uprights. Alyssa Bannan took note and decided she could go back to back as well.
Her first involved a run from midfield to inside 50, getting in a couple of bounces along the way while showing a clean pair of heels. With a quick look over her shoulder, she then let loose and scored from 30m out. Her second was an uncontested mark courtesy of Daisy Pearce who noticed her running into a good scoring position. The angle was difficult but Bannan nailed it.
Daisy herself then made it six in a row for the Dees when she swept her free kick high over the goal umpire’s head.
With a handy 25 point lead, Melbourne was in a strong position after the break. Having scored the first goal of the game, Tessa Lavey also got the first of the second half; raising the spirits of the home crowd. Richmond then got lucky when Sarah Dargan was awarded a 50m penalty. She opted to keep running and scored an opportunistic goal, reducing the margin to 16 points.
It didn’t last long though as Daisy Pearce again showed great vision, spotting her fellow veteran Karen Paxman running into position. Paxman took the mark on the run, then slotted from the set shot to restore Melbourne’s half time advantage.
The Tigers had it all to do in the final quarter if they stood any chance of reining in the the Dees. The Richmond fans briefly experienced a flicker of hope when Monique Conti displayed some individual brilliance as her running kick from an extremely tight angle somehow found its way between the posts. Unfortunately for the Tigers, that hope was abruptly snuffed out when fast thinking Tayla Harris pounced on a loose ball in front of goal after some stellar defending from Richmond.
Another solid performance from the Dees has helped cement their place in the highly competitive top four of the ladder. Today it’s the unfancied Saints turn when Melbourne play their first home game of this season. Casey Fields hasn’t always been favourable for the Dees but I’m predicting a big win for us in Round 3.
Go the mighty Dees!!!
Round 1
Liam Chambers
It’s a brand new era for Melbourne. Not only has the drought broken but our dams overfloweth. Nothing is impossible anymore.
Straightaway you could see a new confidence in the players from the first bounce. The hunger was there to match the lads and win a first AFLW premiership for the Dees. Lauren Pearce secured the hitout and Melbourne was away, playing tight contested football. The Dogs were kept under pressure and finally succumbed when Kate Hore’s chip to inside 50 was marked by Casey Sherriff, 25m out from goal. The defender didn’t miss and the Dees were on the board.
The second goal quickly followed the bounce, with Tyla Hanks’ long clearance kick finding debutante Tayla Harris, who marked 40m out. Her kick against the breeze was plucked on the goal line by Maddie Gay. The set shot was too close to miss and Maddie put Melbourne ahead by 2 goals.
The Bulldogs continued to struggle and at times were reduced to spectators while Melbourne hung onto the ball, looking for further scoring opportunities. The chance finally came when Karen Paxman launched the sherrin high and long towards goal, where it was collected by Eden Zanker in a beautifully contested mark. She slotted the set shot nicely to give the Dees a 17 point lead at quarter time.
The Dogs were always going to come out swinging at the start of the second quarter and they didn’t disappoint the home crowd. Their first goal came after a slam tackle by Isabel Huntington on Karen Paxman. Huntington scored from the conversion. Luckily Paxman escaped any serious injury. Unfortunately Huntington succumbed to another knee injury several minutes later was assisted in hobbling off the field.
Captain Daisy Pearce almost got on the score sheet herself, with a turn and snap in front of goal but sadly connected with the post. Thirty seconds later and Kate Hore was in the exact same position. Kate curved it slightly more to the left and the ball sailed through unhindered. The Dees were unable to make the most of their remaining opportunities in the term but still went in leading 7 – 30 at half time.
The fans at Whitten Oval would have been disappointed to see their side fade after such a spirited start in the previous term. However the Bulldogs put on a much more consistent performance in the third quarter. Bonnie Toogood kicked things off in style with her 20th career goal. Then Ellie Blackburn reduced the margin to 9 points with her accurate running shot from 30m.
Melbourne weathered the storm and went on the offensive themselves, starting with a brilliant run from midfield by Eden Zanker. Then her superbly accurate kick was marked by Daisy Pearce and though her set shot veered left, the Dees had wrested back the momentum. They continued to pile on the pressure with the Bulldog’s defence scrambling to contain the push. Finally Tayla Harris collected the ground ball and kicked it with the outside of her boot to score her first Demon goal.
With the margin back to 17 points, Melbourne look confident going into the last quarter. It was a low scoring final term with the Dees holding the home side to a single point. It was a tough physical game but the girls avoided any serious injury among some hard fought battles. Daisy Pearce was relishing her role up front and eventually provided another opportunity for Kate Hore in front of goal. Hore scored her second and Melbourne ran out victors by 24 points. A good result away from home.
Tonight we face the Tigers in another away game. Richmond looked good against the Saints in Round 1 but it’s early days and I’m confident Melbourne will be a more difficult prospect.
Go the Mighty Dees!!!
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