Round 8 – St Kilda V Melbourne

Saints Given Their Marching Orders

Liam Chambers

Melbourne take control

The Dees started well, putting St Kilda under pressure early on. It paid off when Sinead Goldrick’s strong tackle in front of goal allowed Alyssa Bannan to collect the ground ball at the top of the square. The key forward didn’t waste any time before snapping an around the corner kick that bounced the ball through the uprights.

After the goal, Melbourne continued pushing forward and within a minute had another attempt on goal. This time Georgia Campbell was awarded a free kick for an infringement. Her 35m set shot was on target and the Dees had their second.

Melbourne continued to hold the upper hand as well as territory while the Saints struggled to gain any momentum.

Tyla Hanks and Eliza McNamara, in particular, were having a terrific quarter and at times seemed to be in several places at once.

Second term more even but Dees win it by a whisker

The Demons started the second term in the same fashion, as they again the swamped the Saints’ defences.

Then, for no apparent reason, Eden Zanker (first week back from injury) was awarded a free kick inside 50. Her 30m set shot was spot on and Melbourne was three to the good. Saint fans were filthy but as we’ve had some dubious rulings against us in previous games, I’ll take that as a form of delayed karma.

St Kilda finally kicked their first major when Jesse Wardlaw took a contested mark, then converted the 20m set shot.

With just over three minutes to half time, Sinead Goldrick fought hard for the ground ball, then ran on and launched from 40m to kick Melbourne’s fourth of the game.

Maybe karma had a think about our earlier goal, because instead of being awarded a holding the ball free kick, Kate Hore was penalised for allegedly tackling from behind. The free going the Saints way allowed for a quick build up of momentum, which resulted in a contested mark taken inside 50, then another mark (uncontested)right next to the goal square. Jesse Wardlaw then went back to kick her second of the quarter.

Saints gain momentum but Dees limit the damage

So far Melbourne had defied the doubters with a strong first half but concerns over fatigue, from a short turnaround after last week’s game against Adelaide, still lingered.

Then some indecision by Melbourne going forward, allowed St Kilda to transition the ball up the ground and for Darcy Guttridge to run out and mark the ball inside 50. Her 40m set shot sailed between the posts and reduced the margin to eight points. Two minutes later Ashleigh Richards had a set shot from a similar position and the ball again found the correct space and it was a two point game.

The Dees were given some breathing space when Olivia Purcell was awarded a free kick inside the square and went back to kick from point blank range. The masked hero didn’t miss and it was back to an eight point advantage.

Melbourne plays a solid last quarter to take the honours

Leading by ten points at the start of the term, the Demons needed to ensure they didn’t allow St Kilda back into the game. Eden Zanker only needs a half chance and she took it after grabbing the ricocheting sherrin and snapping off her left boot to send it high and through the uprights.

With just over ten minutes left, St Kilda now required three straight goals to win. Melbourne couldn’t be complacent though and would need to work hard fending off their rivals.

Then the one player Demon fans definitely didn’t want to mark the ball, marked the ball. Worse, Jesse Wardlaw marked the ball directly in front. She kicked the 15m set shot and claimed her third to give her side a fighting chance.

Melbourne couldn’t afford to just keep defending and so kept pushing forward in an attempt to land the decisive blow. No six pointers, but a series of minor scores slowly added to the Dees overall tally and when Paxy Paxman’s shot cruelly bounced the wrong way, the visitors were thirteen points ahead.

Now with only four minutes to play, the pressure was fully on St Kilda. They ran hard at Melbourne but the Dees remained composed and continued to bring the game back to the Saints.

Zanker almost claimed her hat trick in the dying seconds but it sailed off line for a point.

Our season is still alive, but we have to keep winning and our percentage is going to hurt us, even if we win all three remaining games; dang those dastardly Bombers! If we do get to twenty eight points on the ladder, we should qualify but first there’s the little matter of the Richmond game.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!