Melbourne 2–0 For Perfect Start To Season

Liam Chambers

Tayla Harris gets her eye in

Tayla Harris got the Dees off to a perfect start when she ran in to take mark at the top of the square. It was an easy conversion from there and put Melbourne on the board in the first minute of play. Harris made it two from two when she marked on the arc, before being awarded a 50m penalty.

Against the run of play, St Kilda kicked their first major at the eight minute mark when J’Noemi Anderson was awarded a free in the pocket. She went back to take the kick, comfortably slotting the goal.

After a very promising start, the Dees were struggling to land another goal. They continued to dominate their opponents, but a third major was proving elusive.

Dees kick five unanswered goals

Tayla Harris was quick off the mark in term two, being awarded a free kick after a strong tackle inside 50. She hit the target with the 35m set shot and the Demons were seventeen points in front.  Melbourne continued their high pressure game, with the Saints being contained in their defensive half, only making occasionally incursions inside their forward 50.

Eden Zanker got in on the action, when she marked at the top of the square, after some clever play by Melbourne to get the ball inside 50. Zanker converted and it was a twenty two point advantage to the home side. Georgia Gall made it three for the quarter and five for the game when she marked the sherrin from a precise Kate Hore kick. The key forward made short work of set shot and the Dees were twenty eight ahead.

At this stage, Melbourne had basically set up camp in their forward 50, dominating the Saints and dictating the terms. The next major came quickly, with Kate Hore again providing the kick that set up the goal; this time it was Tayla Harris who marked the ball, next to the square. Harris then ran on and slotted her fourth.

Towards the end of the quarter, Liv Purcell limped off the ground after an injury sustained in a tackle. It seems that she had damaged her ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Not good news for Purcell or the Dees. The talented and resilient player had previously played in a mask after suffering facial injuries last year. Hopefully she will play in 2026, fully recovered.

Just before half time, veteran Paxy Paxman scored a rare goal when she received a handpass from Kate Hore (who else) and then snapped a bender through the uprights.

Saints rally, but a couple of late Melbourne goals breaks their momentum

St Kilda finally had a second goal when Georgia Patrikios was awarded a free inside 50, and made sure with the 20m set shot. The Saints had started to build a little momentum, but the thirty six point deficit looked to be too difficult a hill too climb for the visitors.

When Eden Zanker marked at the top of the square, then went back to slot the goal, St Kilda’s game plan became that much more difficult. When Kate Hore was taken high 15m out, she didn’t waste the opportunity to add to her career goal tally, and easily slotted the set shot.

Demons wrap it up with another four majors

Leading by forty nine at the start of the final term, Melbourne had it all sewn up. The only unknown was how big the margin would be at the final siren. Georgia Gall ensured that it would be over fifty points, when she knocked down the incoming ball, then collected on the bounce, before chipping it into the square where it bounce across the line. Lily Johnson pushed it past sixty when she received the handball just inside 50, then running on before kicking from 35m sending the sherrin over the line.

In case you were wondering where Alyssa Bannen was hiding throughout the match, she suddenly popped up with six minutes to go and launched from the arc, sending the ball all the way to the goal line, where it also bounced across the line. Worried that Megan Fitzsimmon was missing out, Eden Zanker scooped up the ground ball 30m out and passed it to the midfielder, who launched and scored.

In the end, Melbourne won by seventy four points. It was a clinical display and puts the other teams on notice that the Demons will be hard to beat this year.

Next up is Collingwood. A win against the old enemy would be icing on the cake and taste very sweet indeed.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Dominant Demons’ Display

Liam Chambers

Dees take control after a slow start

Having just missed out on a finals berth last year, the Dees were highly motivated to win the opening game of the season against one of their oldest rivals.

After a low scoring opening twelve minutes where neither side was able to make the most of the limited opportunities, Melbourne kicked their first goal courtesy of Shelley Heath. The talented midfielder was awarded a free for a tackle on Britney Gutknecht, who was pinged for an incorrect disposal. The set shot was cleanly taken, and the Dees were five points in front.

After the goal, Melbourne dominated for the remaining five minutes of the term, but were unable to score another major, instead adding a couple of points to their tally.

Melbourne contain the Dogs and take the momentum into half time

The first few minutes of the second quarter showed the Dees starting to control the ball and then the territory, while the Dogs struggled to manage the Demons’ onslaught.

The pressure paid off early when Kate Hore took a mark in the pocket and converted to extend the Dees’ lead to thirteen points. Alyssa Bannen only needs a sniff of a goal to take a shot, and her snap from 20m crossed the line and Melbourne’s advantage stretched out to eighteen.

The Bulldogs had to wait until halfway through the second term to kick their first goal, but when it eventually arrived, it was spectacular. Heidi Woodley found just enough space in the pack to quickly turn and snap, sending the sherrin through the posts. The goal energised the Dogs, and the home crowd were on their feet, willing their side to capitalise on their new found momentum.

The Demons had their hands full dealing with the Bulldogs pressure, but they dealt with the offensive and then went on the counter attack, swamping their rivals’ defence, but ultimately unable to put any more goals on the scoreboard before halftime.

Dees kick four unanswered goals

After the main break, it didn’t take long for Melbourne to extend their lead. Eden Zanker took control of the tapped down ball after it was hammered inside 50. Then the key forward ran on before launching from 35m and sending the ball across the line.

Unfortunately, Tayla Harris was subbed off with an eye injury. Fortunately though, Harris has made a full recovery.

As the term wore on, the Demons continued to dominate territory, and their pressure went to another level.

Tyla Hanks is one of the hardest working midfielders in AFLW, and it paid off when she was able to control the ball, then find the space to snap a shot from 15m out, scoring Melbourne’s fifth goal of the match.

By now, the Dees were totally dominating the play, easily dealing with attacks on their defence and launching counter offensives with ease. Then, they were awarded a free on the edge of 50 and opted to play on, with Hanks kicking to Kate Hore, who couldn’t take the initial mark, but recovered quickly to snap the sherrin across the line.

With a game high lead of thirty two points, Melbourne was in a very comfortable position.

The next goal was a masterclass in transitioning the ball. They started from their defensive 50, going right up the ground, before presenting Eden Zanker with another goal scoring opportunity. Zanker had two attempts at controlling the sherrin inside 50, but was successful with her second stab, and then it was just a straightforward tap across the line.

Melbourne win all four quarters for a thumping victory

With Melbourne leading by thirty nine points at the start of the final quarter, the Dogs needed to do something special and quickly if they were to get back in the game.

Liv Purcell had an impressive thirty disposals under the belt, when she finally got her name on the board, scoring with a running snap from 35m out.

The Bulldogs then had a few chances to claw a couple back before Tyla Hanks landed her second goal; grabbing the ball from a stoppage on the 50m arc and running through, before launching from 30m.

It was the perfect start to the competition for the Demons, and it bodes well as we endeavour to land a finals berth in November.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Dees Unable To Rein In Soaring Hawks

Liam Chambers

Hawthorn dominates in wet conditions

In an ominous sign for the Dees, Dylan Moore was awarded the first goal, despite both Melbourne and Hawthorn acknowledging that the sherrin had been touched off Moore’s boot.

Then a minute later, Jack Gunston was on the board after marking in the pocket and making short work of the 30m conversion. With only six minutes played, Gunston took another mark, this time directly in front. Again, no bother with the 30m set shot.

At the nine minute mark, Harrison Petty put Melbourne on the scoreboard when he took an uncontested mark inside 50 and went back to slot the 50m set shot. Melbourne finally started to gain some territory, after Hawthorn had dictated terms for most of the quarter. Unfortunately, they were unable to chart a path through to goal, with the Hawks continually repelling the Demons’ efforts.

Jack Gunston was almost omnipotent at times, popping up everywhere in and around inside 50. His control of the bouncing ball 55m out, and well weighted kick to Nick Watson, 30m in front, gave Hawthorn their fourth goal of the term.

Then, just before quarter time, Calsher Dear took a one handed contested mark in the rain. The 25m set shot, was successful and extended the lead to twenty seven points.

Better effort from Demons but Hawks still prevail in low scoring quarter

Melbourne started the second term more aggressively and worked well to get the ball inside 50, where Christian Petracca was eventually able to take a mark. His attempted set shot was good, but sadly the upright got in the way.

Dylan Moore once again kicked the opening goal of the term, when he marked 35m out and converted the set shot. Despite adjustments made by Melbourne at quarter time, Hawthorn continued to dominate, controlling the ball and placing pressure on the Dees at every opportunity.

Jack Gunston was everywhere in the first term, but was having a more subdued second quarter. However, when he saw a half chance in front of goal, he acted immediately and snapped his third major of the game. With the Hawks now leading by forty points, the forecast was not good for Melbourne.

Fortunately, a rare error by Hawthorn caused a turnover and presented the visitors with a scoring opportunity, which Chandler, Petracca and finally Oliver took full advantage of; Clayton Oliver’s shot on goal only just sliding through by the skin of its teeth.

Hawks consolidate their lead

Trailing by thirty four points at the start of the second half was not ideal, but Melbourne knew it could have been a lot worse, and they were still in the game. It got better when Kade Chandler’s kick towards goal saw the sherrin land in the square and bounce the correct way and across the line.

Then just when it looked like the Demons were starting to building a little momentum, up popped Jack Gunston. His mark just inside the arc and deep in the right hand pocket was perfectly timed. Having missed several recent attempts from a similar position, Gunston was spot on with the 50m set shot.

Luke Breust may be playing his last season with Hawthorn, but he is still capable of taking advantage of a scoring opportunity. Having come on a substitute a few minutes earlier, the veteran took possession just inside 50, then ran on and launched from 40m, giving his side a forty one point advantage.

Harrison Petty gave Demon fans something to hold on to when he made sure with his 30m set shot from the pocket. While Melbourne was making continuous efforts to get down the ground, the Hawks were so well set up behind the ball, the Dees’ options were severely limited.

When Jack Gunston was impeded while attempting to mark just inside the arc, he was able to line up for his fifth of the afternoon. The 50m set shot was on target and the margin was back out to forty one points.

Very late surge from Melbourne gives the scoreboard a more respectable look

At the start of the final quarter, Hawthorn was leading by forty three points. Unless Melbourne could launch a comeback along the lines of St Kilda’s run down in Round 20, the odds appeared to favour a home win.

Jacob van Rooyen had only four disposals for the entire game when he marked the ball 40m from goal, but his finishing was perfect and brought the deficit back under forty.

The elation was short lived however, as Jack Gunston seemed unrealistically determined to overtake Jeremy Cameron on the Coleman ladder. This time he had acres of space to run onto the ball and mark it 35m out. From there it was an easy kick to notch up his sixth of the game. He almost had a career equaling seventh when he again marked in the right hand pocket, just inside the arc, but a review deemed that the ball connected with the post. He did however manage a seventh five minutes later when he took a mark just to the left of the square and converted.

With a game high lead of fifty one, it now looked all over for Melbourne. Even the most optimistic of us was resigned to our fate. At the five minutes remaining mark, Connor MacDonald was able to find enough space in front of goal to snap and send the sherrin floating low over the line.

Then in a moment that summed up the Demons’ afternoon, they kicked their fifth minor score in a row when Harry Sharp’s shot hit the post. With less than one hundred seconds to go, Harvey Langford pulled one back when he scooped up the ground ball, before turning and snapping from just to the right of the goal square, giving his side a consolation major.

We had another consolation when Jacob van Rooyen took a mark deep in the pocket, then converted with an around the corner set shot. Kozzy Picket saved the best for last when he took a mark just on the boundary line. His 20m round the body shot just slid inside the upright, and the Dees had three goals in ninety seconds.

The flurry at the end made the final score a more respectable fifty six points.

The last game of the season is against Collingwood. They’ve had their own slump over the last six weeks, but if they play the way they did against the Crows, then we will have our hands full getting over the line. Still, never say never.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Determined Dees Ultimately Unable To Destroy Dogs’ Dream

Liam Chambers

Dees keep the Dogs in check

Aaron Naughton opened the scoring after he marked in the pocket, then made sure with the 25m set shot. So far, it had been a high speed, low pressure game with few chances going the Demons’ way.

Up the other end, the Bulldogs were making the most of their opportunities, kicking a second goal off a mistake in defence. Sam Darcy took advantage of his unexpected gift and tapped the ball through from the goal square.

Finally though, Jake Melksham put Melbourne on the board with his thirtieth goal of the season. He had a couple of attempts at the contested mark, but firmly held on and then went back to slot the 25m set shot from directly in front.

Jacob van Rooyen’s earlier attempt at goal was offline, but his second attempt with a 40m set shot was perfect, and it was a one point game. Lachie Bramble brought it back to eight in the Dogs favour with his 45m launch; bouncing the ball in the square and across the line.

Then Jai Culley snapped it back to a single point when he collected the ground ball in front of goal, before spinning around and driving it through the uprights.

Bulldogs narrowly extend their lead in a low scoring quarter

Aaron Naughton again opened the scoring with a contested mark in the pocket, and a clinically executed 45m set shot.

Bailey Fritsch had his first of the day when he ran hard to mark the ball in the right hand pocket, after Kozzy Pickett’s long kick into space. With the shot on his preferred side, the left footer had no problem kicking the round the corner goal.

Lachie McNeil kicked the next goal for the Dogs after his second attempt from the top of the square. It was a low scoring quarter, with the margin continuingly hovering around the ten point mark in the Dogs favour.

Terrific term for the Demons, as they take the lead into three quarter time

Aaron Naughton yet again scored the opener; this time running out to take a contested mark. His 30m conversion from in front of goal gave his side a sixteen point lead.
Then two minutes later, Naughton took a diving mark in front before slotting the 40m set shot.

The Demons were now trailing by twenty one points and desperately needed to do something quickly to stem the Dogs’ momentum.

Then Kade Chandler was paid a free kick in the pocket after his mark was impeded. The set shot was on target, and the Melbourne renaissance began. Bailey Fritsch had his second after some flowing transition footy from the Dees got the sherrin inside 50. The ball bounced 20m in front of goal, favoured Fritsch, who collected and ran on, before tapping it through from the top of the square.

Melbourne then had a couple of chances to take the lead, but were unable to capitalise before Bailey Williams stretched the margin back out to fourteen points, with his tap through from the square.

Kozzy Pickett was having a quiet game by his recent standards, but he made a statement when he scooped up the ground ball, and found a pathway to goal through the Bulldogs defence.

Then another Melbourne surge got the ball back inside 50, where Harvey Langford grabbed it and handpassed to Petty, who then snapped from 10m to reduce the deficit to two points.

The Dees were now in full flow, playing with an urgency not seen in recent times.

Jake Melksham took a brilliantly contested mark deep in the pocket. He took his time to assess his options, before kicking the 40m round the corner set shot, giving Melbourne the lead for the first time in the match. The Demons had little time to enjoy the upper hand before Sam Darcy took back the lead with a 35m set shot.

Then with just over a minute left on the clock, Max Gawn took a contested mark near the top of the square, before going back and kicking his sixth goal of the season, with an around the corner set shot. An upset looked well and truly on the cards, when Christian Petracca collected the bouncing ball inside 50 and ran on towards the unguarded goal, launching from the square to extend the lead out to ten points.

Bulldogs fightback for a narrow win in the final quarter

With their season on the line, the Bulldogs desperately needed the first goal, and they got it when Luke Cleary found himself with enough space inside 50 to launch a kick from 30m, drawing his side to within three points of the Dees. The Dogs then regained the lead, when Ed Richards’ launch from 60m crossed the line.

It wasn’t over yet though, and Harrison Petty’s 30m set shot from the pocket put the Demons back in front. It was also Petty’s one hundred AFL goal.

Ed Richards made it back to back goals with his round the corner set shot from the boundary line, restoring the lead to the Bulldogs in a seesawing final term. Riley Garcia then made it back to back for the Dogs, when his round the body snap from 40m went through.

A ten point lead with twelve minutes on the clock meant the visitors had all the momentum, but Melbourne wasn’t going to die wondering. Harvey Langford is an exciting and talented young player, who will hopefully be at the Dees for many years to come. His brilliantly contested mark in the pocket and his calmly taken round the corner set shot had his side back in contention.

Blake Howes could not have picked a better time to score his first AFL goal. The 50m set shot had the distance and the accuracy to give Melbourne back the advantage, with under nine minutes left to play.
Rhylee West then kicked an enormously important goal, from a difficult angle to again restore the Bulldogs’ lead. Aaron Naughton was able to keep the ball in play after it was going behind for a minor score, before launching from the edge of the square. Ten point lead to Dogs.

When Petty slapped the sherrin into Daniel Turners path as he ran towards the square, the big defender had just enough time to scoop it up and tap it over the line and keep the upset alive.

Unfortunately, the cards didn’t fall Melbourne’s way, and when Sam Darcy took a literally breathtaking mark, the Dogs took control of the ball and prevented the Demons from getting anyway near their goal.
It was a terrific match and was almost one of the upsets of the season. Still, we can be proud of the way our players performed after what was a tumultuous week for the club.

Two extremely difficult games in the final rounds, with Hawthorne first and then reigning premiers Collingwood. Neither side will be taking Melbourne for granted after their spirited display against the Dogs.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!