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!!!

Round 7 – Adelaide V Melbourne

The Sweetest Victory of All

Liam Chambers

Melbourne ferocious in the opening quarter

Back in August, expectations were high that Melbourne would play finals for a sixth consecutive season. Then as the list of injuries grew longer with each passing game, those expectations were tempered.

Last week’s victory against GWS reignited a flicker of hope in the hearts of the faithful. Wiser heads cautioned against such folly but maybe there was still a chance.

With just over a minute played, Alyssa Bannan again had the chance to score the opening goal. It was a good effort but she was pushed off the kick and the ball went the wrong side of the upright.

Five minutes later, the Dees did get their first goal when Georgia Campbell was awarded a 50m penalty and slotted her set shot from 30m out.

Melbourne’s second was less straightforward, with Alyssa Bannan kicking her 35m shot from deep in the pocket. The result was the same though and the Demons were thirteen points ahead.

The visitors were not allowing Adelaide the chance to play a fluid game, tackling hard and jumping on any sign of creative play. The hosts were clearly frustrated by the unwanted attention and the signs were promising from Melbourne.

The Crows had one of their best chances to score right at the end of the term, but fortunately were beaten by the siren.

The Dees resist the Adelaide tornado

After the break, Adelaide came out with a renewed sense of purpose, controlling territory early, but Melbourne met them head on before making some incursion of their own.
The pressure from the Dees was telling, as Adelaide were unable to play their natural game and mis kicking when they needed to get into scoring positions.

There was no doubting the Crows’ fervor but they were unable to reap the rewards, as Melbourne was just as intense in their defensive 50.

When Danielle Ponter was awarded a free kick in front of goal, after being allegedly being held by Maeve Chaplin, it looked like Adelaide was a shoe in to score their first goal. Then, it looked like a case of the footy gods intervening to right a wrong when Ponter hit the post from a seemingly unmissable distance of 10m.

While the Crows were working overtime in an attempt to secure a major before half time, the Melbourne troops were sprinting to douse every spot fire Adelaide was lighting, preventing an inferno from reaching their goal square.

Adelaide can’t maintain the momentum

The Dees had played arguably their best half of football all season. The question now was could they continue in the same vein and secure a famous victory against one of the most consistent team in the competition.

After failing to score a goal in the first half, Adelaide finally secured their first major when Madison Newman took an uncontested mark in the pocket and converted to take her side to within four points of the Dees.

After the center bounce, Adelaide was straight back inside 50. Melbourne was composed under pressure and succeeded in getting the ball back down the ground.

The Crows had the momentum, but they still couldn’t quite make the Dees pay by conceding another goal. As the clock ticked down, the balance shifted from total dominance to a more even competition, as Melbourne was able to slow down the game and make inroads into Adelaide’s defensive 50.

Then in the final few minutes of the term, the Crows again swamped the Dees’ defence in an effort to take the lead into the final quarter. Melbourne was heroic and their back line held up admirably to deny Adelaide.

Melbourne absorb the tsunami to claim victory

While the Crows had been slowly chipping away at Melbourne’s lead, they couldn’t land the killer blow and the Dees just needed to maintain the rage to cause one of the upsets of the season.

By the five minute mark, Melbourne had been continually under siege but had held firm against the intense pressure. Adelaide was using every weapon in their arsenal but nothing was working.

Melbourne eventually got the ball out of their defensive half but it kept returning and it seemed inevitable the Crows would eventually secure another goal.

It didn’t happen and the Dees continued to tackle and defend like their lives depended upon not conceding another goal.

When the final siren sounded, Melbourne could be justifiably proud of securing the win against what at times seemed like insurmountable odds. Our defence in particular was outstanding but overall, our team was nothing short of brilliant.

Next game is against another top eight side in St Kilda. After our performance against the Crows, the Saints won’t be underestimating us and we shouldn’t underestimate them; they’ve had an extra day to recover and will have home ground advantage. Our side will be brimming with confidence though and I’m optimistic we can still keep the dream alive.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 6 – Melbourne V GWS Giants – Desperate Dees Get The Job Done

Liam Chambers

Melbourne make the most of their chances

As the list of injured Demons continues to grow, Melbourne fielded a side depleted of star players but one still capable of upsetting GWS, who are also chasing their first win since Round 1.

The Dees’ first goal was exceptional, with Alyssa Bannan collecting the bouncing ball in the pocket, before evading her opponent and snapping off the inside of her right boot to bounce it across the line.

Despite being first on the scoreboard, Melbourne again found themselves under pressure in their defensive 50. Luckily the Giants accuracy was off target and we got away with only conceding three minor points.

Then, having been under siege for most of the quarter, Melbourne found some space inside 50 where Alyssia Pisano’s kick was almost marked by Bannan. The key forward quickly recovered and hand passed back to Pisano, who snapped off the outside of her left boot and curled it through, just inside the upright.

Kate Hore almost made it three for the Dees when she crumbed the ball from a stoppage but her snap from 20m veered just to the left.

The Dees consolidate their lead

After holding off GWS and scoring twice in the first term, Melbourne had the perfect start after the break. Tyla Hanks, who continues to improve with every passing season, collected the ground ball, ran on and launched a perfectly weighted kick from the 50m arc. Alyssa Bannan took the contested mark, 15m from goal, then went back and slotted her second of the evening.

Hanks was also involved in the next goal when she had the chance to score but choose to hand pass to Sarah Lampard, who then slammed it in from the goal square.

When it looked like the Giants were going to be held pointless for the quarter, Tarni Evans took an uncontested mark just before the siren. Her set shot floated off target for a minor score.

The Giants launch a comeback, but Melbourne still in control

When the teams returned to the ground after the main break, it was Melbourne who was first on the board again.

This time it was Georgia Gall’s turn to kick a major when she was awarded a free kick. The 30m set shot was seamless and it was a twenty eight point advantage to the Dees.

Accuracy was proving to be the difference between the sides, as Melbourne made the most of their chances, whereas the Giants were unable to make their opportunities count.
Having said that, Alyssa Bannan then had a couple of chances to add to her goal tally and extend Melbourne’s lead but was unable to make them count.

GWS finally kicked their first six pointer when Brodee Mowbray was awarded a free kick in front of goal. She slotted the 15m set shot to reduce the margin to twenty four points.

After the goal, the Giants set about attacking the Dees’ defence with renewed vigour. The pressure paid off when Mowbray collected the ball after it bounced through the waiting pack. She then turned quickly and snapped from the top of the goal square for her second in quick succession, reducing the advantage to eighteen points.

The Dees win comfortably in the end

Melbourne had been leading by a similar margin against Fremantle in Round 4 and were run down in the dying seconds, so they would have been acutely aware that their position was not unassailable.

Having convincing won back the momentum in the latter half of the third quarter, GWS fans would also have been quietly confident of their team’s ability to cause another upset.

From the outset thought, it was obvious that the Dees were in no mood for a repeat of the Fremantle result. As the clock ticked down to under five minutes, Demon fans were starting to breathe easier.

Then with just over two minutes remaining, Zarlie Goldsworthy managed to get boot to ball as she was tackled less than 20m out. The ball bounced favourably through the goal square and across the line. After that the Giants threw everything at the Dees and the Dees threw it back.

Then with forty seconds to go, Tyla Hanks collected the ground ball and launched across the inside 50 arc, where Kate Hore grabbed it on the bounce and quickly hand passed it to Megan Fitzsimon, who snapped it into the goal square, where it bounced across the line.

It was a confidence boosting win for Melbourne but our next three games are against top six sides; all likely candidates to make Finals. If we can win one of those contests, we can hold our heads high. If we win all four of our remaining games then we could potentially be playing finals ourselves.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!

Round 4 – Fremantle v Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Melbourne have the best of the opening quarter

It’s never fun heading West to play footy and Freo have handed the Dees two particularly bad defeats in 2024. Time for some payback.

The Dees got off to good start when Kate Hore was awarded a free kick for a high tackle, after some impressive forward pressure. The Captain slotted the goal and Melbourne was on the board.

Hayley Miller redressed the balance when she collected the tapped down ball from a stoppage, then quickly turned and snapped it across the goal line.

The good news for Demon fans was our accuracy in front of goal. Alyssa Bannan took an uncontested mark inside 50, then proceeded to make good on her set shot.

Melbourne was dominating inside 50s and marking cleaner than they have in previous weeks.

It was all going according to plan when Tyla Hanks gathered up the spilled ball after a stoppage, then dribble it goalwards and across the line.

Then with less than a minute left on the clock, Eden Zanker marked the ball from a Lily Mithen kick and went back to slot the 40m set shot.

Fremantle takes the pressure up a couple of notches

The Dees continued on in the same vein after the break, again putting pressure on Freo’s defence.

Georgia Gall had luck on her side when she was awarded a contested mark in the pocket. Her 20m set shot was on target, continuing Melbourne’s accuracy in front of goal.

With a twenty two point advantage, the Dees were in the driver’s seat.

Having put themselves in a dominant position, Melbourne was in danger of letting the Dockers back into the game with some sloppy defending.

As the term proceeded, Fremantle started to take control but were unable to make it count on the scoreboard. Then in the dying seconds, Gabby O’Sullivan was awarded a free kick and went back to take the shot after the siren. Her kick was successful and the hosts were only fourteen points behind at the main break.

Melbourne play themselves into a winning position

The Dees appeared to have started the second half with a goal but the Umpire deemed the ball to have hit the upright. I watched the replay a couple of times but couldn’t see where it touched the post. Isn’t there supposed to be a review?

Melbourne had a couple of other chances but were unable to put them away.

Up the other end, Gabby O’Sullivan kicked her second after being awarded a lucky free kick.

Melbourne was playing well and seeing a lot of the ball but lacked the finishing that typified their opening quarter.

Having said that, when Sinead Goldrick was awarded a free kick and then a 50m penalty, she made sure she found the space between the uprights and the margin was back out to a three goal advantage.

The Dockers storm home

The Dees had played very well for long stretches and were in a very favourable position at the start of the final term.

Although Freo was piling on the pressure, Melbourne was comfortably dealing with the onslaught.

Then with eight minutes to play, Gabby Biedenweg-Webster was awarded a free kick and went back to slot the set shot.

The other Gabby (O’Sullivan) then scored a 40m running kick goal and suddenly it was a six point game.

Another free kick and another successful set shot; this time from Ebony Antonio and the scores were level.

It looked like Melbourne would escape with a draw when Gabby Colvin’s last second tackle on Hayley Miller stopped what was an almost certain goal.

Then disaster struck, with only ten seconds to go. Aisling McCarthy was awarded a free kick. She kicked after the siren and the ball when through for a goal.

It was a disappointment for all involved that we gave up such a promising lead, especially when the game was so important to resetting our season. Still if lessons are learned, then we can continue to build and move on.

Essendon find themselves in a similar position, but they have home advantage and won’t be a walkover.

Go the Mighty Dees!!!