Round 4 – Collingwood Vs Melbourne

Liam Chambers

After last week’s somewhat erratic performance, the Dees had rediscovered their winning ways.

It started well with Harriet Cordner on the receiving end of a good run of play from the Dees; her shot sadly bouncing the wrong way for a behind. The Pies piled on the pressure for the first half of the term but then Melbourne found a way back down the field when Shelley Scott was awarded a 50 metre penalty. Scott kicked to new recruit Jacqui Parry who marked it on the edge of inside 50. Parry is no stranger to the big sticks having averaged five goals per game in the Canberra League last season. Her job was made easier by another Collingwood encroachment and Parry kicked her first goal from five metres out.

Kate Hore doubled the advantage a couple of minutes later when she launched a spectacular kick from thirty metres out. Collingwood managed a point late in the quarter but the Dees went to the break up twelve points.

The Pies’ got a boost at the start of the second term when Sharni Layton was awarded a free kick after a push in the back from Eden Zanker. Layton converted from forty metres out to score Collingwood’s first goal. Lambert got the Pies’ second a minute later when a free kick was given for a high tackle twenty metres from goal. Suddenly the outlook was less rosy for the Dees with their advantage whittled away in a matter of minutes.

Luckily Eden Zanker wasn’t paying attention and got one back for Melbourne before anyone noticed that the Pies were trying to take control. Collingwood kept attacking but the Dees defence handled the pressure well and almost scored a fourth with a Tyla Hanks’ effort on the back of some clever play via Chantel Emerson and Shelley Scott. Finally though, the out of form Tegan Cunningham marked the ball forty metres out and kicked a beautifully executed goal to extend Melbourne’s lead to thirteen points; where it stayed until half time.

The Dees went in to the second half determined not to let Collingwood regain the advantage. The quarter remained scoreless until a Kate Hore shot was touched on the line. Then some great play from Melbourne gave the ball to Casey Sherriff who kicked it to an empty goal from thirty metres out to get the Dees’ fifth of the night. Sarah Rowe reduced Melbourne’s lead a few minutes later with a free kick in front of goal. However the amazing Shelley Scott restored the Dees’ twenty point advantage with a minute to go. Unfortunately the Pies suffered a second injury for the night when Ash Brazill was stretchered off with a suspected damaged ACL.

The Dees were well and truly in the driver’s seat at the start of the fourth but they didn’t rest on their laurels. The sight of Zanker hobbling off after a couple of minutes was a worry but it turned out to be just cramp. Despite some high pressure play neither side was able to add to the scoreboard until a minor score from the Dees with five minutes to go. Then a beautifully taken mark by Jacqui Parry from an Elise O’Dea kick had the fans excited. Her ensuing shot across the face of goal was incredibly plucked from the air by Maddie Gay. Incredible because she was surrounded by several taller Collingwood players. Maddison didn’t disappoint when she tapped it in from five metres to extend Melbourne’s lead to twenty seven points.

The Pies did get one back with a minute to go. This marginally reduced our percentage count but overall it was a very pleasing display from Melbourne who now have three wins from four. We still have some tough games ahead, especially Carlton in two weeks time and then Fremantle in Perth in Round 7.

No point in getting ahead of ourselves though as it’s West Coast at home next week. Complacency is the greatest enemy of the ambitious so we can’t take anything for granted. The Eagles just won their first game in Round 4, against an underachieving Bulldogs. West Coast will get a boost from the win but so far are not regarded as a threat in Conference B. However, we don’t want them to soar at Casey Fields.

Interestingly, Melbourne have conceded the least amount of goals of any team in the competition. We may not always hit the target but we are difficult to score against. Just saying.

Go the Incredible Dees!!!