Melbourne have missed the AFLW minor premiership by just one point as they geared up for the finals with a 78-point demolition of West Coast.
Key points:
- Melbourne needed to kick 26 points in the final quarter to finish on top, but managed only 25
- Eagles defenders cut out a late Demons attack to ensure the Lions win the minor premiership
- The Demons will most likely play the Crows in their first final next week
The Demons kept their opposition scoreless in the first term for the fourth match in a row on the way to the 11.13 (79) to 0.1 (1) mauling on Saturday at their Casey Fields home, south-east of Melbourne.
For such a one-sided game, Melbourne became desperate in the last few minutes as they piled on the goals.
They needed to keep the Eagles scoreless and kick 26 points in the last term to snatch top spot from the Brisbane Lions.
Instead, they kicked 4.1 (25).
Demons captain Daisy Pearce centred a pass in the last minute, but the Eagles were able to cut it off and kick clear to deny Melbourne the score they needed.
But the win confirmed second spot for the Dees, with their qualifying final most likely against Adelaide.
The Crows are third and start hot favourites, also on Saturday afternoon, against St Kilda at Moorabbin.
West Coast are currently 16th, but will finish 17th if Port Adelaide beat Essendon on Sunday at home.
Melbourne defender Libby Birch was supreme, while Kate Hore and Eden Zanker kicked two goals apiece.
Tayla Harris’s ruck work and long kicking were outstanding, particularly in the last quarter as she ensured the Melbourne attack had every opportunity to kick the score they needed to snatch top spot from Brisbane.
Melbourne are a foundation AFLW team and regularly touted as premiership chances, but they are yet to win the flag in six seasons.
Adelaide beat them in the grand final earlier this season.
It was a brutal end to the season for the Eagles, with Ella Roberts racking up 22 possessions and seven marks — game-high stats — in a rare highlight for them.
Crows survive Saints scare
Adelaide have survived a scare from St Kilda to set up a likely qualifying final against Melbourne with a hard-earned 16-point AFLW victory.
The Crows were at risk of dropping to fourth place and facing a trip to league-leaders Brisbane next week when trailing in the third term, but took control late to secure the 4.5 (29) to 2.1 (13) triumph at Moorabbin Oval on Saturday.
An upset was on the cards until Danielle Ponter sparked the Crows (8-2) after the main break, firstly slotting a set shot from just inside the 50m arc when kicking against the wind.
The crafty forward followed up two minutes later when the Saints attempted to switch play deep in the Crows’ attacking pocket, intercepting the ball in the air and running into an open goal.
The Saints stayed within touching distance until Ashleigh Woodland was taken high next to the behind post and snapped a stunning banana to make the margin nine points halfway through the final term.
Woodland bettered that in the dying stages when throwing the ball on the boot while being tackled and watching the snap sail through to ensure the result for the Crows.
Star on-baller Ebony Marinoff helped keep the Crows in the contest in the first half with 15 disposals, then had even more of an impact as the game slowly turned, finishing with 29 touches and nine clearances.
Anne Hatchard (21) and Niamh Kelly (14) were also influential in the Crows’ comeback, while Chelsea Biddell (14 touches, six rebounds) added drive from their defence.
This was arguably the Saints’ best display of the season as they not only matched but often outplayed their highly-fancied opponents.
The Saints (3-7) controlled the territory in the opening term when kicking with a stiff breeze, then cleverly put players behind the ball to take a 22-8 lead in inside 50s into half-time.
But the hosts could only turn their advantage in play into a five-point lead at the main change, with key forward Kate Shierlaw the only goalscorer in the match at that time.
Georgia Patrikios (17 disposals, one goal) added class to the Saints’ determined efforts, with the outstanding Molly McDonald (20) and Hannah Priest (15) also finding plenty of the ball, but the Crows ultimately had more contributors.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
