Melbourne has created history by winning its first AFLW premiership following a tight four-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the grand final.
Led by inspirational captain Daisy Pearce, the Demons prevailed 2.7 (19) to 2.3 (15) in humid conditions in front of a crowd of 7,412 in Springfield.
Despite the loss, the Lions could take solace from Shannon Campbell being named player of the match.
The Demons’ win helps make up for the disappointment of losing the grand final to the Adelaide Crows in season six earlier this year.
“I’m just so proud of our group,” Pearce told the Seven Network.
“They just played their absolute hearts out. It’s not a game that looks like one of our games but we found a way just through sheer heart and our spirit.
“Every single one of them had a moment today, I’m just so proud.”
The Demons came close to kicking the first major of the grand final via Pearce, but her left-foot snap on goal could only produce a behind.
The Lions, on the other hand, made the most of their attacking opportunities, with back-to-back goals from Dakota Davidson and Catherine Svarc giving their side an 11-point lead.
Their defence was also on song, with Nat Grider pulling off a brilliant tackle on Megan Fitzsimon deep inside Lions territory late in the opening quarter, the desperate effort saving what appeared to be a certain Demons goal.
After recording consecutive behinds early in the second term, the Demons finally kicked their first goal, with Blaithin Mackin on hand to kick truly after the Lions had turned over possession inside their defensive 50.
The Lions were kept scoreless in the quarter, while another two behinds from the Demons saw the visitors trailing by only two points at half-time.
The hosts were boosted by the return of Bre Koenen after the main break, with the skipper having earlier left the field for treatment on a knee injury.
But the Lions soon found themselves trailing on the scoreboard when Tayla Harris converted from a set-shot after marking just inside the goal square to establish a four-point lead.
Both sides recorded minor scores later in the third quarter, with the Demons leading by two points at the final change.
It was a grind in the fourth quarter as the Lions desperately tried to snatch back the lead.
The Demons, however, did enough to keep their noses in front on the scoreboard and with the addition of two behinds the AFLW foundation club was able to hold on to claim a historic victory.
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Daisy Pearce has her premiership medal
By Dean Bilton
The Dees’ skipper is speaking now, just moments before she lifts the premiership cup.
“Firstly, thank you to Bre, Craig and the Brisbane Lions for an almighty contest today. We knew it was going to take every bit of us for four quarters and it certainly did that.
“To Bre, I know how hard it is to get up here and talk afterwards and you did a fantastic job but we have so much respect for you girls, and always love going into battle with you. So thank you.
“I’d like to extend the same to our supporters as well, the Demon Army are the best supporter team in the country they follow us every, they give us so much energy and Demon spirit. Thank you.
“To the players, and not just the players with medals now hanging around their necks and wearing this beautiful jumper but to every single member of our squad, I hope you really believe this when I say it we could not have done this without you.
“We had some horrific injuries at the start of the year. We had people come to our club in rehab. We had people move across from the other side of the country to be a part of our program and every single one of you have turned up and given us energy, and made us get over the line today. Like, it took every single one of us.
“I can’t wait to celebrate this with you girls forever.”
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Melbourne’s newest premiership players are receiving their medals
By Dean Bilton
Some tears, some woos, some screams in delight. Some of the greats of the women’s game are heading up there to achieve lifelong dreams right now, and you can tell.
But the biggest cheer of all will be reserved for the skipper…
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Shannon Campbell is the player of the match
By Dean Bilton
A significant honour for the Lions defender, named best afield in a losing team.
“Sorry, if I can’t talk very well, I’ve just been over there nearly vomiting, so apologies.
“First of all, Melbourne, well done on a fantastic season. Obviously a step further than last year, you’ve done incredibly. Well done to you and your group, you’re a fantastic leader, fantastic club.
“Hopefully we’ll get back again next year and hopefully we can go one step further but well done to your group.”
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Bre Koenen is speaking
By Dean Bilton
“Sorry we couldn’t get the job done,” the Lions captain says.
“Well done, Melbourne. You’re better than us today and you’ve come up here and really proved something.
“You’ve been the team to beat all year along with us. Well done today, you really put on a show.”
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The moment Melbourne became champions
By Dean Bilton
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Daisy Pearce is reveling in the moment
By Dean Bilton
The Demons captain, and now Demons premiership captain, has been speaking to Channel Seven.
“I’m just so proud of our group. They just played theirabsolute hearts out.
“It’s not a game that looks like one of our games but we found a way just through sheer heart and our spirit. Every single one of them had a moment today, I’m just so proud.
“Mick Stinear, he is a world-class coach, he is an amazing person, and he has just built this program from the ground up.
“We don’t have the best facility in the comp. We’re a bit off Broadway, we’re not the most popular team out there, we don’t have the bells and whistles, we don’t give away cars to players who come to it.
But we have the best coach and he’ll make you the best footballer you can be.”
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FT: MELBOURNE WIN! Demons are AFLW premiers for the first time!
By Dean Bilton
Key Event
The Demons have done it! Away from home, against the hot home-town favourites, Daisy Pearce and the Demons are premiers of the AFLW!
A game that could have gone either way right to the end, it was Melbourne who held greater sway from quarter-time onwards. The Dees were full value for their four-point grand final, somehow scrapping their way to a victory their club will never forget.
It’s been a long time coming, but at last – Melbourne are champions of the AFLW.
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1′: Another rushed behind Melbourne
By Dean Bilton
Brisbane have 36 seconds to go end to end…
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3′: Zanker marks! She’ll line them up
By Dean Bilton
Zanker will kick from 45 metres to win the grand final…. it’s just short! Rushed through for a behind. Melbourne lead by three.
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4′: Into the final throes now
By Dean Bilton
We are yet to have a score in the final quarter of this grand final. One goal will win it from here. It doesn’t get much more tense than this.
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7′: Paxman is down and we are stopping play
By Dean Bilton
Think she got Tayla Harris’s knee in the back of the head after Harris tried to take the greatest mark in AFLW history. Think she’s okay, but she’s rattled.
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9′: One goal might win this grand final
By Dean Bilton
It’s hard to see how these teams are going to find routes to goal right now, such is the pressure and heat around the ball. Next goal wins?
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12′: Stalemate so far
By Dean Bilton
The last quarter is being played between the arcs so far, but at a ferocious pace and intensity. No time for any of these players to think on the ball, it’s all about desperation right now.
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15′: The fourth quarter is underway
By Dean Bilton
It all comes down to this. The AFLW season seven premiership is on the line in the next 15 minutes of footy. Brisbane or Melbourne?
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Crowd number is in
By Dean Bilton
There are 7,412 people in enjoying one of the best and tightest grand finals in AFLW history.
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3QT: Davidson misses, so the Dees lead by two
By Dean Bilton
Key Event
Melbourne owned the first half of that quarter, before Brisbane finally found their way back in the game just before the buzzer. But how costly will that miss from Dakota Davidson be in the wash up?
It’s anyone’s game from here. It’s all set up for a memorable final quarter.
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1′: Davidson! What a mark!
By Dean Bilton
Big contested grab from Dakota Davidson, who will kick after the three-quarter-time siren to give Brisbane the lead back…
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2′: Conway thinks she’s kicked it.. it’s touched!
By Dean Bilton
Wardlaw snatched it from the ruck and dished off the handball, but even though Conway’s snap went through a Melbourne fingernail saved the goal.
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3′: Lions will get a look
By Dean Bilton
Boundary throw in deep in the Brisbane forward pocket. They’re just a little slow getting the ball forward so Melbourne always seem to have numbers back.
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Source: AFL NEWS ABC
