AFLW Round 2 – Melbourne v Adelaide: It’s a Melbourne Thing

AFLW: Round 2

5:05pm 10th February
Casey Fields, Melbourne
Anna Pavlou

 

Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world.

 

We play it, we watch it and we love it.

 

It’s been a mixed weekend however, for Melbourne sporting teams across the city.

 

It started in the A-League, with Melbourne Victory’s shock loss to Brisbane Roar. It then continued into the NBL, with Melbourne United’s shock come-from-behind win against the New Zealand Breakers.

 

It’s now the AFLW Melbourne Demons turn.

 

Last years’ premiers, the Adelaide Crows are taking on this years’ favourite at Casey Fields. Typical blustery conditions lie ahead, with the wind seeming to be a major make-or-break point of today’s clash. The Dees captain Daisy Pearce wins the toss and elects to kick with the wind. A smart choice.

 

Melbourne need to use the breeze in the first quarter to get on top of the high-intensity Crows side. Alyssa Mifsud misses in front of goal and the ball ends up in Adelaide’s hands, and Holmes kicks the Crows first. However, Aliesha Newman kicks the Dees first shortly after. It’s a sensational one, on the run and it’s put her girls in front. A sure contender for goal of the year.

 

Kate Hore kicks on the siren, but it’s touched on the line. Dees lead by 1 point at quarter time; 6 to 7.

 

Adelaide seem to be holding on well considering how windy it is. Richelle ‘Rocky’ Cranston and Daisy Pearce both break tackles to hand over to Shelby Scott for a fantastic team goal to kick start the second quarter.

 

Dees up by 8 points.

 

It isn’t long before the Dees are in front of goal again, this time with Cranston kicking truly. Rocky has kicked four goals already in season 2 of the AFLW, 3 more than her total for the whole of 2017…

 

Melbourne’s 14-point lead seems to be stretching by the minute. The Demons have overcome the issues of wind and are proving the better team. Lauren Pearce then kicks one, off the back of a sturdy team.

 

The Crows bench is wreaking havoc, as they struggle to hit the scoreboard and make the most of their with-the-wind kicking. The Dees are attesting that they are the hungrier side. The tall but agile Tegan Cunningham then steadies herself and kicks the Dees’ fifth.

 

Melbourne lead by a handy 20 points at halftime.

 

The Dees dictated the first half, keeping their work rate at a significantly higher standard. It doesn’t take long in the third quarter for the Demons to show who’s boss. Melissa Hickey kicks a stellar goal in the first minute, running away from the goal face and kicking magnificently in traffic.

 

Dees up by 26 and settling in as the sun sets at Casey.

 

The Crows get one back, with Ruth Wallace kicking an Eddie Betts’ like goal. But it’s the Dees who are dominating in the shadows of three-quarter time. The last quarter gives Adelaide one last chance, which they just can’t seem to create for themselves.

 

Mifsud is causing trouble to the depleted Adelaide side, as she sets up another goal for Cunningham. Aliesha Newman kicks her second and Melbourne stretch their lead to 37 points.

 

Melbourne are taking all opportunities and winning the hard ball, hitting the Crows where it hurts. The last quarter iced the cake for the deserving Dees, victors by 32 points. Worthy winners, The Demons played in front all day and created space.

 

Karen Paxman collected 21 disposals and Tegan Cunningham kicked two crucial goals. They were simply too classy, too fit and worked as a team to damage the Crows on the scoreboard. It was almost like the wind didn’t even affect them.

 

The Demons proved that Melbourne truly does it best and they’re damn proud that they did it the Melbourne way.

 

Melbourne 1.1 5.2  7.4  8.8 (56)
Adelaide    1.0  2.0  3.0  4.0 (24)

GOALS
Melbourne: Cunningham 2, Newman 2, Scott, L.Pearce, Hickey, Cranston
Adelaide: Holmes, Hewett, Wallace, McCormick

Umpires: Gibson, McGinness, Heffernan
Crowd: 3,800

VOTES: Karen Paxman (Melbourne) 3, Tegan Cunningham (Melbourne) 2, Kate Hore (Melbourne) 1

 

About Anna Pavlou

Anna 'Pav' Pavlou is a current student and a born and bred Melburnian who has a passion for sport and sharing people's stories. She is an intern journalist for AFL VICTORIA and writes for The Roar, the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA Media), the Mongrel Punt and is a Melbourne Cricket Club contributor. She also appears on North West FM 98.9 radio show. Most winter weekends you'll find her down at the Ross Gregory Oval in St Kilda, supporting Power House FC, who play in Division 2 in the VAFA. She works as the Division 2 writer for the VAFA. She completed work experience with 3AW Radio and has been published in The Age as well as with Carlton FC and Geelong Cats. Check out her website below for more sport pieces!

Comments

  1. Kasey Symons says

    Great write up Anna, Melbourne definitely looking like the ones to beat in 2018.

  2. Yvette Wroby says

    Great report of a terrific game. Was there at Casey Fields and the atmosphere was great. And were the Demons on fire. I was surprised that Adelaide weren’t up to the challenge, it’s like a different team without their best players. Shows how much the missing few uplift a team. Carlton losing Brianna Davey and Bulldogs Isabel Huntington are massive losses to two shining teams. Whew. What a weekend of footy.

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