The Melbourne Demons have taken their second AFL Women’s win, defeating the Western Bulldogs by 14 points on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Western Bulldogs 4.5.29
Melbourne Demons 6.7.43
The original AFL Women’s sides, the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons, meet again for a crucial Round 3 clash. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:35pm AEDT.
Of course, the sides from those initial exhibition matches, which began in 2013, look completely different following the inaugural AFL Women’s draft last year.
The Bulldogs, who began their season with a crushing victory over the Dockers, crashed back to earth last week with a humbling loss to Adelaide.
Forward mainstay Katie Brennan leads their goal kicking, with three, but she will miss tonight’s clash with an ankle injury.
Midfielder Jaimee Lambert returns however, and she will join forces with Emma Kearney who has been dominant, racking up 23 touches in both matches this season.
Melbourne was upset in the opening round, going down to the Brisbane Lions at home.
However, an incredible second-half performance last weekend against Collingwood showed the league the Demons’ best.
Six goals to none after half time flipped the game on its’ head, and saw a Demons deficit turn into an easy victory.
Catherine Phillips kicked two goals and will start in the forward pocket tonight.
A lot rides on marquee and captain Daisy Pearce, who has had games of 19 and 16 disposals, but many will feel she hasn’t had her usual influence.
These are two teams who are starting to build a serious rivalry. Both sitting at one win and one loss, the result tonight will undoubtedly shape the finals.
Prediction
These two Victorian sides are both strong and full of talent, but the big question in this game is how the Bulldogs can adapt to the absence of Brennan.
If someone else steps up they may be able to snag the win, but if not, advantage Demons.
Melbourne Demons by 12 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:35pm AEDT.
Josh
Roar Pro
Thanks for joining me tonight on The Roar's coverage of AFL Women's. Be sure to keep tuning in as the next few rounds heat up towards the pointy end of the season. Now though, that's over and out for me. Enjoy your night. Josh Schonafinger @joshschon
Josh
Roar Pro
Daisy Pearce credits her sides' brilliant second half last weekend as the catalyst for tonight's good performance. "We've finally got our game style going and it was great to put four quarters together." She accepts the annual Hansen-Hardaman Cup and the girls belt out the song on the ground.
Josh
Roar Pro
STATS LEADERS: Melbourne: Daisy Pearce: 26 disposals, 5 tackles Karen Paxman: 27 disposals, 22 kicks, 5 marks Elise O'Dea: 19 disposals Western Bulldogs: Ellie Blackburn: 26 disposals, 6 tackles Emma Kearney: 25 disposals, 17 kicks
Josh
Roar Pro
DEMONS WIN! WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.5.29 (Clarkson, Macleod, Gardner, Wildes) MELBOURNE 6.7.43 (Mifsud 3, Berry, Cordner, Hickey) That's two wins on the trot for the Dees, after a slow start. But as soon as Daisy Pearce and Kaz Paxman hit their straps, Melbourne was very dominant.
Josh
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MELBOURNE GOAL A 50 metre penalty in favour of Mel Hickey might be the killer blow - it took her to 30m out and her kick snuck through the main posts! Just four and a half minutes remaining in this one. WB 29 Melb 43
Josh
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Well and truly an arm-wrestle now! The Dogs are looking ok, but the Dees are just doing enough.
Josh
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Ellie Blackburn gets a setshot at 45m for being dumped in a tackle by Laura Duryea, but the shot is offline. Distance not an issue. Can the Dogs lock it in? WB 29 Melb 37
Josh
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Where has the Melbourne dominance gone? The Dees are looking nervous and clumsy all of a sudden.
Josh
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DOGS BITE FIRST IN THE LAST A beautifully worked goal ends with Hayley Wildes overlapping and nailing it on the run from 30m! The deficit is back to just 9 points!
Josh
Roar Pro
Melbourne going into the 'tempo footy' mode here. Plenty behind the ball, and plenty of backwards and sideways kicks. They've the right too though, given their early dominance.
Josh
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Josh
Roar Pro
We're back for the last quarter here at Whitten Oval. The Dogs need to overcome a 15 point deficit, and I dare say they received some strong words at the break from the coaches.
Josh
Roar Pro
THREE QUARTER TIME WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.4.22 (Macleod, Clarkson, Gardner) MELBOURNE 5.7.37 (Mifsud 3,Berry, Cordner) The Bulldogs fought back, but the response from Melbourne was equally impressive. Mifsud is proving the difference with three big goals up forward. What can the Doggies produce? Where (or who) are the three or more goals required going to come from?
Josh
Roar Pro
We know Ellie Blackburn is capable of some magic, but that would've been absurd. With her back to goal and 40m out, she spun out of trouble and just missed the big sticks to the left. Dogs need to take all their chances now. WB 22 Melb 37
Josh
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MIFSUD KICKS HER THIRD My word, Mifsud is playing some game. Takes a contested mark on a tough angle at about 35m, but with a cool head goes back and slots a beauty. That's her third and the Dees have breathing space again. WB 21 Melb 37
Josh
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OH NO! Richelle Cranston misses a brilliant opportunity, running into an open goal. WB 21 Melb 31
Josh
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IMMEDIATELY REPLY Mifsud uses her strength, and agility, beuatifully, to kick her second goal on Bailey Hunt. The Demons with the quick reply. This game is ebbing and flowing a lot. WB 21 Melb 30
Josh
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THE BULLDOGS ARE BACK! Kirsten Macleod explodes with her genuine pace and slots another for the Doggies. It's her third goal of the season for the Cranbourne product. Looks like we've got a scoring end here at the Whitten Oval. WB 21 Melb 24
Josh
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GOAL BULLDOGS First kick, first goal! Jess Gardner gets the Dogs first score since the first quarter, and might just give her side a little momentum. Boy oh boy was that needed for the home team. WB 15 Melb 24
Josh
Roar Pro
Melbourne with the first couple of inside 50s of this quarter too - and Jessica Anderson narrowly misses with a snap shot under a lot of pressure. WB 9 Melb 24