Collingwood have broken through for their first win of the AFLW season, upsetting premiership favourites Melbourne in the heat at Alice Springs.
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Final score
Melbourne 3.5 (23)
Collingwood 9.4 (58)
The Melbourne Demons and the Collingwood Magpies travel north to TIO Traeger Park on Saturday night as round four of the AFL Women’s season rolls on. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm AEDT.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses and the Demons in particular will be looking to rebound and reclaim their spot on top of the ladder.
For the Pies meanwhile, they are too far behind the pack to finish top two and with external pressure mounting on coach Wayne Siekman and the potential of a winless season in front of them, it’s now about pride.
Key forward Sarah D’Arcy will return from suspension and make the trip to Alice Springs and Collingwood will need to figure out how it plans on balancing its forward line.
They struggled again last week, attempting to play gun draft pick Chloe Molloy up forward, but couldn’t get her the ball and eventually shifted her back to defence.
Maybe this is a sign Moana Hope’s failures have more to do with Collingwood’s game plan than her footy ability.
Hope bounced back from a shocking first half to kick two crucial goals against GWS in a game where the Pies were gallant in defeat.
Melbourne travelled to Perth to face the winless Dockers and was kept in check by the home side for most of the afternoon.
Maybe it was the wake-up call needed for the team many predicted could go through the season undefeated.
The Demons should dominate through the midfield as Collingwood may have some talent in there with the likes of Jaimee Lambert, Amelia Barden and captain Steph Chiocci, but they don’t have the depth or the elite players to match the firepower Melbourne brings.
Prediction
Melbourne should be breathing fire after their loss to Fremantle and if they are the team we all think they are, they should blow Collingwood off the (Traeger) park on Saturday.
Collingwood won’t have an answer through the midfield, shouldn’t be able to stop the dynamic forward line of Tegan Cunningham, Kate Hore, Aleisha Newman and Richelle Cranston and has struggled down back all season, giving up the second most points of any team.
Melbourne by 22 points
Maggie
Guest
#yourgirl played a great game. Two weeks ago I thought Melbourne would be premiers this year. Now I have no idea who is going to win the comp.!
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Full Time BESTS: Melbourne: Paxman, Downie, O'Dea Collingwood: Bernardi, King, Lambert, Chiocci, Bonnici, Edwards Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 9.4 (58)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Full Time That's it! Collingwood with the upset of the season, blowing Melbourne out of the water and opening the Grand Final race right up! Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 9.4 (58)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
2:22 - Melbourne is still fighting, but Collingwood not giving them anything. Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 9.4 (58)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Goal 5:18 - Floodgates opening up now and percentage is going to be important for the Dees! Mel Kuys kicks the goal. Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 9.4 (58)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
5:56 - The Pies have totally out-coached Melbourne today funnily enough. Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 8.4 (52)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Goal 9:20 - Running away with it now! Barden kicks another one for the Pies. Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 8.4 (52)
Maggie
Guest
Wow, didn’t see this coming.
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Goal 9:20 - STEPH CHIOCCI! Spins out of a tackle and kicks probably the match sealing goal Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 7.4 (46)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Behind 11:58 - Kate Hore's shot at goal just misses to the right. The Dees need to keep the heat on. Melbourne: 3.5 (23) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
12:57 - Shelley Scott has a long shot for goal, but Chloe Molloy marks on the goal line. Melbourne: 3.4 (22) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
13:30 - The stats are very even, but the Pies have hurt Melbourne all night on the turnovers. Melbourne: 3.4 (22) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
15:00 - Fourth term about to start. Melbourne's going to need a perfect quarter here. Melbourne: 3.4 (22) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Three-Quarter Time Wowee what a quarter by the Pies. They take a 3 goal lead into the final break. Can they register their first win of the season? Melbourne: 3.4 (22) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
2:15 - Daisy Pearce has had 7 disposals and zero impact on this game. Melbourne: 3.4 (22) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
5:00 - Collingwood's tackling pressure has been elite. Melbourne's guns have had no time to use the ball all day. Melbourne: 3.3 (21) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Behind 7:11 - Hope wins a dubious free kick and her shot at goal misses. Collingwood need to finish this one, they can't leave the door open. Melbourne: 3.3 (21) Collingwood: 6.4 (40)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Behind 8:10 - #MyGirl Bernardi's set shot misses to the right. It's an even 3 goal game now. Melbourne: 3.3 (21) Collingwood: 6.3 (39)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Goal 9:32 - Alyssa Mifsud wins a free kick deep inside 50 and gets one back for the Demons, but it's a long road back. Melbourne: 3.3 (21) Collingwood: 6.2 (38)
Nic Negrepontis
Roar Pro
Goal 10:20 - Meg Hutchins kicks one now! The Pies are running away with this one! Melbourne: 2.3 (15) Collingwood: 6.2 (38)