The Melbourne Demons host the Fremantle Dockers in an opening round clash at Casey Fields on Sunday Afternoon. Join The Roar for a live blog and scores at 3:05pm AEDT.
The season has finally arrived for two teams blooding a total of 11 combined debutants for this clash on Sunday afternoon.
For the Demons, it will be the start of a foreign season – star Daisy Pearce will not be taking part in this year’s edition of AFLW due to family reasons.
Perhaps the most exciting debutant for Melbourne will be last year’s pick six, Tyla Hanks, who excelled in the state championships as an exciting half-forward flanker.
Strength all over the ground is still present for the Demons despite the absence of Pearce, with Karen Paxman and Meg Downie in the defensive half, Elise O’Dea and Lily Mithen through the midfield and Kate Hore and Shelley Scott in attack.
It’s a lot to deal with for a Fremantle team needing to travel across to the eastern side of the country, in its first competitive game with a new coach.
Kiara Bowers, a five-time WAWFL best-and-fairest, will finally make her debut after her first two seasons of AFLW were ruined by a knee injury.
It gives a boost to an already powerful midfield anchored by the likes of Dana Hooker and Kara Donnellan, two of the competition’s best inside midfielder.
In a big call, Parris Laurie will play as the one-out ruck for the first game of the season, despite only playing the sport for two seasons.
By all reports, she was a dominant force in the pre-season and really impressed in the ruck and with her athleticism around the ground.
A match-up against Lauren Pearce is exactly the type of contest that will show her mettle.
Tayla Bresland’s return to full fitness will be super important in this matchup for the Dockers, after the defender’s 2018 was ruined due to injury.
She’s the best pure defender in the team and will have her hands full immediately.
Prediction
This will be an entertaining game, that is likely to be made more interesting by the extreme heat in Melbourne on Sunday.
The Demons will like their chances to get off to a good start, but conditions and the ground don’t exactly hurt the Dockers.
Overall, the Demons seem to have an edge in quality at both ends of the ground, making up for the slight gap in midfield depth.
It should be an exciting season and this will certainly be a good start.
Melbourne by 14 points.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Awesome victory for Freo. Out came the wet sail and they jibbed on past. Of course I never doubted them for a second. Not once. At all. – Great to see my girl Gemma Houghton strut her stuff and kick the winner to boot. – It’s brilliant to have a winning start and gives them a chance to build a platform in such a concise competition.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Jeez, what a great victory. GO DOCKERSSSSSSS! Thanks for the call Dem.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
Melbourne Demons 8.7 (55) def by Fremantle Dockers 9.5 (59) In perhaps the best game we've seen in AFLW to-date, the Fremantle Dockers picked up their first ever interstate win with a huge upset victory in extreme heat against the Demons. All the scoring went to one end, which saw Melbourne post 34 points unanswered in the third quarter to give themselves a 14-point lead heading into the final break. It was the inspirational Kiera Bowers, however, who helped lead Fremantle over the line in the final quarter. The debutant, who missed the first two AFLW season due to a knee injury, finished with 13 disposals, 12 tackles and a goal, with her fitness and ability to play forward a key part of Fremantle's victory. Dana Hooker (15 disposals, 11 tackles) and Gemma Houghton (10 disposals, two goals) were also impressive, while the move of Ebony Antonio to attack paid off beautifully, with the Fremantle star finishing with 14 disposals, four tackles and a goal. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the Demons in their first game with star Daisy Pearce, who will be absent for the entire season. Lily Mithen stood up as a young midfielder, finishing with 18 disposals, while Karen Paxman (21 disposals) and Elise O'Dea (17 disposals, nine tackles) went about their usual business. The positive signs for Melbourne were their ability to move the ball quickly in the third quarter, getting the ball long to the super-impressive Eden Zanker, who ended the game with 11 disposals, 12 hitouts and two goals. There were plenty of highlights coming out of this Round 1 contest and it immediately put the Demons on the back foot heading into next week's clash with Collingwood. Fremantle's unexpected win away from home will give them plenty of confidence heading into Round 2, where the team takes on Brisbane in Perth.
Downsey
Roar Pro
I was just thinking the same!
Gary
Roar Rookie
Cheers Dem, nice work.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Woohoo! Fantastic victory... and ch7 just cuts the broadcast. No team song by the players is shown... but they broadcast yesterday's team celebrations. Disappointing.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Gosh, I bloomin' enjoyed that.
Gordon P Smith
Roar Guru
59-55 the final score?
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
FULL TIME What an absolutely electric game in extreme heat between the Demons and the Dockers. Fremantle, under new management and with seven debutants, get their first ever win interstate and beat a team many expect to fight out for the flag. Thank you all for joining me, I hope you enjoyed the game and the coverage!
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
The Demons absolutely butchered exits from the defensive 50 when it could've helped.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
The ball flies out of bounds on the full and now the Dockers have full control.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
There are two minutes left and the demons are trying to run the ball out of defence.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
5' - GOAL (Dockers) Gemma Houghton has kicked her second goal, as the Dockers hit the lead once again. She has had a ripping game today, breakout match for her. Melbourne - 55 Fremantle - 59
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
6' - GOAL (Dockers) Sharp has slipped out the back and kicks another goal! This is an absolutely ripping contest with six minutes left. Who wins?? Melbourne - 55 Fremantle - 53
Gary
Roar Rookie
Brilliant mark!
Gary
Roar Rookie
You beauty! Keep going!
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
Bowers has moved into the midfield and provides a crucial tackle.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Yeeeeewwwwwww! Go girl! Then she followed it up with a huge tackle to stop the Demons' run out of the centre.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
9' - GOAL (Dockers) It's been a long time coming, but Bowers kicks her first goal of her career, in her debut game. She has been great today. Melbourne - 55 Fremantle - 47
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
10' - BEHIND (Dockers) Gemma Houghton running into an open goal misses. That's really poor by a player who has been impressive today with her extra height playing a key factor. Melbourne - 55 Fremantle - 41