Melbourne midfielders Karen Paxman and Eliza West have performed starring roles in an 18-point victory over Adelaide within the AFLW grand ultimate rematch.
The Demons reversed the end result from final season’s premiership decider with a 6.8 (44) to 4.2 (26) win at Glenelg Oval in Adelaide on Friday evening.
West was very good, gathering a game-high 25 disposals, whereas her teammates Paxman (24 touches, one purpose) and Olivia Purcell (22 possessions) and had been prolific ball-winners.
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Star Demon Tayla Harris, in a roaming forward-ruck position, was additionally distinguished with one purpose from 13 disposals.
“Obviously the four (premiership) points was important,” Melbourne coach Mick Stinear mentioned.
“But then for the players to get that belief, to be able to play against the best and come away with the win … it’s quite significant.”
Adelaide attacker Ash Woodland booted three objectives, and on-baller Anne Hatchard (24 disposals) – in her fiftieth AFLW recreation – and defender Chelsea Randall (17 touches) had been distinguished however the Crows trailed at each change.
“The game is a great leveller,” Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke mentioned.
“We were minus 16 in hard-ball gets and minus 80 in uncontested possessions which are numbers that are unsustainable.”
Woodland opened the scoring inside two minutes however the Demons quickly responded when Kate Hore pounced on a free ball in a ahead pocket and booted in the direction of the highest of the purpose sq..
Adelaide defender Sarah Allen charged on the ball but it surely took an ungainly proper bounce, over her outstretched arms, and dribbled over the goal-line.
Melbourne held a 1.4 to 1.0 benefit at quarter-time and the second time period was a goal-less stalemate till Melbourne’s 50-gamer Harris broke the impasse with a booming 45-metre right-footer.
Harris’ strike gave Melbourne a 2.5 to 1.1 lead at halftime however Adelaide’s Woodland dragged her facet again into the competition within the third quarter.
Woodland booted two objectives in a five-minute purple patch, placing the Crows one level forward.
However the Demons answered the problem with Tyla Hanks and Daisy Pearce each kicking objectives from snap pictures to present the guests an 11-point buffer at three quarter-time, 4.6 to three.1.
The Crows diminished their deficit to 5 factors early within the final time period when Danielle Ponter booted her first purpose.
But once more, Melbourne rallied with an correct Eden Zanker set-shot adopted Paxman capping her standout show with the victory-sealing purpose.