Melbourne live up to flag favourites hype with thrilling six-point win over GWS

MELBOURNE has been billed as one of the premiership favourites and they looked shaky early but were good enough to overrun GWS courtesy of a breakout game from matchwinner, Richelle Cranston.

Richelle Cranston was the hero, kicking three goals including the matchwinner. Picture: Ian Currie

MELBOURNE had been billed as one of the AFLW premiership fancies and delivered the goods in the opening round with a hard-fought victory over Greater Western Sydney.

The Demons prevailed by six points at Casey Fields, breaking a deadlock with a late goal through Richelle Cranston.

An official crowd of 5100 was recorded for the clash in another tick for the second-year competition.

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THE MATCHWINNER

When she was back playing local football in Geelong, Richelle Cranston once weighed in at 106kg. Dedication and hard work has since seen her shave an incredible 30kg and her improved fitness and speed showed yesterday. Still a bull in the contest, ‘Rocky’ had only eight touches but serious impact as she pounced to kick three goals including the one in the final two minutes which saw the Demons to victory. After her 2017 season yielded only one goal from six games, it was some start.

Richelle Cranston was the hero, kicking three goals including the matchwinner. Picture: Ian Currie

THE INJURY BLOW

With two minutes to go before quarter-time, Melbourne midfielder Karen Paxman was clearly best afield. Last year’s runner-up in the Demons’ best and fairest had racked up eight disposals in a blistering start, her impact not only what she did with the ball but also the run and direction she provided. Paxman was getting a simple kick away when she pulled up sore and had to be helped from the field by trainers not to return. The early diagnosis was back spasms, which will be further assessed during the week.

Karen Paxman suffered a back injury in the opening term. Picture: Getty

THE STANDARD

Friday night’s opening match of the new AFLW season was a dour, defensive low-scoring affair which brought no second half goals. But in a better advertisement for the competition, yesterday afternoon’s clash at Casey brought goals in every quarter and a better overall standard of play. The two teams kicked seven and six goals respectively and the fact it was tight to the end made it an even more entertaining contest.

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THE FIREWORKS

We were expecting fireworks on the field at Casey yesterday, but not off the field. Given it was a daytime game starting at 5.05pm, the decision to have fireworks to start the game and after each Melbourne goal was a bizarre one. They could be heard over the back of the ground but barely seen. There was also a hiccup in the second quarter, when fireworks accidentally being set off when a Kate Hore shot at goal was touched on the way through for a behind.

Originally published as Melbourne live up to flag favourites hype with thrilling six-point win over GWS