Melbourne Demons would ‘love to be back’ in Cairns for another blockbuster clash against Hawthorn
Melbourne Demons AFLW side would ‘love to be back’ and play the Indigenous Round clash against Hawthorn in Cairns for 2025. FIND OUT HOW IT COULD HAPPEN
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Melbourne Demons AFLW side would ‘love to be back’ and play the Indigenous Round clash against Hawthorn in Cairns for 2025.
The Demons fell short by six points and now leave their finals hopes in the hands of the ‘footy gods’ with just one round to go.
More than 2600 people turned out to Cazalys Stadium on Thursday night to see the Hawks clinch a top two spot after defeating the 2022 premiers Melbourne.
Despite the loss, Demons coach Mick Stinear is open to his side returning to Cairns to play the Hawks again in 2025.
“Brilliant venue, haven’t been here before, great surroundings and it was great conditions,” Stinear said.
“Really good turn out from the crowd and we were proud to wear our Indigenous jumper designed by Mali (Isabel) and to play under the name Narrm football club.
“We would love to be back here and keep to keep promoting footy in Cairns, it has been great.”
Cazalys Stadium has held 14 AFL games and now two AFLW games with the Hawks signing a three-year-deal earlier this year to play their Indigenous Round clash in Cairns.
Hawks coach Daniel Webster said his side would be open to playing the Demons for Indigenous Round in 2025.
“Absolutely, I think any opportunity you get to play a high quality side like Melbourne, you take it,” Webster said.
“They are the games you want to play and I think the more exposure to that, the better., would love to play Melbourne.
“You need the big games to be able to know what its like.
“That second half was such a slog, it was hard for players to keep their feet, especially with getting tired.
“And with the extra heat and humidity and then the pressure of two really good teams going at it.
Hawks put Demons’ season on canvas with gutsy win
Hawthorn have all but locked in a top two spot after their six point win over the Melbourne Demons on Thursday night at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.
The Hawks jumped to the top of the ladder, half a win ahead of North Melbourne who play third placed Adelaide Crows on Friday night.
In a scrappy contest that produced just the one goal after half time, Hawks coach Daniel Webster said he was pleased with his team’s fight to hold on.
“It was obviously tough and the longer it went on, the sweater and slippier it got and it made it hard when so many players are getting fatigued,” Webster said.
“But to grind out a win against a quality opposition I thought for us was massive, really strong performance, really gritty performance.
“I think from an effort standpoint I thought we really got on top especially in the second and third quarter and our execution and decision at times let us down.
“Then we couldn’t impact on the scoreboard and we left them within a chance and they got that goal in the third out the back and it made it really hard.
“But to fight it out the way we did was really good because I think both teams in the last quarter were just off their legs and it was a big scrap in the end.”
Hawks’ Mattea Breed produced two massive highlights in the third quarter with a run down tackle and then 60 seconds later produced a Mark of the Year potential grab in front of 2,602 Cairns supporters.
The Hawks now look to refresh after a 10 day break before they challenge fifth placed Richmond on Sunday November 3.
Webster said it is a tough but a great challenge to finish the season.
“It is going to be a really strong contest and that’s what you want at this time of the year, you want to play really good sides heading into finals,” Webster said.
“That is the type of game it is going to be, regardless of conditions it’s generally more contested and high pressure.
“So the more opportunity and exposure you can get to that, the better it is.
“We have a lot of players who haven’t been exposed to that before so these are big learnings for us and I just can’t wait for it.”
For Melbourne it leaves their finals chances in the hands of the ‘footy gods’ according to coach Mick Stinear.
The Demons sit ninth, equal with Port Adelaide and Essendon and will take on Collingwood next weekend for a chance at a top eight spot.
But they will require the Power to drop games against Gold Coast (17th) and GWS (16th) or the Bombers to lose to Richmond (5th) and Carlton (14th).
“Shattered at the loss, obviously we came up here to get the win and get the four points but proud of the group for how they fought the game out,” Stinear said.
“Four weeks ago we were down and out and we put our heads down and worked really hard.
“Proud of what we produced tonight but makes things hard for our finals chances.
“But we’re not going anywhere, we’re going to keep working and evolving, we got a good young group to play tonight and take some opportunities and finish off as strong as we possibly can.
“They (Collingwood) will want to finish strong, they are a proud club and we are expecting a fierce contest.
“They will want to finish their season with some momentum going into next year, we won’t be taking that for granted.
“But we are hurting off the back of this loss and hopefully Kate Hore returns to the team next week and we can finish strong and put ourselves in a good position.”
Hawthorn 2.0 3.2 3.5 3.5 (23)
Melbourne 1.0 1.1 2.2 2.5 (17)
LATE CHANGES
Hawthorn: NIL
Melbourne: Kate Hore (quad) and Gabby Colvin (concussion) replaced in Melbourne’s selected side by Saraid Taylor and Lily Johnson.
Injuries
Hawthorn: NIL
Melbourne: Sinead Goldrick (concussion)
Jake Garland’s best
Hawthorn: West, Fleming, Bates, Stephenson, Lucas-Rodd
Melbourne: McNamara, B.Mackin, Goldrick, Hanks
UMPIRES Devenish, Lyon, Mitchell
Crowd 2602
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