Melbourne keep AFLW premiership hopes alive with thrilling six-point win over Carlton
RICHELLE Cranston’s last-gasp goal has secured Melbourne a six-point win over Carlton and with it keeping the Demons’ AFLW premiership hopes alive.
MELBOURNE survived a late scare to keep itself firmly in calculations for the AFLW Grand Final with a six-point victory over Carlton at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Leading by 19 points at three-quarter time against a tiring Blues outfit, the Demons looked to have the four points in the bag.
But there was another twist in the tale as Carlton kicked three goals in the opening nine minutes of the final quarter — two coming from Isabella Ayre — to level the scores.
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Just as the Blues looked like snatching the game, Melbourne had a touch of luck go its way.
With only minutes remaining in the game, the Demons surged forward and Richelle Cranston found herself all alone inside 50.
She marked and goaled with just her seventh disposal for the game and Melbourne held on for the crucial win.
“I’m not sure what happened there, it was like I was hiding behind the goal post or something,” Cranston joked on Fox Footy.
“They just let me sneak off and I didn’t want to start waving my arms too loud and get too much attention to me.
“‘Scotty’ found me and that was good. A good way to finish the game.
“I wasn’t looking forward to a draw. We needed to win.
“I had a pretty quiet game but it was a good finish for me.”
The loss puts the Blues two games behind unbeaten Adelaide and Brisbane.
Demons captain Daisy Pearce was best on ground with a game-high 28 disposals and Alyssa Mifsud kicked two goals.
DEE-LIGHTFUL
It was just about a make-or-break game for both sides, which had each already suffered one loss from their opening three matches.
With just seven rounds in the competition and only the top two progressing to the Grand Final, the result keeps Melbourne (3-1) in the hunt for the decider but means Carlton (2-2) will now has to win its final three games and likely have to rely on other results to make the cut.
The Demons face GWS, Adelaide and Fremantle in the run home while the Blues have Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and Brisbane to come.
PRIME MOVERS
The names Daisy Peace, Elise O’Dea and Karen Paxman seem to crop up among Melbourne’s best players every week and yesterday was no different.
The trio once again led the way as the Demons edged out Carlton.
Captain Pearce was best afield with a game-high 28 disposals while O’Dea was also influential through the middle with 27 disposals and Paxman had 24 touches off halfback.
CONTRASTING STYLES
Scoreboard aside, Melbourne largely controlled yesterday’s match.
You only have to look at the disposal count, which came in at 245-154, to see that.
Melbourne is a side that likes to keep control of the footy but overused it at times while the Blues were far more direct and had an incredible 17 inside 50s to their name at halftime from just 75 disposals.
The Demons’ ball-winning ability in the second half eventually won out though and knowing how to hold onto the football in the final minutes after taking back the lead was key.
DAVEY DILEMA
Carlton clearly missed their star player of the opening three rounds — Brianna Davey.
Davey had averaged 23 disposals across halfback for the Blues from her opening three games but missed Saturday’s match with a back complaint.
The good news for the Blues is Davey hopes to be fit for the side’s next match against the Bulldogs at Ikon Park next Saturday but that will be determined during the week.
“I copped a bit of a whack to the back and it restricted my movement a little bit and was quite sore,” Davey told Fox Footy.
“Sitting on the sidelines unfortunately this week (but) hopefully I’ll be back as quick as possible.”
Originally published as Melbourne keep AFLW premiership hopes alive with thrilling six-point win over Carlton
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