AFLW finals: Melbourne defeats Brisbane Lions in preliminary final

Melbourne ensured the first AFLW match at the MCG would be a true red and blue celebration, booking its place in the Grand Final with a tough victory over Brisbane Lions.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 15: Madison Prespakis of the Blues and Georgie Prespakis of the Cats pose for a portrait after the match during the round two AFLW match between the Geelong Cats and the Carlton Blues at GMHBA Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Melbourne booked its spot in its first grand final after winning the inaugural AFLW game at the MCG against Brisbane.

After 2952 matches of VFL/AFL at the MCG, in which Melbourne played the first in 1897, it was fitting the Demons should prevail in the first AFLW game.

The game was won thanks to a shrewd coaching move from Mick Stinear turned the game in the Dees’ favour.

After failing to capitalise on early dominance, Stinear moved Alyssa Bannan to play as one of Melbourne’s deepest forwards, using her pace to get out the back of the Lions’ defence.

Alyssa Bannan was Melbourne’s matchwinner.

“She gave Brisbane a few headaches last time we played them,” Stinear said.

“She’s such a talented athlete and a smart footballer and would’ve loved playing on the ‘G today I’d imagine.

“Just her speed and what she can do if she has time and space, often if she’s the deepest it gives her that opportunity to really challenge teams defensively with her speed.

“But speed is one thing, you actually have to be able to win the contest and be able to execute as well.”

Despite coming off a 21-day break Melbourne jumped straight into gear and looked the better side early.

They were able to string some nice chains of play together, leading disposals by 12 at quarter-time as they ran in numbers and looked to link up on the counter-attack.

Sinead Goldrick of the Demons is tackled by Courtney Hodder.

But their overuse of handball hurt them in the wet and slippery conditions and the Lions’ more direct route to goal gave them a couple of clean looks at the first major, however they could only muster one behind.

In her 50th game, Karen Paxman found plenty of the ball on the wing and had an equal game-high six disposals in the first quarter, while Libby Birch was at her rebounding best with 117m gained.

It wasn’t until the five-minute mark of the second quarter AFLW had its first goalkicker at the MCG.

Paxman drove Melbourne forward with another counter-attack before the ball ended in Alyssa Bannan’s hands 30m from goal where the 19-year-old snapped truly.

The Lions were able to get an immediate response from Taylor Smith, who after dropping a regulation chest mark buttered up and nailed her shot from 25m out.

A Demons fan outside the MCG.

The Lions came close to causing a late boilover.

Eliza McNamara was one of the Demons’ best in the first half and had the opportunity to give her side the lead after the siren, but her shot faded late and hit the post.

Dakota Davidson had done some nice things early in the game, but her big moment came at the start of the third quarter when the ball fell to her in the Lions’ forward line and she snapped a goal.

But that seemed to ignite the Dees who kicked the next two goals of the game in the space of a minute, courtesy of Bannan and Lauren Pearce, to take their first lead.

In the shadows of three-quarter-time a savvy snap along the ground where the Brisbane defenders couldn’t reach it by Eliza McNamara extended Melbourne’s lead to 11-points.

Stinear’s move to play Bannan as one of the deepest forwards proved to be game-changing as she got on the end of another fluent Demons counter-attack to kick her third and Melbourne into the grand final.

Ruby Svarc drives the Lions forward.

Ruck and roll

Lauren Pearce showed why she is tipped to be this season’s All-Australian ruck with a commanding performance against the highly rated Tahlia Hickie.

Once again it wasn’t necessarily Pearce’s hit out work, rather her ability to follow up at ground level and got the ball rolling Melbourne’s way.

Pearce finished with 15 disposals, nine clearances, three tackles and a goal.

Pressure machines

Melbourne looked to get its running game going early, but 30 first-quarter tackles to the Lions put the brakes on the Dees.

Brisbane, who average 64 tackles per game this season, were led by Cathy Svarc and Bre Koenen who had 10 between them.

The Lions finished with 98 tackles for the match.

Jesse Wardlaw rises high to mark.

Tahlia Hickie reels in an acrobatic grab.

Memorable milestone

Paxman was special in her 50th game for the Dees.

She went head-to-head with Brisbane running machine and one of their most important players, Orla O’Dwyer, and not only shut the Lions’ star out of the game but was one of the best on ground.

She had 20 disposals, three clearances and a game-high 417m gained.

“Great time to turn up and play your best game of the season in your 50th game,” Stinear said.

“Just her work rate, her ability to get back and help our defence but then push forward and challenge offensively, there aren’t too many in the competition who can do that.

“Orla has had a brilliant season and gave us a lot of headaches last time we played them. Paxy was excellent.”

DEES 0.0 1.2 4.2 5.3 33

LIONS 0.1 1.2 2.3 4.5 29

MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST Dees: L. Pearce, Bannan, Paxman, McNamara, D.Pearce, Birch. Lions: Bates, Dawes, Anderson, Grider, Bodey.

GOALS Dees: Bannan 3, L.Pearce, McNamara. Lions: Smith, Davidson, Campbell, Bodey.

INJURIES Dees: nil. Lions: Pullar (concussion).

6436 at the MCG

Funny reason why Dee backed herself in MCG debut

Kate Hore said she never believed she would play a game of footy on the MCG.

The livewire forward helped her side to its first ever AFLW grand final in which the Dees prevailed after holding off a late Brisbane surge.

Melbourne coach Mick Stinear joked that Hore said before the game she had the most experience playing at the ‘G thanks to two halftime Auskick games.

But this one was different to Hore.

“It was epic, it’s every kid’s dream to play footy on the ‘G, it was something I never thought would happen and to actually play out there was amazing,” Hore said.

“I think I had goosebumps for 99 per cent of that game.

“It took a little bit (to sink in), I tried to take a moment before the game because I knew once the bounce happened it was game on, but it was really good to see plenty of red and blue in the crowd.

Kate Hore said she had goosebumps playing on the MCG. Picture: Getty Images

“There were definitely a lot of nerves and a lot of excitement (before the game), but I always say if I’m not nervous it’s a bad thing, so a little bit of nerves but it was alright in the end.”

The 27-year-old said Melbourne reaching its first grand final was a culmination of hard work over the past few years but pointed to last year’s preliminary final as the biggest motivator.

Despite having 10 shots to eight, the Dees were blown away in that final against the Crows after being caught on the back footy early. But that wasn’t the case against the Lions.

“It’s just awesome to be in the grand final,” Hore said.

“We’ve been building for a couple of years now and been there and about but haven’t been able to get to the big dance.

“I think we’ve learned a lot over the years and certainly from our prelim last year, so it was nice to be able to come out on top.”

The Beaumaris junior said while it was just another game of footy, she was excited for the build-up.

“I haven’t had too much time to think about it just yet, but I’m sure it’ll be a really nice build-up this week,” she said.

“I guess at the end of the day it’s just another game of footy and we’ll approach it that way, but it’s definitely going to be special.”

AFLW TIPS

OUR TIPSTERS

Chris Cavanagh 61

Melbourne 1

Adelaide 6

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Matt Turner 59

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Adelaide 12

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Sarah Jones 58

Brisbane Lions 7

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Kiss of Death 14

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The players shaping future of women’s footy

The Prespakis sisters have become the first sibling duo to be picked in the AFL Women’s 22Under22 team, with Madison Prespakis earning her third nod in the fan-voted side.

Richmond star Monique Conti was included in 92 per cent of votes and was anointed as skipper, with Blues midfielder Prespakis named vice-captain.

Her sister, Cat Georgie, was one of 10 players voted into the team for the first time.

Brisbane and Gold Coast fielded the highest number of representatives with three players from both teams selected.

Players must be aged 22 years or under for the entirety of the AFLW season, including the finals series, and have played at least 50 per cent of home and away matches.

The AFL Players Association — which will formally announce the team on Tuesday — is set to award its Most Valuable Player of the 2022 competition next week.

Madison and George Prespakis are the first siblings named in the 22 under 22 team.

AFLW’S 22 UNDER 22 SIDE FOR 2022

B: Natalie Grider (BL) Emma O’Driscoll (Frem)

HB: Rebecca Webster (Geel) Jordyn Allen (Coll) Eleanor Brown (WB)

C: Georgie Prespakis (Geel) Alyce Parker (GWS) Charlie Rowbottom (GC)

HF: Tyla Hanks (Melb) Eloise Jones (Adel) Georgia Gee (Carl)

FF: Jesse Wardlaw (Bris) Danielle Ponter (Adel)

Foll: Tahlia Hickie (Bris) Monique Conti (Rich) (C) Madison Prespakis (Carl) (VC)
IC: Ellie Hampson (GC) Claudia Whitfort (GC) Tarni White (St K) Isabelle Pritchard (WB) Shelley Heath (Melb) Lauren Butler (Coll)

Originally published as AFLW finals: Melbourne defeats Brisbane Lions in preliminary final