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On a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Casey Fields, Melbourne finally beat their bogey team.
The Demons clinched their maiden premiership in the 2022 grand final against the Lions, but lost every single encounter to Brisbane in the three years thereafter.
via Getty Images
But Melbourne finally revived the rivalry on Sunday in the AFLW’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, triumphing over a shell-shocked and injury-marred Brisbane by 56 points, thanks to three goals from Ryleigh Wotherspoon and a career-best performance from Tahlia Gillard.
Under the stewardship of new coach Tom Wilson – who took over from veteran Mick Stinear – Melbourne have now won their opening three games.
The Lions, meanwhile, have lost two in a row following last week’s 11-point loss to North Melbourne in the grand final rematch and lost multiple players to injury on Sunday.
Lions coach Craig Starcevich was short and succinct in a post-match press conference after the disappointing result, noting “everything that could have gone wrong today, went wrong”.
The veteran coach compared dealing with his side’s injury list to “plugging holes in a dam”.
“The group’s pretty strong and pretty resilient, so they’ll keep tracking in,” he said. “From that angle, we’re pretty proud of them. They kept going. I think we levelled up in the last quarter, but that’s a small silver lining to an otherwise ordinary day, but they’re built with the right stuff, and they’ll bounce back and be fine in the coming weeks.”
Starcevich cautioned the Lions were only three games into the season and noted his side had a similar start in 2025.
“This time last year, we were in the same boat, 1-2 and we managed to find something and get on a bit of a roll and be there at the end,” he said.
“Nothing’s that predictable going forward, but we’ve been in this situation before, and I’ll back our players to fight their way out of it.”
Melbourne got off to a sluggish start, unable to lock the ball inside their forward 50 until Megan Fitzsimon scored a major after a strong performance from former Blue Mia Austin.
The end of the first quarter was marred by a heavy collision between Georgia Campbell and Brisbane’s Neasa Dooley, which left the Lion lying on the grass in agony, clutching her collarbone.
Escorted by trainers and doctors, Dooley was clapped off the field by concerned spectators. But Brisbane’s injury carnage didn’t end there. Bel Dawes copped some friendly fire and Marlo Graham came off the field due to concussion protocols in a separate incident.
At one point in the second quarter, Brisbane had three players off the ground with injuries being assessed, and another two players who needed to spend time off the ground.
There was a healthy contingent of Brisbane supporters who made the trek from Casey Fields on Sunday. But by half-time, the Lions supporters were silent.
Wotherspoon and Eliza McNamara piled on the pressure with multiple goals, while Brisbane’s usually dependable Dakota Davidson was kept quiet and limited to behinds.
The Lions supporters briefly had something to cheer about when a bunny raced across Casey Field, happily speeding alongside the boundary line and thankfully avoiding getting hit by a Sherrin.
Irishwoman Orla O’Dwyer limited the scoreboard damage in the final quarter, weaving around her opponent to slot a goal before accidentally crashing into the left goalpost.
Melbourne scored freely and accurately, also limiting Brisbane’s ability to convert their limited opportunities, and by the end of the match had inflicted the Lions’ biggest losing margin in history with their 56-point win, 14.5 (89) to 4.9 (33).
Melbourne coach Tom Wilson said he was incredibly proud of the group, highlighting Gillard’s impact on the game, with a club record for intercept marks.
“I thought the way that we went about it today was really professional, he said. “I thought going into the game … we had huge amount of respect for Brisbane and what they’ve been able to do over a period of time.
“So to go out there and put performance together like that was really amazing.”
With the conversation in AFLW often turning to who can beat the back-to-back premiers North Melbourne – now with 30-straight wins to their name – Melbourne’s win on Sunday against one of the main contenders shows the Demons should definitely be in the conversation.
Carlton have hung on after a dramatic finish to defeat Fremantle by six points and improve their record to a perfect 3-0 this season.
The Blues led by 13 points with two minutes remaining, but a goal to Gabby O’Sullivan followed by the bells of “Wharfie Time” had Fremantle players sniffing a late charge.
Kiara Bowers had the chance to close the margin to one point with 30 seconds to go, but her running shot from 30m out missed.
Carlton held firm in the frantic final moments to seal the win, 7.6 (48) to 6.6 (42), leaving Fremantle with a 1-2 record. Bowers was huge with 27 disposals, five clearances and 11 tackles, but she was left to rue her return of 0.3.
Geelong have pulled off a brave victory under renowned AFLW coach Mick Stinear, overcoming a triple injury blow to defeat Gold Coast by seven points at People First Stadium.
With Emma Kilpatrick, Priya Bowering and Piper Dunlop suffering game-ending injuries, Geelong looked set to be overrun after the youthful Suns closed to within one point early in the final quarter.
But led by star midfielder Georgie Prespakis (33 disposals, eight clearances, nine tackles, 408m gained) and forward Chloe Sheer (three goals), Geelong hit back hard when the game was in the balance to secure the 10.4 (64) to 8.9 (57) win.
Sunday’s result improved Geelong’s record to 2-1 under new coach Stinear, who led Melbourne for a decade before moving across to the Cats.
Port Adelaide lost have star forward Indy Tahau to a suspected serious knee injury, overshadowing a thrilling four-point win over GWS in Canberra.
Tahau, who previously tore her left ACL, was helped off with a right knee injury late in the third quarter of Port Adelaide’s 7.10 (52) to 8.0 (48) victory at Manuka Oval.
“It’s difficult. Indy’s such a great player for us. Obviously she’s still being assessed and we hope for the best,” coach Glenn Strachan told Fox Footy.
It was a tight contest all day and Port led by nine at three-quarter-time before Brodee Mowbray goaled twice to put GWS in front.
On a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Casey Fields, Melbourne finally beat their bogey team.
The Demons clinched their maiden premiership in the 2022 grand final against the Lions, but lost every single encounter to Brisbane in the three years thereafter.
via Getty Images
But Melbourne finally revived the rivalry on Sunday in the AFLW’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, triumphing over a shell-shocked and injury-marred Brisbane by 56 points, thanks to three goals from Ryleigh Wotherspoon and a career-best performance from Tahlia Gillard.
Under the stewardship of new coach Tom Wilson – who took over from veteran Mick Stinear – Melbourne have now won their opening three games.
In Coffs Harbour, the Swans kept the Saints goalless until the final term in a commanding 5.8 (38) to 1.9 (15) victory.
St Kilda’s Alice Burke (daughter of Saints legend, former Bulldogs AFLW coach and Australian Football Hall of Famer Nathan) suffered a right knee injury in the third quarter, with the 23-year-old helped from the field by medicos.
AAP
In Adelaide, the Crows logged a hard-fought victory against West Coast, 9.6 (60) to 6.7 (43), in a clash of previously winless clubs.
Adelaide set up the win with six goals to two in the second term, creating a 27-point half-time buffer.
And with stalwart Ebony Marinoff gathering 26 disposals, laying 15 tackles and kicking a goal, the Crows held off a plucky Eagles outfit in the second half.
Marinoff, Madison Newman (23 touches, one goal) and Grace Egan (two goals) were standouts for the Crows.
West Coast suffered a third straight loss despite the impact of Ella Roberts, who collected an equal game-high 26 possessions, Charlotte Thomas (22) and Isabella Lewis (19).
AAP
Bronwyn Davey wouldn’t have played football on the national stage if not for her brother, former Melbourne star Aaron Davey.
Aaron was in his final year at Melbourne in 2013 when he urged his sister, who was playing locally in South Australia, to nominate to play in the landmark women’s match at the MCG that year.
Her appearance for the Demons against the Western Bulldogs launched a career at the top level, playing, coaching and in leadership roles at Port Adelaide Magpies and the Adelaide Crows.
Now, the Kokartha woman is the honouree of the AFLW’s Sir Doug Nicholls rounds, held this weekend and next.
North Melbourne trio Blaithin Bogue, Alice O’Loughlin and Kate Shierlaw have booted two goals each in a 47-point belting of the Western Bulldogs.
The Kangaroos, with their 11.4 (70) to 3.5 (23) triumph in Launceston on Saturday, stretch their winning streak to 30 consecutive matches.
Chasing a third straight premiership, North accelerated from the previously undefeated Dogs after a tight opening.
The Kangas led by just one point at quarter-time before kicking eight of the next nine goals in a contest marred by a horrible jumper clash – both clubs in predominantly blue and white guernseys, and blue shorts in their Indigenous jerseys.
Good afternoon and welcome.
Round three of the AFLW is underway, and it has kicked off with back-to-back reigning premiers North Melbourne opening the Sir Doug Nicholls rounds with a comprehensive 47-point victory over the Western Bulldogs. More on that shortly.
Stay tuned across the weekend for the latest W news.
