A vintage performance from Melbourne captain Kate Hore has catapulted the Demons into their third AFLW preliminary final in six seasons after they outlasted fellow competition heavyweights Adelaide by 11 points in a pulsating second semi-final at Princes Park on Saturday.
In what was a high-stakes clash between two members of the league’s ‘Big Four’, Melbourne jumped out of the gates to lead by 14 points in the opening term, before Adelaide hit back with five of the next six goals to lead by 13 in the second quarter.
But the seesawing clash took another decisive turn in the second half, as Melbourne responded with six of the next seven majors to storm home to a memorable 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49) victory.
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Hore finished with 26 touches, seven marks and three goals and was at the forefront in the crucial moments.
She kicked the goal of the day midway through the third quarter after keeping her feet in the marking contest against Chelsea Biddell, gathering the loose ball and, while being chased by Maddi Newman, kicking a sensational dribbler from the pocket to put the Demons back up by a point.
And she gave her team back the lead again early in the final term when she broke the Keeley Kustermann tackle and, after being taken high, took advantage and banged it home from 25m out in front.
END OF AN ERA
The result snapped the Crows’ run of five consecutive preliminary finals and ended their legendary dual premiership coach Matthew Clarke’s reign on a sour note.
CROWS RUE INEFFICIENCY
The Demons finished with comfortable buffers in disposals (282-254) and handball-receives (80-59) as their running game on the outside killed the Crows.
Adelaide ended up with a massive advantage in inside 50s (46-31), but their forward efficiency was poor. That was best summed up by the fact that, after scores were level at three-quarter time, they had seven of the first 10 forward entries of the final term, but while they failed to split the big sticks, the Demons kicked three goals from their first three entries.
MIGHTY MAC
Eliza McNamara was also pivotal for the winners with 25 touches (13 contested) and five marks, while Shelley Heath was influential, too, with 24 disposals (11), eight tackles, six clearances and five grabs.
Ebony Marinoff was once again Adelaide’s best with 27 possessions (15), nine tackles and a major.
GILLARD THE GLOVE
With a few seconds remaining in the third quarter, Niamh Kelly took a bounce and tried to get past Tahlia Gillard on the 50m line with designs on running towards goal, but the Demon was up to the task, reining in the speedy Crow, earning a holding-the-ball free kick and preventing a scoring opportunity for Adelaide.
And with 20 seconds to go and the result in hand, Gillard (16 disposals) repeated the dose when she ran down Chelsea Randall who also attempted to run towards goal after taking a bounce.
JOB AHEAD OF DEES
But the celebrations for Melbourne will be tempered by the fact that they must now face all-conquering North Melbourne in a grand final qualifier next weekend.
The Kangaroos are riding a record 25-game winning streak, and are unbeaten in their past 27 matches. The last time Darren Crocker’s side tasted defeat was 714 days ago in the 2023 grand final.
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