This article first appeared in the Melbourne Times Weekly
By Daniel Paproth
UNSW-ES Stingrays player Courtney Gum and Sydney University’s Jennifer Lew were part of the victorious Melbourne side who took out the very first AFL-sanctioned women’s match on Saturday night with Gum kicking a goal in the Demons’ win.
Number one draft pick and Demons captain Daisy Pearce was named best-on-ground for the Demons in a scintillating 28-disposal performance, made all the impressive considering quarters were limited to 15 minutes.
The 7,518 fans watched on as the Demons were awarded the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, named after Barb Hampson and Lisa Hardeman, pioneers in the development of the first national women's championships in 1998.
The first quarter was a tight, heavily contested affair, with neither side able to break away. Melbourne's Ellie Blackburn wrote her name in the history books with the opening goal, while Kira Phillips got one back for the Bulldogs. Pearce and Bulldogs skipper Aasta O'Connor both impressed early.
However, Melbourne took control in the second term with four goals to none. Chelsea Randall, Alicia Eva, Alex Price and Steph Walding all kicked goals for the Demons.
Randall in particular was electrifying. She took nine marks for the game, several of them contested, and was seemingly in every contest. Her talent to intercept strongly in defence, set up goals with fast forward thrusts or kick her own goals was simply outstanding.
Throughout the match, played at an impressively high standard, there were plenty of contested marks, women putting their bodies on the line as they crashed into packs for marks, and for there was no shortage of hardball gets for the contested ball lovers.
Only two goals were kicked in the third term. Steph Chiocci kicked the Bulldogs' second, after Phillips, who was eye-catching up forward, dished off and Chiocci snapped truly. Courtney Gum gut one back for the Dees on the siren, and they led by 25 points at the final break.
Phillips cut the lead to 19 with the first goal of the final term but Louise Wotton and Jasmine Garner both goaled for the Demons to ensure victory.
Speaking after the match Pearce said it was a massive thrill. “It was a real buzz, I'm ready to go again now,” she said.
“It was everything we expected and hopefully a bit more than what the people watching were expecting. It was a good style of footy, it was nice and fast, you had your high marks and there were plenty of good skills out there.
“Everyone just couldn't wait to get out there for the experience and just the enthusiasm is the best thing I think.”
Pearce thanked Melbourne and all the players and supporters for getting behind the concept.
“I can't thank Melbourne enough, I was surprised at how accommodating and genuinely supportive of us they were,” she said.
“For a club that's going through a lot and under pressure on and off the field they didn't look back and were genuinely supporting what we were trying to do.
“This is something we [Melbourne and the Bulldogs] celebrate together, it's more about women's footy than it is getting the win. This game will keep the wheel spinning.”
Bulldogs coach Peta Searle said the girls would take a lot out of the game despite the loss.
“We were very disappointed with the result at the end and we wanted to win but at the end of the day I think more importantly it's what the girls get out of it and what they take back to their states and clubs,” she said.
“We had a very young side and for me it was about giving these girls a chance to see what they could do. Kira Phillips turned it on and I thought Louise Stephenson was great.
“The Bulldogs have been fantastic. They haven't done it because it's part of their program or job or community charter, they've done it because they're genuine about women's footy.”
