Jess Cameron was the star with six goals as Melbourne cruised past Brisbane by 71 points in its Women’s AFL Exhibition match at the MCG on Sunday.
The Demons lead from start to finish with their overlapping run and confident attack, but the domination of Australian cricketer Cameron was the big story of the day, as the Diamond Creek recruit kicked a Women’s AFL record six goals to win best on ground honours in her teams 14.7 (91) to 3.2 (20) victory, as Callum O’Connor reports.
Cameron was unstoppable, kicking three first term goals to stamp her authority on the game early.
Melbourne’s multi-pronged forward set-up proved a headache for the Brisbane defence, as the Demons built a 40-point quarter time lead. Geelong tall Maddie Boyd kicked two as Cameron and Melbourne Uni’s Alicia Eva roved and found space to superb effect. Further afield, Melbourne Uni midfielder Ellie Blackburn took total control of the stoppages on the way to a game-high 25 possessions.
PHOTO GALLERY: CLICK HERE to see action from the game
Seemingly shell-shocked at first, Brisbane steadily worked their way into the contest after quarter time. Shaleise Law put her side on the board with a snap on the run halfway through the second quarter and Selina Goodman was tireless in the ruck.
A 47-point buffer at the main break meant the Demons had the match in their keeping in the second half, but several notable contributors stood out. Darebin star Melissa Hickey generated clearances with her close-quarter agility, as did Melbourne Uni defenders Brooke Lochland and Nicole Hildebrand. For once, Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce was content to take a backseat role as she set up and executed many of her side’s damaging launches forward.
However, it was all about Cameron come the third quarter. The Diamond Creek strong marking forward turned even the smallest opportunities into goals, as she added football to her pervious cricket appearances on the MCG.
Midfielder Kate McCarthy, who won her side’s Best on Ground Award, gave the Lions something to cheer about in the last quarter with a pair of long goals but Melbourne had all the answers. Cameron kicked her sixth and Boyd her third as the Demons ran away with a 71-point win.
It was a day out for multi-sport players who have transitioned to AFL from other sports. Apart from Cameron, Melbourne boasted netballer Jess Hosking, state league basketballer Lauren Pearce and former javelin thrower Cecilia McIntosh.
Hosking, renowned for her attack on the ball at Seaford, was particularly outstanding in the first half as her drive out of defence set the tone for much of the match, as she finished with 22 disposals.
Pearce has improved week to week at Darebin as a ruckman and was used primarily as a tall forward against Brisbane, converting a goal in the second quarter.
In her return to AFL following an ACL injury twelve months ago, 36-year old McIntosh was one of the day’s great stories, as was Northern Territory recruit Angela Foley, cheered on by a well-travelled squad of around 20 family and friends.
The only negative for the Demon’s was an ankle injury to key defender Danielle Hardiman. The Cranbourne player limped from the field after a clash with Brisbane star Tayla Harris late in the last quarter.
Melbourne 6.4 8.5 10.7 14.7.91
Brisbane 0.0 1.0 1.1 3.2.20
Best:
M - Cameron (Diamond Creek), Blackburn (Melbourne Uni), Hickey (Darebin), J Hosking (Seaford), D Pearce (Darebin), Lochland (Melbourne Uni).
B - McCarthy, Goodman, Law, Hunt, Koenen, Wall.
Goals:
M - Cameron 6 (Diamond Creek), Boyd 3 (Geelong), Eva (Melbourne Uni), Foley (NT), D Pearce (Darebin), L Pearce (Darebin), Kemp (VU Western Spurs).
B - McCarthy 2, Law.
VFL Women's returns this weekend, with a full Sunday of Round 7 action:
Round 7 fixture
Sunday May 29
Melbourne Uni v VU Western Spurs
St Kilda v Knox
Eastern Devils v Cranbourne
Diamond Creek v Darebin
Geelong v Seaford (Piranha Park)*
*VFL/VFL Women’s double-header
Last Modified on 23/05/2016 16:23
