The GIANTS may have won their first match of the 2019 AFL Women’s season last weekend, but they face another tough challenge when they take on Melbourne at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday afternoon.
The GIANTS showed glimpses of their best in their hard-fought nine point win over Collingwood in Morwell, but they will need to show more than glimpses if they’re to beat the red-hot Demons.
Melbourne might be coming off a loss to premiership fancies North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, but they’ve won two games, including a 39 point thrashing of Brisbane in round three.
Their losing margin in their two losses so far this season – including their defeat on Sunday to the Kangaroos – were both by just four points.
Sunday’s game will truly be won or lost in the midfield battle.
Karen Paxman, Elise O’Dea and Lily Mithen have been the driving force behind the Demons’ dominant midfield, with Paxman and O’Dea both in the competition’s top 10 for disposals.
Paxman is the leading midfielder in the competition for metres gained at 382m per game, while O’Dea sits in third with 338m per game.
Rebecca Beeson is continuing her purple patch, racking up a game-high 22 disposals in the GIANTS’ win over the Magpies, while vice-captain Alicia Eva had her best game of the season, collecting 21 disposals.
Reigning AFLW Players’ MVP Courtney Gum also had one of her best games of the season, collecting a season-high 17 disposals.
The GIANTS backline will need to keep a close eye on Aliesha Newman, who has been in hot form for the Demons, kicking five goals in her past two games.
Melbourne’s defence will also have their hands full, combating the GIANTS’ Irish duo of Cora Staunton and Yvonne Bonner, who both average a goal per game.
Last Two Meetings:
Round 5, 2017 – GIANTS 3.2 (20) def. Melbourne 1.9 (15) at Blacktown International Sportspark
Round 1, 2018 – Melbourne 7.3 (45) def. GIANTS 6.3 (39) at Casey Fields
The Three Points:
- We weren’t kidding when we said it’ll be the winner of the midfield battle that’ll likely win the game. Melbourne leads the competition for contested possessions, averaging 110 per game, while the GIANTS sit in fourth with 99.5 contested disposals per game. Melbourne leads the competition for clearances at 26.5 per game, while the GIANTS sit in third with 24.5 per game.
- Both sides are among the best in the competition for scores from inside 50s. The GIANTS score from 41.8 per cent of inside 50’s (fourth in the AFLW) while the Demons are a little better, scoring from 44.2 per cent of their inside 50s (second in the AFLW).
- Melbourne has bad memories of Blacktown International Sportspark. The last time the two sides played there in round 5, 2017 the GIANTS won their first game ever and Melbourne recorded their second-lowest score ever.
