THE NEW era of Melbourne rolls on with a 48-point win over the GIANTS in their first home game of the season.
Putting the foot to the floor after the first break, the Demons ran away with the 9.6 (60) to 1.6 (12) victory on Sunday afternoon to keep their record unblemished from two starts this year.
Although it seemed like fans were in for a tight, low-scoring scrap through the opening term, an enthusiastic start to the season by the GIANTS couldn't be maintained when Melbourne got going.
Bringing the suffocating pressure early, the GIANTS made it hard for the Demons to play the fast, clean footy for which they have become known. Unfortunately the attacking side of their game wasn't at the same level, so when Melbourne got going in the second quarter, the pain came thick and fast.
The GIANTS allowed Melbourne to get clean attacking-side clearances from the middle, which meant the home side could take full advantage of the space ahead of the play. It bore two quick goals for the Demons, off the boot of Mia Austin and Ryleigh Wotherspoon, after a suffocating opening term from the GIANTS.
Once Melbourne was able to establish some spread from the contest, it became harder for the GIANTS to defend it in such a swarming fashion. The domino effect from there was the home side's capacity to control the game via uncontested possession and hit its multitude of forward options on the lead once inside 50.
When the GIANTS were able to return to that pressure game in spurts and starts, they effectively stymied Melbourne's attack, but at no point were they then able to do damage back the other way. Attacking threats like Tarni Evans and Georgia Garnett spent time behind the ball in an effort to stem the flow, but in the process made their own forward line relatively impotent.
They were able to goal from just 3.7 per cent of their forward entries, their one major coming from a classy Alicia Eva rove.
Alyce Parker (26 disposals, seven clearances) worked exceptionally hard around the contest, but also made a point of adding to her side's defensive coverage in the face of Melbourne's surge.
Garnett shook off an early shoulder scare to finish out the game with some heavy strapping, but didn't seem overly comfortable once returning to the field.
After a starring role minimising the impact of West Coast barometer Ella Roberts last week, it was only logical that GIANT Grace Kòs would try it against Melbourne captain Kate Hore. Kòs worked hard to go with Hore from the middle and pressing forward, and did a reasonable job, but such is the class of Hore – and her teammates – that the tag didn't quite have the same impact as it did last week. By the final term the GIANTS had binned the tag, but it was certainly worth the attempt.
MELBOURNEÂ Â 1.0 Â Â 5.3 Â Â 6.3 Â 9.6 (60)
GIANTSÂ Â 0.3 Â Â 0.3 Â Â 1.4 Â 1.6 (12)
GOALSÂ
Melbourne:Â Wotherspoon 3, Gall 2, Hore, Austin, McNamara, Pisano
GIANTS:Â Eva
