Demons Stay Unbeaten Despite Gall Injury in Victory Over Carlton

Melbourne have the ladder to themselves and a growing injury concern to match.

The Demons became the AFLW’s last unbeaten side after six rounds with a commanding 34-point win over Carlton at a windswept Casey Fields on Saturday, the 8.10 (58) to 3.6 (24) result as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.

They did it the hard-nosed way. They also did it without finishing the day unscathed.

Star forward Georgia Gall limped from the field in the third quarter with an ankle injury, just as Melbourne were ripping the contest away from the Blues with a brutal burst that underlined their premiership credentials.

The stakes were clear before the first bounce. Hawthorn’s upset of reigning premiers North Melbourne had cracked the season wide open, and Melbourne knew a win would not only send them top, but stamp their 6-0 start as something more than a hot run.

Carlton came ready for the fight. The Blues were spirited through the opening half, hanging in the contest and refusing to let Melbourne’s ball movement fully click into gear. Their pressure kept the Demons honest, and with a 4-1 record coming in, they looked every bit a top-four contender.

Then the dam wall broke.

Melbourne piled on four unanswered goals in a blistering third term, the kind of surge that separates the good sides from the ones chasing them. Olivia Purcell drove that onslaught, the midfielder racking up 26 disposals and coolly slotting two majors as the Demons’ midfield finally asserted full control.

Tyla Hanks was everywhere. She finished with 32 disposals and a goal, constantly driving Melbourne forward and helping lock the ball in their half. But the high point of the quarter came with a sting: in the middle of the Demons’ surge, Gall went down and hobbled off, leaving Melbourne to sweat on scans after such a clinical performance.

The final quarter brought a moment to savour. Jorja Livingstone capped her AFLW debut with a goal, a neat finish that added another layer of joy for the home fans on a day that had already delivered on the scoreboard.

For Carlton, it was a second straight loss that puts a dent in their top-four push, dropping them to 4-2. They battled hard but couldn’t match Melbourne’s third-quarter ferocity. Claudia Whitfort was typically busy with 24 disposals, working to keep the Blues in touch, yet the weight of Demon numbers and territory eventually told.

Melbourne walk away unbeaten and on top, but with one eye firmly on Gall’s ankle and what it might mean for the weeks ahead.

Cats catch fire in third-term blitz to sink winless Magpies

At Victoria Park, Geelong flicked a switch and Collingwood never recovered.

The Cats stormed to a 14.6 (90) to 7.7 (49) victory, a fifth straight win that cements their place inside the top eight and hints at something more dangerous building down the highway.

They didn’t have it all their own way. The winless Magpies, desperate for a spark, dragged themselves level on the scoreboard just minutes after half-time and threatened to flip the script on a side sitting 5-1.

Then came the explosion.

Geelong produced an electrifying third quarter, slamming on six goals to turn a tight contest into a 31-point lead at the final change. The football was fast, clean and ruthless, and Collingwood simply couldn’t hold back the tide.

Aishling Moloney supplied the moment that will live on the highlights reel. From around halfway, she launched a long kick that bounced, skidded, then kept on tumbling towards goal before finally sneaking through. A goal-of-the-year contender, and a perfect symbol of Geelong’s momentum.

The Cats didn’t ease off. They tightened the screws in the last quarter, keeping Collingwood goalless to close out a 41-point win that showcased both their attacking flair and their defensive discipline.

Their midfield set the platform. Nina Morrison collected 30 disposals, Mikayla Bowen added 29, and Georgie Prespakis dominated the contest with 12 clearances. With that sort of supply, the forwards feasted: Moloney finished with three goals, Chloe Scheer with four, as Geelong’s forward line cashed in on repeat entries.

For Collingwood, the 0-6 record hurts, but there was at least one bright moment. Half-forward Olivia Lewis, a late call-up on Saturday morning after Bri Davey fell ill, kicked a goal on her AFLW debut. The former Super Netball player from Melbourne Mavericks made her first AFLW appearance count, giving Magpies fans a rare reason to cheer on a tough afternoon.

Geelong roll on with five wins in a row and a game that looks sharper by the week. Collingwood are still searching for their first victory – and with the season slipping away, how long can they keep saying it’s just around the corner?