Melbourne have sent an early warning to their AFLW rivals with a comprehensive 42-point victory over Collingwood in the season-opener on Friday night.
The Demons, who unfurled their 2022 premiership flag ahead of the match at Ikon Park, produced a stunning third quarter to turn the game on its head.
Trailing by 14 points midway through the second quarter, the Demons kicked five goals in a devastating burst after half-time to effectively seal the result.
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They added another three in the last term and kept the Pies to just four points in a brutal second half.
Alyssa Bannan kicked three goals, while new captain Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks were also influential.
FULL MATCH COVERAGE: All the stats from the Demons’ big win
Despite the retirement of captain Daisy Pearce after last year’s premiership, Melbourne have kept nearly their entire list together and look every bit like the early premiership favourites.
Demons forward Tayla Harris (13 disposals, one goal) pulled in four contested marks to become the first player in AFLW history to reach 100 across her career.
“We knew the pressure was going to be on early and the contest was hot,” Hore told the Seven Network.
“But we knew if we just kept grinding it out we’d eventually start to play the game that we like to play.
“We got there in the end.”
Pearce, who was in commentary for Channel 7, said her old side sent a “big message” to the rest of the league.
“A big message to the competition, just saying, ‘You might be able to run with us for a half but if you can’t punch in a solid four-quarter effort, we have the fitness, we have the skill, we have the ability to play it for four’,” she said.
While the Magpies failed to come away with victory, they had the best player on the ground with Bri Davey producing a performance for the ages in her comeback game.
Davey missed both AFLW seasons last year after tearing her ACL in January, but showed no signs of slowing down with an astonishing 35 disposals, 11 clearances, five tackles and a goal.
Channel 7 commentator Abbey Holmes was rapt to see the 2021 AFLW best and fairest back doing what she does best.
“Great to see her back doing just that. She’s a contested beast. 14 contested and six clearances (in the first half),” Holmes said.
‘How good was it to see her hit the scoreboard as well off the back of getting a free kick for locking the ball in.
“Her teammates came from everywhere. I wanted to run out and given her a high-five. I love Bri Davey. Great to see her back dominating.”
Teammate Brittany Bonnici (17 disposals) also impressed on her return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Sarah Rowe (20 touches) was busy for Collingwood, who lost last season’s leading goalkicker Eliza James to a left ankle injury before halftime.
– With AAP
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