AFLW Semi Final, 2023
Melbourne vs Geelong
Sunday 19 November
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: 5057
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 6.9.45 |
| Geelong | 2.4 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 7.8.50 |
Geelong win by 5 points
Goalkickers: Eden Zanker 3, Maddie Gay 1, Tyla Hanks 1, Aimee Mackin 1
Milestones:
50 games (also with Geelong)
Olivia Purcell
Last MFC game
Libby Birch
Maddie Gay
Eliza West
Last game
Jordan Ivey
Statistical categories led:
Lowest score and largest loss against Geelong
Lowest score and largest loss in a Semi Final
Equal most handballs in a game: 19 - Eliza West
Forced into a knockout final after their disappointing loss in the Qualfying Final, Melbourne started favourites against Geelong but were reduced to nearly pulling off the biggest comeback in the history of the competition. The forward woes that kept them to a goal the previous week returned, with the Cats four goals up just before half time when Maddie Gay marked and goalled to get the Demons on the board. They continued to struggle in the third term, conceding the only two goals and starting the final term 30 points behind.
A goal in the opening seconds to Tyla Hanks was quickly followed by two for Eden Zanker and the margin was back to 18. Geelong looked to have steadied when they kicked their only major of the final term, but a third to Zanker, and an Aimee Mackin goal on the run cut the margin to one kick with two minutes left. A flying Lauren Pearce shot could have tied the scores, but went wide and despite the ball being in the Demon forward line at the siren they were unable to find another goal to keep their premiership defence alive.
Best were West, Hanks and Zanker
Media
afl.com.au - 19/11/2023
Links
Demonblog match review