World Footy News

Melbourne Demons have defeated the Western Bulldogs 8.5(53) to 3.3(21) in the first ever AFL sanctioned women’s game at the MCG in front of a crowd of over 8,000.

Despite the importance of the occasion and playing in front of a crowd which grew to 7,500 supporters by half time, the players quickly overcame any stage fright with Ellie Blackburn quickly opening the scoring for Melbourne. As the AFL’s female goal umpire Chelsea Roffey waved the flags, the crowd voiced their support.

Melbourne’s opener was quickly followed by a response from Bulldogs’ player Kira Phillips, with a point the only difference between the two teams at the first siren.

Melbourne started the second quarter hard with Chelsea Randall putting the ball through the posts. She was quickly followed by Stephanie Walding, Alicia Eva and Alex Price all kicking majors. The Bulldogs were clearly feeling the pressure with their efforts going wide or behind, and the Dees went back into the dressing rooms leading by 5.1(31) to 1.2(8).

Both teams came out defensive after the break and it was halfway through the quarter before Stephanie Chiocci put the Dogs back on the scoreboard. The Bulldogs almost kept the Demons scoreless before Chelsey Randall took a mark and kicked long to Courtney Gum who slotted it though the posts for her first goal of the game.

Kira Phillips became the only double goal kicker of the game when she opened the final quarter with a goal for the Western Bulldogs following a spectacular solo effort down the wing, but Melbourne’s Lou Wotton and Jasmine Garner adding another two goals to the tally to bring the inaugural AFL Women’s Game home for the Melbourne Demons.

A deserving win perhaps for the Dees who sponsor the VWFL and do far more than the other AFL clubs to promote the women’s game. But the support and assistance of the Bulldogs was essential to bring this amazing game to fruition. The media involvement and crowd support was fantastic and greater than anything the women’s game has experienced so far, and with so much support behind the players on the field, it's surely a positive sign for the future of women’s football.

GOAL KICKERS

MFC: Randall, Blackburn, Price, Wotton, Gum, Garner, Eva, White
WBFC: Phillips (2), Chiocci

BEST PLAYERS
MFC: Pearce, Randall, Bentley, Blackburn, Wotton, Kaslar, Gum, Bowers
WBFC: Loynes, Phillips, Brennan, Paxman, Cramey