MELBOURNE has defeated Collingwood by 20 points, a result compounded by a suspected torn ACL to All-Australian Magpies defender Ash Brazill.
The Demons, coming off a shock loss to St Kilda, comfortably controlled all assets of the game, leading from the first siren to the last in the 7.4 (46) to 4.2 (26) win at Marvel Stadium.
Brazill injured her knee in the dying minutes of the third term when attempting to change direction and was stretchered from the field. Ruby Schleicher was also restricted to the bench with her arm in a sling.
The match itself – crucial in regards to the future of Conference B given both teams were 2-1 coming into the game – was a fairly free-flowing affair, with the Dees' superior forward power and disciplined defence proving to be too much for the young Pies.
Collingwood would be ruing giving away two 50 metre penalties in one passage of play – one for encroaching the protected area at half-back, and the second for a hold close to goal – which resulted in 23-year-old draftee Jackie Parry opening the Dees' account with her first goal in her debut match.
Melbourne came into the match under pressure for some fairly ordinary conversion in front of goal, but outscored Collingwood by one major each quarter except the fourth to finish with seven individual goal-kickers.
Two of this season's top-tier midfielders are Collingwood's Jaimee Lambert and Melbourne's Karen Paxman, and while the two didn't go head to head, they were both their teams' most effective players.
Lambert (22 disposals, six inside-50s, one goal) was a clearance beast, her small frame motoring along the field and often picking up multiple possessions within the one chain.
On the other hand, Paxman (a game-high 24 disposals, six clearances) picked up a lot of her ball around the ground, working well defensively in particular to power Melbourne forward.
More to come
COLLINGWOOD 0.1 2.1 3.1 4.2 (28)
MELBOURNE 2.1 4.2 6.3 7.4 (46)
GOALS
Collingwood: Rowe 2, Layton, Lambert, Rowe
Melbourne: Parry, Hore, Zanker, Cunningham, Sherriff, Scott, Gay
BEST
Collingwood: Lambert, Davey, Bonnici, Rowe, Layton
Melbourne: Paxman, Birch, Hanks, Scott, D. Pearce
INJURIES
Collingwood: Schleicher (arm), Brazill (knee)
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
