Melbourne grab four-point win over Geelong in AFLW qualifying final
Melbourne beat Geelong 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) in the AFLW qualifying final at Princes Park on Saturday, 7 November, winning by four points after trailing by 22 at half-time. ABC News reported the result.
In footy scoring, a goal is worth six points and a behind is worth one. So 8.8 means eight goals and eight behinds, which is 56. Geelong had kicked four goals to one in the second quarter to open a 22-point lead, and it looked like the Cats would hold it.
Melbourne had other ideas. The Demons kicked the last five goals of the game, including the only three goals of the final quarter. Paxy Paxman's goal at the 17-minute mark of that last quarter put Melbourne in front for the first time since the first quarter.
Georgia Prespakis and Liv Purcell each finished with 34 possessions, a count of every time a player gets hold of the ball by hand or foot. Melbourne also named McNamara, who returned to the side for the game, according to the club.
The match had a personal edge for Mick Stinear. He coached Melbourne to the 2022 premiership and left the club at the end of last season. This was his first game against his old club.
The start was also held up. The AFL's own schedule had the game set for a different time, but the start was pushed back 10 minutes because of the threat of lightning, as ABC News reported.
Melbourne now get a week off. Geelong will play the winner of the Sydney versus Western Bulldogs elimination final in a semi-final, a knockout game where losing ends a team's finals run. Geelong had already set a record this season, scoring 871 points in 12 home-and-away games, the most of any AFLW team in that part of the season, according to the club.
The 2026 NAB AFLW Grand Final is set for Friday, 27 November. The highest-ranked club gets to host it, as the AFL has confirmed.
The two clubs have met often this year. Geelong beat Melbourne 18.9 (117) to 14.13 (97) back on 24 July, so the Demons now have a win to set against that loss.
