Zanker fires to deny Pearce happy Demons homecoming
Anna Harrington |
Melbourne star Eden Zanker has denied West Coach coach Daisy Pearce a happy return to her old club, snagging five goals in the Demons’ 51-point win over the young Eagles.
Pearce, arguably Melbourne’s most iconic AFLW name and a premierhsip captain in 2022, coached against her former club for the first time in Sunday’s match at Casey Fields.
But Zanker, who kicked five goals in the opening half while clunking nine marks, stood in her former teammate’s way as the Demons battered the Eagles around the ball to win 10.14 (74) to 3.5 (23).
“We absolutely love ‘Dais’, and she’s obviously left a really good legacy at Melbourne Football Club. She’s obviously one of the pioneers of the game,” Zanker said.
“So absolutely no malice towards Dais. We come here to do a job, and we got it done today.”
It was an important response for Melbourne, who lost to Port Adelaide last week.
With Lauren Pearce (20 hitouts, 15 disposals, six clearances) on top in the ruck, Melbourne midfielders Tyla Hanks (18 disposals) and Eliza McNamara (24 disposals) were prolific.
Skipper Kate Hore kicked two goals from 16 disposals while Tayla Harris (two goals, one assist, 432 metres gained) was important in the air.
Roberts (19 disposals, 11 tackles, five clearances) was excellent, with support from Charlie Thomas (25 disposals, 406 metres gained) and Abbygail Bushby (23 disposals, four clearances).
Eagles co-captain Bella Lewis struggled with a hip pointer injury suffered in the first quarter and was eventually ruled out in the third term.
Melbourne set up the victory with a dynamic first quarter, in which they kicked four unanswered goals.
Hore, then Harris, teed up Zanker for the opening two majors before both forwards hit the scoreboard themselves, leaving the Eagles in early trouble.
Zanker snagged the opening three majors of the second quarter to threaten the AFLW record of seven goals, held by Brooke Lochland and Chloe Molloy.
“We wanted to come out firing, and the girls absolutely did that,” Zanker told the Seven Network.
“It’s good when you have people like Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks and Shelly Heath absolutely laying it out for your, putting it on a platter.
“That makes my job easy. And I’ve just got to finish off their hard work.”
Melbourne led by 46 at half-time and added another three unanswered goals in the third term, leading by a game-high 68 at the start of the fourth quarter.
But the Eagles closed the game out well, holding Melbourne goalless in the last term while majors to Sarah Lakay, Kayla Dalgleish and Lauren Wakfer made the margin more respectable.
The second-placed Demons (5-1) next host Gold Coast on Friday while eighth-placed West Coast (3-3) take on GWS at home next Sunday.
AAP
