MELBOURNE coach Mick Stinear was not dwelling on the could-have-beens during his post-match press conference despite his Dees missing out on the AFL Women’s minor premiership by just one point. Needing to win 79 to nil down at a blustery Casey Fields against West Coast, Stinear’s Demons won 79-1, in a result that Stinear described as “excellent”.

“We’re rapt with what we’ve been able to do in the home and away season,” Stinear said. Brisbane deserve to finish on top and the minor premiership. From a coaching point of view more information, whether that would have changed the outcome. They were playing with such freedom, and boldness out on the ground, potentially that might have taken some of that away. We’re happy with we’re where at and looking forward to the opportunity to have a double chance in the new finals system this year.”

Much was talked about what was required of the Demons against the bottom four Eagles, but even Stinear thought that a 79-point win was beyond them given the challenging Casey Fields conditions.

“We’re really happy to finish where we have, and for the players to do what they have in these conditions is really excellent,” he said. We feel like we’ve laid a really good foundation to start our finals campaign and we know there’s nothing guaranteed, you’ve got to go out and earn it.”

Though the coaching group had discussed what was required of them – and late in the game they had tried to manufacture that result with moves – Stinear said he had not directly addressed the playing group with what was required to grab top spot.

“I think from a playing point of view, over the last four or five weeks, it’s been process driven and being in the moment and focusing on what we can control,” he said. We thought today that might happen, the conditions were very challenging today so we probably didn’t think it was a reality at the start of the game.

“I think it was more of just sticking to what we came here to do, which was to defend well and compete well and use the ball when we get our opportunity. From a coaching point of view, we were coaching we were trying to get that outcome late, but we weren’t necessarily filtering that to our full team.”

Melbourne laid a whopping 29 tackles inside 50, just one shy of the all-time AFL Women’s record, locking the ball inside its defensive half. Kate Hore laid a massive seven tackles inside 50, with Karen Paxman (five), Alyssa Bannan (four) and Daisy Pearce (three) all applying plenty of pressure.

“I think the best form of defence is get that ball in your forward half and I think the forwards have a little internal competition to see who can get the most pressure acts and Daisy and Kate trying to outdo each other at times,” Stinear said. It’s a good environment the forwards have created with Shae Sloane coaching and I think it encourages the team to get it in there more often if they’re prepared to work like that. It was good by the forwards today.”

Melbourne will now set its sights on Adelaide in a grand final rematch, opening the AFL Women’s Season 7 finals series on Friday, November 4. The winner will advance through to a preliminary final, while the loser will take on the winner of Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.