A WEEK after toppling premiership contenders Adelaide, St Kilda was sent a stark reality check against another genuine title threat in Melbourne, with the Dees dominating the pair’s AFL Women’s Round 2 clash. Back at home at Casey Fields, the Demons put the foot down after a tight first term to pile on 11 goals to one in the final three quarters and come away with the 13.11 (89) to 2.3 (15) victory.

Both sides came into the match full of confidence after Melbourne stormed past Western Bulldogs, and the Saints caused an early shock with an upset of the Crows at RSEA Park. However there was no doubting the better side in Round 2, with the Dees able to reset at quarter time and never look back.

“We’ve been really strong in the way that we compete around the ball, and I thought our group got the headstart in that area, used the ball really well, our forwards were first to move and got reward for effort early into a slight breeze, and then I thought the Saints had wrestle a bit of momentum back and outworked us for a bit in that first quarter,” Melbourne coach Mick Stinear said.

“Then I thought that game started to open up, it was played on our terms. Third quarter went back to them a little bit and they started to use the ball and a few uncontested marks, and then I thought the group played out the game really well. Overall really pleased with the outcome.”

St Kilda mentor Nick Dal Santo said the club was “clearly really disappointed” with the way the match panned out, noting the scoreboard “probably reflected” the gap between the two sides on the night.

“We came here really clear on what the Dees do, and we knew they would challenge us, we really respect the way that they’ve gone about their football for a young time, well aware of how they played last week and thought they had a really solid performance,” he said. “They basically controlled all three phases of the game, lead by their midfield.

“We really need to learn from this, we need to own it, identify the areas we might have done okay in. Clearly a lot of areas we need to tidy up and quickly. But we’ll learn from that and be better for the experience of playing against really good teams and we will come out in seven days time and try and make it look different.”

The Demons’ win was soured by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to Olivia Purcell, which was the opposite knee to the one she has done in the past. While Purcell sat out the last two and a half quarters after gathering 14 disposals in the first term and 19 overall, it was Tyla Hanks (28 disposals, four marks, 12 tackles and four clearances) and skipper Kate Hore (26 disposals, five marks, five clearances and a goal) who lead the way.

Meanwhile up forward, Tayla Harris wound back the clock with eight scoring shots and a dominant aerial performance to finish with 16 touches, eight marks, five tackles and 4.4, while partner in crime Eden Zanker booted two goals from 19 disposals and eight marks. Stinear credited the team with the proactiveness of the forwards such as Harris as the reason behind the big score.

“It’s hot around the footy, so sometimes the mids don’t have that time to get a perfect kick or perfect entry,” Stinear said. “To have forwards who are first to move or first to compete, and taking the marks that she did today as well as our other forward, it’s good reward for effort. It just allows you to spend time in your forward half and just put pressure on the other team. As the game open up you could see the skill level in possession and that was rewarding as well.”

Melbourne opted for a four-tall forwardline and despite it potentially being a hindrance in certain conditions, it worked for the Dees on the night, and really stretched the St Kilda defence.

“We just think it gives us some good strong targets coming through the midfield,” Stinear said of the decision to play four talls. “You look up and they’ve got a good presence, they can compete in the air and a good reference for our high forwards or our mids coming through if it hits ground level. “We thought the conditions today were perfect for those forwards, and even Georgia Gall coming in for her first game of the year, I thought all of those keys had their moments at times.

“It’s a good look to be able to rest Kate (Hore) deep forward and she’s a real threat in the air and at ground level. Thought it worked today and it’s something we’ll continue to find that balance, you need to adjust to the conditions but they’re in good form and they performed well today.”

Dal Santo conceded the height had been a serious problem for the Saints’ defence and Harris was the main headache.

“They brought in some talls and some additional talls which we thought may stretch us, and it ultimately did,” he said. “We were aware that once again that their forwardline has been very good, and then they bring in some extra talls to really challenge us, and I think that really played to their strengths, and they probably got us in the aerial battle.

“It’s also more difficult when they have a lot of looks at the football. So when the ball is in their front half, clearly the taller players can impact a lot more and Tayla kicked a couple goals early and she finished with four. She’s a really good player, good players win the football and they impact, so she did that.”

Melbourne will now head to Victoria Park where the Demons take on reigning wooden spooners Collingwood. The Magpies are coming off their first win in 331 days, though the visitors will be red-hot favourites for the clash. St Kilda takes on West Coast at RSEA Park with both teams sitting at 1-1 for the season thus far.