WHILE the immediate focus post-game for the Dees after their 11-point semi-final win over Adelaide was on the performance of skipper Kate Hore (26 disposals, seven marks and three goals), coach Mick Stinear said it was a true team effort despite her herculean outing.

“She said before the game ‘there’s no way we’re losing this’ so special performance by her,” Stinear said after his side stamped its ticket into the preliminary final. “First quarter she started well, and when momentum was against us I think she took at least three intercept marks and just helped sure us up a little bit. She was massive.

“I think there were a lot of players that stepped up today, but collectively in the second half particularly I feel like the penny dropped for our group. We’ve been chipping away at it, and we could have easily have been bundled out of the finals without it coming together, but really important second half to give the group a lot of belief and celebrate the win. Kate definitely lead the way in that regard.”

When asked about where Hore’s performance ranked in terms of individual efforts in the post-season, Stinear chuckled it had “been a while since we’ve been winning finals” but doubled down on the team-first mentality.

“I thought there were a lot of key contributors today,” he said. “Megan Fitzsimon, Shelley Heath, Eliza McNamara, Tahlia Gillard, Goldy (Sinead Goldrick) coming back in the team, Tyla Hanks‘ second half, Maggie Mahony, Ryleigh Wotherspoon, there were just so many.

“It’s not lost on the group how important Kate is, but I just thought across the ground it was collectively stepped up, so it was nice to be able to celebrate a win, you don’t take them for granted.”

Stinear thanked everyone for the week where there had been a “lot of love” for his 100th game milestone, but said the focus was purely on the game as the season was on the line. Even when the players walked into the changerooms at half-time there were danger signs after Adelaide slammed home five second term goals to lead 6.4 (40) to 4.3 (27).

“Probably half-time we weren’t playing well, we were really making it hard for ourselves,” Stinear said. “We kept turning the ball over and the fatigue was building up and then you can’t execute fundamentals. Adelaide were able to score against us and we were just a bit disheveled at half-time. Then you’re not sure where the game’s going to go.

“I thought the coaching group did a really good job of settling the team, a few little adjustments, and then the players really ran with it in the second half. “We were a lot stronger behind the ball, we defended a lot better and then we did a better job of using our numbers and then creatively using the ball on offence without fatiguing ourselves, without putting it straight back into a contest and we were able to create scoring opportunities.”

Those changes turned the game around, with Melbourne kicking 5.3 (33) to 1.3 (9) in the second half to come away with the 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49) win and secure a spot in the preliminary final.

“You were able to feel the shift of the game and then the belief grew from that, and then they carried it right through the second half, so that was a special second half, and when you see big moment like Tahlia Gillard some run-down tackles, smothers, Shelley Heath winning 3v1s, just willing herself,” Stinear said. “They’re emotional moments when players give it everything for their club, for their team. It was a good celebration against a quality team.”

The Dees coach praised his retiring counterpart, with Adelaide loss marking the end of an illustrious AFLW coaching career for two-time premiership coach Matthew ‘Doc’ Clarke.

“Doc Clarke’s done a terrific job with Adelaide, we’ve been chasing them for a decade really and he’s been setting the tone for the majority of that,” Stinear said. “We’re not the team we are today if it wasn’t for them and them setting the bar so high.

“We’ve never had an easy game against them and today was no different but just massive respect for Doc and his contribution to women’s footy and the environment he’s created.”

Melbourne now has the hardest job in football trying to take down the red-hot North Melbourne fresh off a week’s break after securing a 25th straight win.