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Melbourne’s quest to change into the primary AFLW facet to win back-to-back premierships is off to a flying begin.
Sitting atop the ladder after 4 rounds, claiming victory by a minimal 42 factors every week and on a file 13-game profitable streak, the Demons look unstoppable.
Profitable back-to-back flags is tough. Victors change into the hunted as different groups go to work on what made final season’s premiers so good, which suggests already nice groups have to get higher as soon as once more.
And get higher is one thing Melbourne has achieved this 12 months, turning into probably the most prolific attacking facet in AFLW historical past to essentially put opponents to the sword.
For years, Melbourne has centered on crafting a stingy line of defense, culminating in a file common of simply 18.6 factors towards final season.
Now, with a settled, sturdy defence in place, the Demons have achieved extra stability between stopping the opposition from scoring and scoring huge themselves.
The pure unfold of goal-kicking choices Melbourne boasts is unparalleled, having fun with targets from 16 totally different gamers already this season, whereas 11 of these have kicked a number of targets throughout the opening 4 rounds.
Captain Kate Hore leads Melbourne’s goal-kicking with 10, whereas Eden Zanker (eight targets) and Alyssa Bannan (seven targets) have every had a huge impact on the scoreboard.
On this trio alone, the totally different sorts of forwards the facet has introduced collectively is clear.
Discovering a stability between contested marking key forwards (Tayla Harris, Zanker), lead-up marking targets (Hore) and operating choices (Casey Sherriff, Bannan) has been helpful for the Demons.
By bringing collectively a gifted, but additionally assorted ahead contingent, Melbourne has change into more and more tough to include, and more proficient at adjusting in-game to the scenario at hand.
Because of this, the facet is averaging a file 16.3 marks inside 50 per sport, 4.3 forward of its nearest rival Adelaide, who averages 12 this 12 months.
The supply inside 50 has been one motive why Melbourne is marking the ball in its attacking arc at a file tempo, with Tyla Hanks (19 inside 50s) and Olivia Purcell (17) main the way in which.
However one other key motive for such ahead dominance is the workforce’s willingness to work for every different.
All the time on the hunt for a teammate in a greater place, the Demons are additionally averaging a file 9.8 purpose assists this season. Aim assists, the place a participant straight will get the ball to the purpose kicker, are the last word indicator of unselfish, team-first play.
Previously, inaccuracy has plagued Melbourne, leading to eight of its 16 losses coming regardless of registering extra scoring pictures than its opponent.
So, by at all times on the lookout for teammates in higher positions, the Demons have discovered their most correct return in entrance of purpose since becoming a member of the competitors.
With a conversion price of 48.5 per cent, the facet is kicking a purpose from 30.7 per cent of its inside-50 entries.
Melbourne’s record-breaking assault has been constructed not merely on one issue, however the mixture of many.
They’re getting the ball inside 50 extra typically, providing higher aerial choices contained in the arc, establishing teammates for higher alternatives on purpose, and changing their alternatives higher than ever earlier than.
Whereas among the Demons’ greatest challenges are nonetheless on the horizon, together with Thursday evening’s maiden match towards Geelong and subsequent week’s head-to-head with second-placed Adelaide, the facet may be very properly positioned to create one other little bit of historical past later within the 12 months — consecutive AFLW flags.
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