Captain Kate Hore led the Melbourne Demons to a thrilling victory over the Adelaide Crows in the AFLW semi-final, overcoming a 13-point half-time deficit to secure an 11-point win. The match, held on March 16, 2024, at Ikon Park, ended with a score of 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49), propelling the Demons into the preliminary final against the undefeated North Melbourne.
Emotional scenes unfolded as coach Mick Stinear shed tears of joy following the final siren. Hore was instrumental in the Demons’ success, scoring three goals and accumulating 26 disposals. Her performance was complemented by midfielder Shelley Heath, who recorded 24 touches and six clearances, and winger Elizabeth McNamara, who contributed 25 disposals.
Defensive standout Tahlia Gillard made two crucial goal-saving tackles in the second half, thwarting attempts from Niamh Kelly and Chelsea Randall. Hore expressed her disbelief at the win, stating, “I can’t believe it. They’re a tough outfit – we’ve played against them for so many years and had so many great battles. Unreal to get the job done and (be) through to a prelim.”
Despite their efforts, the Crows struggled to maintain their first-half lead. Ebony Marinoff and Niamh Kelly were prominent for Adelaide, with Marinoff accumulating 27 disposals and one goal, while Kelly added 23 disposals and one goal. The Crows faced mounting pressure from Melbourne’s relentless second-half performance.
The match began energetically, with Melbourne scoring two early goals within the first four minutes. Adelaide managed to respond, with Caitlin Gould scoring the Crows’ first major in the 15th minute. By the end of the first quarter, Melbourne held a 12-point advantage after Maggie Mahoney scored just before the siren.
Adelaide turned the tide in the second quarter, outscoring Melbourne 5.2 to 1.1, and took the lead with a goal from Danielle Ponter right on half-time. The Crows’ resurgence put them ahead, but the Demons bounced back in the third quarter with tactical changes, including moving Tayla Harris into the ruck position.
The final quarter saw Melbourne regain control, with Hore scoring her third goal to solidify their lead. Adelaide’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities was evident, as they recorded 13 inside-50s compared to Melbourne’s four for the term, yet they were outscored 3.3 to 1.2.
This defeat marked the end of Adelaide’s streak of five consecutive preliminary final appearances, concluding Matthew Clarke‘s tenure as coach with a commendable record of 65 wins and 27 losses. The Demons’ victory not only secured their place in the next round but also highlighted their resilience and determination throughout the match.
