Last season was the first time Melbourne made a grand final. In an address in the rooms after the preliminary win over the Brisbane Lions put them in the decider for season six, an enthralled Daisy Pearce said, “It just sunk in” to cheers and laughs from her teammates.
But then the Dees fell to Adelaide by 13 points, the cup evading them.
They now have enough chance at getting their maiden flag, just seven months later, and the decorated inaugural AFLW players in Pearce, Karen Paxman, Tayla Harris and Kate Hore could finally get their premiership medals.
But instead of pinning a photo of that premiership cup to their whiteboard and using it to drive them this season, they turned to each, and to the “Demon Spirit”. They wanted to be proud to play for each other, not an end result.
Daisy Pearce celebrates her telling goal with teammates.Credit:AFL Photos
“What we’ve identified in our group this season is fulfilment, playing to be fulfilled,” five-time All- Australian Paxman said earlier this month.
“And certainly part of it is the premiership cup, but we want to go out there every week and have fun together as well. Because we know when we’re having fun and enjoying it, we play our best footy.”
Similarly, in a video the club posted on social media, Demons coach Mick Stinear reiterated that it was about all the little things.
“The little things matter to you, they matter to the person next to you, they matter to us,” said Stinear. “We’re going out of our way to do the little things that others choose not to and then making sure we’re recognising when it’s done well and celebrating amongst the team, so it just keeps on going.”
Premiership player and defender Libby Birch added that it’s “stemming from just our care for one another, and each quarter, playing for the jumper beside you”, while skipper Pearce said it was about “building on our connection as a team [and] our ability to work together as a whole unit and make teams pay when we win the ball back”.
The Demons have come close to the prized silverware. In the first two seasons of the competition, they missed out on grand final appearances on percentage when just the top two advanced to the decider.
In 2019, the conference system was introduced, and they didn’t qualify despite beating grand finalists Carlton by a game, while in 2020, they won their semi-final over Greater Western Sydney, but the season’s end was scrapped due to COVID-19.
In 2021, they made the preliminary final but lost to the Crows and now have made the grand final twice in one year.
But despite this history of near-chances, they decided what would fulfil them was each other and in the pre-season introduced a weekly “Demon Spirit” award, celebrating the recipient with some crowd-surfing that’s become known as the “Melbourne mosh”.
Harris explained in a club video that it had quickly become “a pretty significant award”, and recognises the “Demon Spirit” in anyone in the program.
“I believe Dais [Pearce], in conjunction with a few others, came up with the award and came up with recognising a particular person,” said Harris.
“The winner of the Demon Spirit Award is the person who displays in that particular week the best Demon Spirit, which Demon Spirit is all the little things, caring about your teammates and fellow colleagues, and then also giving everything you’ve got obviously on field, off field.
The selected line-ups.Credit:The Age
The winner picks a song – generally it is a “pump-up song”.
“Then they stand up on something, and then we all mosh them, which is crowd-surfing, but Dais, this is her idea and [it’s] a great feeling,” said Harris.
“And the idea is that someone’s just let loose and just enjoys the experience. And it’s been hilarious. Like, it obviously is funny. I’ve been lucky enough to be moshed twice.”
That ‘Melbourne mosh’ could see the Demons surf towards the ultimate success as they take on the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena at 2.40pm AEST.
Melbourne FC mosh.Credit:Melbourne FC
AFLW GRAND FINAL EXPERT TIPS
LIBBY BIRCH
Selection: Melbourne by nine points
Best on ground: Karen Paxman
Why: You’ll have to wait and see why! Tune in!
PETER RYAN
Selection: Melbourne by six points
Best on ground: Olivia Purcell
Why: Melbourne can record an upset victory with their strength over the ball through Purcell, Karen Paxman, Lily Mithen and Eliza West enough to rattle the Lions who carry the weight of expectation into the game.
JAKE NIALL
Selection: Brisbane Lions by 12 points
Best on ground: Emily Bates
Why: Brisbane have the stronger attack, can more than match the Dees around the ball via Anderson and Bates and have a small home advantage.
EMMA KEARNEY
Selection: Brisbane by 14 points
Best on ground: Nat Grider
Why: The Lions have been the standout team all year and playing in hot conditions at their home ground it will make it a tough ask for Melbourne. Their pressure will overwhelm the Dees in the end.
SARAH BURT
Selection: Brisbane by five points
Best on ground: Ally Anderson
Why: The Lions defence will be hard to beat, and without having to travel and the advantage of having seen the ground before, I think they’ll pull through – just.
MARNIE VINALL
Selection: Brisbane by 17 points
Best on ground: Sophie Conway
Why: While both sides have made a home around the top of the ladder and had incredibly strong seasons, I have Brisbane getting over the line because of their star power across the park, intense pressure and ability to contest hard for four quarters. Also – when Courtney Hodder is on, she’s on.
IZZY HUNTINGTON
Selection: Brisbane by 12 points
Best on ground: Kate Lutkins
Why: Daisy will lead the Dees out hard but Brisbane are just too dominant and well drilled. Will put on a show at home.
ABBEY HOLMES
Selection: Brisbane by 13 points
Best on ground: Greta Bodey
Why: Brisbane have been the strongest, most consistent side all year, and it’s hard to see weaknesses in their side going into Sunday.
