Melbourne secured second spot on the AFLW table and ruined the farewell for a trio of Geelong veterans with a 14-point win over the Cats at GMBHA Stadium.
Geelong entered Saturday night’s match desperate to send off retiring stalwarts Kate Darby, Meghan McDonald and Shelley Scott with a win.
Instead, a four-goal haul to Eden Zanker – including two in a flash during Melbourne’s third-quarter surge – led the Demons to the 9.5(59) to 6.9(45) win. The result guarantees Melbourne (9-3) second spot and two home finals.
But the Demons could be without star forward Kate Hore for the start of the finals after she copped a late knock to the head, with a concussion test to determine her fate.
Geelong finished season with a 5-7 record.
Melbourne midfielder Tyla Hanks was crucial in Melbourne’s five-goal third-quarter blitz and finished with 27 disposals, six clearances, one goal and 519 metres gained.
Zanker kicked 4.0 from 13 disposals, to go with five marks.
“It’s definitely good to lock in some home finals. We haven’t been great on the road this season,” Zanker told the Seven Network.
“Last week against the Lions (in a nine-point loss) we got a bit of a wake-up call in terms of that finals intensity.
“To reflect on that, and bring our best today for 80 minutes was really good. It will hold us in good stead.”
Georgie Prespakis (32 disposals, 10 tackles, eight clearances and 596 metres gained) and Mikayla Bowen (30 disposals, two goals) led the way for Geelong.
In emotional scenes, Darby, McDonald and Scott were chaired off through a guard of honour after the final siren.
Scott wasn’t able to play at all this season because of injury.
The first half was an even affair with Melbourne kicking three goals to two to take a four-point edge into the long break.
Geelong snatched back the lead early in the third through Mikayla Bowen’s snap, but the Dees were back in front when Zanker took the ball out of the ruck and kicked the ball over her own shoulder for a memorable goal.
Zanker kicked her third goal a short time later when she outmuscled her opponent to take a strong mark in the goal square.
The 25-year-old was forced from the field a short time later with a bloodied nose, but it didn’t dampen Melbourne’s charge.
Hore ensured career goal 99 was one to remember when she used the outside of her right boot to dribble through a ripper.
A goal to Tayla Harris after the three-quarter time siren extended Melbourne’s lead to 23 points and it was able to close out the game in the final term.
