GWS have narrowly avoided becoming the first team in AFLW history to be held scoreless for an entire game, suffering a 37-point thumping from Melbourne.
The Giants returned to action on Saturday after their previous fixture against St Kilda was postponed because they were unable to field a team, with too many players unavailable through COVID-19 protocols.
The disrupted preparation took its toll as GWS never looked like threatening the Demons, who gradually pulled clear to post a comfortable 6.8 (44) to 1.1 (7) win that underlined their premiership credentials.
Early inaccuracy in front of goal prevented a much bigger margin in typically blustery conditions at Casey Fields.
Lily Mithen (22 disposals) and Karen Paxman (21) starred in the engine room for Melbourne, while Kate Hore and Tayla Harris kicked two goals each.
It looked as if GWS would be held scoreless until Jessica Doyle pounced on a loose ball and snapped a goal with less than three minutes left on the clock.
The late score took GWS past Richmond’s competition record-low 0.3 (3), posted against St Kilda in 2020.
“We were pretty embarrassing today for most of the game and it starts at contests,” Giants coach Alan McConnell said.
“We’re just too inconsistent there right now and we’ve got some serious work to do.
“It’s a bit of technique, a little bit of intent and a little bit about the ability to do it over and over again.”
GWS have played just one game at home this season and have had a total of 19 players contract COVID-19.
“I don’t know the details of their last two weeks but it certainly hasn’t been easy for any of our players coming off the health and safety protocols and impacting at this high level,” Melbourne coach Mick Stinear said.
“No doubt they’ve probably had their challenges and a lot of players probably felt it today.”
Enforced time out didn’t bother young Demons star Tyla Hanks, who was an important contributor with 21 disposals on her return.
Goals to Daisy Pearce and Hore gave Melbourne the upper hand in the opening term but they didn’t boot their third major until Shelley Scott kicked truly moments before three-quarter time.
It opened the floodgates as the Demons kicked away to a 44-point lead during the fourth quarter.
Harris continued her run of kicking a goal in every game since her off-season switch to Melbourne, booting two majors in the final term after a tough battle with Giants defender Pepa Randall.
Harris crashed into Erin McKinnon in a late marking contest that left the GWS player nursing a sore back and head.
“If the footy’s in my area and I can impact to try and stop the other team from getting it, then I have to,” Harris told Fox Footy.
“That’s my job. That’s all I did, I just had eyes for the footy.
“I hope (McKinnon) is OK. No one wants anyone to get hurt, but that’s just footy and this is how we play.”
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