EDEN Zanker finally lived out a childhood dream at the weekend, Melbourne claiming the AFLW premiership with a four-point victory over the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.
After allowing Brisbane to kick the opening two goals of the game, the Demons fought back after quarter-time bring the margin back to just two points at half-time.
Melbourne spearhead Tayla Harris marked and goaled to put the Demons in front with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, and from there the Demons were never headed, going on to win a heart-stopping match 2.7.19 to 2.3.15
Zanker proved a significant contributor for the Demons, ending the game with nine disposals (seven kicks, two handballs), three marks, nine hit-outs and a tackle and helping her side redeem themselves from last season’s grand final loss to Adelaide earlier this year.
“I haven’t had that feeling of winning a grand final yet, but after losing last year’s, I know I don’t want to feel that again,” Zanker told The Guardian in the lead-up to Sunday’s match.
“I’d love to experience what it’s like to win one – I know how bad it hurts to lose, now I want to know how it feels to win.”
The premiership was Melbourne’s first since the AFLW’s inception in 2017. Zanker’s 52-match AFLW career began after she was drafted to the Demons with the sixth pick that year.
