LAST Sunday, Melbourne became the first AFLW side to break the 100-point barrier, winning by a record 88-point margin.

The Demons have been building to a relentless, high scoring performance like this one all season thanks to the makeup of their forward line, with individuals performing well but working even better as a unit.

Melbourne is the only side in the competition to have three players kick ten or more goals this year – Tayla Harris, Daisy Pearce and Kate Hore.

While it would be reasonable to assume that this is thanks to more inside 50s, creating greater opportunities to attack, that’s not quite the case.

Team effort

The side is averaging 30.4 inside 50s per game – down 0.7 on last year – but making far more efficient use of the ball once in attack this year than ever has before.

Taking a shot on goal from 52.2 per cent of inside 50 entries, and goaling from 22.6 per cent – both competition highs – the Demons have piled on the most points in the league in 2022 with 48.4 per game.

*Bold denotes a club high

This efficiency is aided by their forwards’ ability to keep the ball inside 50 when it does come in.

Each of Melbourne’s four most targeted forwards have an inside 50 retention rate of over 40 per cent. Essentially the Demons don’t just get the ball forward, but they keep it in there until they are able to generate an opportunity to score.

Added to this is their newfound accuracy. Across 48 games since round one 2017, Melbourne has registered just 14 losses. Frustratingly, eight of those losses have come despite registering more scoring shots than its opponent.

This year, however, the Demons are going at 43.4 per cent goal accuracy – the highest in club history – largely assisted by two of their three leading goal kickers. Harris is going at 51.4 per cent in front of goal, while Pearce is kicking at 57.9 per cent.

The individuals

Melbourne’s four leading goal kickers - Harris, Pearce, Hore and Alyssa Bannan - each offer something different which means they fill the gaps in ability of each other, and this makes them exceptionally difficult to defend.

Tayla Harris was quietly having a very good season but drew everyone’s eye in round seven when she equalled the competition record for most contested marks in a game with seven.

Harris has taken 23 contested marks so far this year – the most in an individual season by any player – and kicked 15 of her 18 goals from set shots.

That strong aerial presence has been important in replacing Tegan Cunningham who has been Melbourne’s main target in attack in recent years.

While Harris flies for the ball in the air, Kate Hore is always on the move at her feet.

Known for her clean gather below the knees and exceptional goal sense, Hore has kicked five of her 11 goals from snaps in general play.

If Harris doesn’t get you in the air, Hore will get you on the ground.

Captain Daisy Pearce has been a revelation in the forward line.

Kicking 11 goals, including five on Saturday, it’s not just Pearce’s ability to hit the scoreboard that has proven vital.

On more than one occasion this year Pearce has been alone in the goalsquare, but signalled to younger teammates to take the shot, backing in those players’ ability, and building their confidence.

Pearce’s leadership has led the Demons to smarter, calmer decision-making in the forward half - the missing piece of the puzzle for the side.

Rounding out the quartet is second-year player Alyssa Bannan.

Spending more time up on the wing this year, her confidence to run and carry adds another method of attack for the Demons.

Bannan has kicked three of her five goals more than 30m from goal, two of which have been on the run, including a goal of the year contender in round two.

While Melbourne’s forwards are individually having good seasons, it’s the combination of those forwards coming together that makes them so dangerous.

It’s the aerial strength of Tayla Harris, the leadership of Daisy Pearce, the quick thinking of Kate Hore and the run and carry of Alyssa Bannan.

Individually they’re good, but together they’re great.

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