VETERAN defender Cecilia McIntosh squared the ledger last Sunday in her season's head-to-head duels with century goalkicker and Collingwood marquee player Moana Hope.
McIntosh, the mainstay of Melbourne University's backline, limited the St Kilda Sharks' spearhead to two goals in the VFL Women's league preliminary final at Port Melbourne.
The pair is 2-2 in contests this season in what's developing as a fierce rivalry that will likely continue in next year's AFL women's league, unless McIntosh is drafted by Collingwood to join Hope.
A couple of clubs have expressed interest in the 37-year-old McIntosh, who was a heptathlon athlete as a teenager, won a silver medal for Australia in the javelin at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and represented her country in the bobsled at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Despite conceding 11cm, the dogged defender so often was right on the dangerous Hope's shoulder to spoil marking attempts. Her efforts were crucial in her team’s 40-point win.
"It's so stressful for a defender when you've got the leading goalkicker right next to you. My track and field background helps with my speed and jump," McIntosh said.
"Our backline was great and our midfield was tops. They put pressure on the ball-carrier, which made it easier for me to read where the ball was going."
Hope kicked five goals in the first Uni-Sharks home and away game and McIntosh held her goalless for the only time this season in the return bout in wet conditions.
Hope booted six goals for the Western Bulldogs when McIntosh was Melbourne's full-back in the AFL women’s All-Stars game at Whitten Oval on September 3.
"That was a hard night because we were playing a different style. The coach wanted us further up the field, which is not my preference when I play on her,” McIntosh said.
“I like to drop off her a bit. I like to play from behind so I can get a run at the ball.
"(The All-Stars match) was the fastest game of footy I've ever played in. The ball was coming in so fast and they were nailing it. You had the best (midfielders) in the country kicking to her. But to her credit, she did a good job."
Both of Hope's goals came in the last quarter on Sunday when the game was out of reach for the Sharks – a set-shot from a tight angle near the boundary line and a high snap-shot that bounced through an unguarded goal.
"Her body is one of her real strengths and she can also turn you inside out because she reads the ball so well. She has a lot of strengths and she can come out in any quarter and kick five," McIntosh said.
"If I was a bigger-bodied player, I might be able to hold my position, but I mixed it up a bit. There were times when I was holding onto her, not in an illegal way, and then other times I would step off.
“She's definitely tough to play on. You've got to be switched on the whole game."
McIntosh switched from athletics to football after a shoulder injury in 2006, but has competed successfully in a host of sports.
A mix of athleticism and toughness means she's almost certain to be selected at the inaugural AFL women’s draft on October 12.
- Melbourne University faces top team Darebin in the VFL Women's Grand Final at Coburg on Sunday. The match starts at 2.30pm.
- Darebin captain and Melbourne marquee player Daisy Pearce has won the VFL Women's best and fairest award. The 28-year-old beat St Kilda defender and Carlton marquee player Brianna Davey, with Melbourne University midfielder and Western Bulldogs marquee signing Ellie Blackburn finishing third. The win was Pearce's seventh overall and fourth straight.
