AFLW records tumble as Demons trounce Freo

Mar 18, 2017 - 9:13 AM Melbourne coach Mick Stinear says the Demons can get even better after they keeping their AFL Women's grand final prospects bubbling along with a record-breaking 54-point mauling of Fremantle.

The 11.4 (70) to 2.4 (16) demolition at Casey Fields on Saturday piles the pressure on Adelaide, who must defeat Collingwood at Olympic Park on Sunday to join Brisbane in the inaugural premiership decider.

Melbourne entered the final round of the season in third spot but replaced the Crows in second with the win, with Stinear's in-form side kicking the highest score of the season and winning by the largest margin.

Adelaide will draw level with the Demons on five wins if they prevail over the Pies, but the Crows would advance to the grand final thanks to their superior percentage.

"I feel the longer our comp goes the better we'll continue to get," Stinear said.

"It's win-win for us really. We'll walk away from this season being proud of how far we've come and looking forward to next year's challenge if things don't go our way.

"But the girls are all preparing to play in a grand final, so their recovery becomes really important.

"We're in second spot now, we're in the grand final, and it's up to Adelaide to take that away.

"(But) I hope the girls get the opportunity to play next week ... I think they really deserve it with how they've developed over the course of the season."

The Demons were out of the blocks quickly, leading by three goals at quarter-time, and set up an imposing 33-point break at halftime.

The Dockers didn't manage a goal in the last three quarters of the match as they slumped to their fifth loss in a disappointing season.

Fremantle were widely tipped to be one of the main premiership contenders before the season kicked off, but coach Michelle Cowan dismissed suggestions they had underperformed.

"They were external expectations - they weren't within our four walls," Cowan said.

"We knew what we wanted to do ... we've seen consistent improvement and development in our group from round to round.

"We didn't buy into any of that (premiership favouritism)."

Daisy Pearce put in another star performance for the Demons, finishing with 22 possessions, and Elise O'Dea was also important with a game-high 25 touches.

Deanna Berry, Alyssa Mifsud, Cat Phillips and Shelley Scott booted two goals apiece in the the dominant display.

Dana Hooker led the way for Fremantle with 20 disposals but the visitors had far too many passengers.

Source: AAP