Melbourne have claimed their first AFLW premiership, upsetting the Brisbane Lions by four points in a tense and low-scoring grand final.
In front of a packed crowd of 7412 at the Lions' new Michael Voss Oval, the Demons kept the hosts goalless after quarter-time to prevail 2.7 (19) to 2.3 (15).
In what will likely be a fairytale send-off for captain and women's football pioneer Daisy Pearce, the Demons thwarted numerous attempts from the Lions to reclaim the lead in a frantic last quarter.
However, Brisbane failed to score in the final term as Melbourne's defence stood tall and denied the Lions a second flag.
Electric forward Dakota Davidson got the Lions off to the perfect start when she converted a set shot eight minutes into the game.
Cathay Svarc doubled the Lions' score just minutes later, making no mistake with a shot from 30m out.
But the Demons controlled the match after that, slowly working their way back into the contest before taking the lead six minutes into the third quarter.
Tayla Harris, who played the inaugural AFLW season with the Lions, stepped up in her fourth grand final appearance.
She kicked a vital goal in the third quarter after marking in the Demons' goal-square.
Eliza West and dual All-Australian Olivia Purcell were tremendous for the Demons, while Blaithin Mackin kicked Melbourne's only other goal.
Lions captain Breanna Koenen went down with a knee injury in the second quarter but returned to the field after halftime to play-on through significant pain.
Lions speedster Nat Grider evoked memories of Collingwood's Heath Shaw in the 2010 men's grand final when she produced a diving rundown tackle on Megan Fitzsimon to stop the Demons from scoring their first goal late in the opening term.
