Demons storm home against Cats to claim AFLW prelim berth

Melbourne has stormed home with the last five goals of the game to beat Geelong by four points in their AFLW qualifying final.

After Demons star Paxy Paxman put them in front with a snapped goal, Chloe Scheer marked and had a shot at goal for Geelong with 20 seconds left.

But the Geelong forward missed and the Demons won 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) on Saturday at Princes Park.

Melbourne kicked the only three goals of the last quarter after looking well out of the game in the third term.

Geelong onballer Georgia Prespakis was easily best afield in the first half, but Melbourne midfielder Liv Purcell helped spark the comeback and they had 34 possessions apiece.

It was the first time Geelong's Mick Stinear has gone up against his old club since the 2022 premiership coach left Melbourne at the end of last season.

Melbourne now has the week off, while Geelong's semi-final opponent will be the winner of Sunday's Sydney-Western Bulldogs elimination final.

The threat of lightning delayed the start of the game on Saturday by 10 minutes, but Melbourne's changeable spring weather meant much of the game was played in sunshine.

The Cats kicked clear in the second term, with four goals to one and led by 22 points at the main break. They twice led by 28 in the third quarter, before the Demons hit back.

With Purcell and 100-gamer Tyla Hanks leading the way, the Demons kicked four goals to three and cut the margin to 12 points at the last change.

Alyssa Bannan's accurate snap in the first 30 seconds of the final quarter brought the Demons to within a goal. Prespakis kicked a behind, then Bannan kicked her second.

Paxman put Melbourne in front for the first time since the first quarter with her goal at 17 minutes.

Two-time defending premiers North Melbourne are playing Carlton in the second game of Saturday's qualifying final double-header at Princes Park.