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Magpies tame Demons, go top of AFLW ladder

Oliver CaffreyAAP
Chloe Molloy (r) booted three of Collingwood's seven goals in the easy win over the Demons.
Camera IconChloe Molloy (r) booted three of Collingwood's seven goals in the easy win over the Demons.

Collingwood have stamped themselves as AFLW premiership favourites after disposing of a wayward Melbourne by 35 points.

The Magpies, who went top of the ladder as the league's only unbeaten team, destroyed the Demons on Sunday by running out 7.7 (49) to 1.8 (14) winners.

Collingwood kept Melbourne goalless until late in the third quarter in a commanding all-round display in front of 2931 people at the Magpies' spiritual home of Victoria Park.

Dynamite forward Chloe Molloy produced another electric display with three goals to take her to equal top of the league goal-kicking list alongside Adelaide superstar Erin Phillips and Western Bulldogs ace Isabel Huntington.

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There were late concerns for Molloy as the Magpies star went off the field in the final term clutching her shoulder but she seems to have escaped without any damage.

However, the news might not be so positive for teammate Jordan Membrey, who will have scans on an injured knee on Monday after going down in the third quarter.

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After struggling through their first three AFLW seasons, the Magpies have emerged as surprise flag threats under coach Steve Symonds.

Fremantle's shock defeat to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday means Collingwood are a game clear on top of the table with a perfect 5-0 record.

But Symonds has attempted to play down the hype surrounding the Magpies' winning streak, describing them as a "developing team".

"We worked our girls pretty hard in the summer, there's no doubt about that, and I think they're showing the benefits," Symonds said.

"We ran out this game really strongly so we think we've got a good fitness base that's helping us."

The Demons, who were 3-0, have endured back-to-back horror defeats to kick a combined total of 3.20 in two weekends after booting 2.12 against the Western Bulldogs in round four.

Melbourne dominated the third quarter but some diabolical misses in front of goal cost them any opportunity of reeling in a 25-point half-time deficit.

"(The poor goal-kicking) can't continue because to be able to win games you have to score," Demons coach Mick Stinear said.

"I think it's just more the mental side of the game with players taking it upon themselves to execute under pressure.

"The first three games we were really pleased with how we were going and the last two weeks it's just become a little thorn in the side."

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