Melbourne was given a wake-up call of what to expect in the AFLW finals, capping the end of the home-and-away season with a tense one-point win over Carlton.
The Demons struggled to get their overlap and free-flowing style operating at anywhere near previous rounds and in the end were lucky to sneak home 5.4 (34) to 5.3 (33) at Casey Fields in Cranbourne.
With the Blues trailing by just two points, experienced forward Darcy Vescio had a chance to snatch an upset victory with a free kick deep in the forward pocket with only 35 seconds left on the game clock.
But the kick from 25 metres on a tight angle drifted across the goal and the ball was bundled across the line for a behind.
The win provisionally lifts the Demons to the top of the ladder, a win ahead of Adelaide.
But the Crows will claim the minor premiership if they beat St Kilda at Moorabbin on Sunday as they enjoy a superior percentage to the Demons.
The Demons were never allowed to settle, with the Blues' relentless pressure on the ball carrier and at stoppages giving them a superior tackle count.
But the Demons found a way to hold onto a slender lead, despite kicking only one goal in the defence-dominated second half.
Gun Melbourne forward Tayla Harris had a quiet night in her first game against her former side and was kept goalless.
It was left to teenage forward Alyssa Bannan to come to the Demons' rescue with three goals in the first half that ultimately proved enough.
The Blues, on a three-game winning streak, were left to ponder what might have been after the late-season rally left them just short of the top six and a finals berth.
They did not score in the opening quarter but they absorbed enormous pressure from a lopsided inside-50 count and then grew in confidence with better reward from the midfield contests late in the first half.
Two goals from Nicola Stevens and others from Jess Good and Keeley Sherar enabled Carlton to stay in touch with the potent Demons.
Such was the threat of the Blues' surge that Melbourne sent captain Daisy Pearce to the backline as an extra to help out in a wildly fluctuating first half that left the combatants deadlocked and weary at the main break.
Pearce's skills and poise, particularly in the frantic final minutes, helped save the game for the Demons.
After contributing two goals in the first half, her work down back was pivotal. She even took the kick-out with only seconds remaining and found a teammate as the final siren blew.
Magpies through to finals
Collingwood confirmed its spot in the finals with a 38-point win over Richmond, but the Magpies face a nervous wait on the availability of Jordyn Allen and Sophie Casey.
Jaimee Lambert starred as the Magpies recorded a comfortable 6.11 (47) to 1.3 (9) victory to secure a qualifying-final berth next weekend.
But Allen and Casey both face scrutiny from the match review officer over incidents in the first half of the clash with the Tigers at Victoria Park.
Casey crashed front-on into Tayla Stahl and made head contact as the pair contested a loose ball, while replays appeared to show Allen striking Emelia Yassir in the stomach in an off-the-ball clash.
Yassir left the field moments later.
The incidents were part of a bruising encounter, with Lambert nursing sore ribs through several crunching contests.
The Magpies' gun on-baller was best afield with match-high tallies of 31 disposals and eight tackles before being rested on the bench for the final few minutes of the match.
Sophie Alexander kicked two goals for Collingwood, as Sarah Rowe (18 disposals), Ruby Schleicher (25), Aishling Sheridan (22) and Mikala Cann (23) racked up plenty of touches.
The result meant Richmond finished the season with a 3-7 win-loss record, while the Western Bulldogs and Carlton were eliminated from the finals race following the Magpies' win.
Kangaroos ease past Eagles
The Kangaroos tuned up for the finals with a 39-point win over West Coast, as Ash Riddell set a record for the most disposals in an AFLW match.
After defeats in their previous two matches, the Kangaroos generated some much-needed momentum with a 9.5 (59) to 3.2 (20) victory at Arden Street.
The big margin was a handy percentage boost for Darren Crocker's side in the fight for fourth spot.
The Kangaroos will host a qualifying final in Melbourne next weekend if sixth-placed Fremantle do not overtake them on percentage.
The Dockers host Gold Coast on Sunday.
Riddell gathered 42 disposals to surpass the previous best mark of 35, which she held jointly with Adelaide pair Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard.
West Coast stunned its hosts with two of the first three goals in a hot start.
But it was all the Kangaroos from there as Emma King announced her return from an ankle injury with two strong marks that both led to goals in the opening term.
Riddell had 22 disposals in the first half as five consecutive goals gave the Kangaroos a commanding 28-point lead at the main break.
They went on with the job in the third term before cruising to a comfortable win.
Ruck-forward King was one of four multiple goal kickers for the Kangaroos, with Daria Bannister, Jasmine Garner and Tahlia Randall kicking two majors each.
Emma Kearney (25 disposals), Jenna Bruton (27) and Garner (26) won plenty of the ball, while Emma Swanson (26) was the visitors' best.
The result completed a bleak season for West Coast, who took out the wooden spoon with a 1-9 record.
AAP/ABC
