Ultimate frisbee champion Cat Phillips proved the value of AFLW teams casting their recruiting nets wide, when she booted two impressive goals to help Melbourne to their first win of the season.

She played as though she had a lifetime of football under her belt at Ikon Park on Saturday night, showing an uncanny ability to find the goals.

Skipper Daisy Pearce was dynamic at half-back, every bit the league super star who got more of the ball than any other player.

Much-loved by Melbourne fans, Pearce was everywhere the team needed her to be when she spearheaded the Dees' comeback in the second half.

But Collingwood had their opportunities.

They led by three goals at half-time and were playing a tough, relentless brand of football only to fade in the second half.

A downside for the Demons was Meg Downie being stretchered off in the final term after copping a high hit. She was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The side rallied however, their endeavour showcasing the strengths of the competition.

Both Collingwood and Melbourne suffered heavy losses in round one, managing just one major score apiece for their entire matches. But facing each other, they were highly competitive.

They scored often and played with excitement and flair.

It is too early to write off either of these Victorian teams.

The league's opening match between Carlton and Collingwood at the same ground was an emphatic success – security guards were forced to turn about 2000 angry punters away when the stands filled up halfway through the first quarter.

The Pies' round two match against Melbourne did not attract quite the same crowd, with the 24,000-capacity ground about half full.

But there was a sense of excitement about the place and enough of a crowd to give a resounding roar as the Dees' theme song rang out across Carlton.

Both teams' goalkicking was a highlight.

The forwards were daring and they kicked accurately.

Collingwood got off to a strong start when star forward Moana Hope pulled in a strong mark at the 50-metre line, looked ready to take a shot then snuck a pass to Caitlyn Edwards, who kicked an easy goal.

Hope followed up with a goal of her own just minutes later, with an around the body shot, under pressure, which with a good helping of luck bounced through.

Dees tall forward Jessica Anderson got her team on the board with a lovely goal on the run, setting the game up to be a competitive affair. Collingwood beat Melbourne through the centre in the first half. Captain Stephanie Chiocci was particularly dynamic for the Pies early on, but she notched up most of her possessions in the first half.

Collingwood recruited some particularly strong players into their forward line and the strategy paid off on Saturday night, when the likes of Jessica Cameron and Hope had opportunities to shine.

But in the third quarter, the tide turned and it turned quickly.

With a burst of energy, Melbourne found a way to break through some of the stoppages around the edges of the ground and send the ball flying into their forward 50.

Pearce came to life, with stamina and skills unsurpassed by any other player on the ground.