THUNDER and lightning forced play to be suspended in the Melbourne v Brisbane Lions NAB AFL Women's opening round in Cranbourne.

The field umpires suspended play 10 minutes into the second quarter and ordered players from the field with lightning being seen from many points of Casey Fields.

Lions take the points in wet and wild AFLW game

Jasmine Grierson had just kicked the Demons first goal to put them in front by four points in horrendous weather conditions.

A howling northerly wind greeted players in the first quarter and Melbourne could manage only three behinds after captain Daisy Pearce won the toss.

But the rain arrived late in the opening term and, although the wind dropped, the storm clouds moved in with several lightning strikes eventually forcing the game to be halted.

After a twenty-minute break during which the weather improved, the players returned to the field and finished the three remaining minutes of the second quarter, before immediately switching ends to start the third term and continue the game. 

The Lions seemed to benefit from the break, with Sabrina Frederick-Traub snapping a brilliant goal in traffic to put them ahead.

The Brisbane side went on to claim an upset 15-point win, 4.1 (25) to 1.4 (10), in front of 6500 hardy fans.

Had the game been abandoned, it would have been deemed a draw under AFL rules because play was stopped before halftime. 

 

The Dees leave the field just before half-time after lightning strikes near Casey. Picture: AFL Photos