2022 AFLW early look: Melbourne
IN an early look at the upcoming AFL Women’s 2022 season, Draft Central checks out each of the 14 clubs over the next three weeks ahead of preseason commencing. Next up is Melbourne, a side that despite being young and losing a lot of experience over the previous off-season, were able to match it with the best and finish top four, and win a final.
LAST SEASON:
Position: 4th
Wins: 7
Losses: 2
Draws: 0
Points For: 382 (4th)
Points Against: 293 (6th)
Melbourne fast-tracked what appeared to be a long rebuild, by bringing in the young guns they drafted and giving them opportunities, as well as shuffling around the magnets for their experienced talents. Having lost a number of key players for draft selections the previous off-season, not many would have predicted Melbourne to stay around the mark, and they not only did that but remained a premiership threat, only going down to Adelaide in the preliminary final. They still had areas to tighten up such as consistency in their defence, but they were able to match it with the best sides and with further experience added this off-season, the Demons are one of the genuine title contenders.
OFF-SEASON:
Ins: Olivia Purcell (Geelong), Tayla Harris (Carlton), Eliza West, Alison Brown (Casey Demons), Georgia Campbell (Eastern Ranges), Tahlia Gillard (Calder Cannons)
Outs: Tegan Cunningham, Meg Downie, Niamh McEvoy, Shae Sloane (retired), Chantel Emonson (Geelong), Mietta Kendall (delisted)
Inactive: Nil.
Much like the previous season, there were plenty of names leaving the club, highlighted by inaugural Demons, Tegan Cunningham and Meg Downie, who joined a quartet of retirees including Niamh McEvoy and Shae Sloane. Chantel Emonson also headed to the Cats in a deal that netted them star young midfielder Olivia Purcell, whilst first-year defender Mietta Kendall was the other player to cut by the club. Along with Purcell, the Demons were able to haul in a Cunningham replacement in the higher-profile Tayla Harris who found her way to the Demons in the most publicised talking point of the trade period. Harris provides the additional height and strength in the forward half, something that draftees, Tahlia Gillard and Georgia Campbell do as well. Campbell is a father-daughter selection who picked the Demons over the Bulldogs, whilst Gillard is an AFL Women’s Academy member, and both can play through the ruck or forward. Gillard’s 190cm size was the tallest of any AFLW draftee, and the pari will make a formidable duo for the future. The Demons also picked up ex-Blue and Saint Alison Brown to come to her third club after some strong performances for Casey Demons in the back-end of the season. She joined VFL Women’s teammate and former basketballer Eliza West who had an amazing season, in the red and blue.
2022 TEAM LIST:
Alyssa Bannan
Libby Birch
Alison Brown
Maggie Caris
Georgia Campbell
Gabby Colvin
Megan Fitzsimon
Maddi Gay
Tahlia Gillard
Sinead Goldrick
Tayla Harris
Tyla Hanks
Shelley Heath
Kate Hore
Sarah Lampard
Lauren Magee
Eliza McNamara
Lily Mithen
Jackie Parry
Karen Paxman
Daisy Pearce
Lauren Pearce
Krstel Petrevski
Olivia Purcell
Shelley Scott
Casey Sherriff
Isabella Simmons
Brenna Tarrant
Eliza West
Eden Zanker
KEY QUESTIONS:
- How will the Demons shape their forward line with so many talls potentially capable of sliding in?
- How much impact can Olivia Purcell having coming off an ACL?
- Will Maggie Caris be given the reins to more and team up with Eden Zanker there?
PREDICTION:
Melbourne is arguably the dark horse for the AFL Women’s competition. They are one of the younger teams going around, with a sprinkling of veteran talents led by Daisy Pearce and Karen Paxman who are still elite talents themselves. With the youth filtering through, the Demons have the opportunity to build a long-term successful side, and will be a team to watch in 2022. Whilst all the youth will make team selection very difficult, expect them to have plenty of options going into the future, with a potent forward line and an elite midfield.
Picture credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images via AFL Photos
State Academy notes: 2024 SANFLW – Round 7
THERE was no shortage of State Academy members running around for Round 7 of the SANFL Women’s following the return of the title-winning Under 16s to their respective clubs. As always we took note of those players in the State Academy and how they performed, with notes the opinion of the individual author.
Scouting Notes: 2024 Coates Talent League – Round 4
ROUND 4 of the Coates Talent League is two of three games down, with both Sydney-based academies turning out in the competition for the first time this season. We noted some of the top prospects from both games so far, with one to come on Thursday. >> Snapshot: Coates Talent League Round 4
2024 CTL Girls Team of the Week: Round 3
TASMANIA Devils picked up their first win of the Coates Talent League Girls season, and recorded a league-high four players in our Rookie Me Central Round 3 Team of the Week. The Devils finished one ahead of reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers who were outstanding once again while five of the other six winners had multiple […]
SANFL U18s MOTR: Round 5 – Central District vs. South Adelaide
CENTRAL District flexed its muscles in the tall forward department, overpowering an inaccurate South Adelaide to run away 71-point winners. Spearheaded by bottom-age prospect Dyson Sharp, the Bulldogs were potent in transition and capitalised on uncontested leads inside forward 50. Both sides boasted some strong draft prospects who were able to impact across the ground. […]
State Academy notes: 2024 WAFLW – Round 8
WESTERN Australia’s State Academy members continued their seasons for Round 8 of the WAFL Women’s, with just one more round until the league-wide bye. While Zippy Fish was among those not out there, the other two West Australian AFLW Academy members stood up in their games.
2024 SANFLW Team of the Week: Round 7
GLENELG and South Adelaide occupy the top two spots on the SANFL Women’s ladder, and shared 10 players in this week’s Team of the Week. The sides asserted their control at different points, and ended up with two more representatives than other winners Sturt and West Adelaide, while the remaining four teams finished with two […]
WAFL Colts MOTR | Round 4: Claremont vs. Subiaco
CLAREMONT has moved two games clear atop the WAFL Colts ladder after defeating Subiaco by 32 points in Round 4’s standalone match. The Lions kicked away with the first four goals but were reigned back in term two and never recovered, going down 12.17 (89) to 8.9 (57). The reigning premiers, still undefeated at 4-0, […]
2024 SANFLW Player Focus: Grace Martin (WWT Eagles)
WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens midfielder Grace Martin is quietly flying under the radar in the 2024 SANFL Women’s season. The top-age Eagles midfielder was prominent playing on-ball in the loss to Glenelg, racking up seven clearances and seven inside 50s to go with her 10 tackles and 19 disposals. Not the largest accumulator and Martin can tend […]
2024 Coates Talent League Girls: Round 3 wrap
TWO Northern Academy sides entered the Coates Talent League Girls competition in Round 3 as the weekend’s action extended out to seven games in a blockbuster weekend of action. We recap the standouts and how each match went down.
