Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

THE CAVALRY ARRIVES by Meggs

Demonland
in AFLW Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

The injury plague which has beset the Demons 2024 campaign is finally starting to dissipate and with consecutive wins over GWS Giants and a 2-point nail-biter in Adelade, a sense of optimism is rising.  Some commentators are now asking whether the Dees can make finals?

A huge surprise with team selection this week when it was announced that champs Olivia Purcell, Paxy Paxman and Eden Zanker would play.   Hallelujah!  The cavalry has arrived.

St Kilda missed the finals last season on percentage and are currently sitting in eighth position with 4 wins. They defeated the struggling GWS last week but had previously lost three matches in a row, to Adelaide, Fremantle and Hawthorn.  

Melbourne sits eleventh with 3 wins, but our percentage is a lowly 60.6% largely thanks to shellackings by North and Essendon.  

Both teams have short breaks between games, with St Kilda 5 days and Melbourne 4 days.  

The form guide suggests we are a strong chance this week, but Meggs expects it will be a slog.

Selection this week

Purcell’s return adds her fearsome ball-winning superpowers to the midfield group, Zanker will strengthen the marking and goalscoring options of our forwards and Paxman will hopefully have her foot in fine fettle for this comeback.

Paxy’s ball usage and rebounding from defence will be a boost to Chaplin, Goldrick and Gillard.
Gaby Colvin suffered concussion last week and misses while D’Arcy and Johnson have been omitted.

The Saints bring back experienced midfielder Olivia Vesely and journeywoman Rene Caris.  They replace Maddie Boyd (omitted) and Emmelie Fiedler (managed).

Meggs’ view

Expecting the Saints to make it a tough and physical game.  

They have plenty of talented experienced and young players who could undo our gameplan if we turn up unprepared.

St Kilda has the dangerous Jesse Wardlaw, the ex-Brisbane full forward, hard nut mids Jaimee Lambert and Tyanna Smith and their vice-captain is ex-Dee Bianca Jakobsson.  

The vibe emanating from our beloved Demons appears to be building and the possibilities for this season likely hinge on having a win this Sunday.
Keep winning and go Dees!  

Melbourne by 12 points
 
THE GAME

Round 8: Melbourne v St Kilda Sunday 13 October 2024 at 3:05pm (Melbourne time) Moorabbin Oval, Melbourne – Kulin Nations
 
HEAD TO HEAD

Overall Melbourne 4 wins St Kilda 1 win
At Moorabbin Oval Melbourne 1 win St Kilda 1 win
The Coaches Stinear 2 wins Dal Santo 0 wins
 
MEDIA

TV – 7mate, Fox Footy, Kayo.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2022 Season 7 Round 3 Melbourne 6.10 (46) defeated St Kilda 3.2 (20) at Moorabbin Oval, 11 September 2022

MELBOURNE 6.1  6.3 6.7 6.10  (46)

ST KILDA  0.0  1.1  2.1 3.2  (20)

GOALS

MELBOURNE Zanker 2, Bannan, Fitzsimon, Hore, Paxman

ST KILDA Shierlaw 2, Matin

BEST

MELBOURNE Purcell, West, Hanks, Mithen

ST KILDA  Jakobsson, Patrikios, Vesely, McKinnon

CROWD 2,758 at Moorabbin Oval

The Dees wrapped up this game in the first quarter, smashing the Saints with 6 unanswered goals.

Liv Purcell was best on ground with 27 possessions and Eden Zanker lively up forward with 2 goals.

Melbourne started with a 3-0 record in what would become its maiden premiership year.
 
THE TEAMS
 
MELBOURNE

B D Taylor Gillard
HB Chaplin Heath Goldrick
C Lampard Hanks McNamara
HF Zanker Mithen Pisano
F Bannan Campbell
FOLL Watt Purcell Hore
I/C Fitzsimon Gall Hill Paxman Wotherspoon
EMG Johnson Rigoni S Taylor

IN Paxman Purcell Zanker

OUT Colvin (concussion) D'Arcy (omitted) Johnson (omitted)
 
ST KILDA

B Stevens Watson
HB Priest Trudgeon Jakobsson
C McDonald Lambert Guttridge
HF Kelly Wardlaw Anderson
F Friend Richards
FOLL Nalder Simpson Smith
I/C Burke Caris Plane Vesely Whiley
EMG Boyd Fiedler Stuart

IN Caris Vesely

OUT Fiedler (managed) Boyd (omitted)
 
Injury List: Round 8

Melbourne

Gaby Colvin Concussion 1 week
Lauren Pearce Wrist 1 week
Blaithin Mackin Calf 1-2 weeks
Grace Beasley ACL Season
Tayla Harris Shoulder Season
Jacinta Hose ACL Season
Aimee Mackin  ACL Season
 
St Kilda

Nicola Xenos Heel 2 weeks
Rebecca Ott Tibia 4-5 weeks
Georgia Patrikios Foot 5-6 weeks
Caitlin Matthews Knee 6 weeks
Steph Chiocci ACL 8 weeks
Beth Pinchin Knee Season

AFLWPreviewRd082024.png

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2
     

    Tough game this week.  Simply cannot believe that Purcell is back. She’s so brave.  What a true warrior.  We love ya Liv. 👏❤️💙
     

  • Quote
    • Whispering_Jack changed the title to THE CAVALRY ARRIVES by Meggs

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PODCAST: 2026 Season Preview

      The boys previewed the 2026 Season sharing their early impressions of the new coach, the new players, observations from preseason training, and what they've made of the new game style. They also look ahead to the season with their predictions, the players they expect to rise, their expectations for the team, and what they see as a realistic pass mark for Melbourne in 2026.

        • Haha
      • 12 replies
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: St. Kilda

      When the Demons blew their 46-point lead at Marvel Stadium in Round 20 last year, the fallout was enormous. Like an event straight out of a Shakespearean tragedy, Melbourne’s final-quarter collapse left fans reeling and the club grappling with the aftermath. 

        • Haha
        • Like
      • 5 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: St. Kilda

      With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG. What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

        • Like
      • 393 replies
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: 2026 Opening Round

      Finally the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us. While Melbourne sits out Opening Round, there is still plenty of footy to enjoy with five non-MFC clashes to kick off the new season. It all begins on Thursday night with a blockbuster at the SCG as Sydney hosts Carlton in what should be a strong early test for both sides. On Friday night, Gold Coast gets its chance to open the season in front of a home crowd when the Suns and Christian Petracca take on Geelong at People First Stadium. Saturday features a double-header, starting in the afternoon with Greater Western Sydney and Clayton Oliver meeting the Hawks at Engie Stadium. That is followed on Saturday night by Brisbane Lions hosting the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, with the Lions embarking on their campaign to win the Threepeat. Opening Round wraps up on Sunday night at the MCG, where St Kilda takes on Collingwood in the only game in town in the first week of the season. There is no shortage of storylines across the round, so discuss all the action from the non-MFC games of Opening Round.

      • 557 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      Mars is not usually a place known for lighting strikes but on Friday evening it happened twice in the vicinity of the stadium in Ballarat that carries the name and is a half completed building site with limited capacity for spectators.

        • Haha
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Richmond

      The Dees ran another clinic for the second week in a row as they easily accounted for the Tigers in the lightning interrupted shortened match at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

        • Vomit
        • Clap
        • Like
      • 118 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.