Top of the Table

The Dees demolished the Saints in a comprehensive 74-pointshellacking.  We filled our boots with percentage — now a whopping 520.7% — and sit atop the AFLW ladder.

Melbourne’s game plan is on fire, and the competition is officially on notice.

Our tall timber forward trio put on a clinic: Tayla Harris (4 goals), Eden Zanker (2), and Georgia Gall (2) stretched the Saints’ defence to breaking point.

Tyla Hanks backed up her Round 1 heroics with another eliteouting—28 disposals, 12 tackles, and 490 metres gained.Kate Hore (26 disposals, 5 clearances) was sublime, setting up scoring chains with 14 score involvements. Leadership.

Despite missing Lampard and Gillard, the makeshift defence held firm—just three goals conceded across two rounds. Saraid Taylor was rock-solid, keeping Saints spearhead Jessie Wardlaw to only six possessions and no majors.

The only sour note was Liv Purcell’s knee injury. We awaither prognosis with fingers crossed.

The match

Melbourne controlled all three phases from the outset. Our pressure, ball movement, and forward efficiency overwhelmed St Kilda, who had no answers.

Even with Purcell’s injury before half-time, the midfield depth shone: 

Hanks, Hore, Heath, Paxman, Fitzsimon, and McNamara all outworked their Saints counterparts.

For St Kilda, Tyanna Smith (20 disposals, 9 tackles) and Georgia Patrikios (19 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal) stood tall, with a nod to the improving J’Noemi Anderson (9 tackles, 1 goal).

Match moment

A heartwarming highlight came in the final term when Lily Johnson slotted her first goal in red and blue — her teammates swarming her in celebration. Well done, Lily!

Another moment to savour: Sinead Goldrick’s lightning-fast spoil — her deadly fist was pure defensive poetry.

Meggs’ musings

It was pleasing to see Megan Fitzsimon and Eliza McNamara step up in the middle after Purcell’s injury. They kept the engine room humming and will likely see more midfield time, especially with Grace Beasley unavailable.

Molly O’Hehir showcased her running power with 315 metres gained. This young gun belongs—and she’ll only get better.

Coaches and Next Week

Mick Stinear was pleased with the team’s fast start andpraised their skill and connection, crediting a stellar pre-season. On Liv Purcell, he said she was sore and would go for scans. He highlighted her elite hands, creativity, and love of studying Libba at the Bulldogs — a nod to her contested craft.

Nick Dal Santo acknowledged Melbourne’s dominance, admitting the Dees won all three phases of the game.

Next up: Collingwood at Victoria Park, Sunday at 1:05pm.  Demonlanders — get there if you can and support our women!.

Meggs’ reckons the Women will do what the Men couldn’t do and that is to beat the Pies.  

C’mon Dees!

MELBOURNE 2.5.17  7.8.50  9.9.63 13.11.89

ST KILDA  1.0.6  1.1.7  2.2.14 2.3.15

GOALS

MELBOURNE Harris 4 Gall, Zanker 2, Bannan, Fitzsimon, Hore, Johnson, Paxman

ST KILDA Anderson, Patrikios

BEST 

MELBOURNE Hanks, Harris, Hore, Zanker, Pearce, Paxman

ST KILDA Smith, Patrikios, Watson, Anderson

INJURIES 

MELBOURNE Purcell (knee)

ST KILDA Nil

LATE CHANGES 

MELBOURNE Lily Johnson replaced Sarah Lampard (calf strain)

ST KILDA Natalie Plane replaced Darcy Guttridge (ankle soreness)

CROWD 2,152 at Casey Fields

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Top of the Table

The AFL table comes from our friends at the Herald Sun who are doing their bit to promote a merger between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions. Ignore them.

This one’s better …

Terrible news for Olivia Purcell - a second ACL which will keep her out of the game for the season. Wishing Olivia well for her recovery.

PURCELL BLOW FOR DEMONS

Melbourne has been hit with a devastating injury blow with Olivia Purcell ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.

She twisted her left knee late in the second term during the Demons’ 74-point win over St Kilda on Saturday, with the club’s worst fears confirmed 48 hours later.

It is the second ACL injury for the 24-year-old, who missed a season for Geelong prior to joining the Demons.

Melbourne felt Purcell’s absence in the first six rounds of 2024 after she suffered a serious facial injury.

The Demons will be able to sign a replacement player.

Herald Sun 26/8/25

I was pretty nervous at 3/4 time when we were only 49 points In front of St Kilda but very glad that we managed to hang on to win by 74.