PRIDE WITH PURPOSE by Meggs

Pride Vibe

It’s Week One of the AFLW’s Pride Round double-header, and the Dees are heading west with purpose — to celebrate love, inclusion, and maybe, just maybe, settle a score.

The AFLW has always had a strong link to the LGBTQI+ community— not just during Pride Round, but every round.

The Dees will don their stunning Pride guernsey in front of home fans next week, but the spirit of Pride Round is already in full swing.  This weekend is about more than four points — it’s about visibility, celebration, and standing tall for inclusion.  

Last year, Fremantle broke Demon hearts with a post-siren dagger from Aishling McCarthy. It was a gut-punch loss that still stings. Now, with finals looming and top-two ambitions alive, Melbourne returns to Fremantle Oval with a point to prove.

This is the 10th meeting between Melbourne and Fremantle. The head-to-head sits at 6-3 in the Dees’ favour, but at Fremantle Oval, it’s dead even: two wins apiece.

Saluting a centurion

Triple-premiership star and former Demon Libby Birch notches up her 100th AFLW game this weekend. She’s astutely crafted a career as a backline general for high-performing teams, bringing leadership, discipline, and a fierce will to win.  A trailblazer — Libby’s milestone is a testament to her resilience and class. Respect.

Hopefully we get to salute Kate and Mick in the upcoming weeks too.

The Match-Up

• Midfield Battle: Hanks, Hore, Paxy, and Fitzsimon v Bowers, East, and Newton. Proud warriors going at it.  

• Ruck Duel: Pearce v Strom — two of the comp’s most consistent bigs.

• Defensive Wall: Maeve Chaplin continues to marshal the backline with poise. Can Freo find a way through?

Meggs’ musings

Since losing Liv Purcell for the season, Melbourne’s midfield has transformed and it’s humming. Fitzsimon’s transformation from pressure forward to first-choice rover (see team) is one of the stories of the season. Her rise has been as rapid as it’s been rewarding. And how about Ryleigh Wotherspoon? Named on the ground again — the kid’s got strength, a classy boot and a nose for the contest.

With Shelley Heath sidelined (finger), Denby “Dingo” Taylor is poised to finally make her 2025 debut. She returns to the scene of her AFLW red and blue debut — Fremantle Oval — where she first showed us her dash and dare.

Selection-wise, the Dees have options. Georgia Campbell looms as the tall bench inclusion, but the final mix will depend on matchups. Freo’s Aine Tighe is back from injury and always looms large — literally and figuratively. Her aerial threat is real.

Melbourne looks too strong across the ground. Fremantle will fight hard at home, but unless they can crack Maevo’s defensive wall and curb our midfield dominance, the Dees should run away with this one.

Go Demons!  

Tip: Melbourne by 23 points  

THE GAME

Round 9: Melbourne v Fremantle Sunday 12 October 2025 at 5:05pm (AEDT) at Fremantle Oval, Perth – Whadjuk

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Melbourne 6 wins | Fremantle 3 wins

At Fremantle Oval: Melbourne 2 wins | Fremantle 2 wins

Coaches: Stinear 1 win | Webb 1 win

MEDIA COVERAGE

Foxtel, Kayo, AFL Live Official App

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Season 9, Round 5 – 21 September 2024 Fremantle Oval

MELBOURNE 4.0.24 5.1.31 6.5.41 6.5.41

FREMANTLE 1.1.7 2.5.17 3.5.23 7.5.57

GOALS

MELBOURNE Bannan, Gall, Goldrick, Hanks, Hore, Zanker

FREMANTLE O'Sullivan 3, Antonio, Biedenweg-Webster, McCarthy, Miller

BEST

MELBOURNE McNamara, Goldrick, Hore, Hanks, Chaplin

FREMANTLE O'Sullivan, Miller, Strom, O'Driscoll, Newton, McCarthy

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Mackin (calf)

FREMANTLE Tighe (knee)

LATE CHANGES

MELBOURNE Grace Beasley (knee) replaced in selected side by Grace Hill

FREMANTLE Nil

CROWD 1,633 at Fremantle Oval

Smarting after consecutive defeats from competition heavyweights Brisbane and North Melbourne, Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear had promised an improved performancein Round 4 to turn the season around.  

We burst out of the blocks using the breeze advantage,winning the ball out of the middle and connecting to our forwards with Hore, Bannan, Hanks and Zanker goaling in the opening quarter.

By three quarter time the Demons had built a three-goal lead.  

It was a thrilling final quarter played almost exclusively in the Dockers half while our backs and mids desperately defended.  Mick threw Kate Hore back as a spare and Eliza McNamara was everywhere.

Into the last minute Hore errantly kicks out on the full.  The ball comes straight back, and Kate tries to step past a Freo player, misses her kick and is pinged for holding the ball.  

The siren sounds and then Freo’s Aishling McCarthy kicks truly to win the match for Fremantle.

Crushing result!

THIS WEEK’S TEAMS

MELBOURNE

FB [17] Tahlia Gillard [19] Laela Ebert

HB [13] Maeve Chaplin [32] Gabrielle Colvin [23] Sinead Goldrick

C [4] Paxy Paxman [5] Tyla Hanks [22] Eliza McNamara

HF [29] Eden Zanker [6] Alyssa Bannan [12] Ryleigh Wotherspoon

FF [9] Georgia Gall [7] Tayla Harris

FOL [15] Lauren Pearce [10] Kate Hore [24] Megan Fitzsimon

I/C (from) [43] Jemma Rigoni [18] Denby Taylor [1] Georgia Campbell [33] Lily Johnson [14] Amelia Dethridge [20] Maggie Mahony [3] Alyssia Pisano [11] Molly O'Hehir

IN Jemma Rigoni, Denby Taylor, Georgia Campbell, Amelia Dethridge

OUT Shelley Heath (finger)

FREMANTLE

FB [24] Ashleigh Brazil [26] Indi Strom

HB [29] Indiana West [3] Emma O’Driscoll [5] Sarah Verrier

C [18] Philipa Seth [2] Kiara Bowers [30] Jessica Low

HF [4] Angelique Stannett [19] Hayley Miller [25] Megan Kauffman

FF [13] Georgie Brisbane [31] Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster

FOL [21] Mim Strom [1] Gabrielle Newton [7] Aisling McCarthy

I/C  (from) [17] Holly Ifould [8] Dana East [33] Amy Mulholland[16] Matilda Banfield [15] Evie Parker [32] Laura Pugh [37] Tunisha Kikoak [10] Aine Tighe

IN Aine Tighe, Evie Parker, Amy Mulholland, Sarah Verrier

OUT Gabby O’Sullivan (injured)

INJURY LIST: ROUND 9

Melbourne

Shelley Heath — finger / 1 - 2 weeks

Sarah Lampard — calf /  1 - 2 weeks

Saraid Taylor — hamstring / 1 - 2 weeks

Blaithin Mackin — calf / 3 weeks

Grace Beasley — knee / 4 - 5 weeks

Olivia Purcell — knee / Season

Jacinta Hose — knee / Inactive

Aimee Mackin — knee / Inactive

Fremantle

Aine Tighe — Knee / Test

Madi Scanlon — Quad / Test

Orlagh Lally — Foot / TBC

Holly Egan — Knee / Season