Top-Four Machinations

It’s been a season of grit, growth, and glimpses of brilliance—mixed with a few tough interstate lessons. Now, with finals looming, the Dees head to Kardinia Park for one last tune-up before the real stuff begins.

Melbourne (3rd) takes on Geelong (12th) with top-four positioning on the line. The permutations are:

• Win + North win = Melbourne finishes 2nd and hosts Brisbane (who will not lose to Collingwood)

• Win + North lose = Melbourne finishes 3rd and plays Hawthorn

• Lose = Melbourne finishes 4th and faces the rampaging Roos

In any case, expect the Dees to play at IKON Park in Week One of finals.

Simples.

The weather gods are smiling: [15 degrees], dry, and a gentle breeze forecast for Saturday night. Perfect conditions to showcase the skills of two sides with plenty of flair. If you’re nearby, don’t miss the final tune-up.

The Match-up

Melbourne’s midfield machine will be tested by Geelong’s trio of Georgie Prespakis, Amy McDonald, and Nina Morrison—a mix of class, strength, and smarts. Expect Mick Stinear to send Shelley Heath to Prespakis for the classic Heater job—speed, pressure, and a firm ‘leave me alone’.

Geelong’s Irish brigade adds flair and firepower. Aishling Moloney is a tall, athletic threat up forward, while Rachel Kearns and Kate Kenny bring grit and versatility. And then there’s ex-Dee Jacqui Parry—traded to the Cats after 22 games and 6 goals in red and blue. She’s found form in the hoops, now averaging over a goal a game.

Melbourne’s forward craft was quieter in the sultry Springfield evening last week, but in the cool Kardinia climate, expect Tayla Harris, Eden Zanker, Alyssa Bannan, and especially Kate Hore to be back to their best. Claudia Gunjaca and Meg McDonald won’t know what’s hit ‘em.  

PS  Fans will get to farewell the retiring Geelong captain Meghan McDonald with a guard of honour at the conclusion of the game.  Meg, we salute you on a marvellous career.

Selection This Week

Melbourne enters Round 12 with their healthiest list of the season. After last week’s bruising clash in Queensland, expect some sore bodies to be managed carefully. Blaithin Mackin and Sarah Lampard will be better for the run, while Laela Ebert and Molly O’Hehir —who have played every game in their debut seasons — continue to offer clean disposal and smart decision-making, even if their numbers have dipped slightly.  

Georgia Gall is available and hopefully Sinead Goldrick too.  Talls v Smalls is a question for Mick.  Meggs leans small —give us a runner.

Mick Stinear has options aplenty. The challenge? Balancing freshness with momentum — with finals just a week away.

Milestones

It’s special this week as Shelley Heath and Sarah Lampard notch up their 75th AFLW games. Both premiership players, fierce competitors, and fan favourites.  Heater’s tackling is elite and her heart even bigger. Lampy’s like a good wine —just gets better with age.  Both adored by teammates and supporters alike. 💙

Also on watch: Kate Hore’s century chase. She’s sitting on 98 career goals, just two shy of the magical ton. Kardinia Park has been kind to her in the past—bags of 4 and 3 goals in previous visits. Meggs will be there, fence-side, ready to leap. Are there fines?

And just quietly, Jasmine Garner sits on 97 goals heading into Friday night’s clash at Franga-Town. If she kicks three against the Hawks, she’ll beat Kate to the milestone. Meggs is hoping Jas gets chewy on her boot.

Meggs’ musings

The ladder permutations are wild. Carlton v West Coast and Adelaide v Fremantle will shape the bottom half of the eight. Meggs reckons Carlton, St Kilda, Adelaide, and Sydney will round it out—but would love Daisy’s Eagles to sneak in.Good luck Dais’!

Kardinia Park under lights is a fitting stage for a finals-bound tune-up. Melbourne will want to hit the right notes after being out-marshalled by the Lions last week. This is about building confidence, sharpening execution, and finishing the home-and-away season with momentum.

Geelong may be out of finals contention, but they’re dangerous at home and will want to send off their captain in style. The Dees must win the contest, spread with speed, and maintain intensity for four quarters. Every moment matters.

We’ll know before the bounce whether we’re playing for Top 2. But regardless — let’s play like we want it anyway. 

Simples, right?

Let’s win it for Lampy and Heater—75 games of heart and hustle.

Tip: Melbourne by 15 points.

A fantastic night and venue for watching AFLW—Meggs hopes to see you there.

THE GAME

Round 12: Melbourne v Geelong on Saturday 1 November 2025, 7:15pm (AEDT) at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong | Wadawurrung

HEAD TO HEAD 

Overall: Melbourne 2 wins | Geelong 1 win

At Kardinia Park: Melbourne 2 wins | Geelong 0 wins

Coaches: Stinear 2 wins | Lowther 1 win

MEDIA COVERAGE Foxtel, Kayo, Binge
AFL Live Official Listen App

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

MELBOURNE 2.0.12 2.2.14 5.4.34 6.6.42

GEELONG  2.2.14 3.2.20 5.2.32 6.4.40

GOALS

MELBOURNE Hore 3, Goldrick, B. Mackin, Zanker

GEELONG Parry 2, Morrison, Bowen, Kearns, Kenny

BEST

MELBOURNE Hore, B. Mackin, Pearce, Mithen, McNamara, Goldrick

GEELONG Prespakis, Am. McDonald, Morrison, Bowen, Webster, Parry

CROWD 3,838 at GMHBA Stadium

The Season 9 opening round clash was a tough physical encounterbetween two of the best teams in AFLW in the brand new $319 million redeveloped Kardinia Park stadium.

It was Grace Beasley’s debut game and the makeshift midfield (with Liv Purcell injured and Westy at Hawthorn), delivered a collective effort led by Hanksy, Goldie, Mitho and Lampy.

But it was the skipper’s night.  Hore was on fire!  Oozing class as always, Kate had 23 possessions, 3 goals and 10 coaches votes.

The Cats started well getting out to a 14-point game-high in Q1 but by ¾ time the Dees had taken a 2-point lead.  It was an exciting way to start the season and the strong, noisy contingent of Melbourne supporters led by the #DeeArmythoroughly enjoyed themselves.

THIS WEEK’S TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B T. Gillard, S. Taylor 

HB M. Chaplin, S. Lampard, B. Mackin

C P. Paxman, T. Hanks, E. McNamara

HF A. Bannan, M. Fitzsimon, M. Mahony

F E. Zanker, T. Harris

FOLL L. Pearce, S. Heath, K. Hore 

I/C G. Campbell , L. Ebert, G. Gall, D. Taylor, R. Wotherspoon 

EMG L. Johnson, A. Pisano, J. Rigoni

IN G. Gall, D. Taylor 

OUT M. O’Hehir (shin soreness), J. Rigoni (omitted)

GEELONG 

B  G. Rankin, C. Gunjaca

HB R. Kearns, M. McDonald, R. Webster

C C Kilpatrick, G. Prespakis, K. Kenny

HF M. Bowen, J. Parry, K. Surman

F  A. Moloney, K. Darby

FOLL C. Tipping, A. McDonald, N. Morrison

I/C Z. Friswell, A. Gregor, C. Mason, B. O'Rourke, B. Smith

EMG E. Fowler, S. Tallariti, C. Thorne

NO CHANGE 

Injury List: Round 12

Melbourne

Sinéad Goldrick — eye / Test

Grace Beasley — knee / 1 week

Gabby Colvin — wrist/ TBC

Olivia Purcell — knee / Season

Jacinta Hose — knee / Inactive

Aimee Mackin — knee / Inactive

Geelong 

Julia Crockett-Grills — hamstring / 1 - 2 weeks

Shelley Scott — calf / 3 - 4 weeks

Piper Dunlop — knee / TBC

Chloe Sheer — knee / TBC

afl.com.au/aflw

Houghton creates history as Power sink Giants to finish s...

Gemma Houghton etched her name into the history books on a big day for Port Adelaide

1 hour ago, Meggs said:

afl.com.au/aflw

Houghton creates history as Power sink Giants to finish s...

Gemma Houghton etched her name into the history books on a big day for Port Adelaide

Who’da thunk?!

Not to pee on Gemma's parade and congrats to her, but, upon admittedly quick reflection, she's the only player who comes to mind who has played as an out and out forward for the whole ten seasons of the comp. Others have retired, given her a few seasons head start, missed a significant number of games with injury, or been moved into the midfield.

How long ago would Garner or Hore have kicked the ton if they'd remained as full time forwards?