Demonland

Bowey’s season was curtailed early when he sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery in the opening game against Sydney. As a consequence, he was never able to perform consistently or at anywhere near his previous levels. Date of Birth: 12 September 2002 Height: 175cm Games MFC 2024: 14 Career Total: 61 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 6

It was a sweaty, slippery night at Cazalys Stadium, a tough slog with low scoring and missed opportunities. The Hokball Hawks hung on to win by a goal and sit second on the ladder, relegating the disappointed Demons to, almost certainly, finals spectators. We had to win this match. When news broke of late withdrawals of talisman Kate Hore and key back Gaby Colvin, expectations plummeted, and Demon fans despaired. The bad news was the signature song of 2024, a season that’s breaking us in two as we watch it slip away. Narrm began Indigenous Round brightly. A Tyla Hanks sublime kick to Georgia Gall in the first quarter was well marked and she goaled to open the scoring. A promising start. The hot and humid conditions slowly exhausted the players and footy became more slippery as the match went on. Ambitious handballs and pressured kicking were not helping our connection nor our chances of scoring. The Hawks really got on top in the second and third terms, missing several chances to extend their lead. A match highlight was Hawks and Tiwi Islander player Mattea Breed’s brilliant flying mark-of-the-year contender in the third quarter. To change it up, Mick moved Eliza MacNamara into the midfield which gave the team more drive. Liz alongside our key playmakers Hanks, Goldrick, B Mackin, Purcell and Fitzsimon were critical in keeping the margin to only eight-points at the last change. Two key Hawks were later praised by Mick Stineaer in ruck and ex Casey VFLW player Lucy Wales who took 9 marks and 21 hit outs and veteran defensive sweeper Tilly Lucas-Rodd. He could also have mentioned Westy’s 6 clearances and game-high 25 disposals or young superstar Jas Fleming, Emily Bates or Kashy. In the end the chances were not taken and Narrm failed to bridge the gap. While payers and spectators are understandably crestfallen, we all know it was not due to a lack of effort. The Hawks were the better team. Goldie is good Sinead Goldrick has played outstanding football for Narrm this year. Thursday night against the Hawks was no different with her 20 possessions, familiar attack on the ball and lots of run and carry. Worryingly, Goldie was taken from the ground in the final quarter looking groggy from a head knock after Emily Bates kneed her with both knees. No free from the umps? Earlier Goldie had been dumped by Mackenzie Eardley in a nasty dangerous tackle but on that occasion, she jumped straight back up to take her free kick We hope Sinead is Good as Gold(ie). All we need is a Miracle Essendon looks set to pip Narrm, Geelong and St Kilda into a finals berth. Expecting the Saints to lose to Brisbane next week and Narrm to defeat Collingwood. Essendon have played 3 matches against fellow top 8 teams, losing each game whereas Narrm has played 7 matches against Top 8 teams winning 2. The Bombers will likely defeat the Blues next week and end on 26 points with Demons on 24 points. Essendon will have defeated us and 5 of the bottom 7 teams to make it. The Narrm wins have been against superior quality: Adelaide, Richmond, Geelong, St Kilda and only 2 of the bottom 7 teams. The Demons hierarchy could not be happy to miss out on finals once again to the uneven AFLW fixture. Season 2024 is up to the footy gods now. We beat Collingwood and hope the Bombers blow an engine. For the Dees Alyssa Bannan, who some were critical of early in the season,has really turned it around with some exciting footy. She looked our most dangerous forward and kicked 1 goal 3 behinds. Youngster Ryleigh Wotherspoon, who hails from Mackay, looked right at home in the tropical conditions. Ry was a solid contributor tonight, one of her best games so far. Coaches and Next Week Mick Stinear and the playing group were shattered with the loss. He was proud of the way they fought out the game but acknowledged that the better team won on the night. He expects Kate Hore and Goldie to be chipper for next week. Daniel Webster said his team produced a high-level performance against quality opposition and was rapt with the win. He praised the hard stuff that Eliza West does and her work getting hands on the ball and setting up teammates. The Demons next play Collingwood at Ikon Park on Saturday while the Hawks take on Richmond at Punt Road on Sunday. Good luck Dees! NARRM 1.0.6 1.1.7 2.2.14 2.5.17 HAWTHORN 2.0.12 3.2.20 3.5.23 3.5.23 GOALS NARRM Bannan Gall HAWTHORN Fleming Hipwell McDonagh BEST NARRM McNamara B Mackin Hanks Bannan Goldrick Purcell HAWTHORN Fleming West Lucas-Rodd Wales Bates Ashmore LATE CHANGES NARRM Kate Hore (quad) and Gabby Colvin (concussion) replaced in selected side by Saraid Taylor and Lily Johnson HAWTHORN Nil INJURED NARRM Goldrick (head) HAWTHORN Nil REPORTS NARRM Nil HAWTHORN Nil CROWD 2,602 at Cazaly Stadium

The versatile defender who can play as a tall interceptor and also take on smaller opponents got his second chance this year but injuries prevented him from getting a regular place in the Melbourne team and managed to add only seven games to his AFL tally this year. Recently signed on for another year in 2025. Date of Birth: 5 March 1996 Height: 191cm Games MFC 2024: 7 Career Total: 20 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 1 Games CDFC 2024: 7 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

The club’s Next Generation Academy member from its former Darwin zone finally broke into the Melbourne team in his third season as a Category B Rookie. He fitted well into the higher standard of football and impressed with his ball winning ability at this level. Earned the right to promoting and will be an interesting watch now that we know he has a place in senior AFL football. Date of Birth: 26 October 2003 Height: 182cm Games MFC: 2024: 6 Career Total: 6 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 0 Games CDFC 2024: 12 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

FNQ will be hot and sultry this Thursday night when the mighty Demons take on the highflying Hawks at up there Cazalys Stadium in Cairns. The Demons once again rebrand for Indigenous Round as ‘Narrm’, the Woi Wurrung name for Melbourne in the language of the traditional owners. Narrm has surged back up the ladder and sits just outside the eight on percentage with 5 wins. Our opponents Hawthorn sit second with 8 wins and have been become really offensive. Having previously won only 6 out 20 games at an average score of 27 ‘points for’ under their former coach, the Hawks are humming with 8 wins from 9 games and scoring 59 points a game. The single biggest factor in the Hawks rapid improvement seems to be the appointment of new coach Daniel Webster. As an understudy to Craig Starcevic at Brisbane, Webster had oversight of the Lions elite premiership winning midfield and he has shaped the component parts of his new squad brilliantly. The Hawks have recruited a bevy of experienced players from other clubs. AFLW Champion Player of the Year, Emily Bates leads the midfield. She is supported by ex-Demon Eliza West who is in career best form and top 4 for competition disposals. Former skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd has transformed into a defensive sweeper and Kashy an evergreen runner on the wing. The Hawks’ experienced midfielders have been complemented with young stars Jas Fleming and the strong bodied Mattea Breed. Irish players Gilroy and McDonagh aredangerous forwards. The Happy team also have Hokball, but Meggs is not sure what is. Selection this week Gaby Colvin returns after her concussion issues and last week’s debutant Saraid Taylor is omitted. For the Hawks, Demon premiership player Casey Sherriff, returns from injury against her old club. Meggs’ view The Hawks are playing at an incredibly high standard. Their Round 5 match against Geelong was the best AFLW game Meggs has seen. The ball movement, contested marking, accurate kicking and pressure was elite. If you have Kayo, you should watch it. Mick Stinear and his playing group have their work cut out this week. Promisingly, we have been building since the Essendon debacle. Tyla Hanks, Kate Hore and now Liv Purcell have been awesome in the midfield. Loz Pearce is fit, doing her ruck thing. Eliza Mac has her wing buddy Blaithin back. A sound defensive unit has emerged with Chappy, Goldie, Tahls, Heathy and Denby T really stepping up. Plus, Gaby returns this week. Yay! With Banno kicking goals, Zanker making her presence felt and Gally clunking marks, our forwards are on song. If it’s slippery, get it forward any way you can. Precision footy in the predicted weather conditions will likely end up in turnovers. And please kick straight. The bookies overwhelmingly favour Hawthorn ($1.39) this week, but Meggs senses an upset which keeps our finals hopes alive. 😊 Melbourne by 6 points THE GAME Round 10: Narrm v Hawthorn Thursday 24 October 2024 at 7:45pm (Melbourne time) Cazalys Stadium, Cairns – Yidinji HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 1 win Hawthorn 0 wins At Cazalys Stadium Melbourne 0 wins Hawthorn 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 0 wins Webster 0 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy, Kayo THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Season 8 Round 3 Melbourne 10.10 (70) defeated Hawthorn 1.5 (11) at Frankston Oval, 22 September 2023 MELBOURNE 2.4 4.6 8.7 10.10 (70) HAWTHORN 0.1 0.3 1.5 1.5 (11)
 GOALS
 MELBOURNE Zanker 3 Hore 2 Bannan Harris B Mackin McNamara Pearce HAWTHORN McDonagh BEST
 MELBOURNE Hanks Heath Gillard Mithen Purcell HAWTHORN Bates Everist Fleming Elliott Lucas-Rodd
 INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil HAWTHORN Nil CROWD 2,917 at Kinetic Stadium The setting sun at Frankston Oval caused havoc for spectators, TV camera people, commentators, coaches, and players alike. A wonderful #DeeArmy banner paid tribute to the great Ron Dale Barassi. It was Aimee Mackin’s debut game. The Hawks applied pressure winning the tackle count and inside 50s but the Demons withstood everything they could muster and blitzed them easily by 59 points. Tyla Hanks starred with 26 disposals, 3 clearances and 10 score involvements. Eden Zanker kicked 3 goals, all in the 3rd quarter. Melbourne Assistant Shae Sloane was the matchday coach. She was pleased with how her team was able to stay calm with ball in hand under heaps of Hawthorn pressure. THE TEAMS NARRM B Colvin Gillard HB Chaplin Heath Goldrick C B Mackin Hanks McNamara HF Fitzsimon Mithen Zanker F Bannan Gall FOLL Pearce Hore Purcell I/C Campbell Lampard D Taylor Watt Wotherspoon EMG Johnson Rigoni S Taylor IN Colvin OUT S Taylor (omitted) HAWTHORN B Kemp Eardley HB Elliott Richardson Smith C Ashmore Lucas-Rodd Fleming HF Breed McDonagh Gilroy F Hipwell Baskaran FOLL Wales West Bates I/C McLaughlin Sherriff Stephenson Vukic Williamson EMG Butterworth Fellows Locke IN Eardley Sherriff OUT Locke (omitted) Butterworth (omitted) Injury List: Round 10 Narrm Gab Colvin (concussion) test Paxy Paxman (foot) TBC Grace Beasley (ACL) season Tayla Harris (shoulder) season Jacinta Hose (ACL) inactive Aimee Mackin (ACL) inactive Hawthorn Greta Bodey (toe) 1 week Kristy Stratton (ankle) 1-2 weeks Emily Everist (illness) TBC Laura Stone (ankle) TBC

The former number 3 draft pick for St Kilda had a hot and cold season at the club this year, mainly as a half forward. Needs more depth and penetration in his kicking. Date of Birth: 18 August 1995 Height: 185cm Games MFC 2024: 16 Career Total: 171 Goals MFC 2024: 4 Career Total: 12 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 4

Retired at the end of the season after recurring calf injuries severely limited his ability to perform at his best. Date of Birth: 13 December 1994 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 2 Career Total: 199 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 80 Games CDFC 2024: 10 Goals CDFC 2024: 1

The key defender has the height and has showed out from time to time with his pace in defence but has progressed slowly in his two seasons at the club. Will need to improve in 2025. Date of Birth: 14 May 2004 Height: 196cm Games CDFC 2024: 17 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

Like most big men, Verrall is taking time to develop as a ruckman but has shown some encouraging signs. Finished ninth in the Casey Demons best & fairest this year. Date of Birth: 11 March 2004 Height: 199cm Games CDFC 2024: 17 Goals CDFC 2024: 6

The Demon premiership forward managed to get his body right for the first time in years and, as a consequence, he revitalised his career back in defence. Has signed on for another year in 2025. Date of Birth: 18 September 1992 Height: 195cm Games MFC 2024: 22 Career Total: 232 Goals MFC 2024: 3 Career Total: 169 Melbourne Football Club: 10th Best & Fairest - 301 votes

An Achilles injury incurred before the season started came back after the season opener and, as a consequence, he was restricted to just the single game. Date of Birth: 25 November 1999 Height: 172cm Games MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 98 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 63

CHANGES 2024-5 Part 2: The Accidental Rebuild by The Oracle While the main phase of the 2024 Trade and Free Agency period ended last week, some activity in this area will continue over the next month in the lead up to the national draft. Trading of draft picks will continue on an intermittent basis and clubs will also have the opportunity to select delisted free agents and to delist more players. So, it ain’t over yet! Meanwhile, the football world continues to speculate about who won the trade and free agency period. This is a subjective exercise that might be worthy of debate but because the fruits of the process are rarely felt immediately, there’s little point in claiming victory at such an early stage. This is what’s transpired with the changes at Melbourne since the 2023 national draft. Players In: Tom Campbell (St Kilda) Harry Sharp (Brisbane) [Luker Kentfield (Subiaco WA) selected in the midseason draft] Players Out: Angus Brayshaw (retired) Ben Brown (retired) Kyah Farris-White (delisted ®) Lachie Hunter (retired) Alex Neal-Bullen (Adelaide) Josh Schache (retired) Adam Tomlinson (delisted) Draft Picks: 5, 9 Of the players on the main list who leave the fold, only Neal-Bullen played a significant role in 2024. Brown has been hampered by knee issues over the past couple of years and similarly, Hunter could barely put together more a couple of games due to a recurring calf problem. Schache couldn’t break into the side after his only game for the season in Round Zero vs the Sydney Swans. The club was unable to arrange a trade for out-of-contract defender Adam Tomlinson who was delisted after trade week. Melbourne was able to arrange a trade with the Brisbane Lions for athletic speed machine Harry Sharp who is expected to play on a wing or at half-forward, but missed out on getting tall utility Wade Derksen across from the GWS Giants. Sharp, holds the AFL Draft Combine record for the 2km time trial, and was named as an emergency for this year’s Grand Final. Earlier, the Demons had secured experienced veteran Tom Campbell as a break glass in case of emergency ruckman through free agency. One of the rays of light for the club is the fact that when the dust settled on the trade and free agency period, it’s draft hand was composed of selections 5 and 9, a good place to be given its evenness as the pointy end. The club doesn't hold a future first round selection, after giving that to the Bombers to get pick nine but that’s not considered a big deal 12 months out of next year’s draft when there’s still a month left to speculate on this year’s version. Melbourne’s list manager Tim Lamb has declared that "supporters should be really excited" with the pending arrival of two top ten picks on top of retaining Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Kozzy Pickett on the roster, but more of that later. Lamb’s optimism is based on the club backing itself to bring about a better measure of team stability after the turbulence of 2024. The results of the club’s internal views are almost at hand and there seems to be some confidence that positive change will be implemented as a result. Of course, this remains to be seen but a strong preseason, with many leading players coming through fully fit will be a boon for movement up the ladder. A less stringent fixture is also anticipated and that will most certainly help. Let’s not underestimate the effect of a settled pair of superstars in Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. Their return to full fitness along with key defenders Steven May and Jake Lever and the two on-field leaders in Max Gawn and Jack Viney, all of who had niggling injury issues at times during the year, means much more than the introduction of a single random newcomer to a club’s list. As Lamb has said: “Christian Petracca’s one of the best players in the competition. I don’t think anyone is recruiting a better player than Christian, and we missed him for the second half of the year.” The club’s process and procedures in relation to the handling of Petracca’s Kings Birthday injury has been given the tick of approval approval by multiple reviews conducted by the AFL and the AFL Doctors' Association, despite questions raised about the treatment of its player at the ground and when he was in hospital. Possibly the most room for optimism stems from the almost accidental rebuild that came about as a result of the year’s injury and form woes and gave more game time to the younger brigade of 23 and unders. Like the move of Trent Rivers into the midfield, the limited moments there given to a variety of others including the likes of Pickett, Koltyn Tholstrup, Christian Salem and even up and comer Judd McVee had his midfield moments. The club’s first pick in the 2023 draft Caleb Windsor, was outstanding from the get go on a wing. Next year, he could well get a share of midfield duties. We saw defenders Blake Howes and Andy Moniz-Wakefield introduced into the lineup, slow but gradual improvement from Taj Woewodin and fellow father/son prospect Kynan Brown with a couple of cameos. Two young emerging key forwards Jacob van Rooyen and Daniel Turner continued to improve suggesting a further boost in the club’s scoring capacity. With the potential of uncapped youngsters in Matt Jefferson and Will Verrell likely to step up in 2025, Lamb’s prediction of exciting times ahead is not just wishful thinking. And then there are picks 5 and 9. The pundits are expecting the first to be used to obtain a quality midfielder, the second on a key position player. Further down the draft, there’s the prospect of acquiring Gippsland Power small forward Ricky Mentha as a Category B rookie, through the Next Generation Academy and Noah Yze as a father/son selection although neither can be assured of selection at this point. Demon fans can all take comfort in the knowledge that head recruiter Jason Taylor has established a good reputation for picking out top young talent. Let’s take last year’s national draft as an example. At about this time last year, the AFL’s Cal Twomey issued a mock draft which read as follows (eventual destinations in brackets):- 1 Harley Reid (1, West Coast Eagles) 2 Jed Walter (3, Gold Coast Suns) 3 Zane Duursma (4, North Melbourne) 4 Colby McKercher (2, North Melbourne) 5 Nick Watson (5, Hawthorn) 6 Daniel Curtin (8, Adelaide) 7 Ryley Sanders (6, Western Bulldogs) 8 Nate Caddy (10, Essendon) 9 Ethan Read (9, Gold Coast Suns) 10 Connor O’Sullivan (11, Geelong) 11 Caleb Windsor (7, Melbourne) 12 James Leake (17, GWS Giants) 13 Jordan Croft (15, Western Bulldogs) 14 Jake Rogers (14, Gold Coast Suns) 15 Darcy Wilson (18, St Kilda) 16 Koltyn Tholstrup (13, Melbourne) 17 Lance Collard (28, St Kilda) 18 Riley Hardeman (23, North Melbourne) 19 Will McCabe (19, Hawthorn) 20 Ollie Murphy (41, Fremantle) It would be fair to say that Taylor’s two picks have proved by their debut season performances, pleasing choices. In the main, the best picks came in the top dozen or so players with the main exceptions outside that group being Brisbane’s Logan Morris (31), Hawthorn’s Calsher Dear (56) and Geelong’s Lawson Humphries (63). Which brings us to the club’s playing list at this point of time, four weeks out from the national draft. PRIMARY LIST: — Jed Adams Jack Billings Jake Bowey Tom Campbell Kade Chandler Tom Fullarton Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn Blake Howes Matthew Jefferson Ed Langdon Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Shane McAdam Tom McDonald Steven May Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Christian Salem Joel Smith Harry Sharp Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Koltyn Tholstrup Daniel Turner Jacob van Rooyen Jack Viney Caleb Windsor Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Kynan Brown Marty Hore Luker Kentfield Judd McVee Jake Melksham Oliver Sestan Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Andy Moniz-Wakefield

Coming to Melbourne after seven years as a leading goal kicker at North Melbourne, Brown was well known for his unique, extremely long run up on set shots for goal. After some early setbacks injury wise settled into the full forward position in time to play a big role in the 2021 premiership win with three goals. Unfortunately, the remainder of his time at the club was hampered by injury including the need to undergo knee surgery. He retired from playing football at the end of the season after 45 games and 73 goals but remains at the club in a coaching role with the AFLW team. Date of Birth: 20 November 1992 Height: 200cm Games MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 175 Goals MFC 2024: 7 Career Total: 360 Games CDFC 2024: 7 Goals CDFC 2024: 9

Brown, the son of former Demon hard nut Nathan Brown, made a couple of cameo appearances as a substitute which included a brilliant run down tackle which may have saved the game against the Kangaroos. Had some outstanding games at VFL level and finished equal sixth in the best & fairest at Casey. Date of Birth: 13 January 2005 Height: 181cm Games MFC 2024: 2 Career Total: 2 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 0 Games CDFC 2024: 16 Goals CDFC 2024: 12

The rejuvenated Demons out tussled the Tigers by 13 points to make it four wins on the trot on Saturday which means that the slight possibility of a finals appearance remains alive in 2024. This is despite the AFLW handicapping the Demons against their peers yet again (more later). Lots to celebrate as it was Kids Day at Casey Fields and both teams ran onto the ground modelling their Pride jumpers. Kate Hore won the toss and kicked to the Clyde end. Thankfully, the notorious Casey gusty wind was not much of a factor during the match. As expected, the top four aspirant Richmond started fiercely and kicked the first goal but Alyssa Bannan responded with a fine snap to open the Demons account. A minute later, a lace-out pass from Kate Hore to Georgia Gall allowed the emerging young tall to give the Dees the lead. Richmond’s captain and key marking forward Katie Brennan injured her ankle and was taken out of the game. Gun-mid Ellie McKenzie kicked a spectacular run and bounce ‘goal of the year’ contender. Bannan then responded once again with a super snap under heavy pressure. Melbourne’s ferocity amped up from the second quarter onwards. Mick Stinear would later comment that once we started sticking our tackles and getting the ball outside to runners we got on top. The Demons dominated for a long period of the match kicking 6 unanswered goals. When leading by 33 points at the 11-minute mark of the last quarter, our bodies began to tire and Caitlin Greiser kicked 3 late Richmond goals which helped window dress their final losing margin. Stats-wise it was fairly even on the day. Both teams had 234 disposals with Melbourne having more kicks and made the most of its scoring chances. A high work-rate was demonstrated by laying 87 tackles to 66. Loz Pearce was a welcome return and and together with Rhi Watt they won the hit outs 44 to 24. Richmond’s dynamic midfield team won the centre clearances 9 to 5 but our group matched them in intensity. Superstar Mon Conti’s usual elite output was scratchy at times due to the close attention of Shelley Heath who laid a match-high 14 tackles. Awesome Foursome The story of the day was our fan-favourite forward Alyssa Bannan with her awesome four goals. Mick Stinear praised Banno today. He said she was dangerous in the air, at ground level, and created many chances for others. Banno is having a purple patch with 8 goals in her last 4 games. Notably her 4th goal was her 50th goal in AFLW. Congratulations Banno! Death-riding scenarios To have any chance of making finals, Melbourne needs to win its last two games to finish with 28 points, the minimum threshold required to secure a top eight berth. If any team currently sitting in positions 5-8 finishes on 28 points or more, the Dees will miss finals due to our lowly percentage caused by the Kangas and Bombers smashings. Fremantle and Port Adelaide will almost certainly finish above us. That leaves us fans death-riding Essendon on 20 points (who must lose 2 games against either Kangas, Richmond, or Carlton) or Richmond on 24 points (lose both Bombers and Hawks games). If Essendon beat both Richmond and Carlton and then Richmond beat Hawthorn, it’s sayonara Season 2024. Unjust fixture handicaps the Dees (yet again). Unbelievably, the AFLW has given last year’s premiers the softest draw of all the top teams. Brisbane only plays 2 top 8 teams this year Melbourne plays 7 top 8 teams, just not Port Adelaide. The competing ladder cohort of Port, Freo Essendon and Hawthorn have had comparatively softer draws than the Dees. It is not a level playing field and there is no allowance for fixture difficulty. For the Dees The coach was happy. Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks continue to lead with distinction. Superhero Liv Purcell, donning her stunning black face mask,was industrious again alongside the ‘blanketeer’ Shelley Heath. Eliza McNamara was not as busy as last week but a fine contributor once again. It was good to see Blaithin Mackin returning from calf injury, and she will be better for the run. Our defensive group has really grown in the back half of the season. Their grit, physical pressure and springboarding has inspired. Gillard would have been pleased with her game, Chaplin, Goldie, Lampy, and Denby T too. The new Taylor,Saraid, made a fine debut in defence. Special mention to Georgia Gall for providing marking options leading up the ground and gaining the confidence of her teammates. Her 2 goals, a great reward. Coaches and next week Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear and his coaching team were really pleased with the victory. He praised his team’s ability to compete in the contest game and keep turning up all game. He commented that Richmond’s big-bodied mids McKenzie and Sheerin really tested us. After quarter time we wore the Tigers down and put on scoreboard pressure which set up thegreat win. There was no Ryan Ferguson (Richmond Coach) press conference video available. Next week is Indigenous Round. The Demons next play Hawthorn at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on Thursday night. Richmond play Essendon at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday. Go Dees. MELBOURNE 3.1.19 4.1.25 5.3.33 8.3.51 RICHMOND 2.1.13 2.2.14 2.5.17 5.8.38 GOALS MELBOURNE Bannan 4 Gall 2 Hanks Zanker RICHMOND Greiser 3 McKenzie Sheerin BEST MELBOURNE Bannan Purcell Hore Zanker Gall RICHMOND Sheerin Conti McKenzie Greiser Kelly INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil RICHMOND Brennan (ankle) REPORTS MELBOURNE Nil RICHMOND Nil CROWD 2,026 at Casey Fields

Date of Birth: 10 August 1993 Height: 194cm Games MFC 2024: 8 Career Total: 185 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 35 Games CDFC 2024: 9 Goals CDFC 2024: 0 An original GWS Giants lister, Tomlinson moved to Melbourne as a free agent ahead of the 2020 season. Recruited as a wingman, Tomlinson soon found himself playing key position roles and found a place as a tall defender in the 2021 team before sustaining an ACL injury against North Melbourne in Hobart. After a year of recovery, he played intermittently over the following years but was never able to reestablish his place at AFL place. He was delisted at the end of the 2024 season after playing 45 games in his five year contract term and is being keenly sought for 2025 by at least two clubs.

Date of Birth: 9 January 1996 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 176 Goals MFC 2024: 9 Career Total: 116 Melbourne Football Club: 3rd Best & Fairest - 402 votes Premiership player Neal-Bullen ended his ten year career at the Melbourne Football Club at the top of his form after finishing third in the club best and fairest, a mere five votes behind the winner Jack Viney. Recruited in the 2014 national draft its third selection at number 40. He made his debut in round eleven 2015 against St Kilda and took time to settle into a regular place as a small half forward where he developed a niche in the team with his ability to run and exert pressure on opponents all day. He was awarded life membership at the club’s recent best and fairest awards night where he was farewelled on his departure for family reasons to his hometown Adelaide.

Date of Birth: 13 December 1994 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 2 Career Total: 199 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 80 Games CDFC 2024: 10 Goals CDFC 2024: 1 Retired at the end of the season after recurring calf injuries severely limited his ability to perform at his best.

Melbourne star Clayton Oliver opens up on Trade Period drama Clayton Oliver has spoken publicly for the first time about his failed trade to Geelong and what he expects when he returns to Melbourne for pre-season. Clayton Oliver plans to make up for what he called “a stinker” of a season, saying he is determined to help drive Melbourne back to the finals again in 2025. The Demons midfielder met with Geelong ahead of the trade period about a potential move down the highway, but Melbourne would not budge on its decision to retain the 27-year-old. Oliver told the Herald Sun on Saturday at Caulfield that while he was within his rights to speak with the Cats, he was now focused solely on trying to get his body right to help the Demons return to September action. “We’re good, we’re all sweet,” Oliver said of his relationship with Melbourne. “We’ve got ‘Trac’ (Christian Petracca) coming back, (he’s) the best player in the league … he had a pretty big injury. He is training hard. “We were there (in a premiership winning team in 2021) a couple of years ago and we fell short in 2022 and 2023. “(This year) ‘Gussy’ (Angus Brayshaw) retired, we had ‘Trac’ injured, I had a stinker of a year and ‘Maysey’ (Steven May) was a little bit off.” Oliver said he had been in regular communication with Christian Petracca, who has been overseas at a Red Bull training camp in an effort to return from his sickening lacerated spleen and internal injuries suffered on King’s Birthday. Asked about his meeting with Geelong in the lead-up to the trade period, Oliver said: “It’s all right … (I had) a chat to people.” “But Melbourne are looking good. We will have a big year.”

We’re back! Winning the last three matches has recaptured our Demon spirit and, with superstar players returning from rehab, our Season 2024 dreams are not over yet. So come along 5.05 pm Saturday afternoon to watch this Round 9 ladder-defining match at the Field of Dreams. Expect the Tigers to be fierce, but surely the Demons will be more fierce. Playing conditions are expected to be a dry 15 degrees with a typically gusty Cranbourne wind. The media opprobrium of the ill-considered AFLW draw was in full swing this week. Unbelievably Melbourne plays their 4th game in 17 days while Richmond plays their 4th game in 21 days. Eden Zanker commented after her impressive return from injury last week that she felt much fresher than her poor old teammates. Oddly, having a large cohort of stars returning from rehab advantages Melbourne by cushioning player exhaustion caused by the AFLW fixture. Pleasingly, our injury list continues to dissipate with first-ruck Lauren Pearce and Irish star Blaithin Mackin returning this week. Looking at the current ladder and remaining 3 rounds of the fixture, 7 wins will likely get you into finals. The Dees play Richmond, Hawthorn and Collingwood and must win all three games. Richmond FC, coached by ex-Demon Ryan Ferguson, have been terrific this year with 6 wins and 2 losses. With Melbourne, Essendon and Hawthorn in their final three rounds, they will have to win at least one game to stay in the eight. 2020 AFLW number one draft pick Ellie McKenzie is having her best season and is 9th in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year. Her sublime left foot kicking skills complements their best player Monique Conti (currently 5th in coaches award votes) and together with Grace Egan, Eilish Sheerin and ruck Poppy Kelly they form a formidable engine room. A huge challenge for our midfield group this week. Captain Katie Brennan, Caitlin Greiser and Emelia Yassir are dangerous goalkicking forwards and the Tiges have good overhead marks across the ground. The bookies prefer Richmond ($1.66) but Meggs is quietly optimistic we can be much more fierce on Saturday. Selection this week Rhi Watt has been more than reliable as the number one ruck but with Lauren Pearce now fully fit, she will take a back seat to the club’s leading tall. Blaithin Mackin would be an automatic return to the midfield so Hill and Pisano will sit this one out along with Paxy who is being managed and gets to rest. Colvin is still recovering from concussion; Saraid Taylor gets her opportunity to debut ahead of young speedsterJemma Rigoni. Meggs’ view Richmond defeated Geelong last week by matching the physical intent, winning contests and using long kicks to aerial strengths, Brennan and Greiser. Supercoach Mick Stinear has revived the team’s season, and his group of talented Demons possess more than enough countermeasures to win on Saturday: • Tyla Hanks and Kate Hore, who have led this season’s renaissance brilliantly. • Alyssa Bannan has some good form building and kicking goals. • Eliza McNamara, Megan Fitzsimon and Maeve Chaplin are in career-best form. • Young Georgia talls, Campbell and Gall, showing heaps of potential. • A bevy of freshened star players making a timely return from rehab. Keep the dream alive Dees! Melbourne by 2 points THE GAME Melbourne v Richmond Saturday 19 October 2024 at 5.05pm at Casey Fields – Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 2 wins Richmond 0 wins At Casey Fields Melbourne 1 win Richmond 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 2 wins Ferguson 0 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy, Kayo THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2022 Season 6 Round 2 Melbourne 8.6 (54) defeated by Richmond 6.2 (38) at Punt Road, 14 January 2022 MELBOURNE 1.0 6.3 7.6 8.6 (54) RICHMOND 2.1 2.1 4.1 6.2 (38) Richmond applied lots of pressure early and were on top at quarter time. The pressure of Eliza West played a big part in wresting back control in the middle alongside her excellent teammates Tyla Hanks, Paxy Paxman and Lauren Pearce. Tayla Harris was brilliant, crashing packs, taking marks and kicked 2 goals. Melbourne survived the early scare to defeat the fierce Tigers by 16 points. GOALS MELBOURNE Bannan Harris Hore 2 Paxman D Pearce RICHMOND Brennan Lavey 2 Conti Dargan BEST MELBOURNE L Pearce Paxman Birch Hanks West RICHMOND Lavey Brennan Conti Seymour CROWD 1,517 at the Swinburne Centre THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B D Taylor Gillard HB Chaplin Lampard Goldrick C B Mackin Hanks McNamara HF Fitzsimon Mithen Zanker F Bannan Gall FOLL Pearce Hore Heath I/C Campbell Purcell S Taylor Watt Wotherspoon EMG Pisano E Johnson Rigoni IN B Mackin Pearce S Taylor OUT Hill (omitted) Paxman (managed) Pisano (omitted) RICHMOND B Seymour Miller HB Lynch Bacon Graham C Shevlin McKenzie Dempsey HF Dallaway Brennan Hosking F Greiser Yassir FOLL Kelly Sheerin Conti I/C Egan Ford Hicks Lavey McClelland EMG Ryan Woods Eastman IN McClelland Shevlin OUT Luke (shoulder) Ryan (omitted) Injury List: Round 9 MELBOURNE Lauren Pearce Wrist Test Blaithin Mackin Calf Test Gaby Colvin Concussion 1 week Grace Beasley ACL Season Tayla Harris Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose ACL Inactive Aimee Mackin ACL Inactive RICHMOND Maddie Shevlin Ankle Test Tamara Luke Shoulder TBC Montana McKinnon ACL Inactive Katelyn Cox Knee Inactive Shelby Knoll ACL Inactive Amelia Peck Knee Season