Dees_In_October

Far out that was a shaky start. But this isn't a team that's fazed by a bunch of behinds on the scoreboard (it's a familiar enough scenario heh). A few of ours will be better for the run, to put it politely. Haven't seen us turn the ball over so badly in ages, especially in the back line. Once the engine room clicked into gear though, we were unstoppable. The opposition can't find forward line space if we just never let it down there, I guess. Highlights: - #1 has to be the return of McNamara. Wore a big tackle early in the game - the mental strength is admirable. Had a solid game too and love her and B.Mackin as a dynamic wing duo. The latter was everywhere. 396 metres gained, the second on the ground. In her second season of footy...ever. - Heath, talk about scoreboard reward for effort. Davey is a tough customer and you might look at Heath standing next to her and wonder, but Dees fans know Shelley's tenacity personified. - Bannan is such a rollercoaster of a player. Looks completely out of it at times then just lights it up. - Campbell was as I'd hoped and her role was welcome because L.Pearce is going to need increasing help I think. - Calling it now, Paxy will play til 40, one of few who held the standard for a full four quarters. They've still got it! Lowlight: - Didn't manage to hear the "We are the girls from Casey Fields chant" all night - must have been in some kind of sound vortex cause I don't doubt the Demon Army were loud and proud as usual.

ROUND 1 TEAM MELBOURNE B: L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17 HB: S.Heath 30 M.Gay 3 S.Goldrick 23 C: S.Lampard 8 O.Purcell 2 E.McNamara 22 HF: T.Harris 7 L.Mithen 14 A.Bannan 16 F: E.Zanker 29 K.Hore - C 10 Foll: L.Pearce 15 T.Hanks 5 P.Paxman 4 I/C: B.Mackin 31 G.Campbell 1 E.West 11 C.Sherriff 18 M.Fitzsimon 24 Emerg: G.Colvin 32 C.Wilson 20 S.Johnson 25 Melbourne's first father-daughter signing, Georgia Campbell, comes in for her second game. A big congratulations to Tyla Hanks who plays her 50th game. Melbourne's Ikon Park win-loss record: 5-0 Opponent venue win-loss record: 4-5 Melbourne's win-loss record against Collingwood: 3-2 (Last played Collingwood in R5 2021, a 35-point loss). Opponent formline: Collingwood finished S7 with 7 wins and 3 losses, 6th on the ladder, before being knocked out in a Semi-Final against Adelaide. COLLINGWOOD B: S.Casey 22 S.Livingstone 12 HB: S.Sansonetti 16 S.Karlson 20 A.Brazill 10 C: J.Allen 6 B.Davey - C 3 T.White 29 HF: G.Campbell 13 E.Morris 21 E.James 2 F: N.Morris-Dalton 17 S.Rowe 7 Foll: S.Frederick 1 M.Cann 25 B.Bonnici 8 I/C: A.Porter 9 E.Fowler 15 L.Brazzale 24 T.Brown 26 A.Sheridan 14 Emerg: I.Barnett 4 C.Blair 28 E.Smith 33 New faces: Grace Campbell, Selena Karlson, Eleri Morris, Nell Morris-Dalton, Tarni White Notable absences: Lauren Butler (foot), Jo Lin (foot), Ruby Schleicher (foot)

A rising tide lifts all boats!

Nice short injury list to kick us off: Two confirmed outs from the GF team (Chaplin and Daisy). McNamara already a confirmed return from that spinal injury. Much like I still worry for Angus's head at times, I'm sure there'll be some nervous moments as Eliza doesn't shy away from the contest. Have to say she looked full of confidence in the praccy match. Nice video here with the announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwkCoQ6hthb/ So, there'll be at least one other in for Round 1.

Yep club games. The Vic one would be AFLW State of Origin (AFL-sanctioned that is, women played plenty of state rep footy previous to that). I think the one referred to was either before or after the 2017 season. Vic smashed the Allies - might be a different story now with all the talent in SA and QLD. I'm all out!

1 day til Round 1... Previous answer (Q: In the Season 7 Grand Final, Paxy* Paxman played what game number for the Demons?): Yep, you were all onto it! Lucky Demon number 64. In '64, the MFC won a famous flag, and tomorrow night we raise our first AFLW premiership flag.

So good! Who'd have thought we'd get here 10 years ago? And shout out to the roughly 5% of that figure who are AFLW members. According to the club, we've broken our AFLW membership record again as well.

FIVE DOGS? This makes me nervous. Remember that time Petracca broke his toe tripping over his dog while playing basketball? Or the OTHER time his dog bit him and he nearly lost a finger? Or that time Stephen Tingay walked through a glass door... Ok that one had nothing to do with dogs. 😂

Oops, previous trivia question was a fail. Let's try that again: 2 days til Round 1... Previous answer (Q: In which year range was most of our list born?): Emoji-react with your answer: Q: In the Season 7 Grand Final, Paxy* Paxman played what game number for the Demons? *The artist formerly known (but not really) as "Karen"

That Jack Viney 'steal' and goal. Epic.

From the final preseason training gallery, great to see Ben continuing his AFLW work.

3 days til Round 1... Previous answer: Emoji-react with your answer: Q: In the Season 7 Grand Final, Paxy* Paxman played what game number for the Demons? *The artist formerly known (but not really) as "Karen"

Was a bit of a trick question, in that it only refers to the three players listed! Kate Hore leads the MFC goalkickers with 53 (also fourth on the league-wide list). Tayla Harris leads the league with 58 (28 of which have been for Melbourne). Alyssa Bannan also has 28, then its former Dee Shelley Scott, Zanker and so on.

Match-winning milkshake

Don't give up, don't refresh.

Success! Stressful, stressful success!

Seriously, I'd prefer a ballot to this.

A champion team over a team of champions any day. And each will get their kudos from those whose opinions they value most.

Just not fair. Any success we have from here, we couldn't have done it without Milkshake.

5 days til Round 1... Previous answer: Emoji-react with your answer: Q: In which year range was most of our list born?

7 days til Round 1... Previous answer: Emoji-react with your answer: Q: Who has kicked the most goals for Melbourne?

Not to long to go now! In the lead-up, I've put together a couple of trivia questions for the devoted W crew here. 9 days til Round 1... Emoji-react with your answer: Q: Melbourne has scored two of the top three winning margins in AFLW so far (78 and 88 points). Which teams did these wins come against?

Loved the way players referenced Fitzsimon’s game (the run down tackle and the smother response) and what that represented for the team. It’s not fearing failure and knowing how to respond to mistakes - because footy’s full of them - that got us the cup. Also, I’m officially on Tayla goal-celebration watch this season 😂

Loved it, some real honest insight from the players. Especially enjoyed Tayla describing her “first ever” goal celebration! And Mick - so much emotion for his players.