A MELBOURNE premiership is firmly on Mel Hickey’s agenda as the women’s team continues its preparation for the 2018 NAB AFLW season.

Hickey, who had an outstanding 2017 season, being named AFLW All-Australian and representing Victoria in State of Origin, said a flag was at the top of her list next year.

“[I’m] definitely [aiming for] the premiership – there is a big hunger in the belly for that,” she told melbournefc.com.au.  

“I’m pretty sure we’re not going to hide away and say that we’re not aiming for that – that’s definitely what we’re gunning for.

“We’ll go a couple of steps better than last year.”

Hickey said Melbourne’s second pre-season had gone to the next level.  

She said recruits Kate Hore, Eden Zanker and Maddy Guerin have impressed her on the track, while Richelle ‘Rocky’ Cranston has come back in “really good shape”.

“Everyone is really stepping up and taking it up a notch,” she said.

“We’re into week four and it hasn’t been a long time yet, but it’s felt really great and there has been good intensity out there and we’ve been getting plenty out of the sessions.”

“We’ve trying to work on our particular ball movement and the way we’re trying to move the ball, come season 2018. There has been plenty of craft work – and there is a fair bit of conditioning as well.

“We’ve got our connections with the coaches and with each other as teammates, so we can really take it up a notch in terms of what we’re actually doing out on the ground.

“We’re holding each other accountable to even higher standards, so we’re really noticing the difference.”

Hickey said she would head back home to Mildura during the Christmas break, before getting

“Hopefully we’ll get some nice sunny weather up there and do some training and we’ll have a running program and some weights to do,” she said.

“We don’t want to lose too much momentum from the past four weeks, so it should be a good time.

“We normally get some 40 degree days up there, so we’ll see.”