THE 10^th season of AFLW is creeping closer with Melbourne’s side ramping up their preparations.

This year’s fixture will look a little different to seasons gone by, with the addition of one more game of footy across an extra two weeks, meaning there’ll be 12 games of AFLW across 12 weeks.

With the pre-season now in full swing and Round 1 seemingly just around the corner (58 days to be exact), let’s get up to date on the key things to know heading into this milestone fixture.

NEW DEMONS

Melbourne heads into this year with four new players on its list. Three Demons entered the club via the 2024 National Draft, while one youngster is a recent addition due to a late list opening. 

Molly O’Hehir
One of the club’s highest picks in recent AFLW drafts, O’Hehir came to the Dees at selection No.3. Hailing from WA, O’Hehir joins Melbourne as an energetic and versatile player. Her height and explosive speed has been impressing on Gosch’s Paddock as she looks to step up her game to AFLW level. 

Maggie Mahony
A strong and skilled footballer, Mahony arrived at the Dees via pick No.21. She’s competitive and loves a contested ball, now facing up against the likes of Tyla Hanks and Olivia Purcell at the stoppage. With so much experience already under her belt, having had stints of VFLW during her top-age years of junior footy, it's exciting to see where she can take her game in 2025. 

Amelia Dethridge
A natural athlete, Dethridge was selected with the last pick of the 2024 Draft, coming on as a cross-code talent having predominantly spent her junior time in elite hockey settings. While Dethridge is still honing her football craft, her tenacious attitude at training has been a strength, combined with her endurance and speed adding plenty to the squad.

Laela Ebert
A later addition to the list, Ebert has rounded out the club’s playing group, signed as a replacement player after a spot was left vacant by Jacinta Hose following a back injury. Ebert comes from a family of footy stars in South Australia and therefore it’s no surprise that she brings a natural footballing ability to the team.

Her skills are her best asset and while it’s only been a short time on the track in the red and blue, Ebert has hit the ground running, looking comfortable in her first three weeks at the Dees.  

PRE-SEASON HIT-OUTS

Melbourne v Hawthorn
Date: Saturday 26 July
Location: Casey Fields | Bunurong 
Time: 12:30pm 

Adelaide v Melbourne
Date: Sunday 3 August
Location: Thomas Farms Oval
Time: 11:30am 

2025 KICK-OFF

Round 1 | Western Bulldogs v Melbourne | Saturday 16 August 
The Dees will kick off 2025 in a fitting celebration of the season 10 milestone. They’ll travel to Mission Whitten Oval for a historical match-up against the Bulldogs in the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.

The Saturday night match will look to recognise the immense impact Bob Hampson and Lisa Hardeman have had on the game as two pioneers in the development of women's football. 

The game is the 15th instalment of the cup with both teams looking to add another notch to their history books.

MATCH-UPS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

Round 5 | Port Adelaide v Melbourne
This will be the first time that these clubs have faced each other in an official capacity within the AFLW space. The two first met last pre-season in a practice match at Alberton Oval where the Dees went down by 10 points. Now, the Dees will once again travel to Alberton Oval but this time it will be for premiership points.

Round 10 | Melbourne v Sydney 
For the first time in AFLW history, Melbourne and Sydney will meet for the first time during Round 10. The Dees will host the Swans at Casey Fields for a Saturday afternoon clash as part of Pride Round. It's an exciting opportunity for the clubs to at last meet and complete the final unseen match-up, and what better way to do it than in a celebration of Pride at Casey Fields.  

Round 11 | Brisbane v Melbourne
It’s a well-known rivalry in the AFLW and its history will be added to once again in Round 11 when the Dees head up to Brighton Homes Arena to face the Lions. The rivalry consists of 10 match-ups across the past nine seasons, including a few finals meetings, with Melbourne have won six of these games. So, it's fair to say there's a lot of history between these sides, meaning we're guaranteed a tough battle come October 25. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Maeve Chaplin
Chaplin well and truly stamped her name into the minds of forwards across the league last season, blossoming into one of the strongest defenders among the AFLW.

Her 2024 stats speak for themselves, averaging a career-high seven intercepts, 14 disposals and nine kicks. From the early notes of pre-season, it doesn’t look like the defender is slowing down anytime soon with another big season on the cards for Chaplin.

Tayla Harris
Harris played half a game of footy in 2024 before a shoulder injury ruled her out for the rest of the Dees fixture. Now, having returned from rehab to full fitness, the star Demon is one to watch in 2025.

The tall forward has been known for her strong aerial presence and will be looking to return back to that impact this season.

Denby Taylor
Entering Melbourne’s team last season was Denby Taylor, a well-skilled footballer who opted to return to the game after a two-year stint away from AFLW. She was signed as an injury replacement player but after a strong season in the Dees backline, solidified her spot amongst the playing group.

Now starting this pre-season with seven Melbourne games under her belt, Taylor has the opportunity to take her game to the next level with her footy smarts and slick skills in her tool kit.

2025 TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIPS

While tickets for the 2025 AFLW season are yet to be released, eager Dees fans can make sure they’re sorted for season 10 with a Melbourne membership. 

AFLW Access: Show your Demon Spirit by joining as an AFLW member for 2025. The Access memberships offers priority access to tickets and free admission to all Dees home and away AFLW games.

AFLW Family: Create core family memories with the Demons this AFLW season. The AFLW Family Membership offers access to tickets and free admission to all Dees home and away AFLW games and includes up to four children under 18 as of 1 January 2025

AFLW 5-Flexi: The most flexible way to enjoy the 2025 AFLW season. Our Flexi membership gives you access to five tickets to use however you like across the course of the AFLW season.