The below match report has been produced by Melbourne Media, and does not represent the views of the club or coaching staff.

MIDFIELD powerhouse Olivia Purcell has made an eye-catching return to action in Melbourne’s first intraclub hitout of the AFLW season.

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Purcell missed the majority of 2025 after suffering her second ACL tear in Round 2 last year but looked to be fit and firing in her return to competitive action.

Playing through the midfield, Purcell won the ball at the source and linked well with Hanks and Hore in an ominous show of a full-strength Melbourne midfield.

Fellow ACL returnee Grace Beasley also performed strongly on the ball, demonstrating plenty of midfield depth with Megan Fitzsimon and Shelley Heath who both kicked a goal from the middle.

Hore was dominant on ball before working forward to kick three goals, looking every bit last year’s All Australian Vice-Captain.

A deft touch pass over the outstretched hands of an intercepting defender to hit Ryleigh Wotherspoon on the chest might have been the highlight of the afternoon.

Wotherspoon continued her hot form from the end of last season, hitting high up the ground and bursting forward to impact the scoreboard.

A classy snap around the corner highlighted her afternoon.

Draftee Jordy Allen looked classy off half-back, raising her hand for an early-season debut.

After battling ACL and back injuries during her first two seasons at the club, Jacinta Hose stepped out for the first time in Demons colours.

Drafted as a ruck, Hose lined up in defence on Georgia Campbell for her first run in over 1000 days, also rehabbed an ACL in her U18 season.

Alyssa Bannan, Eliza McNamara, Molly O’Hehir and Paxy Paxman paced the wings, with O’Hehir strong in the air to take a number of intercept grabs.

Paxman and Bannan snuck forward for goals while McNamara racked up plenty of the ball.

Last year’s Daisy Pearce Trophy Best Young player Maggie Mahony piled on the pressure up forward, also taking an impressive contested mark opposed to a match taller opponent and kicking a goal.