MELBOURNE welcomes Tahlia Fellows to its AFLW program for 2026 as the club’s second injury replacement player.

The 26-year-old small forward joins the Demons after spending the past two seasons with Collingwood's VFLW program, where she has continued to develop into one of the competition's most dangerous attacking players.

Fellows brings valuable AFLW experience, having been a member of Hawthorn's inaugural AFLW squad and playing 18 games across three seasons between 2022 and 2024.

Originally selected from the Casey Demons VFLW program, Fellows has built an impressive football portfolio. In 2022, she claimed Hawthorn's inaugural Most Improved Player Award while also taking home the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW Rising Star.

Known for her lightning speed and strong goal sense, Fellows has been in outstanding form throughout the 2025 VFLW season.

Playing as a small forward, she is averaging 12 disposals, four tackles and one goal per game, while sitting equal-fourth in the league for goals with 12.6.

Her standout campaign also earned her best on-field honours for the VFLW state team after a dominant four-goal performance against SANFLW in 2025.

Melbourne’s General Manager of AFLW Katrina Gill said Fellows experience and work ethic made her a strong addition to the squad.

"Tahlia has the experience and maturity to make an immediate impact," Gill said.

"Tahlia has elite speed and is dangerous around goals. She is a hard trainer, a good teammate and really driven to make the most of her second opportunity at AFLW level."

Fellows signing follows Melbourne draftee Chloe Baker-West being placed on the inactive list as she continues to recover from a stress injury in her leg.