MANY know the Liv Purcell that is the in-and-under Melbourne midfielder, who racks up disposals and does the grunt work in stoppages.

Many wouldn’t know the Liv Purcell that is the calm and softly spoken person behind the football player.

It’s an important part of who she is and it allows her competitive side to come out on field.

“It's funny because off field, away from footy, I’m not like that,” Purcell said.

“But I feel like I need to have that edge on field or else I’m not playing my role.”

This season has seen Purcell’s competitive edge reach an all-time high, her name put up in lights as one of the best midfielders in the league, averaging 30 disposals, five tackles and four clearances per game.

This individual success is the result of years of setbacks and hard work.

Since first joining the red and blue in 2021, Purcell has completed just three full seasons of footy, having spent time on the sidelines with two ACL injuries in 2021 and 2025 and a facial fracture in 2024.

With each injury, another layer of resilience was added to the already steadfast Purcell, but it wasn’t a journey without its challenges.

Off the back of her second ACL injury, heading into the 2026 pre-season, Purcell admitted that doubt had slightly crept in.

“I definitely did have tough moments, I think that just comes with [back-to-back injuries],” Purcell said.

“After the facial injury, my thought was that it was just a freak accident, and then it was nice to come back and play a bit of footy at the end of the 2024 season.

“Then when I did my ACL last year, that was the more disappointing moment because I had focused on having a really strong off-season.

“After that injury, it was probably the first time I was like ‘ugh this actually sucks’, but then the club made me stay so involved and valued, which made it feel like I could still make an impact.

“But I also allowed myself to feel that way, let those thoughts happen and then move on. Once I got going again and had the support from everyone, I felt like myself again.”

Despite these serious setbacks and moments of doubt, she’s grateful for these various challenges along her career journey.

They’ve helped her return to the enjoyment of football, which she credits as the ‘cliché’ reason she’s been able to perform at her best in 2026.  

“Honestly, I’m just trying to come back to the enjoyment, I know that sounds really simple and cliché, but I really just wanted to enjoy footy this year and not stress,” Purcell said.

“It’s funny because the last couple of years I felt like I was having really good pre-seasons, they were probably the best pre-seasons I’ve had, but then I ended up getting injured.

“Coming into this year, I wasn’t just coming off my most recent pre-season, it’s been a build up over the last few pre-seasons and now it’s just clicked.

In addition to the work she does at the club, Purcell relishes in the opportunities she gets outside of footy, to not just better herself from an athlete point of view, but to better herself holistically. 

“The breath work I’ve been doing has helped me,” Purcell said.

“At first, it was for footy, but then the more I did it, I realised it’s just nice for me, everyday.

“That happens with a lot of what I do, it starts out as something I do for footy, but then it ends up being just good for me overall.

“I also like to go to the beach as much as I can, not necessarily as an escape from footy but it gives me the opportunity to switch off.”

Focusing on the way she enjoys footy wasn’t the only thing that the midfielder changed this year.

Purcell has also embraced a new experience in her life outside football, moving in with teammate Ryleigh Wotherspoon.

It’s the first time that Purcell has lived with a teammate, having been used to living alone prior to this year. 

“I’m used to having my own space, I’ve lived on my own and had my own company,” Purcell said.

“Normally I’d be used to getting home and not talking to anyone, especially after footy when you’re socialising heaps, but now [living with Ryleigh] it’s actually been quite nice having someone there to talk to.

“We’ve become really close and it’s been such a great experience.”  

Purcell is part of a Melbourne midfield that has been dynamic in 2026, various players rolling through the centre of the ground when required.

For the 26-year-old, it’s a development that’s been seamless, with the team's off-field connection translating to connection on field. 

“The midfield group is all I’ve ever known and since our premiership year, there’s been similar faces that I’ve played with,” Purcell said.

“But now with more players coming through like Kate, Maeve, Fitzy, it’s been a really easy dynamic, probably because we’ve got such great friendships off the field too.

“What’s nice about it is that we all have different strengths, we complement each other and can pull on each other’s strength’s when we need them.”

Purcell and the Dees are in the midst of preparing for a preliminary final next week, their opponent to be confirmed tonight following the Carlton and Hawthorn clash.

Melbourne will be looking to go two steps further than season 2025, with premiership glory now just two wins away.