NEW: Alyssa Bannan, Eliza McNamara, Megan Fitzsimon
Three Dees to debut
As announced on Tuesday, Melbourne will have three new names running out in the red and blue on Saturday.
Alyssa Bannan, Eliza McNamara and Megan Fitzsimon have all earned their spot to take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, having each made big impacts since joining the club.
The trio are expected to bring plenty of speed and energy to the group, and will be sure to make their presence known across the ground.
The ones that miss
Meg Downie will be forced to sit on the sidelines for the next few weeks, after injuring her ankle in a practice match against Geelong earlier this month.
The defender was hopeful of a minor concern, but further assessment determined a high sprain.
She’ll be joined by Maddi Gay this weekend, who re-injured her quad at training on Thursday night.
A long time coming
It’s been 314 days since Melbourne took to the field, meaning it’s been one sizable pre-season.
The group, albeit it with a few different faces, has been prepping for their opportunity to get back out there since the pandemic halted proceedings in 2020.
And while a change in this year’s fixture sees them head north – they originally were meant to play Adelaide at Casey Fields in Round 1 – they’re excited, and hungrier than ever, to kick the season off with a bang.
Oppo watch
Saturday’s game will actually be the first time the two teams do battle.
Melbourne was meant to host Gold Coast, an expansion side, in Round 8 last season, but the game was cancelled due to the shuffling fixture.
Gold Coast are a competitive and defensive-strong side, so the Dees will need to be weary of that pressure from the outset.
Look out for
Tyla Hanks. The Dees’ No.5 will be one to watch, not just this weekend but for many more to come.
With additional midfield minutes this season, Hanks will be eager to step her game up a notch, and she could very well take the competition by storm.
She’s still on 20 years old, but is one exciting player to watch, and will be a key part of Melbourne’s make-up going forward.
Check out Melbourne’s full team below.
