AFLW 2024: Struggling Melbourne can reset before fixture rush, says coach

The Demons look like a team on the decline, but their coach says they can make good use of the AFLW’s controversial scheduling call.

Melbourne ruck Georgia Campbell tries to evade North Melbourne’s Amy Smith during the Demons’ round 3 loss at Casey Fields. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Melbourne was exposed in consecutive defeats against the AFLW’s top sides, but coach Mick Stinear says a back-ended fixture will give the Demons time to right the ship.

A compressed schedule to allow midweek matches during the AFL finals will impose a demanding block of games on all 18 sides over the next six weeks, but struggling Melbourne’s

“footy frenzy” is still three weeks away.

Between October 9 and 24, the Demons will play four matches beginning with a daunting trip to Norwood to face Adelaide.

Stinear said Saturday’s clash against Fremantle in Perth followed by games in Victoria against Essendon and GWS would give his side a chance to refresh after being handed the second-heaviest loss in club history against North Melbourne.

Melbourne coach Mick Stinear says his team has three weeks to sort out its disappointing form before a frantic five games in three weeks at the end of the home-and-away season. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“(North) preyed on some of our inefficiencies with the ball … and their high intensity running and workrate was a level above ours – it’s given us a real benchmark to pursue in the coming weeks,” Stinear said.

“I think this next period (of the season) gives us a chance to get our set-up right, make sure individually we can limit our opponent’s impact on the game and still play our own way as well.

“I think next time we meet teams like that, we want to be much stronger and much more even with our midfield in terms of our accountability and ownership.”

Stinear said the loss of All-Australian ruck Lauren Pearce (broken wrist) had been felt keenly, as Brisbane’s Ally Anderson (a league-record 43 disposals) and North’s Ash Riddell (32 and two goals) ran riot in consecutive weeks.

“Ally Anderson continued to accumulate throughout that game – I guess we’re finding our feet without Loz Pearce in the ruck as well, trying to get our midfield balance and structure right,” he said.

North Melbourne star Ash Riddell celebrates one of her two goals against Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“Riddell last week, again a quality player … we tried to reduce (Jasmine) Garner’s impact on the game, we felt like we did that to a certain extent.

“But then quality teams have Riddell popping up, Mia King popping up, that’s just what good teams do.”

Paxy Paxman has added to the Demons’ growing injury toll, with the flare-up of a foot injury ruling her out of the Dockers clash.

“(Her foot) won’t come up in time for this week, so hopefully just a week’s rest to let that settle,” Stinear said.

“It’s something we just need to get on top of now before we go into those condensed fixture games and have her healthy and strong.”

Melbourne midfielder Lily Mithen will play her 75th AFLW game on Saturday after playing every game in the AFLW’s inaugural season as an 18-year-old. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Foundation player Lily Mithen will follow Paxman as the second Demon to reach the 75-game milestone on Saturday at only 26 years old.

“She’s a special person and special player in our team – she brings so much energy,” Stinear said.

“I think as a young 18-year-old she was competing with the strongest and biggest at the start of the competition, and now she’s evolved to be able to play high forward, inside mid, play on the wing – I think her footy IQ is what’s really helped her stack up at this level despite her size.

“On the weekend she’s going to play inside (midfield) and a bit on the wing, and we think she’s going to do a really good job for us and lead the way for the rest of the group.”

Inaugural Geelong player Denby Taylor, who retired to pursue opportunities outside football in 2022, will play her first AFLW game in 1281 days after being named for her Demons debut.

Fremantle will regain dynamic midfielder-forward Aisling McCarthy after she missed the win over Port Adelaide with bone bruising to her knee.

Sydney pulled a selection surprise by dropping mainstay Brooke Lochland for Sunday’s derby against GWS, while the 2018 All-Australian was not the only shock omission.

Hawthorn axed speedster Charlotte Baskaran after she had played in all 23 possible games for the club.

The 19-year-old was held to only two disposals in the Hawks’ loss to Adelaide, but had 11 possessions and a goal in the win over Collingwood the week prior.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Struggling Melbourne can reset before fixture rush, says coach