AFLW: Kate Hore says Demons are looking for a ‘little bit of redemption’ against Cats in Round 1

A straight sets finals exit in 2023 has Kate Hore and her new-look Melbourne side looking for AFLW Round 1 revenge against finals conquerors Geelong.

Melbourne skipper Kate Hore (L) is looking for redemption ahead of Round 1 against the Cats. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A straight-sets exit from the finals was not the way Melbourne planned to finish the 2023 AFLW season but the new-look side will use it as an added incentive to make amends this season.

After finishing second on the ladder, the Demons were defeated by North Melbourne (41 points) and Geelong (five points) – two sides they had comfortably beaten during the season.

Melbourne captain Kate Hore said her side, which has been bolstered by recruits, was seeking redemption in its round 1 battle against the Cats.

“The way we finished last year wasn’t ideal for us (but) what happened last year doesn’t really change anything for us, nobody likes losing,” she said.

“We get to play the Cats in the first game, so we’re definitely hoping for a little bit of redemption.

“We’ve taken a lot of lessons out of how the season ended and hopefully we can use those going forward this year”

The Demons new-look side has generated a lot of excitement as they’ve added plenty of versatility into the side through new players.

“We’ve got nine new players which is almost a third of our list so it’s a little bit of a different look for us,” Hore said.

“We’ve bought in a few young kids which has been cool to see and they’ve slotted seamlessly into our program.”

Kate Hore leads the Demons leads out for a pre-season hitout. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Among their new inclusions was prized No. 5 draft pick Alyssia Pisano, a player who the skipper was expecting to “ turn a few heads”.

“She’s just a real natural footballer and has played the game since she was a kid … she’s definitely one to watch,” Hore said.

“Another one is Ryleigh Wotherspoon who grew up a cricketer and soccer player … she’s had an instant impact (in practice matches) kicking a couple of goals.

“Grace Beasley was a college basketballer and spent six years in the States … she adds heaps of power and speed to our midfield.”

Hore kicked 20 goals last year to win the league goalkicking and the captains’ votes have predicted the same outcome this season, but the spearhead will take on a slightly different role.

“I’ve been playing a bit more midfield time, learning a new position has been a new challenge,” she said.

“I tried to build up my aerobic base and overall endurance over the off-season and have really enjoyed working with our midfield group.

“I think versatility is a real strength of our team, a few girls will go through different positions depending on what the game requires.”

The Demons undoubtedly have the toughest fixture across the first month as they take on preliminary finalists Geelong (round 1), followed by grand finalists Brisbane (round 2) and North Melbourne (round 3).