Dees quick to embrace the heat of battle on eve of new season

MELBOURNE players banned themselves from mentioning the heat during their AFLW clash in Darwin last year in a bid to cope with the humid conditions.

AFLW practice match between Collingwood and Melbourne at Olympic Park. A super fit Mel Hickey charges forward. Picture: Ian Currie

MELBOURNE players banned themselves from mentioning the heat during their AFLW clash in Darwin last year in a bid to cope with the humid conditions.

Star defender Melissa Hickey revealed last week that they adopted the zipped mouth approach to take the stifling temperature out of the equation.

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The Demons beat eventual premiers Adelaide by two points at TIO Stadium in the March 12 clash.

“We made a rule that we weren’t allowed to keep commenting about it,” Hickey said.

“We were up there a few days before the game and you can’t do anything about it, you can’t control it so you almost have to have a Pollyanna view about it — that it’s fine and you’re OK.”

The second season of AFLW starts on Friday night, February 2 — the opening clash between Carlton and Collingwood — little more than two weeks after extreme heat sent tennis players scampering for shade at the Australian Open.

A super fit Mel Hickey breaks a tackle as she charges forward during Friday night’s practice match. Picture: Ian Currie

But Hickey said she was not worried about the women’s league kicking off in summer. The Demons play their first match against GWS at Casey Fields on February 3

“I grew up in Mildura and I went back home for Christmas and we had high 30C weather and I was trying to get out there in the heat as much as I could to get used to it,” she said.

“I enjoy playing this time of year. The days are longer so you can train in sunshine and it’s a lot easier to jump in the ice baths.

“I went and watched a friend’s game during the season and it’s nice to be able to watch twilight footy when it’s warm.

“I guess people like to have a couple of beers at the footy as well so it’s probably more conducive to that.”

Karen Smith marks in a practice match at Olympic Park. Picture: Ian Currie

Ashleigh Guest is chased by Collingwood’s Ash Brazill. Picture: Ian Currie

Melbourne played its first practice match on Friday night, losing to Collingwood by two points — 7.4 46 to 6.7 43 — after leading by 22 points at three-quarter time.

But Hickey said Melbourne would focus on making amends for their slow start to last year’s inaugural season.

Collingwood players close in on Demon Elise O'Dea. Picture: Ian Currie

She said the Demons didn’t cope well with the lightning storm that disrupted their first game last year against Brisbane at Casey Fields.

“We didn’t really know what was going on,” she said.

“We didn’t know how long we were going to be off for. It obviously doesn’t normally happen and they just coped with it better coming back on and adjusting to the wet.

“You’d think Melbourne footballers would be better in the wet than Brisbane footballers, but they kicked it better and more direct and we probably over possessed the ball.”