AFLW 2024: Paxy Paxman answers Melbourne’s leadership call after tough season

One of Melbourne’s toughest on-field warriors has a softer side. Here’s what the Demons have asked of her to help spark another flag tilt.

At times during Melbourne’s AFLW premiership defence it felt like the weight of the world was on their shoulders.

The Demons were an intimidating, heavy-scoring force in the opening rounds of 2023 but bowed out frustrated and spent in a straight-sets finals exit.

Melbourne identified a need for a more relaxed environment as the club looks to take a revamped list to the pointy end of this coming season, and that meant convincing Paxy Paxman to return to a leadership role two years after she gave up the vice-captaincy.

Inside the club, the 35-year-old midfielder has a reputation for warmth, care and fun which belies her fierce attack on the ball and sharp mullet haircut.

Paxman wanted to let the Demons’ new leaders grow when she stepped away from the leadership group ahead of their premiership campaign, but close friend and teammate Rhi Watt says in retrospect she probably took herself too far to the periphery of the group.

“It’s classic Pax that when she said she would step away from the leadership, that’s exactly what she did,” Watt says.

Melbourne AFLW star Paxy Paxman (second from left) has rejoined the Demons’ leadership group ahead of 2024 alongside Sarah Lampard (left), captain Kate Hore and Tyla Hanks (right). Picture: David Caird

“She wanted to let others have a go at the role, but it’s great that she has the ability to know it was time to come back in.

“The mood has been very energetic over the last four or five weeks of pre-season. Her presence just makes us a better team.

“Pax doesn’t change, she’s just such a natural leader, and if anything I just hope this has given her a little bit more confidence to know how loved she is, because she’s so humble but absolutely adored by everyone.”

Paxman has had to grapple with her identity as a leader in the past, but says she has become comfortable with doing things in her own style as the prospect of helping Melbourne’s influx of youth develop also excites her.

The Demons maintained a near identical list for three campaigns before they were forced to hit the draft hard in the last off-season: four premiership players have departed for other clubs, but nine new faces have brought a welcome sense of change.

Rhi Watt says Paxman is a ‘natural leader’ who just needed reassurance her voice was still crucial to the Demons side. Picture: Michael Klein

“We’ve kept our main group together for a lot of seasons now, and that’s what you want to do, but this new group, the energy they bring has been really refreshing actually,” Paxman says.

“Melbourne’s always had such strong leaders, right from the very start with Daisy (Pearce) as captain and Mel Hickey … I think I’ve been able to develop my own sense of leadership here.

“I guess what I bring is experience, but I also bring balance off the field as well. I love to have fun and make sure everyone’s having a good time, and I think when I’m having fun, I play good footy.”

Paxman is toying with the idea of an eventual move into coaching – “not a senior job though, too hectic” – but says the finish line is not yet in sight when it comes to her playing days.

While other great mates have drawn the curtain on their AFLW careers, Paxman and Watt have formed a special bond since the latter arrived at her third club ahead of season seven.

The pair had not properly met before Watt arrived at the Demons. Last year, Paxman was in Watt’s wedding party.

Paxy Paxman (right) struck up a friendship with new teammate Rhi Watt (left) so quickly that she was part of her wedding party last year. Picture: Supplied

“Having only known her what, two or three years, she was actually my maid of honour,” Watt says.

“So we have a bit of a chuckle, we get to footy training and say, ‘we should probably tone it down a bit’.

“Pax just works brilliantly with the other leaders we’ve got, Kate (captain Kate Hore) and Hanksy (vice-captain Tyla Hanks). There’s that natural level of calmness – she’s been through all the highs and the lows of the game, she’s got such a breadth of experience that nothing really tips her.

“You just have to pinch yourself sometimes that the club is lucky enough to have someone like her.”

Paxman famously used to watch no football outside of her own games, but she’s changed her habits to incorporate the Melbourne men’s side into her weekend routine.

“I think knowing some of the players now and being at the same club for so long … they wear the jumper you wear, you know? So you become invested, I tune into the boys for sure,” she says.

Paxman is Melbourne’s games record holder and a five-time All-Australian as she enters her ninth AFLW season. Picture: David Caird

“We actually go to a couple of games for education, and it definitely helps, watching the game live. You can see the structures and running patterns, and that’s definitely been a part of what we’ve done in our off-season over the last couple of years.

“It’s more enjoyable for me to watch now, because I’ve got a vested interest, but it is good as an education piece too.

“I was always a kid who was out on the streets playing sport, and just never really sat in front of the tele to watch it. I’ve got other things to do.”

Watt is eager to demystify some of the “other things” Paxman does.

“Paxy is surprisingly an amazing singer,” Watt says.

“You’re completely thrown by the stuff she loves – she’s a huge Ed Sheeran fan, she also really loves Ben Platt? You’ll catch her singing along to Wicked in the car.”

Speaking anonymously for fear of retribution, other teammates cast doubt over the calibre of Paxman’s singing voice, but spirits are high with the Demons star front and centre in pre-season training.

Melbourne will open its AFLW season with a semi-final rematch against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on August 31.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Paxy Paxman answers Melbourne’s leadership call after tough season