Melbourne captain Kate Hore is confident the new-look Demons can hit the ground running and establish themselves as AFLW premiership contenders once more.
Mick Stinear, Melbourne’s inaugural coach and premiership mentor, departed at the end of last season to join Geelong.
Former Collingwood assistant Tom Wilson was appointed as Stinear’s replacement and will lead the Demons officially for the first time against Hawthorn on Thursday night at Ikon Park.
“It’s been very different obviously, being coached by Mick my whole playing career. A lot of our girls are in the same boat as well,” Hore told AAP.
6.46pm
Flair way to heaven for Hawks
By Scott Spits
It’s not necessarily a “Hokball” mantra, but Hawthorn have one key theme as they strive to challenge for an AFLW premiership: bring back the flair.
By focusing on energy and playing an exciting brand of footy, the Hawks expect to improve on an area that has ultimately cost them: scoring.
Hawthorn were good enough to register a 9-3 win-loss record in 2025, but they only scored 451 points and had the second-worst percentage in the top eight. They limped into the finals, scoring just 0.3 against a rampant North Melbourne in their qualifying final.
“Everything for us has been about [being] really hard to play against in the way we play,” said captain Emily Bates (right) about the main pre-season theme.
6.46pm
Embelton debuts along with three new Hawks
By
Hawthorn defender Annabelle Embelton will make her AFLW debut tonight while recruits Jac Dupuy, Niamh Martin and Poppy Stockwell will make their club debuts.
Former Hawthorn men’s player Sam Frost presented the jumpers to the new players pregame.
The information below is from Hawks media:
AFLW Debut - Annabelle Embelton Defender Annabelle Embelton will make her AFLW debut tonight against Melbourne. The 20-year-old joined Hawthorn just last week as a replacement player from the Box Hill Hawks VFLW. In her third season with Box Hill in 2026, she averaged 18 disposals and four marks from her eight appearances. While in 2025 she took home Box Hill’s VFLW Best in Finals and Most Consistent award. Embelton has been a familiar face among the brown and gold this pre-season, having featured in three of the Hawks’ practice games as a top up player before being officially added to the list.
Club Debut - Jac Dupuy, Niamh Martin and Poppy Stockwell Recruits Jacqueline Dupuy, Niamh Martin and Poppy Stockwell will officially don the brown and gold for the first time tonight. Dupuy joined the Hawks in the 2025 trade period after five seasons with the Gold Coast Suns, with tonight marking her 50th AFLW game. Martin was also part of the Hawks’ 2025 trade portfolio, joining the club after two seasons with North Melbourne. While Stockwell joined the Hawks early in the 2026 pre-season as an injury replacement player, having played two games for Fremantle in 2025.
6.45pm
Good evening AFLW fans
By
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFLW live blog for tonight’s clash between Hawthorn and Melbourne at Ikon Park.
I’m Roy Ward and I’ll be blogging tonight’s match.
It should be a great night with first bounce set for 7.15pm AEST.