MELBOURNE women’s coach Mick Stinear provides an update on all 30 players in the lead-up to the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s competition. Be sure to check back each day over the festive/New Year season, as we present the 2018 squad alphabetically …

Harriet Cordner

Harriet was held back by injury at the start of the program, but has flown through her rehab and has joined the main group. She continues to develop as a key defender and has spent a lot of time on the fundamentals of her game. Harriet has invested a lot of time in game style education, which has put her in a really good place to launch into season two. She’s powerful and competitive, and a real weapon on the field, so we’re looking forward to seeing Harriet play when the season kicks off.

Richelle ‘Rocky’ Cranston

Rocky has had an enormous off-season. She’s put a lot of time into her conditioning and fundamentals during her season with Geelong in the VFLW. She’s come back fitter, faster and stronger than season one, and she’ll have a real impact in our midfield and be a key part of our ability to take the ball forward and be a strong team in season two.

Tegan Cunningham

Tegan joined us through the NAB AFL Women’s Draft. She looks to be developing well as a key forward and is developing well through the air. Tegan has great agility and footwork on the ground. She’s professional in how she approaches the program and is already displaying great leadership among the group. She has got a great connection with her teammates and will be a welcome addition to our forward line in 2018.

Meg Downie

Meg’s been brilliant on the track. She trains the way she plays, and competes for everything and she’s put in an enormous amount of time into getting her body right, along with her fundamentals in the off-season. Meg is a strong part of our defence and she has a great ability to read the ball, and intercept mark. We’re looking forward to having Meg for the full season in 2018.

Laura Duryea

‘Irish’ is a real competitor. She leads the way on the training track with intensity and continues to work on her game. Irish was a key defender for us in 2017 and we see her playing a similar role. She’s really worked on her aerial contests and building her marking game. Irish will be one who will benefit from a little break after a long AFL and VFL year. She’ll be raring to go in the second season.