INS – Purcell, Zanker, Paxman
OUTS – Johnson, D’Arcy (omitted), Colvin (conc.)
OFF the back of their Wednesday win in Adelaide, the Dees have made three changes to their starting line-up.
Melbourne will head to Moorabbin to face St Kilda at RSEA Park on Sunday, with Olivia Purcell, Eden Zanker and Paxy Paxman all re-entering the team.
Sunday’s selection is a particularly exciting opportunity for Purcell, who has been sidelined for the past eight weeks after undergoing surgery on facial fractures sustained in a pre-season.
The 24-year-old will play her first game of the season and will be a welcomed inclusion, her strength at the contest set to provide another layer of power through the midfield.
Zanker’s availability comes after a short stint on the sidelines with an injury to her patellar tendon. The All-Australian forward will boost the team's height inside 50 as they look for further scoreboard impact with each week.
Paxman also joins the final 21 after missing two matches with a foot concern. Her experience and composure with the ball will be integral to the Dees’ Week 7 defence.
Gab Colvin has been ruled out of the Sunday game after sustaining a concussion during Wednesday night’s match against Adelaide.
Sarah D’Arcy and Lily Johnson have been omitted from the line-up, with Johnson joining Jemma Rigoni and Saraid Taylor on the emergency list.
Sunday’s game will be Melbourne’s second of Week 7 and the second within the league’s Pride Round.
The Dees will once again don their 2024 pride guernsey which represents the club’s journey towards inclusion, and commitment to providing a safe environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Check out the full team below.
