DURING the AFLW Sign and Trade Period, Melbourne midfielder Lily Mithen secured a one-year contract with the club.

But as the Demons landed a couple of new recruits, accompanied by some big re-signings, Mithen decided to add a second year to the deal.

Now locked in until the end of the 2023 season, alongside 14 of her teammates, Mithen couldn’t be more excited to get back to work and make amends for this year’s missed opportunity.

“We had something pretty special building and unfortunately fell short,” she told Seven News.

“I think last year was probably the first time we had genuine belief in our system and our structure, and what Mick Stinear was building amongst the group.

“It was unfortunate that we fell short come that Prelm Final over in Adelaide, but I think it just builds that fire in the belly, as cliché as that is, it’s what we all have at the moment.”

The Demons’ bid for a maiden AFLW premiership has been strengthened by a high-profiled signing from the Blues – one Melbourne’s No.14 rates highly.

“She’s a star, Tayla Harris,” Mithen said.

“When she’s at her best she’s pretty hard to stop.

“She’s such a competitor in the air and such a good kick for goal.

“I think she’s going to add a dynamic layer to our forward line.”

Harris, a three-time All Australian at just 24 years of age, brings plenty of experience to the Demons, with 37 games and 29 goals under her belt.

And while Melbourne’s second addition is perhaps a lesser name, Liv Purcell is an equally tantalising prospect.

The 20-year-old won a Best and Fairest in just her second season with Geelong, before an ACL injury ended her 2021 campaign early.

But Purcell is another familiar name to Mithen, as the pair look forward to running out alongside each other for a second time.

“We actually played junior footy together, back down in Geelong,” she said.

“We went to the same school and played at the same junior footy club.

“We won flags together at Newtown & Chilwell and I’m hoping we can do the same together in the red and blue.”