MELBOURNE was one win away from another AFL Women’s Grand Final, and while the Demons lost a key forward over the off-season and are searching for a new coach, were able to bring in a pair of National Academy members and proven ball-winners at high-value selections.

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DRAFT HAUL

Pick 16. Jordyn Allen
Pick 22. Chloe Baker-West

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

Melbourne has always prided itself on effective skills and good decision making, and that is certainly the case for the two latest additions to the Demons side. Both part of the National Academy and Vic Metro squads, Allen and Baker-West possesses great smarts and brilliants skills, while being able to suit up in a variety of positions.

Allen is predominantly an outside player who started off half-back and then went to a wing. She did hold her own on the inside in 2025, but will be looking to build greater strength to compete against the bigger bodies. With ball in hand, Allen is one of the best users by foot and covers the ground exceptionally well. Vice-captain of the Coates Talent League Girls premiers Eastern Ranges, Allen will likely start off half-back and use her elite skills and decision making to full advantage.

At Pick 22, the Demons were able to pick up a slider in Baker-West. Her contest-to-contest work and sheer volume is remarkable, as the Calder Cannons vice-captain racked up 30-plus disposals for fun, and even had 40-plus on a handful of occasions and a whopping 53 touches as a double bottom-ager. Impressively, Baker-West can play across all three lines, and is incredibly strong in the air for a 165cm prospect too.

GRADE: A

Hard to knock anything about Melbourne’s selections, with the Demons picking up a couple of genuine stars. They did only make the minimum two selections, but they made them count, and both players could very realistically start Round 1, even in a quality side like Melbourne’s.