Austin kicks four as Melbourne storms home to launch Wilson era with a win
Mia Austin kicked four goals on her Melbourne debut as the Demons beat Hawthorn by 19 points in round one of the 2026 NAB AFLW season at IKON Park.
Melbourne led by 23 points late in the first term after kicking the first three goals of the game, then watched Hawthorn claw their way back until scores were level at the final change. The Demons then held the Hawks scoreless in the last quarter, piling on the goals that mattered to win 9.5 (59) to 5.10 (40).
It was Tom Wilson's first match in charge of Melbourne's AFLW program, and it began his senior coaching career. Wilson replaced Mick Stinear, who is now coaching Geelong. The club's own match report summed up the occasion with its headline: "Demons storm home to start Wilson era right" (melbournefc.com.au).
Austin was the story of the night. Recruited from Carlton in the off-season, she slotted four goals — a career-best haul — and was a threat across the ground with nine score involvements, those being the chains of play where a player directly contributes to a scoring chance (afl.com.au). She is seen as the ideal replacement for Eden Zanker, the key forward now at Fremantle.
Liv Purcell made her return from a knee reconstruction and was best afield, collecting 32 possessions and laying nine tackles. Captain Kate Hore was less accurate in front of goal, finishing with 1.4 — one goal and four behinds, the latter each worth a single point.
Maggie Mahony chipped in with two goals for Melbourne. Shelley Heath goaled 11 minutes into the final term to help break the deadlock, and Elizabeth McNamara added another as the Demons pulled clear.
For Hawthorn, Aine McDonagh kept her side in the contest with three goals. Former Gold Coast recruit Jacqueline Dupuy took nine marks and kicked a goal. Defender Jenna Richardson hauled in 11 marks, and ruck Lucy Wales — the player who contests the ball-up at stoppages — impressed for the Hawks.
The night carried a sobering moment for Melbourne's Jacinta Hose. Drafted in 2023 and held back by two knee reconstructions, she finally made her AFLW debut, only to be forced from the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.
For fans, the result lands Melbourne's new era on a winning note. A recruit stepping in for a lost key forward and kicking four on debut is the kind of start that settles nerves quickly. Hawthorn, though, showed enough across three quarters to suggest they will trouble better sides this season.
