One of Melbourne’s biggest changes this year has been the introduction of young gun midfielder Olivia Purcell, who quickly became an essential cog in the Dees’ midfield and known across the AFLW for her intense competitiveness.
“It’s funny, I feel like I’m very laid back and easygoing at football and even away from football, but I do have white-line fever when I play,” Purcell told The Age, admitting to being “pretty overly competitive”.
Melbourne’s Olivia PurcellCredit:Scott McNaughton for The Age SPORT
“It’s sort of interesting and I sort of laugh about it [with] family and my teammates because they find it really funny on game day. There’s like this whole different side of me. So, I do feel like I have to just keep really chill because I know on game day, I can really flip the switch.”
This Sunday when Melbourne come up against Brisbane in the grand final, Purcell says she’ll have added fuel to her fire, charged by the heartbreak of last season’s grand final loss to Adelaide.
“I feel like after the grand final last season, it sort of felt left a little bit empty, a little bit deflating, and I know I was really, really flat about it,” said Purcell.
She added the short turnaround times between the season has been advantageous for her, as she’s been driven by that need for redemption.
Adelaide skipper Chelsea Randall feels the force of Demons midfielder Olivia Purcell.Credit:AFL Photos
“I feel it’s been really helpful personally throughout the season, just being like, ‘remember how that loss felt’ and using it as fuel and motivation … seven months later, we’re in another grand final, which is another thing to be really proud of.
“I just don’t want to be left probably with that same emotion. I feel like I had time to reflect, and then it was an advantage [to have the quick turnaround time between seasons] … because I was like, ‘OK, well, you can get on with it.’”
The 22-year-old started her AFLW career at Geelong, debuting in 2019 and claiming the Cats’ best and fairest in 2020, along with an All-Australian selection at half-forward.
Her 2021 season was cut short due to an ACL injury, and she joined the Demons after it, where she finished her rehab and re-joined the competition midway through season six in a red-and-blue jumper.
While she made an immediate impact in her first season back, it was in the second season this year that she really shone, averaging 23.3 disposals, 3.8 tackles and 3.8 clearances a game, and receiving her second All-Australian blazer.
The second youngest of five sisters, it isn’t surprising she has a competitive streak. That along with being the daughter of Kane Purcell, who was drafted to Collingwood at pick 30 in the 1991 draft and known for his white-line fever, despite not playing a senior game.
Olivia Purcell goes toe to toe with Demons coach Mick Stinear.Credit:AFL Photos
Yet off the field, Purcell is a laid-back surfer and self-proclaimed “bit of an introvert”.
“A different side of me comes out when I play footy and then away from that, I feel completely different as well.
“Before a game I keep it very relaxed and then as soon as I’m playing everyone’s like ‘whoa’. And as soon as the game’s over, I switch off and I’m back to normal … I feel they [her teammates] think it’s pretty amusing … I don’t know where it comes from. Just happen,” she laughs.
Purcell said part of that getting on with it was the team re-grouping after the result and decided to really focus on playing for each other. “You sort of use it to fuel you and you can feel it amongst the team … the only way that we’re going to get the best possible result, whether it’s a win or loss, is probably through playing for each other.
“And you can’t really rely on one or two people to get it done. It’s going to take all of us.”
The ultimate test of that will be on Sunday against the minor premiers, with premiership glory once again within Melbourne’s grasp.
The AFLW grand final is at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday at 2.40pm (AEDT).
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