Excellent win and very even across the board - I reckon everyone out there played their role and contributed in some way. That's probably a strength this season compared to some other teams who tend to rely on their top 2-3.

Cordner had a standout game and was well assisted by the way the rest of the backs organised themselves and set up. To Lions were super predictable (in part due to our pressure on the ball carrier) and we read them like a book. Once we had it hemmed in our forward line it was all over, especially given our dominance out of the middle. By contrast, when they had it trapped in their forward line in the third quarter, our defense was tenacious (helped along by some let offs by their players).

Perhaps Newman's best game? Could have easily had 4! The day that Zanker kicks a bag is approaching, but for now I just love her follow-up and forward pressure. L.Pearce has improved out of sight of the back of an excellent VFLW season and I think really thrives being the sole true ruck, although they seemed to share it round more yesterday. Some of her spot up kicks into the forward line were excellent. Also probably Phillips best game this season, much more involved.

If Cunningham was reported for that only slightly late and not particularly forceful hit when it wasn't even paid as a free kick I would have been annoyed. Glad it was just a mistake by the commentators, who do tend to take things and run with them.

Agree with Meggs about Kat Smith, an underrated player and worth swinging forward if we need a shuffle.

Our chances next week? If we can play our utmost best, anything might happen but it won't be smooth sailing. Will be trekking out to Casey to see how it goes and looking forward to seeing lots of red and blue out there.

Interesting to note in the video of Newman's goal, it looks like a swarm of players all on the same side.

I was occasionally confused about the jumpers watching the game on TV(higher  definition than the You-tube of Newman's goal), especially with long range shots, not with close-ups.

I think it shows the commonsense of alternative strips.

Incidentally, I was amazed that we got 6 frees to their 12. I didn't think we got ANY!!!

 

Teagan was cited and copped 2 weeks. 

Tayla Harris only received 1 match for an incident that I thought was just as bad if not worse. 

35 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Teagan was cited and copped 2 weeks. 

 

APPEAL!

Clean sweep in the Coaches Votes (as we should have). Pearce to equal second

https://womens.afl/news/16612/aflca-votes-round-three-demon-fires-but-no-10-for-crows-star

Any footage?

 

Sounds like the Cunningham report was for a separate incident to the one the commentators talked about, which was the earlier incident shown on replay that was clearly on body. Who knows what the second one was like because I'm pretty sure they never showed it. I don't like her chances the way it's described though. Bye bye 30% of the season!

 

Our players that made the Team of the Week:

Defenders: Harriet Cordner

Midfielders: Lauren Pearce

Forwards: Aliesha Newman

Interchange: Karen Paxman

BRISBANE     1.1       1.1       2.3       3.3 (21)

MELBOURNE 2.1       7.5       8.5       9.6 (60

GOALS

Brisbane: Wardlaw, Exon, McCarthy

Melbourne: Newman 3, Jakobsson 2, Paxman, Smith, Zanker, Cunningham

BEST

Brisbane: Exon, Anderson, Lutkins, Wardlaw

Melbourne: Paxman, Newman, Cordner, Pearce, O'Dea, Zanker

INJURIES

Brisbane: Kaslar (calf)

Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Tegan Cunningham (Melbourne) striking Brisbane defender Shannon Campbell - offered a two-match suspension

Umpires: Edwards, Gibson, Strybos

Official crowd: 4227 at Hickey Park

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Reports: Tegan Cunningham (Melbourne) striking Brisbane defender Shannon Campbell - offered a two-match suspension

 

43 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Glad the club has taken this step.  2 weeks is terribly harsh; equavalent (in % of games) to 6-7 weeks in the AFL. 

Also, 2 weeks over penalises the team in a short 7 week season.  It is the difference between making finals or not as the player depth isn't there in the AFLW for a team to cover such a player.

This is a similar situation to Katie Brennan.  Last year, after her appeal failed she was taking her case to the Human Rights Commission.  The AFL reached a compromise.  Like the Bulldogs we have a lawyer as President who has shown he is prepared to employ his skills to protect the club.  This will be interesting to watch.

It is staggering the AFL/AFLW didn't have the foresight to see the Katie B situation arising again and revise the penalty system before this season started. 

If this turns into another farce the AFL will only have itself to blame for the bad 'optics.

If you play for Carlton you get out of jail free.

 

 

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

If you play for Carlton you get out of jail free.

 

Ran past the ball and collected in the head, even if incidental.  Should be a week.

12 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Should never have been a report.  Ran into the back of the Brisbane player.  No strike at all. 

Vision at 3.12 in the attached vidio to this article here:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-19/dees-coach-goes-extra-mile-to-connect-with-his-players

 

On 2/18/2019 at 11:04 AM, FarNorthernD said:

I haven’t watched other games but the standard of footy in ours has certainly improved over the past couple of seasons. Lots of times I found myself saying ‘good kick’, ‘nice mark’ or ‘great hands’. That lace out pass by Hanks to hit a moving Cat Phillips that set up Newman for her running goal was a fantastic piece of play. No way they pull that off in the opening season

Think we have covered the loss of Daisy fairly well. Our mids have been generally on top during the 3 games so far. Thank god neither of the expansion teams got Paxman, she is so bloody good. I thought losing the ruckman Hoare to Geelong would hurt but Pearce has really improved hasn’t she. Probably in the top 3 or 4 B & F voting at the moment. And I must admit I have never really rated Mel Hickey who also went to Geelong. She obviously works hard on her game but has the coordination and footy IQ of a robot. I’d have Jakobsson and Downie over her any day. 

Next week V North could be the match of the year. I had thought it a certain loss but we are playing some fantastic footy and we will test them. Also we have played 3 games on the trot in windy conditions  and seem to be playing it quite well. Good chance to be the same at Casey next week

Go Melbourne!

From the games I’ve watched the relentless endeavour/crazy attack on the footy is as high as it’s been,  fitness has improved markedly, the skills on the improve.

For mine it’s all about space, you can see some players look very likely, have the skills but there is very little space and time to execute. It almost needs another 2 less players on the park and the viewing would be enjoyable.

41 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Thank you football gods. I'm yet to see the actual second incident (in the marking contest), but from the verdict, it sounds like common sense prevailed and the description in the initial report made it sound worse than it was.

George on the outer - the incident shown in the footage is the first incident, which was just a reprimand.

Very glad she is free to play.

The appeal was for a striking charge which was assessed as: '... an off-the-ball incident...intentional conduct with medium impact to the head." 

Would be interested to know the appeal grounds and how/why the Tribunal dismissed a seemingly serious charge, in its entirety.  One would expect a diminution of one or even two of the assessed factors would result in a week off or a fine.  

Edit: Appeal grounds:  "Melbourne's representative, Peter O'Farrell, initially submitted the case should be thrown out completely, that the incident was not a strike and impact was "lower than low"...O'Farrell presented the case was a forward pushing off her opponent and going for a mark, with eyes only for the ball.  He also argued that the act was done in play, with the wind affecting the drop of the ball.'  https://womens.afl/news/16631/blues-star-big-dee-free-to-play-after-tribunal-wins 

To me the vision shows a late push in the back with a forearm - downfield free kick or 50m at worst!  Don't know where Michael Christian got his assessment from!!!  Charge deserved to be thrown out! 

Edited February 19, 20196 yr by Lucifer's Hero