AFLW: Preseason Training, Injuries, Best 21

[Dees_In_October 3,509]

Some updates on preseason so far and the plan for the next phase after Christmas.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/550619/aflw-program-just-ramping-up-stinear

In some bad news, Lauren Pearce will miss the first half of the season due to injury.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/550498/ruck-pearce-to-face-delayed-start

I was just thinking the other day (after Freo's ruck did her ACL) that she's the only player we'd hate to lose! The upside is that she hadn't returned to full training anyway, so they'd been effectively training with her absent already - clutching at straws perhaps... I guess we put Zanker in the ruck, Cordner to pinch hit and maybe one of the tall newbies gets a chance up forward. Unfortunate that we play North first up, since we struggled with their height last time.

This doesn't do our chances any good at all. Still, the return of the 'other' Pearce and the continued improvement of our young players are some things to look forward to!

I aim to get along to training in the new year and would be interested in everyone's thoughts on best 21 for round 1 as it gets closer.

[Dees_In_October 3,509]

Another update, again not great news.

Shae Sloane and Kat Smith will both miss the season due to ACL injuries. Same knee as last year for Sloane. This is apparently Smith's first serious injury in 13 years of footy, so new territory for her. Best of luck to both for a smooth recovery.

Not sure if replacements can be added for season-long injuries like this. As always, the silver lining is this does open up some opportunities for new players who, especially in the case of Smith's position, might have struggled to break in otherwise.

A month to go!

Edited January 5, 2020 by Dees_In_October
update

[Demonland 73,266]

 

[dl4e 5,851]

We will miss Smith. A very reliable player.

[Little Goffy 14,664]

I'm really annoyed about that.  Particularly Kat Smith who I really rate the way she goes about it.

I also think Lauren Pearce is right up amongst our most important players. 

 

It's going to be a hard start to the season for them but in the end the AFLW game is still 'young' and variable enough that whoever conditions best, trains best and wants it most on the day will get the wins.

[Dees_In_October 3,509]

On 1/7/2020 at 9:55 PM, Little Goffy said:

I'm really annoyed about that.  Particularly Kat Smith who I really rate the way she goes about it.

I also think Lauren Pearce is right up amongst our most important players. 

 

It's going to be a hard start to the season for them but in the end the AFLW game is still 'young' and variable enough that whoever conditions best, trains best and wants it most on the day will get the wins.

True, it's all very unpredictable. I was trying to figure out what we'll need to do for a top 3 conference finish and I kept ending up with different teams in the top 3! I have a sneaking suspicion about the Saints...

Possibly we could put Daisy in Smith's place? It'd be a real luxury to ease her in mainly behind the ball.

I'll get down to training soon to get a better idea of where we're at and what the ruck plan is. And figure who's who of the new players.

[Dees_In_October 3,509]

The hits keep coming (Mithen now out til Round 4; Cunningham, Hore and Kemp facing tests) and I don't feel any the wiser about our best 21. So, instead of trying to put together a best 21, I've attempted to group the list by automatic selections, the rest in contention and those who are ruled out completely. It's too close for me to call between the 9 potentially fit players outside the automatic selections. It's a mix of unproven/young players like Parry, Goldrick, McEvoy, Petrevski and Tarrant, plus slightly more seasoned/known quantities like Sherriff, Kemp, Guerin and Colvin. Very exciting for many of these players who now have a good look at a debut - who knows what we might uncover!

With Mithen out, do we run Daisy more in the midfield than expected? Or give more time to Heath/Hanks/Guerin. If Cunningham's out, do we put Cordner forward or put pressure on potential debutant Parry to hit the scoreboard? Worst case scenario, no Cunningham, Hore and Kemp available for R1 would leave us with just 1 fit player outside the 21...easy for selection, very rough for our chances against the Roos (who are a strong premiership contender by my reckoning). I'm not sure if the ability to upgrade train-on players kicks in at 23 fit players including all injuries/absences or just season-long injuries/absences. Some teams seem to have been able to do this without getting down to 23, so not sure what the exact rule is. Either way, any more injuries short or long-term will sink us completely.

Automatic selections (16):

Downie, Cordner, Birch, Lampard, D.Pearce, O'Dea, Scott, Hanks, Newman, Zanker, Paxman, Gay, Emonson, Heath, Cunningham (test, quad), Hore (test, shoulder)

In contention (9):

Guerin, Colvin, Goldrick, Parry, Kemp (test, ankle), Sherriff, Tarrant, Petrevski, McEvoy

Ruled out until around R4 (2): L.Pearce (knee), Mithen (ankle)

Ruled out for season (3): Sloane (knee), Smith (knee), Jakobbson (work)

[Demonland 73,266]

 

[Cards13 9,117]

Is it me or does it seem like the W comp suffers a higher injury rate than the men’s comp? ACLs in particular occurring at a decent % higher than the men’s. 

[Dees_In_October 3,509]

On 2/3/2020 at 8:42 PM, Cards13 said:

Is it me or does it seem like the W comp suffers a higher injury rate than the men’s comp? ACLs in particular occurring at a decent % higher than the men’s. 

Yep. And ACL rate is definitely higher. Around 5 times the rate of the men per 1000 playing hours (has declined each season though).

I think there are lots of reasons behind this. Obviously, women's bodies are built differently but Aussie Rules-based sports science has focused on men's bodies, so research is needed into best preparation for women for the top level, which is happening. Plus not having access to the same level of coaching/preparation/resources in their junior careers (if they had one at all). Then, to get their bodies right for a whole new level of competition for 8 or so weeks of the year, and trying to squeeze it all into 10 hours a week of training...prehab/prevention might be first to go out the window. All speculation on my part.

Interestingly, there are some injuries where the men suffer much worse than the women. From memory, hamstring, hip, groin type injuries haven't occurred with anywhere near the same frequency for women. Again probably comes down to the differences in bodies and the different loads due to the season structures. It's interesting but difficult to compare at this early stage.

[Demonland 73,266]

 

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Is that the Sarah Perkins who played for Adelaide? Interesting if so.

[Meggs 598]

4 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

Is that the Sarah Perkins who played for Adelaide?

Yes, MFC website says “Perkins is a known-goal kicker who has 17 games of AFLW experience with the Crows, including a premiership in 2017.”

[Demonland 73,266]

 

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

“The Demons hope to see Mithen and Pearce to return against Collingwood in Round 4, which would provide a major boost for their midfield.”

It would be great to get through the next couple of weeks injury free and then and Pearce and Mithen for the Pies game. It would be as full strength as we are likely to be this year.