In among all the drama, the AFL has announced the plan for the 2021 AFLW season.

https://womens.afl/news/51667/statement-afl-reaffirms-commitment-to-aflw-2021-season-model-unveiled

In summary, it's going ahead as planned by the previous CBA, kicking off in February, with a 9-week home and away season then a 3-week finals series. Player payments and the current soft cap will stay the same. Great commitment shown by the AFL and to have this laid out so quickly.

While most other state league comps seem to be going ahead mostly as planned, the VFLW will be drastically reduced to a 4-team series. Not much info at the moment about how the teams will be put together, but the focus looks to be on players trying to break into the AFLW. That makes sense but is a shame for the AFLW players who rely on the VFLW season to play more than a handful of games a year. But it's exceptional times, of course.

The key dates for the AFLW sign and trade period have also been announced:
 
Monday August 3
AFLW Sign & Trade Period commences (12pm)
 
Wednesday August 12 
Trade period closes (2pm)
AFLW List Lodgement # 1 (4pm)   
 
Monday August 17
Re-signing and Restricted Free Agent period closes (2pm)
AFLW List Lodgement # 2 (4pm)
 
Friday August 21
Delisted Free Agent period closes (2pm)
AFLW List Lodgement # 3 (4pm) 
AFLW Draft order confirmed

 

During this period, Clubs will be permitted to sign up to 27 players, including rookie players. Rookie players in the AFL Women’s Competition are those that have not been listed with any Australian football team for the past three years.

While I'm in AFLW mode, I've broken down our 2020 list in terms of my opinions for definite keeps and those who could be potential trades/de-listings. I've included all the first-year players in the latter because even though we had glimpses of them all, it was not enough to make any big statements (though I'd take Parry as the pick of that bunch). Without a proper VFLW season, there'll be some tough choices and less to base it all on.

Keep: Birch, Cordner, Downie, Emonson, Gay, Guerin, Hanks, Heath, Hore, Lampard, Mithen, Paxman, D.Pearce, L.Pearce, Scott, Sherriff, Smith, Zanker

Potential trades/de-listings: Colvin, Cunningham, Kemp, Newman, O'Dea (controversial and unlikely!), Parry, Petrevski, Tarrant.

There are question marks over Jakobsson, who was planning to come back via VFLW but is still best 21 in my books. Perkins was an injury replacement player so would have to be re-taken through the draft. Given what she gave us, we mightn't be the only ones interested now, though she'll likely go to the Hawks whenever they come in regardless. Sloane (rookie) has struggled with injury for a few years now so it might be time to look elsewhere. The other two rookies Goldrick and McEvoy added plenty but their return from Ireland is understandably  an unknown quantity.

Like every Melbourne team, we need an established and proven full forward to fall in our laps, but I don't see that happening given our picks will be low and I see there being less movement trade-wise as the expansion settles for a bit.

Can't see O'Dea being traded off although she did struggle last season. I would keep cunningham and Kemp but cunningham would want to improve. She has got it but has to use it. Would love to see Goldrick again.

Thanks Dees In October but I’m with dl4e and can’t see O’Dea being traded. It has to be bloody difficult gig to have a full time job and also be a semi professional athlete.
But she is an original and a Melbourne player through and through and definitely should finish a one Club player

Thought Newman was a fair goer in previous seasons I've watched closely, though I admit that I didn't see a lot of season 2020.

 

50 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

I am certainly iffy on that re-signing.

AFL give Tigers and WCE an extra draft pick at the end of the first round https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-west-coast-get-special-aflw-assistance-20200720-p55dof.html

They have attached strings:

"The pick must be on-traded to bring in an established player".

"This pick can be combined with other selections and/or player/s, however, cannot be used in a scenario that brings another selection back to the club,"

I don't mind that too much as it is good to have a more even comp.  Having said that I reckon the Tigers problems were of their own making rather than a terrible list, hence why they sacked their coach.

 

Not happy at all if O'Dea goes:  2 x AA and ex club captain.  Cordner has lots of upside.

Newman had a very poor last season so don't mind if she goes. 

Don't know the other players well enough to comment.

Edit:  this is the full article https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-move-on-the-cards-for-former-melbourne-aflw-skipper-o-dea-20200723-p55exd.html

O'Dea's Manager:  “She’s an in-contract athlete. But some conversations that have stemmed over the past few months in regards to where she will play her best football going forward. As a diehard Melbourne supporter they’re really tough conversations and tough things to address, but in the best interests of her love for the game and obsessions for the game it’s important to address these things to make sure she feels really valued and also making sure she feels like she’s playing a big role in a team as well.”

Sounds like some unhappiness with proposed role in the team.  Don't think this is the sort of player we should let go!  Hope we can mend fences if there are issues.

Edited July 25, 20205 yr by Lucifer's Hero

Thanks for the 'management' of my post on the O'Dea/Cordner/4 others trade tabling news, LH.

Player / Team 'I want / we want' always a challenge; more surprising, though, when the player is one judged captain material by the club. They have misread each other? My default position is to fear that the club has issues, though I find "really" and "big", with respect to "valued" and "role", a bit 'non-team'... A bit of a risk expecting these to be delivered somewhere else, too...

Jeeesus! What's going on? There's hell of a lot of players heading out the door:

https://womens.afl/news/51677/trade-period-preview-dees-bracing-for-exodus-tigers-eye-reinforcements

O'Dea (Good pick-up Dees In Oct), Newman (poor year), Jakobsson (sold out on us twice or expendable?), Cordner (should only ever be allowed to play for MFC with that name), Guerin, Katherine Smith

Cant we afford to pay them?

 

3 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

Jeeesus! What's going on? There's hell of a lot of players heading out the door:

https://womens.afl/news/51677/trade-period-preview-dees-bracing-for-exodus-tigers-eye-reinforcements

O'Dea (Good pick-up Dees In Oct), Newman (poor year), Jakobsson (sold out on us twice or expendable?), Cordner (should only ever be allowed to play for MFC with that name), Guerin, Katherine Smith

Cant we afford to pay them?

 

This article explains it somewhat. Looking for an injection of youth through a supposedly strong draft. We've had a very stable list over the last few years, and that can only last so long.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/787522/melbourne-outlines-aims-for-aflw-sign-and-trade-period

O'Dea will be a loss.  She didn't have a great year but I think in terms of actual football technique she is one of the best players in the league.  Just moves and uses the ball like a genuine footballer.   Running capacity is probably her problem but you would want to get a very good trade haul for her.

Jakobsson's girfriend plays for St Kilda so that is probably why she is moving.  Decent player but surely market value is shot.

Kath Smith seemed destined to be one of our best young players before doing ACL, you wouldn't lose her without getting quality in return.

Thought Cordner had played some good games filling in in the ruck, maybe they dont see role for her with the big Pearce on the list.

Should get something for Newman with her speed.

Sad to see Elise go, also Katherine Smith. We should be getting some quality players and/or draft picks in return.

A Cordner leaving Melbourne ? I can however see what the club is doing. Elise lost what seems to be a few paces last year and maybe Smiths knee won't be right. Newman had pace but nothing else.

No issues at all with the club wanting to bring in some young talent - the top draftees are getting better each year and we haven't gone to the draft enough in the past two seasons.

That said, losing that amount of experience in one hit has to be a massive concern. Losing any more than two of O'Dea, Smith, Cordner and Newman is a problem in an even competition unless there is a heap of compensation coming back the other way.

I wonder to what degree Casey and / or the coach are an issue here. I can understand players not wanting to travel to Cranbourne for little remuneration after working a full week, and Stinear has hardly maximised the talent at his disposal in the past four years.

O'Dea is on the move, and she's taking Maddie Guerin with her...

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-clubs-expecting-a-huge-number-of-list-changes-when-trade-period-opens/news-story/f9c8ff457e5397480eedb0fc09620da4

Clearly I tempted fate by putting O'Dea in the potential trade list! Although turns out it was in the other direction. Her game has probably suffered a bit due to the role she's had to play...it seemed like something was off. She'll have a big impact at any club.

Newman I think needs a fresh start and I think we can upgrade there. Smith and Guerin are more difficult to understand, but injury can change things I guess. How many knee recoveries can we carry into a season considering we barely fell over the line in terms of fit players this year?

We haven't had the draft position to get the top talent for a few years, due to our relatively consistent (yet unrewarded!) performance and two compromised drafts. And there was always going to come a time when the 25-30ish age group (and even younger) would start to be surpassed. The impact of some first-year players at other clubs this season speaks volumes. This season almost 75% of the top ten leading goalkickers in the league were under 22.

Theoretically, we could have maintained the current list for the medium term. But to continue to miss out on that young talent for much longer would set us back in the future. Many of our top tier players may soon be on the brink of retirement (just watch Daisy and Paxman play til 40 now that I've said that!). At what point is, for example, a late 20s cross-coder or a player who presumably had limited development as a teenager a much less attractive prospect than an 18-year-old born in the game?

In all honesty, I don't think we could go much further with the current list and the pace with which the league is developing without injecting more young players. It seems like we are trying to extend the current core group's 'window' now and some players have seen the writing on the wall for their 2-3 year prospects as a result. It might set us back for a few years and then see us make a well-timed and more sustainable leap, as we transition away from the inaugural playing group. Well, hopefully!

I wonder if things like cost savings are part of the decisions. I hope not. But I imagine draft picks are on a base wage where as experienced girls get more?

FB: Birch  Downie
HB: Kemp Lampard D. Pearce
C; Heath  Paxman Emonson
HF: Hore Zanker Mithen
FF: Cunningham/Perkins?  Scott
Foll: L. Pearce  Gay  Hanks 
Int: Colvin, Sherrif, Tarrant, Petrevski, Parry, Sloane, the Irish?

Out: O'Dea, Cordner, Newman, Guerin, Smith, Jakobsson

O'Dea going is disappointing, but Gay and Hore have probably gone past her as midfielders and Hanks is quality. So I can somewhat understand that one. Regenerate the list whilst Pax and Daisy are around.

Newman was brilliant at her best but just fluffed good chances too often, I can see the need to move on there but again it's a bit unfortunate. Jakobsson wasn't really my kind of player even before she took a year off. Guerin never got it together.

Cordner's disappointing given the name but I guess they feel Birch is a gun key defender so it might be best to cash out on Cordner. Her ability to ruck as well we'll be missed. Hopefully Downie has some good footy left in here whilst they train up the next tall defenders.

Maybe the biggest disappointment to me is Kat Smith.She's such a honest goer and seems a good personality. Best mates with big Tex Perkins as well, not sure what her status is, would love to see her have a big preseason and dominate, the talent is there.

13 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

O'Dea going is disappointing, but Gay and Hore have probably gone past her as midfielders and Hanks is quality. So I can somewhat understand that one. Regenerate the list whilst Pax and Daisy are around.

Newman was brilliant at her best but just fluffed good chances too often, I can see the need to move on there but again it's a bit unfortunate. Jakobsson wasn't really my kind of player even before she took a year off. Guerin never got it together.

Cordner's disappointing given the name but I guess they feel Birch is a gun key defender so it might be best to cash out on Cordner. Her ability to ruck as well we'll be missed. Hopefully Downie has some good footy left in here whilst they train up the next tall defenders.

Maybe the biggest disappointment to me is Kat Smith.She's such a honest goer and seems a good personality. Best mates with big Tex Perkins as well, not sure what her status is, would love to see her have a big preseason and dominate, the talent is there.

Good summation there DeeSpencer. 

Really sorry to see O'Dea going, as she was just a solid rock in telling times during the game. 

I think the style of play and the strength and shape of players required to be successful changed dramatically last year. The arrival of players like Greisner and Prespakis and their ability to just push others away signals where the game is going.  The best way to get these types is through the draft, since they will never be traded.

I hope the Irish girls come back, or can come back.  Goldrick was a standout, and had adapted well to our game, and she provided the tough "at it" approach needed now in the game.

So Cordner and Newman are gone, basically for an early second round pick.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/08/04/2020-aflw-trade-period-tracker-and-analysis/

Not sure what to make of that given that we paid more than that for Birch last year, although she is a fair bit younger than Cordner.

Anything less than a top 5 pick for O'Dea would be a poor result. And we certainly need something decent back if Smith goes.

O'Dea was unfit she can go as long as we get good compensation. I thought Cordner was good surprised to see her go. We are losing a fair amount of players it must be a good draft.

O'Dea gone to Carlton 

With the footy frenzy we are in for the men, our women's side is cleaning out is going a little unnoticed.  This is a smart move, anyone that follows AFLW can see the standard of young top end talent coming into the competition is a lot better now.  Cleaning out like we are doing to get a number of top 25 picks will only better our side.  We still seem to have a strong list and adding the injection of youth will only strengthen our side in 2021.