4 home games and 3 interstate ( 1 against north ). No wet coke or freo which is good. Tricky start against Adelaide.

I'm delighted the conference system has been scrapped but would have liked a full 13 round home and away season.

Fixtures could have been worse. we'll take it.

Looking forward to seeing how the team takes shape given all the off season changes. Karen Paxman to win the best and fairest and another AA. She's a legend.

So happy the conference is gone, totally screwed us a few years ago.  

When are they going to get a proper full season and play everyone at least once. 

Is anyone aware of how (if??) the match-ups were made to avoid the imbalances that the first year of conferencing led to?

Edited December 11, 20205 yr by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew
i.e. Isn't it possible for one team to have the 9 'hardest' opponents and another to have the 9 'easiest'? The year-to-year evening-up mechanisms available for the 'stable' men's comp aren't there for the women

...with an incomplete 2020, continuing new teams, constantly-changing season structure, etc.

This fixture is already in jeopardy.

With WA's rules that anyone coming from a state which has not had zero locally transmitted covid cases for 28 days must quarantine it is hard to see how games can be played in WA or how WA teams can re enter the state. 

Other state rules are somewhat less onerous, altho Vic looks a bit draconian atm.  No one is allowed in.  Hopefully, that changes soon.

Unlike the AFL, AFLW is still a part time comp which makes it very difficult to create hubs without taking away the livelihood of many players. 

Hopefully, sanity prevails and state premiers find a way of allowing people movement without shutting boarders every time a dozen people get ill.

The Giants have already re-located to Albury, with only one staying back for work commitments temporarily. I imagine the impact for teams might vary quite a lot in that regard though.

https://womens.afl/news/54856/sydney-s-covid-outbreak-forces-giants-to-move-south

Significant fixture changes due to border closures:  https://womens.afl/news/56353/

The new fixture gives us a great opportunity to get off to a good start for us:  GCS and Tigers in round 1 and 2, both teams who joined last new so very inexperienced. 

Saturday, January 30
Gold Coast v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST

Saturday, February 6

Melbourne v Richmond at Casey Fields, 5.10pm AEDT

 

On 1/22/2021 at 1:17 PM, Lucifer's Hero said:

Significant fixture changes due to border closures:  https://womens.afl/news/56353/

The new fixture gives us a great opportunity to get off to a good start for us:  GCS and Tigers in round 1 and 2, both teams who joined last new so very inexperienced. 

Saturday, January 30
Gold Coast v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST

Saturday, February 6

Melbourne v Richmond at Casey Fields, 5.10pm AEDT

2 very favorable fixtures so hopefully a 2-0 start which will set us up nicely for the season.

We’ll have a few youngsters playing as well so the easier fixtures affords them a good opportunity to settle in and find their feet.

I might head along to the Tigers game. Do we know yet whether fans will be allowed into the game?

3 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

2 very favorable fixtures so hopefully a 2-0 start which will set us up nicely for the season.

We’ll have a few youngsters playing as well so the easier fixtures affords them a good opportunity to settle in and find their feet.

I might head along to the Tigers game. Do we know yet whether fans will be allowed into the game?

I don't know yet.  Will be very disappointed if we can't get into the ground.  Having watched a training session from outside the cyclone fence it really isn't worth going to a real game if that is all that is on offer.

23 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I don't know yet.  Will be very disappointed if we can't get into the ground.  Having watched a training session from outside the cyclone fence it really isn't worth going to a real game if that is all that is on offer.

Info on ticketing here: https://womens.afl/tickets/faq

Basically, a reduced crowd will be allowed at all games but you must buy tickets in advance, including for free as a member for some clubs (I haven't heard anything as a MFC member so no idea what's going on there). Tickets are on sale round by round each Monday, home members at 9AM and general admission at 10AM.

Never thought I'd get to the point where I kind of miss Casey Fields ?

I am not sure but if you have a aflw membership then you get in for free. If you are a normal member ( mens home amd away ) I don't think your covered. I could be getting this all ballsed up though.

Any expected first gamers for r1

 

Meggs heard that Bannan and McNamara are likely round 1 inclusions and is hoping Paxy and Downie recover from their injuries against the Cats.  Speculating a best 21:

Demons AFLW round 1 v Suns

B: 2 M Downie  32 G Colvin

HB: 23 S Goldrick 9 L Birch 8 S Lampard

R: 16 L Pearce 4 K Paxman 5 T Hanks

C: 18 C Sherriff 3 M Gay 30 S Heath

HF: 16 A Bannan 12 S Scott 14 L Mithen

F: 10 K Hore 29 E Zanker 

I: 6 D Pearce 22 E McNamara 17 N McEvoy 11 C Emonson 19 J Parry

18 minutes ago, Meggs said:

Meggs heard that Bannan and McNamara are likely round 1 inclusions and is hoping Paxy and Downie recover from their injuries against the Cats.  Speculating a best 21:

Demons AFLW round 1 v Suns

B: 2 M Downie  32 G Colvin

HB: 23 S Goldrick 9 L Birch 8 S Lampard

R: 16 L Pearce 4 K Paxman 5 T Hanks

C: 18 C Sherriff 3 M Gay 30 S Heath

HF: 16 A Bannan 12 S Scott 14 L Mithen

F: 10 K Hore 29 E Zanker 

I: 6 D Pearce 22 E McNamara 17 N McEvoy 11 C Emonson 19 J Parry

Any update on how the new Irish recruit is going, Lauren Magee? She's an excellent Gaelic player so if she can master the oval ball i reckon she could be a great addition.

From MelbourneFC website:
THREE new faces will be pulling on the red and blue this weekend, as the Demons announced their debutants for Round 1.

With the players’ families gathering over the fence at Gosch’s Paddock, Alyssa Bannan, Eliza McNamara and Megan Fitzsimon received their guernsey’s before the Tuesday night training session begun.

Megan Fitzsimon has been drafted with pick No.35, joining the Demons from Gippsland.

The 18-year-old is an explosive footballer who can play through the middle and up forward, and she knows how to kick a goal.

Fitzsimon has had a major impact during her time in the NAB League and will benefit from playing alongside some quality teammates at AFLW level.

17 hours ago, Meggs said:

Meggs heard that Bannan and McNamara are likely round 1 inclusions and is hoping Paxy and Downie recover from their injuries against the Cats.  Speculating a best 21:

Demons AFLW round 1 v Suns

B: 2 M Downie  32 G Colvin

HB: 23 S Goldrick 9 L Birch 8 S Lampard

R: 16 L Pearce 4 K Paxman 5 T Hanks

C: 18 C Sherriff 3 M Gay 30 S Heath

HF: 16 A Bannan 12 S Scott 14 L Mithen

F: 10 K Hore 29 E Zanker 

I: 6 D Pearce 22 E McNamara 17 N McEvoy 11 C Emonson 19 J Parry

Agree that Downie would be a big loss if she doesn’t get up. 

On 1/27/2021 at 10:38 AM, FarNorthernD said:

Agree that Downie would be a big loss if she doesn’t get up. 

Unfortunately hasn't - out for 4 weeks. A shame since she missed so much last season too.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/854336/aflw-injury-update-downie-sidelined-with-ankle-injury

Rest of the injury/rehab list:

Simmons - should be a test for Round 2 (ankle)

Lampard - Round 3 (ACL)

Sloane - Round 6 (ACL)

Interesting that the AFL has not released the games for next week.

Cynical me thinks it is waiting until the end of this round so it can create blockbusters among the top 5 or 6 and fixture to help other clubs rise up the ladder with easier games.  Thinking Carlton here:  Tipped to be Premiers.  (Don't know why, as they fluked a GF in 2019 with the silly Conference system and last year were 'successful' but played few of the best teams.  Current form line of 2 losses is closer to their real capability).  Also, a fixture to help Richmond get their first win etc.

It is a bit unfair to the players not knowing where they will play in a few days especially as they have jobs and families to organise.  I know covid and borders make it difficult but surely they can do better than 5 days notice...

Our first two games were against last year's newbies so I don't expect games vs low teams.  However, the fixture favouring clubs could dramatically affect our position on the ladder. 

We just need to keep winning.

Edited February 7, 20215 yr by Lucifer's Hero