IN: McNamara 

OUT: Caris

The rest are in good enough form to keep out Goldrick.

Colvin and Goldrick if available would be certainties.

Heath would be under pressure, with these two looking for a spot.

Paxman was off the ground for a long time…hope nothing wrong.

Edited January 9, 20223 yr by george_on_the_outer

2 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

Colvin and Goldrick if available would be certainties.

Heath would be under pressure, with these two looking for a spot.

Paxman was off the ground for a long time…hope nothing wrong.

Heath’s the best small defender in the side and one of the best in the comp, she’s a lock. Its Tarrant and Brown who will make way if the other tall defenders are right to go.

I can’t remember if Mithen came back on. And I also think if it gets to the pointy end of the comp they’ll probably drop Caris and find someone else to do 5 minutes a quarter in the ruck. They’ll want to play her now though to take the load off Pearce and get some experience in to her.

There’s likely to be multiple changes a week unfortunately. The backline held up without 2 of their best 5, hopefully the other lines can do the same if tested.

We were blessed not to suffer the injuries the Bulldogs had, both going into and during the game. In fact, it looked like a bit of a disaster scenario throughout the competition with the number of injuries (including serious ones) across the games. 

I don’t know if there are any theories concerning the injuries but I wonder if it’s due to the fact that the game is still not the natural game of players from early childhood as it is with many boys. I see a lot of the women not attacking the ball directly or instinctively and therefore being caught wrong footed and swiveling around.  Obviously, things will improve as we get the benefit of the large growth in junior footy for girls from the grass roots levels.

Anyone else have any views? 

13 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

We were blessed not to suffer the injuries the Bulldogs had, both going into and during the game. In fact, it looked like a bit of a disaster scenario throughout the competition with the number of injuries (including serious ones) across the games. 

I don’t know if there are any theories concerning the injuries but I wonder if it’s due to the fact that the game is still not the natural game of players from early childhood as it is with many boys. I see a lot of the women not attacking the ball directly or instinctively and therefore being caught wrong footed and swiveling around.  Obviously, things will improve as we get the benefit of the large growth in junior footy for girls from the grass roots levels.

Anyone else have any views? 

I recall reading during a previous spate of ACL injuries among the women much was attributed to basic biological differences 

Apparently the different shape and structure of the female pelvic and hip area can lead to a gait that raises the likelihood of knee injuries 

Another report also claimed that menstruation can be a significant factor 

I imagine that there is and will be considerable further research/investigation into this matter.

4 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I recall reading during a previous spate of ACL injuries among the women much was attributed to basic biological differences 

Apparently the different shape and structure of the female pelvic and hip area can lead to a gait that raises the likelihood of knee injuries 

Another report also claimed that menstruation can be a significant factor 

I imagine that there is and will be considerable further research/investigation into this matter.

The Dees own ex-player now coach Shae Sloane is one doing research into this, looking at all factors and devising prevention for Aussie Rules that's based on women's bodies.

On 1/9/2022 at 2:20 PM, DeeSpencer said:

Heath’s the best small defender in the side and one of the best in the comp, she’s a lock. Its Tarrant and Brown who will make way if the other tall defenders are right to go.

I can’t remember if Mithen came back on. And I also think if it gets to the pointy end of the comp they’ll probably drop Caris and find someone else to do 5 minutes a quarter in the ruck. They’ll want to play her now though to take the load off Pearce and get some experience in to her.

There’s likely to be multiple changes a week unfortunately. The backline held up without 2 of their best 5, hopefully the other lines can do the same if tested.

Yep, Mithen did return. She's had syndesmosis issues in the past so perhaps they were being extra careful there.

7 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I recall reading during a previous spate of ACL injuries among the women much was attributed to basic biological differences 

Apparently the different shape and structure of the female pelvic and hip area can lead to a gait that raises the likelihood of knee injuries 

Another report also claimed that menstruation can be a significant factor 

I imagine that there is and will be considerable further research/investigation into this matter.

Doesn't Netball have the highest rate of acl injuries ?

34 minutes ago, dl4e said:

Doesn't Netball have the highest rate of acl injuries ?

No idea on that but I'm sure there is a poster that can enlighten us

Menstration is a significant risk to injury. Went to a PD with eagles aflw  team. (I coach junior girls)

first day of period is the worst for injury, they do adjust demands on players to accomodate, yes in a game it’s harder.   The period leads to softening of ligaments, amongst other effects.   They also showed how it affects energy levels and performance over the cycle.  Very interesting.  They track the data and use energy peaks in the cycle to push development hard then ease off in other parts. 

Injury report

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1045950

Colvin (Covid protocols) - available

Goldrick (Covid protocols) - available

Magee (Covid protocols) - available

McNamara (Covid protocols) - available

Gillard (Covid protocols) - 1 week

Chaplin (Covid protocols) - 1 week

Purcell (knee) - 4-6 weeks

Simmons (foot) - season

 

All four available must at least be in the conversation, creating a bit of a selection headache seeing as (apparently!) no injuries ended up arising from the Round 1 game. Of course, more could easily end up out at the last minute due to exposure. Personally, I'd want Colvin in and at least one of McNamara or Goldie, but then who to leave out?

Yes @Dees_In_October we are indeed spoilt for choice this week.  Whereas our selection headache is an enjoyable one, last week’s vanquished foe has a rather nasty migraine, with the Bulldogs scratching to field a team.  Maybe our Head Coach Mick could help the Doggies out and send a few of the un-selected Demons to GMHBA Stadium this Saturday night and give our girls some match practice ! 

On selection thoughts, Meggs expects Goldie to be a selection certainty this week.  She will replace a running defender so Ali Brown who was quiet and hurt during the match may make way. 

Gaby Colvin, a defensive KPD mainstay last season along with Birch and Tarrant, is one who would matchup nicely on Frederick and should be selected.  Megan Fitzsimon played her best game for us last week and Meggs would like to see her given more games to keep improving but the Selectors may decide otherwise. 

McNamara, a likely starter too.  Eliza might replace her namesake, West, who looked nominally and physically at home at the Whitten Oval and she would be unlucky to miss. 

On the Lil’n’Ben podcast our second ruck Maggie Caris was upbeat about her performance last weekend.  But we don’t know what promises have been made to her in terms of gametime and or whether two genuine rucks are part of Mick’s team structure? 

Paxy who has been indestructible during her excellent and decorated AFLW career would be a surprise omission, hopefully not.  So based on the published injury list and with (fingers crossed) no new covid cases, we should only expect two or three changes which will strengthen the team.

Our Round 2 match on Friday 14 January 2022 against the Tigers starts at 7:10pm at the Swinburne Centre (Punt Road Oval). 

As Meggs mentioned in another thread, the Tiges looked quite lively after quarter time against the lower rated Saints.  Richmond reuniting the Hosking twins and offloading the slow Frederick to the Pies look like good recruiting moves so far.  Last week Courtney Wakefield was highly effective up forward and she and midfield gun, Mon Conti (one of the best in the comp) both earned places in the Round 1 Team-of-the-Week along with our very own Libby Birch and Kate Hore.

For the Tiges ruck Poppy Kelly, former no 1 pick Ellie McKenzie, Sophie Molan and Emelia Yassir will all be missing.  Notwithstanding, Meggs is expecting Richmond to be competitive in the wet but all the pundits have the Dees as heavy favourites.

Last time we met was on 6 February 2021 at Casey Fields in 2021 where the ‘ferocious Dees showed no mercy in Tiger mauling’, a 28-point win, Dees 7.2 (44) to Richmond 2.4 (16).  On this day Mithen and Hanks starred for the Dees while Conti (no surprise) was best for the Tiges.   Bannan and Hore scored 2 apiece while Frederick 1 and Hosking scored a goal each.

It’s an away game tommorow and the weather looks wet with thunder and lightning forecast.  Skills will be tested but Melbourne to win by 24 points.  Go Dees!

FRIDAY TEAMS: Five changes apiece with BIG outs for Dees, Tigers (womens.afl)

Covid hitting us hard. Not as hard as the Bulldogs and Brisbane. Strong ins unfortunate outs.

Well, at least we can field a team I guess.

Tigers not hit quite at hard...I'd say the quality of our ins are better than the quality of their's, but then, the quality of our outs is probably greater.

Last team standing wins the cup?

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

Covid hitting us hard. Not as hard as the Bulldogs and Brisbane. Strong ins unfortunate outs.

22 minutes ago, Dees_In_October said:

...I'd say the quality of our ins are better than the quality of their's, but then, the quality of our outs is probably greater.

Wow, our 5 outs are unfortunate, most certainly greater than Richmonds outs and are all experienced first choice players who we will miss.  Hope the girls are ok and do recover quickly but where is season 2022 heading?  Our ins are proven players so expect we will do well tomorrow regardless.  

Unfortunate outs for sure but we can still field a pretty strong team. Every team is in the same boat as regards Covid so I would expect the withdrawals to even out for everyone over the course of the season. The key will be getting enough wins on the board to make top 4, ideally top 2, and have our full team available come finals time. Omicron will have burned itself out by then hopefully.

Tough match-up tomorrow but if we can keep Monique Conti quiet we’ll have gone a long way to winning the game

Zanker, Hanks and Pearce to lead the way

A hard battle but the Dees by 8 points

Unfortunate outs especially Maddie Gay around the ball.   Although good ins and as has already been called out we are luckier than some clubs at the moment. 

Really looking forward to this game

- Will be great to see Goldy and Magee back in the Red and Blue.   A wet track may suit them well :)

- Krystel will hopefully give them lots of headaches down forward with her skills, pace and infectious enthusiasm

Love how hard the teams works together and led exceptionally well by our Daisy.   All the best team, give those pesky Tigers hell
If we kick straight Dees by 13 points 

Anyone know if the top-up player Zanchetta in the emergencies was the ex-Brisbane player Jordan?