Jump to content

GAMEDAY: AFLW GRAND FINAL


Demonland

Recommended Posts

I won't go deep into detail but had a pleasure of interacting with Kate Roffey today, expressed to her how bloody proud I am of the club and that everything that's gone on in the last 16 months has been a fantastic ride to be a part of. She's a great operator, really down to earth in the way she speaks to the fans and the media, zero hint of an ego.

I remember a few years ago there were laughs from the footy world about our lofty expectations, well here we are.

  • Like 11
  • Love 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

You tell Blaithin that! And you try taking that flag from her! 😂😂😂

We’re all Irish. That’s what matters. ☘️

I'd have loved for someone to have handed her a red hand of Ulster flag to see the look on her face. It's probably the kind of cheeky thing I would have done back in the day when I was running the cheer squad. Even if it ran the risk of getting a belt in the mouth. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, rjay said:

I love all the expert callers on talkback radio this morning criticising the game and they hadn't even watched it.

As someone said the AFL  GF was hardly a great spectacle.

What a bunch of ignorant F.........

I understand reflexive criticism of the game in terms of how low the scoring was in perfect conditions (apart from the crazy heat that is).  

But a critique based on the score alone is so simplistic and one dimensional. 

For one thing, from the perspective of a fully invested fan, the tension in that match was through the roof - which might help explain why i cried at the end of this game, not the men's GF win.

I'm not a massive soccer fan, and don't follow any clubs, but i'm super invested when i watch the Matildas and the Socceroos. When you are invested in the result, the tension watching soccer matches is, it seems to me, part of the DNA of soccer, but really only becomes a feature of watching footy when the scores are close in the last quarter and each goal becomes more influential on the end result.

But for me, i felt that tension right through the prelim and GF wins - and despite both games being low scoring i was never anything less than fully absorbed. Each goal had so much significance that it was not dissimilar to watching say the Matildas or Socceroos at a World Cup.

The GF was off the charts in this regard. I thought that after the first quarter we were by far the better side, but the fact that we couldn't convert that dominance into goals (something that is so frustrating watching soccer when invested) meant that despite our dominance, one random, against the run of play goal late in the last quarter from the lions meant they could have pinched it (in the way the Germans salvaged a draw against Spain, despite being outplayed for much of the match).

But the big factor critics that just focus on the score line seem to completely miss is that, unlike the AFL, in the AFLW, there is huge disparity between the overall standard of performance (inclusive of fitness levels, strength, skills, etc etc) and the standard of the defensive element of the game.

Take the dees women's team. Mutiple seasons of exposure to elite level defensive strategies and systems - and of course elite coaching in these systems - have resulted in an incredibly effective defense - we conceded an average of 15 points this season, which is just nuts.

Combine this with a rabid desire to win every contest and all team crazy pressure, such as we saw in the GF, and you have team that has elite defensive skills that in reality are well in advance of the opposition's overall standard (and ours too for that matter) and therefore ability to absorb, counter and score against.

For a number of years i coached my son and daughter's basketball teams and found that we could be competitive even when other teams were more talented if we could be defensively strong, and the players understood and played their roles. The AFLW is this time a million. 

A perfect example of this phenomenon is Goldy.  Her skills remain way off those of players such as Paxy and Hanks, but her commitment to defense, bravery, attack on the ball and understanding of our defensive system - and her role in it - mean that she is a key player in our team and a key reason why teams struggle to score against us. 

It will take time, but now that the women are being paid at least enough money to focus on playing footy, and more and more players are coming into the system having played footy since auskick, the gap between defensive skills and skills that support offence and scoring (eg kicking, marking, ability to give off under pressure etc) will dramatically reduce. And scores will go up. 

When we get there, a player like Goldy, for all her defensive brilliance, might struggle to get a game, because such a player will be competing with players who are coming into the system with an appetite for hard-nosed defence AND elite skills.  

Edited by binman
  • Like 7
  • Thanks 2
  • Love 3
  • Clap 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites


4 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

all the moaning and groaning about low scores, do people realise the aflw is in its 7th year, game time goes for around about half that of vfl / afl, and for some bizarre reason for most players that can't kick more than 40m they reduced on-field to 16?

1903 vfl grand final score: the filth 4.7.31 beat fitzroy 3.11.29

i'm sick to death of those talking down the competition!

Many of the whingers would probably have raved over Australia winning 1-0 in the World Cup qualifiers, and rightly so. Sport doesn't have to be high scoring to be entertaining.  How tense and exciting was that last quarter and no goals were scored. Every 1% er meant so much, potentially match saving. Give me a match like that over US razzamataz basketball any day.

The girls are all heroes - full stop.

* Just read your post after I did mine Binman. You are a very wise man 🤣

Edited by Palace Dees
Binman
  • Like 4
  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Season 7 at a competition level was a fail for so many reasons it's hard to know where to start.

Will Season 8 be any better.. probably not.

 

Mods, we really need an eye roll emoji. A full 360-degree eye roll would be great. And a sigh, if possible. A huge hyperventilation-inducing sigh. In the meantime…

🙄😮💨

I guess that’s just gonna hafta do. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Epic game, loved every moment of it. 

Eliza West has some serious intent and power at the contest, she was huge. I thought she was the best player for us.

Comment of the day was when Harris got a huge cut under her eye and a family member exclaimed that they hoped she was okay, to which another replied, she's a kickboxer, pretty sure she can take a punch to the face!

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Hatchman said:

Epic game, loved every moment of it. 

Eliza West has some serious intent and power at the contest, she was huge. I thought she was the best player for us.

Comment of the day was when Harris got a huge cut under her eye and a family member exclaimed that they hoped she was okay, to which another replied, she's a kickboxer, pretty sure she can take a punch to the face!

West was def our best, though i thought Gillard and Zanker were both super influential.  

There were simply ridiculous frees paid - and not paid. West was involved in perhaps the most ridiculous one.

Won another ground ball get, immediately tackled, zero prior opportunity, but gets pinged for holding the ball presumably only because she stood up in the tackle, refused to get brough to ground and dragged the two tacklers 15 metres. Her look when pinged said it all.  

As for Tayla and the cut to her face, i was more worried for opponents - how was her attack on the next contest! Blimey

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brisbane were given a dream start by the umps, with repeated mysterious frees bringing the ball to their forward line.

 Later, I felt that the rundown tackle on (?) Fitzsimmons in the goal square was either a trip or a push in the back. She managed to get a foot to the ball before it bounced, but the ump couldn't see  that so paid holding the ball.

Also the pass by West to (?) Fitzy again which was called not  15 metres was a bit rough.It would have been a fairly easy shot for goal.

We could have beaten 'em 4 goals to nil!

Someone must have alerted the umps  at three quarter time that t hey were giving the Dees a rough trot, and they gave us an armchair ride in Q4!

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Get in quick if you want a nice piece of AFLW Premiership memorabilia. Only 100 available @ $395 officialmemorabilia.com.au

image.thumb.jpeg.88f634f2f6a56dff4148f8d1f0df0e6e.jpeg

Love that the official photo has the whole squad and not just those that played yesterday!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites


5 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

Brisbane were given a dream start by the umps, with repeated mysterious frees bringing the ball to their forward line.

 Later, I felt that the rundown tackle on (?) Fitzsimmons in the goal square was either a trip or a push in the back. She managed to get a foot to the ball before it bounced, but the ump couldn't see  that so paid holding the ball.

Also the pass by West to (?) Fitzy again which was called not  15 metres was a bit rough.It would have been a fairly easy shot for goal.

We could have beaten 'em 4 goals to nil!

Someone must have alerted the umps  at three quarter time that t hey were giving the Dees a rough trot, and they gave us an armchair ride in Q4!

Yep, watched the replay today, definitely came off her shin as she was driven forward. A dead set certain goal.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Irish flags update:

Blaithin thinks she slept wrapped up in her flag, but isn’t sure. 😂

Goldie is getting hers signed by all the girls and then sending it to her mum and dad in Ireland. 💚 
 

 

Edited by WalkingCivilWar
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    2024 Player Reviews: #18 Jake Melksham

    After sustaining a torn ACL in the final match of the 2023 season Jake added a bit to the attack late in the 2024 season upon his return. He has re-signed on to the Demons for 1 more season in 2025. Date of Birth: 12 August 1991 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 8 Career Total: 229 Goals MFC 2024: 8 Career Total: 188

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 2

    2024 Player Reviews: #3 Christian Salem

    The luckless Salem suffered a hamstring injury against the Lions early in the season and, after missing a number of games, he was never at his best. He was also inconvenienced by minor niggles later in the season. This was a blow for the club that sorely needed him to fill gaps in the midfield at times as well as to do his best work in defence. Date of Birth: 15 July 1995 Height: 184cm Games MFC 2024: 17 Career Total: 176 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 26 Brownlow Meda

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 3

    2024 Player Reviews: #39 Koltyn Tholstrop

    The first round draft pick at #13 from twelve months ago the strongly built medium forward has had an impressive introduction to AFL football and is expected to spend more midfield moments as his career progresses. Date of Birth: 25 July 2005 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 10 Career Total: 10 Goals MFC 2024: 5 Career Total: 5 Games CDFC 2024: 7 Goals CDFC 2024: 4

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 6

    2024 Player Reviews: #42 Daniel Turner

    The move of “Disco” to a key forward post looks like bearing fruit. Turner has good hands, moves well and appears to be learning the forward craft well. Will be an interesting watch in 2025. Date of Birth: January 28, 2002 Height: 195cm Games MFC 2024: 15 Career Total: 18 Goals MFC 2024: 17 Career Total: 17 Games CDFC 2024: 1 Goals CDFC 2024:  1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 15

    2024 Player Reviews: #8 Jake Lever

    The Demon’s key defender and backline leader had his share of injuries and niggles throughout the season which prevented him from performing at his peak.  Date of Birth: 5 March 1996 Height: 195cm Games MFC 2024: 18 Career Total: 178 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 5

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 1

    2024 Player Reviews: #13 Clayton Oliver

    Lack of preparation after a problematic preseason prevented Oliver from reaching the high standards set before last year’s hamstring woes. He carried injury right through the back half of the season and was controversially involved in a potential move during the trade period that was ultimately shut down by the club. Date of Birth:  22 July 1997 Height:  189cm Games MFC 2024:  21 Career Total: 183 Goals MFC 2024: 3 Career Total: 54 Brownlow Medal Votes: 5

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 12

    BLOODY BLUES by Meggs

    The conclusion to Narrm’s home and away season was the inevitable let down by the bloody Blues  who meekly capitulated to the Bombers.   The 2024 season fixture handicapped the Demons chances from the get-go with Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Essendon advantaged with enough gimme games to ensure a tough road to the finals, especially after a slew of early season injuries to star players cost wins and percentage.     As we strode confidently through the gates of Prin

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 3

    2024 Player Reviews: #5 Christian Petracca

    Melbourne’s most important player who dominated the first half of the season until his untimely injury in the Kings Birthday clash put an end to his season. At the time, he was on his way to many personal honours and the club in strong finals contention. When the season did end for Melbourne and Petracca was slowly recovering, he was engulfed in controversy about a possible move of clubs amid claims about his treatment by the club in the immediate aftermath of his injury. Date of Birth: 4 J

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 21

    2024 Player Reviews: #2 Jacob van Rooyen

    Strong marking youngster who plays forward and relief ruck, continued to make significant strides forward in his career path. The Demons have high hopes for van Rooyen as he stakes his claim to become an elite attacking forward. Date of Birth: 16 April 2003 Height: 193cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 41 Goals MFC 2024: 30 Career Total: 58 Brownlow Medal Votes: 1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 36
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...