On 22/10/2023 at 15:32, WalkingCivilWar said:

FOCUSSED, FUN

TWO FEET & A HEARTBEAT

The artist who designed our indigenous jumper is a beach sand artist. Kate asked him if he uses any tools and he simply replied, “Two feet and a heartbeat.”

Love this WCW! I missed the banner so appreciate you posting it. "Two feet and a heartbeat" is a great mantra and I think our team really lived it in how they played this game - every player has two feet and a heartbeat, everyone can do their little bit even if it's not fancy or something that's going to make a highlights reel.

19 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The best part of watching the mids, was if one didn't do damage, the next would step in, then the next, then the next.  They were relentless, which is exactly what Adelaide did to us, and what we need to bring the next inevitable game we will play against them.

That puts it so well and it's reassuring we've recaptured that hungry way to play against a team that has some physicality to it. Hopefully we can replicate it when it really counts!

6 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

Comparing Tyla Hanks to Paul Callery? Love it! Only on Demonland. 

I'll admit I had to do a google. "Diminutive but courageous" sounds about right. 165cm, only 8cm taller than Tyla - you wouldn't see a player of that height in the men's today!

2 hours ago, Brownie said:

The evolution of their skills and game plan has been so good to watch.
Remember when we couldn't score even though we'd dominate games. That wasn't so long ago and it's now a thing of the past.
The demons of 2023 would smash the demons of 2021 yet we're a pretty similar team personnel wise.

Agree, it's a great league to watch if you're not into footy just to see "the best" (some people are, and that's fine). If you appreciate player development and what it looks like when it does vs. doesn't happen, plus how the process can happen slowly then very quickly in some players, just like the men's, AFLW has all that. But it's in overdrive, even in the best players and teams, all while the game style matures and expectations on players re: fitness and preparation rise.

Dees 2023 vs Dees 2021 would be interesting. I'd put Heath on Heath and see the universe explode. In a similar vein, I wonder which teams in 2023 could beat the inaugural premiers? Played under 2023 rules, the longer quarters would have a big say. The top 8 could for sure.

On 22/10/2023 at 13:51, WalkingCivilWar said:

Couldn’t agree more. There’s so much to love about games at Ikon.

I met some neutrals who attended but only because they were nearby before the match and were curious. I imagine many others would attend had they known about it.

Doesn’t help in the chief promo ( which does link up with more match day info) that the venue was not posted. Especially now we are no longer certain of playing all our home games at Casey. 

AFL could probably add some more details to its AFLW ads in form of a few best games highlighted or the whole draw so each team gets an even spin not just the big dogs in town. But it is nice to see our TV free to air coverage which is well deserved. 

On 21/10/2023 at 20:09, darkhorse72 said:

Great game but he girls after early roo pressure.

 

I do reckon I can say one of their goals was from 2 really bad umpiring decisions of non decisions against us. 

Good to see us take it up to a physically bigger side after falling short against the crows.

 

 

 

Totally agree that that was not a legitimate disposal for the first. 

Got to say though I thought Campbell ruck infringement free a bit soft.

If there is ONE criticism of the girls matches umpiring it is the refusal of umps to pay frees ie holding the ball ( insufficient attempt to play the ball on is rife)  and some girls just resort to falling on top without any method or intention to make a play. 

Additionally this results in far to many ball up’s and resulting congestion. Now the skills are better it’s at least a bonus that the top teams are capable of breaking free much more and are eager on looking for scoring opportunities. Higher goals scored now has been a very important consequence. 

2 hours ago, 58er said:

Got to say though I thought Campbell ruck infringement free a bit soft.

What was that for? I had no idea at the ground. Agree there were some truly ridiculous decisions both ways.

Vote for Paxy for this round's Mark of the Year nomination!

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/mark-of-the-year

 

Coaches votes for R8:

NARRM v NORTH MELBOURNE

10 Tyla Hanks (MELB)
7 Tahlia Gillard (MELB)
7 Olivia Purcell (MELB)
2 Mia King (NMFC)
2 Ashleigh Riddell (NMFC)
1 Jasmine Garner (NMFC)
1 Shelley Heath (MELB)

Edited October 23, 20231 yr by Dees_In_October
added coaches votes

9 minutes ago, Dees_In_October said:

Vote for Paxy for this round's Mark of the Year nomination!

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/mark-of-the-year

kate hore took a very strong mark (and goaled) in the first quarter. can't find the footage but i reckon it was better than paxys

9 minutes ago, BDA said:

kate hore took a very strong mark (and goaled) in the first quarter. can't find the footage but i reckon it was better than paxys

Agree! Whoever chooses must have blinked during that one.

On 22/10/2023 at 14:59, Brownie said:

I can't help but reflect on the blokes and the differences between the two teams.

Campbell and Pearce have found their groove tag teaming in the ruck.

I wondered last night why we expected Grundy to be a goal kicker. These two women aren't really expected to score that much, they just do their job really well and rely on a high functioning game plan and forward entries to creat the scoring opportunities.

I wonder if we just expected too much of Gawn and Grundy to somehow band aid our forward line woes.

 

Towards the middle of the year we were using the rucks less and less in the forward line but the reality was we then had a pretty youthful JVR and were short on rotations. Given Gawn could do 90% we didn’t need the 2nd ruck.

Playing 2 rucks who mostly sit on the bench is fine. Pies did it in finals, but you need key forwards who can do the game time. 

Women’s game has more on the bench so you can get away with it. Plus Zanker, Bannan and Hore could handle the forward line too.

GC is great fun but I’m still not sure she’s in the best team once Harris is back barring other absences.