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AFLW Sign, Draft and Trade Period 2023-24

Dees_In_October
in AFLW Melbourne Demons

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Wow, this kind of exodus has been such a long time coming that I'm almost (almost!) relieved the other shoe has finally dropped. Most upset about Gay, who I have in my "top 10 players to please, please let us keep". On the fringes of that, but still. The one consolation is there were definitely questions about her durability (always have to find a silver lining - we could lose Hanks and I'd still find something to nitpick to make myself feel better!).

As for reasons for leaving, I agree the "stick-together-ness" after the premiership that had such huge buy-in was always going to have an abrupt expiration date on it. Even if we had gone back to back, I suspect this would have played out to some extent. And who know what kinds of expectations were set in exit interviews regarding what 2023 might look like for these players...

Of course, pay is probably the big one. The next few seasons in particular the pay raises could be the difference for some between being a year-round full-time athlete and not. Faced with that decision, with the opportunity to fulfill what was likely previously a pipedream for many? Well, the day I begrudge an AFLW player for moving for money hasn't arrived yet. Getting closer though.

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    From list manager Todd Patterson (more here):

    "It was a really disappointing end to the season, not just the last game but a series of games leading up to that. We've been thoroughly reviewing the program and the playing list, not just as that occurred, but for a period of time before that.

    ...

    Once we actually put the remaining players on the whiteboard and have a look at the nucleus, we're really comfortable with where we're at.

    What has been missing through the expansion periods, our retention, our success having us at the back of the draft, and concessions, is we've really missed out on getting some young talent through the door.

    That'll be a key focus for us, getting up the draft order as high as we can and really targeting that next wave coming through with our already established 22-25 year olds, who are some of the best players in the competition."

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    Given what Todd has said, I wonder if some of those that are leaving might have had a less than positive end of season interview with the coaching/list staff.  At the end of the 2020 season Elise O'Dea, Maddy Guerin, Harriet Cordner, Bianca Jakobsson and Alisha Newman (and one other I can't recall just now) all headed off to other clubs, and the talk was how we obviously had problems if such a list of departures was occurring.  But my understanding was that most, if not all, of those losses were club initiated, with the players not fitting in with our future plans and them being informed it would be best for them to look elsewhere.  Our three seasons after that we went 25-4 in H&A, and prelim, runners up, premiers.

    Maybe we are looking at a repeat in 2023.  But perhaps not three seasons till the next flag. 🙂

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    8 hours ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

    Harris has been carrying injuries all season.  Banno I'm not sure.

    Surely you do know, Kat. The covid outbreak. We’ve known about it from the start. Not an excuse, but an explanation. 

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    The only player I've seen us linked to is Lily Johnson of Port Adelaide (no idea), but I'd really like to find a smaller forward who can create goals out of nowhere.

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    But the Demons will pick up Port Adelaide teenager Lily Johnson to bolster their depth, while the club could head to the December 18 draft with as many as three first-round picks as part of their ongoing list regeneration.

    Wild West: Eagles, Dockers set for Trade Period signing spree - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1070871

    Edited by Nascent

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    7 hours ago, Supermercado said:

    The only player I've seen us linked to is Lily Johnson of Port Adelaide (no idea), but I'd really like to find a smaller forward who can create goals out of nowhere.

    Might be in with a shot to get Alyssia Pisano in the draft. Will probably go top 5 but sounds like we might have one of those selections at the end of the trade period.

    Dominated for the Ranges this year and kicked 38 goals in 14 games. One of smoothest moving natural kicks of the footy I've seen in the girls league.

     

    Edited by Nascent

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    Alyce Parker is off the table!

    Seeing some of the highlights packages (usual disclaimers about the lower level etc.), the draft is exciting. It's nice to think that 2023's 18 year olds were 12 year olds when the league started, right at that age where a tough choice used to be made.

    6 hours ago, BangBnagBang said:

    Bounces and hadballs right and kicks left

    I'm choosing to view this as evidence of brilliance 😆

    Some more on Rigoni from Draft Central, where she's the top power ranking pick in a small pool of utilities:

    Jemma Rigoni (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro)
    04/06/2004 | 172cm | Victoria

    Rigoni is a talented over-ager with explosive speed and the confidence to break the lines. Tucking the ball under her arm, she takes off and has proven to be able to play forward, back and then off a wing, making her a versatile utility. She is good overhead and reads the play well, with some of her fundamentals in her kicking and execution being the next step in her development. She is tied to Melbourne through the father-daughter rule – dad Guy played 107 games for the Demons – and is tipped to head there in the second round.

     

    Our draft picks in the indicative order:

    16, 35, 56, 74

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    If Birch wants to go to nth then let her.

    Stoked that Rigoni's daughter will play for us. That's great. 

    Happy Hanks has signed on as well as our captain 

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    6 minutes ago, Nascent said:

    Would imagine Birch moves for pick 19 from North.

    We paid pick 8, 48 and Ashleigh Guest for Birch.

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    Gay to Essendon?

    Wilson to Gold Coast?

    Can't see either of these clubs have much currency other than involving their top picks.

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    1 hour ago, dees189227 said:

    If Birch wants to go to nth then let her.

    Tomorrow night’s B&F should be fun.  Not a lot of love for Libby from many of the DA.

    😬

    Unlike last year’s… that was nothing but fun!

     

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    41 minutes ago, deanox said:

    We paid pick 8, 48 and Ashleigh Guest for Birch.

    19 is their earliest pick and I haven't heard any rumours of North players wanting out that would net them additional first rounders. 

    Perhaps another club or player will get involved. But like Luke Jackson, we can only ask for what they have.

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    Some prospects that we might look at with pick 2 in the vic pool

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/brooke-barwick/

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/alyssia-pisano/

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/jessica-rentsch/

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/kristie-lee-weston-turner/

     

    And our f/d selection in Jemma Rigoni

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/jemma-rigoni/

    Edited by Nascent

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    Without knowing what the draft pool is like I reckon Pick 5 and 26 for sheriff and west is more than fair. Good business I reckon.

    pick 19 for birch seems unders for an AA defender but she did have a poor season so maybe not.

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