36 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Personally I’d try Bannan and see if she can develop as a player down back, and if that doesn’t work I’d go with Tay Harris.

Not sure Bannan has the aggression for a key back role, I’m hoping she becomes a dominant winger next season. 
 

Harris could be a weapon in the back, particularly with her contested marking and long field kicks that would help with fast transition.

34 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

Umm, we got  a first round pick for her, that's not too disappointing.  

You are right, I just would have preferred to not give back the 2nd rounder which is still a valuable pick. 
 

Any thoughts want we would get if Gay gets traded? IMO she is a must keep. Fantastic player and kicked goals when she went forward this season. 

Lauren Pearce is a ruck. Like big Maxy Gawn, do not experiment by taking your best ruck and try to make them a forward. 
 

Banno is a forward.  She is not great defensively and needs her pace to burn opponents.  She’s a ripper and will bounce back. 
 

Libby to a premiership threat and contender. Ouch.  😭😭 best is behind her?? That’s rubbish. She’s 26. Just. Just turned 26. She’s a loss.  Gay and West and Wilson and Sheriff and Birch. That’s a cull. 4 of best 18 out imv.
 

Plenty of opportunities now for some fringe players and youngsters to come through.  Refresh. Reset.  Go again in ‘24. 

I think in watching the highlights packs, I’m looking at Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner.  She’s got the athleticism and raw ability to be a Tayla Harris type, with a thumping kick and good marking. At 6ft and good pace, lots to develop. Double barrel hyphens also a fun feature !!!

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

 

Libby to a premiership threat and contender. Ouch.  😭😭 best is behind her?? That’s rubbish. She’s 26. Just. Just turned 26. She’s a loss.  Gay and West and Wilson and Sheriff and Birch. That’s a cull. 4 of best 18 out imv.
 

Plenty of opportunities now for some fringe players and youngsters to come through.  Refresh. Reset.  Go again in ‘24. 

Maybe better put it this way...

The best might have passed her.

This will happen as the talent coming in is better developed and t best she has stagnated.

Edited December 11, 20231 yr by rjay

3 hours ago, sydneydee said:

You are right, I just would have preferred to not give back the 2nd rounder which is still a valuable pick. 
 

Any thoughts want we would get if Gay gets traded? IMO she is a must keep. Fantastic player and kicked goals when she went forward this season. 

Gay wouldn't go for less than a first round pick, she's also a premiership player.  She's requested a trade to Essendon, they have pick 13.  Rather handy if we can get it.

Edited December 11, 20231 yr by Katrina Dee Fan

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Maybe better put it this way...

The best might have passed her.

This will happen as the talent coming in is better developed and t best she has stagnated.

Who are you talking about there, Banno or Loz?  If you're talking about Loz, she just came third in the Best and Fairest.  If you're talking about Banno, she's 20.

44 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

Who are you talking about there, Banno or Loz?  If you're talking about Loz, she just came third in the Best and Fairest.  If you're talking about Banno, she's 20.

Neither...talking about Birch.

You didn't read the drop down, a bit of a trap those.

Might have to go back and edit the others out.

 

42 minutes ago, rjay said:

Neither...talking about Birch.

You didn't read the drop down, a bit of a trap those.

Might have to go back and edit the others out.

I’m quite happy with the moving on of Libby Birch. Thought she was shown up by the big strong forwards especially against North in the finals. Just undersized. Ironically that’s where she’s heading …

36 minutes ago, Deestar9 said:

I’m quite happy with the moving on of Libby Birch. Thought she was shown up by the big strong forwards especially against North in the finals. Just undersized. Ironically that’s where she’s heading …

The problem we had was Birch was forced to play FB in the absence of Colvin and Chaplin as the big bodies.  AND she had a calf injury in the first games, then had to play after that because the others weren't available.  Small wonder she was running up and down on the spot in the second half of the season. 

The danger is we have now lost a FB with Gay probably gone as well.  Who are the defenders we will have left?  While we have 2 days to go in trade period, we have lost or will lose a series of strong bodies in West, Sherriff and Gay and haven't replaced them.  We cannot expect a draftee to play midfield or key defender. 

Given that we're losing experienced players left, right and centre does anybody who follows the rest of the league closely see interesting names on the delisted free agent list?

• McKenzie Dowrick (Adelaide, mid-sized forward/defender)
• Amber Ward (Adelaide, key defender)
• Chloe Wrigley (Carlton, midfielder)
• Liv Barber (Collingwood, key forward)
• Imogen Evans (Collingwood, midfielder)
• Leah Cutting (Essendon, ruck)
• Jo Doonan (Essendon, forward)
• Emmelie Fiedler (Fremantle, ruck)
• Sarah Wielstra (Fremantle, key forward)
• Sam Gooden (Geelong, ruck)
• Ingrid Houtsma (Geelong, utility)
• Mia Skinner (Geelong, forward)
• Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster (Gold Coast, defender)
• Tess Cattle (GWS, defender)
• Zara Hamilton (GWS, utility)
• Grace Hill (GWS, key defender/ruck)
• Tait Mackrill (GWS, midfielder/forward)
• Janet Baird (Hawthorn, mid-sized utility)
• Zoe Barbakos (Hawthorn, forward/midfielder)
• Sarah Perkins (Hawthorn, key forward)
• Jordi Ivey (Melbourne, mid-sized forward/defender)
• Sammie Johnson (Melbourne, midfielder)
• Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap (Port Adelaide, forward)
• Jade De Melo (Port Adelaide, forward)
• Jade Halfpenny (Port Adelaide, forward)
• Maggie MacLachlan (Port Adelaide, defender)
• Jacqui Yorston (Port Adelaide, midfielder)
• Jess Hosking (Richmond, mid-sized utility)
• Steph Williams (Richmond, forward)
• Rosie Dillon (St Kilda, midfielder)
• Erin McKinnon (St Kilda, ruck)
• Deanna Joliffe (St Kilda, utility)
• Renee Saulitis (St Kilda, small forward)
• Jayde van Dyk (St Kilda, defender)
• Jaide Anthony (Sydney, mid-sized forward/defender)
• Kiara Beesley (Sydney, defender)
• Sarah Ford (Sydney, forward)
• Kate Reynolds (Sydney, ruck)
• Bailey Hunt (Western Bulldogs, defender)
• Daisy Bateman (Western Bulldogs, small forward)

2 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The problem we had was Birch was forced to play FB in the absence of Colvin and Chaplin as the big bodies.  AND she had a calf injury in the first games, then had to play after that because the others weren't available.  Small wonder she was running up and down on the spot in the second half of the season. 

The danger is we have now lost a FB with Gay probably gone as well.  Who are the defenders we will have left?  While we have 2 days to go in trade period, we have lost or will lose a series of strong bodies in West, Sherriff and Gay and haven't replaced them.  We cannot expect a draftee to play midfield or key defender. 

Agree with all that but (personally) never had great confidence in her this season. Will be a very interesting draft …I am sure they are cognitive of the same issues you have mentioned..

A few interesting comments from Todd Patterson in his farewell thank you to Birch....

“Libby has been one of the most highly regarded defenders in the competition...." - not is, but has been.

"This deal gives her a tremendous opportunity to extend her career, which we respect...." - not continue her career, but extend, which suggests she had no future at Melbourne.

Maybe I'm reading too much into those words, but no such interpretation could be taken in the farewells to West or Sherriff.

14 minutes ago, Craig T said:

A few interesting comments from Todd Patterson in his farewell thank you to Birch....

“Libby has been one of the most highly regarded defenders in the competition...." - not is, but has been.

"This deal gives her a tremendous opportunity to extend her career, which we respect...." - not continue her career, but extend, which suggests she had no future at Melbourne.

Maybe I'm reading too much into those words, but no such interpretation could be taken in the farewells to West or Sherriff.

It's like interpreting a school report 😆

53 minutes ago, Supermercado said:

Given that we're losing experienced players left, right and centre does anybody who follows the rest of the league closely see interesting names on the delisted free agent list?

A lot of battlers and journeywomen there, but some possibilities if we're at panic stations, particularly for depth and players with experience. Of the older crew, Hosking, Dillon and Hunt are ones where you know exactly what you're getting (and their deficiencies) and could plug a gap.

Yes if we need depth than Hunt adds experience and you know what you’re getting.  

15 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The problem we had was Birch was forced to play FB in the absence of Colvin and Chaplin as the big bodies.  AND she had a calf injury in the first games, then had to play after that because the others weren't available.  Small wonder she was running up and down on the spot in the second half of the season. 

The danger is we have now lost a FB with Gay probably gone as well.  Who are the defenders we will have left?  While we have 2 days to go in trade period, we have lost or will lose a series of strong bodies in West, Sherriff and Gay and haven't replaced them.  We cannot expect a draftee to play midfield or key defender. 

The problem with Birch this season is she was forced to play FB because we couldn't play her anywhere else. She has always had limited pace and lateral movement. She was played as the backstop a lot so not to let her opponent get goal side of her as she struggles once her opponent is goal side. Refer north final. As the players have got bigger and stronger the last couple of years she has also repeatable got pushed off the ball with ease and out-marked one on one. I look forward to Mick playing Banno or Tay one out in the goal square next season.

Gay will be missed but the others are not best 12-15. All teams have had movement last couple season and we have kept everyone we wanted too. It was just a matter of time before some girls took better offers elsewhere once the carrot of a flag was achieved.

Story in the Herald Sun this morning suggesting that Melbourne and Essendon are a long way apart on determining a value for Maddie Gay.

My best guess is that we will swap first round picks (their 13 for our 19) with possibly a later pick coming to us as a sweetener.

 

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Such a surprise to hear Essendon been difficult to deal with.....

 

No news so far on Charlotte Wilson and Gold Coast.  Maybe WE are being unreasonable and insisting on Charlie Rowbottom in exchange. 😆

Seriously, I wonder if we are trying to talk her into staying.  We need big defenders and could do a hell of a lot worse than her.

3 hours ago, demonglory said:

Such a surprise to hear Essendon been difficult to deal with.....

 

From the AFLW website;

"The Demons have been adamant throughout that pick No.13 must be included in any trade talks, but it's understood the Bombers had initially put forward their pick No.53 in an attempt to secure the deal."

#53 for Maddie Gay.  Yep, nothing's changed at Bomberland! 🤣

 

Seems like a deal is getting closer, with one day remaining:

"After days of intense negotiating, it's understood pick No.13 is now on the table and is likely to be the centrepiece of the deal but the two clubs are still haggling over a swap of later picks [which depends on some other trades]."

No update on Wilson to Gold Coast, or Lily Johnson from Port.

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1071859/where-trade-periods-biggest-deals-sit-ahead-of-deadline-day