A beautiful sunny Friday afternoon, with a light breeze and a strong Windy Hill crowd set the scene, inviting one team to seize the day and take the important four points on offer.

For the Demons it was not a good Friday, easily beaten by an all-time largest losing margin of 65 points.  

Essendon threw themselves into action today, winning most of the contests and had three early goals with Daria Bannister on fire.  In contrast the Demons were dropping marks, hesitant in close and committing elementary skill errors due to the Bombers real and perceived pressure.  

The effort and skill execution by the Demons was poor today.  

Essendon monstered Melbourne at the contest, winning the ball far too easily.

Our defence was shambolic at times. Mick Stinear later commented that our inability to launch meaningful counterattacks was very frustrating. We had only one mark in our forward-50 for the day.  

Bomber Maddy Prespakis, who wore a Heater tag, was clearly best on ground with 32 disposals and 7 clearances.  She had plenty of support from Georgia Nanscawen, Steph Cain and ex Dee Maddie Gay, while Bannister snagged 4 goals.  

Crushing result!

For the Dees

There will be no Demon players in any votes this week, but special mentions must go to Maeve Chaplin and Tyla Hanks who toiled hard all afternoon.  

Also, Ryleigh Wotherspoon snapped a nice goal in the second quarter. Her first in AFLW but sadly the Demons only goal of the day.

Fresh injuries to report with Shelley Heath down with a hurt shoulder that looked quite serious, while Eliza McNamara bravely came back on to the ground with a fractured nose. Was it kosher to risk her?

Paxy’s played today but you could tell at the ground that her foot is still tender.  

Our injuries have given opportunities for almost everyone on the 2024 list to display their footy wares, but it appears that some are not ready yet to compete at this level.  

Only a handful of our players met the levels of hunger and physicality required today.  

The Coaching and leadership teams have to somehow turn it around with limited options available.

Oops moment of the match

To commence the second half, Goldie brilliantly wins the opening clearance and runs typically straight ahead, booting it 40 metres out of the centre.  

Unfortunately, no one had reminded her which end we were kicking so it sailed the wrong way into the Bombers forward line.  

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear was bitterly disappointed with his team’s effort and skill execution, which was not at the level required.  

The few new injuries hurt too. The Bombers were plus 40 in contested possessions.  It just wasn’t good enough, he said.

Essendon coach Natalie Wood said it was a stunning day and a great reward for her players and the vocal Bomber supporters who came along to the ground.  She was really pleased with the consistent four quarter effort.

The Demons play fellow-struggler GWS at Ikon Park this Thursday evening which, in theory, should be a chance to bounce back at our favourite venue.  

C’mon Demons, let’s turn it around. See ya there!

MELBOURNE 1.1.7 1.1.7  1.1.7 1.1.7

ESSENDON 4.0.24 6.3.39 8.5.53 11.6.72

GOALS

MELBOURNE Wotherspoon

ESSENDON Bannister 4, Gamble 2, A. Clarke 2, Prespakis, Cain, Vogt

BEST

MELBOURNE Chaplin, Gillard, Goldrick, Hanks, Watt

ESSENDON Prespakis, Bannister, Gee, G Clarke, Walker

INJURIES

MELBOURNE McNamara (nose), Heath (shoulder)

ESSENDON Van De Heuvel (knee)

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

ESSENDON Nil

CROWD 3,325 at Windy Hill

Errr ...  minor question without notice.

These reports and match previews always seem to be posted on the main Melbourne Demons board, necessitating their transfer to the AFLW board.

Wouldn't it be easier to just post them on the correct board to start with?

"For the Demons it was not a good Friday".

A gentle way of saying that, like the AFL team, our AFLW side currently has almost zero depth when struck by injuries.

19 hours ago, Dee-tonator said:

"For the Demons it was not a good Friday".

A gentle way of saying that, like the AFL team, our AFLW side currently has almost zero depth when struck by injuries.

In a modified competition, real depth is difficult, but with losses of players off season and massive injuries the results are predictable.

Also a lack of skill and over handballing is not helping.

Side note - Daisy is killing it at WC. Bottom team now 4-2. Can’t wait to have her back

But for this year you have to concede that injuries plus departures mean we cannot compete. 

get a high draft pick and develop the the team 

In an expanded competition it’s so obvious the depth is not there. It will eventually get there but with the calibre of the players we have lost preseason and in season …these results are going to happen. As a positive lots of young players will get games …possibly before their time but it will show them what is needed to get to the level required. A bit like the men’s team ..play the kids ..get our injured players fit ..grab a high draft pick and maybe a softer draw and hit the  next season running. 

Trade out 5 players from best 21, then cop injuries to another 6 from that team.  I’d defy any team to take out 11 players from their best 21 including 3-4 guns and rebound.  Loss of Purcell and West has especially impacted our contested footy.  Loss of Harris really hurts our forward target.  Running power lost through Mackin girls as outs.  

On 28/09/2024 at 11:30, Demonland said:

 

A beautiful sunny Friday afternoon, with a light breeze and a strong Windy Hill crowd set the scene, inviting one team to seize the day and take the important four points on offer.

For the Demons it was not a good Friday, easily beaten by an all-time largest losing margin of 65 points.  

Essendon threw themselves into action today, winning most of the contests and had three early goals with Daria Bannister on fire.  In contrast the Demons were dropping marks, hesitant in close and committing elementary skill errors due to the Bombers real and perceived pressure.  

The effort and skill execution by the Demons was poor today.  

Essendon monstered Melbourne at the contest, winning the ball far too easily.

Our defence was shambolic at times. Mick Stinear later commented that our inability to launch meaningful counterattacks was very frustrating. We had only one mark in our forward-50 for the day.  

Bomber Maddy Prespakis, who wore a Heater tag, was clearly best on ground with 32 disposals and 7 clearances.  She had plenty of support from Georgia Nanscawen, Steph Cain and ex Dee Maddie Gay, while Bannister snagged 4 goals.  

Crushing result!

For the Dees

There will be no Demon players in any votes this week, but special mentions must go to Maeve Chaplin and Tyla Hanks who toiled hard all afternoon.  

Also, Ryleigh Wotherspoon snapped a nice goal in the second quarter. Her first in AFLW but sadly the Demons only goal of the day.

Fresh injuries to report with Shelley Heath down with a hurt shoulder that looked quite serious, while Eliza McNamara bravely came back on to the ground with a fractured nose. Was it kosher to risk her?

Paxy’s played today but you could tell at the ground that her foot is still tender.  

Our injuries have given opportunities for almost everyone on the 2024 list to display their footy wares, but it appears that some are not ready yet to compete at this level.  

Only a handful of our players met the levels of hunger and physicality required today.  

The Coaching and leadership teams have to somehow turn it around with limited options available.

Oops moment of the match

To commence the second half, Goldie brilliantly wins the opening clearance and runs typically straight ahead, booting it 40 metres out of the centre.  

Unfortunately, no one had reminded her which end we were kicking so it sailed the wrong way into the Bombers forward line.  

Coaches and next week

Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear was bitterly disappointed with his team’s effort and skill execution, which was not at the level required.  

The few new injuries hurt too. The Bombers were plus 40 in contested possessions.  It just wasn’t good enough, he said.

Essendon coach Natalie Wood said it was a stunning day and a great reward for her players and the vocal Bomber supporters who came along to the ground.  She was really pleased with the consistent four quarter effort.

The Demons play fellow-struggler GWS at Ikon Park this Thursday evening which, in theory, should be a chance to bounce back at our favourite venue.  

C’mon Demons, let’s turn it around. See ya there!

MELBOURNE 1.1.7 1.1.7  1.1.7 1.1.7

ESSENDON 4.0.24 6.3.39 8.5.53 11.6.72

GOALS

MELBOURNE Wotherspoon

ESSENDON Bannister 4, Gamble 2, A. Clarke 2, Prespakis, Cain, Vogt

BEST

MELBOURNE Chaplin, Gillard, Goldrick, Hanks, Watt

ESSENDON Prespakis, Bannister, Gee, G Clarke, Walker

INJURIES

MELBOURNE McNamara (nose), Heath (shoulder)

ESSENDON Van De Heuvel (knee)

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

ESSENDON Nil

CROWD 3,325 at Windy Hill

Sorry Meggs but we only scored ONE goal and it was before quarter time! 

This recent disaster of a level of players and injuries has shown how quickly under the current AFLW trade rules a team can be decimated in a last H and.A game plus 2 Finals plus say 3/4 more H and A nearly twelve months later. 

Ftom having. Champion team this time last season we are now at the bottom with all credibility spirit I imagine and 8  great seasons of cereal strength have withered in record time.

Its nothing like the rebuild on the run from 3/4 years ago as it was say only 3/5 players and not absolute stars. 

One thing that has mitigated against us is that the recruiting of players now is for taller bigger and just as mobile but physically stronger recruits. Hawthorn are a great example. I suspect Essendon Sydney Richmond Geelong WC and even the Saints have followed this trend. 

I believe we “pinched” a flag with a smallish no of talls but a heap of medium height good running  and skilful players and  were the most competitive onballers and flankers in the Competition. 

But no longer is that the prototype Flag team as the evolution has started with girls with height and real skills who are too good for medium role players.

Also we have not attracted any seemingly tattling player/s yet with our recent recruiting. 
Needless to say our talls are injured but are not you anyway so our rebuild has been hastened. It will take some trading and recruiting to solve our problem asap. 

I am not sure that Mick after 9 stellar and amazing seasons is the bloke to lead this renaissance and a new breed is required from 2026 on. ( Possibly the same is needed for the AFL also but that is a slightly different story but similar in some ways).

Interested in the D/Lers that go or are rusted on with my take.

BTW the same has happened to the Pies after 3/4 seasons of making Finals but not really joining the Top 3 of Brisbane Adelaide and us with North now the best Vic  team but the challengers are coming thick and fast. Even yesterday watching North vs Tigers in the wet in Tassie I couldn’t help but  feel that other than experience and the rain  the Tigers are a different build and won’t be long before this takes effect. North’s champs are also good but not physical brutes but always so competitive even with their silly skills. But time is ticking with the tier 2 mids who are facing physical and skill challenges each week.  Heaven help GWS  and others if we/ they don’t recruit the new prototypes for the future. 

I know this all sounds very simplistic but I believe it’s a need for a cultural and game style change along with new recruits to renew our team back to the top. 

Either to beat them we need to join them and asap. 

5 hours ago, 58er said:

Sorry Meggs but we only scored ONE goal and it was before quarter time! 

This recent disaster of a level of players and injuries has shown how quickly under the current AFLW trade rules a team can be decimated in a last H and.A game plus 2 Finals plus say 3/4 more H and A nearly twelve months later. 

Ftom having. Champion team this time last season we are now at the bottom with all credibility spirit I imagine and 8  great seasons of cereal strength have withered in record time.

Its nothing like the rebuild on the run from 3/4 years ago as it was say only 3/5 players and not absolute stars. 

One thing that has mitigated against us is that the recruiting of players now is for taller bigger and just as mobile but physically stronger recruits. Hawthorn are a great example. I suspect Essendon Sydney Richmond Geelong WC and even the Saints have followed this trend. 

I believe we “pinched” a flag with a smallish no of talls but a heap of medium height good running  and skilful players and  were the most competitive onballers and flankers in the Competition. 

But no longer is that the prototype Flag team as the evolution has started with girls with height and real skills who are too good for medium role players.

Also we have not attracted any seemingly tattling player/s yet with our recent recruiting. 
Needless to say our talls are injured but are not you anyway so our rebuild has been hastened. It will take some trading and recruiting to solve our problem asap. 

I am not sure that Mick after 9 stellar and amazing seasons is the bloke to lead this renaissance and a new breed is required from 2026 on. ( Possibly the same is needed for the AFL also but that is a slightly different story but similar in some ways).

Interested in the D/Lers that go or are rusted on with my take.

BTW the same has happened to the Pies after 3/4 seasons of making Finals but not really joining the Top 3 of Brisbane Adelaide and us with North now the best Vic  team but the challengers are coming thick and fast. Even yesterday watching North vs Tigers in the wet in Tassie I couldn’t help but  feel that other than experience and the rain  the Tigers are a different build and won’t be long before this takes effect. North’s champs are also good but not physical brutes but always so competitive even with their silly skills. But time is ticking with the tier 2 mids who are facing physical and skill challenges each week.  Heaven help GWS  and others if we/ they don’t recruit the new prototypes for the future. 

I know this all sounds very simplistic but I believe it’s a need for a cultural and game style change along with new recruits to renew our team back to the top. 

Either to beat them we need to join them and asap. 

Thanks 58er.  You raise a lot of good points. 

We certainly need a discussion on the composition of the current team list and outlook for list managment.  

We will struggle in our upcoming games against Adelaide, St Kilda, Richmond and Hawthorn.  A tough 4 games in 15 days with the last in the humidity of Cairns!

GWS and Collingwood are not going so well either which improves our chances in these games.   However our injury list doesn't have many players returning this season.

Meggs wasn't sure what a 'tattling' player was?

Recommend you watch the highlights of last Thursday's Geelong v Hawthorn game at GMHBA if you have access to Kayo.  The Hawks have some super young talent.

 

14 hours ago, 58er said:

Sorry Meggs but we only scored ONE goal and it was before quarter time! 

This recent disaster of a level of players and injuries has shown how quickly under the current AFLW trade rules a team can be decimated in a last H and.A game plus 2 Finals plus say 3/4 more H and A nearly twelve months later. 

Ftom having. Champion team this time last season we are now at the bottom with all credibility spirit I imagine and 8  great seasons of cereal strength have withered in record time.

Its nothing like the rebuild on the run from 3/4 years ago as it was say only 3/5 players and not absolute stars. 

One thing that has mitigated against us is that the recruiting of players now is for taller bigger and just as mobile but physically stronger recruits. Hawthorn are a great example. I suspect Essendon Sydney Richmond Geelong WC and even the Saints have followed this trend. 

I believe we “pinched” a flag with a smallish no of talls but a heap of medium height good running  and skilful players and  were the most competitive onballers and flankers in the Competition. 

But no longer is that the prototype Flag team as the evolution has started with girls with height and real skills who are too good for medium role players.

Also we have not attracted any seemingly tattling player/s yet with our recent recruiting. 
Needless to say our talls are injured but are not you anyway so our rebuild has been hastened. It will take some trading and recruiting to solve our problem asap. 

I am not sure that Mick after 9 stellar and amazing seasons is the bloke to lead this renaissance and a new breed is required from 2026 on. ( Possibly the same is needed for the AFL also but that is a slightly different story but similar in some ways).

Interested in the D/Lers that go or are rusted on with my take.

BTW the same has happened to the Pies after 3/4 seasons of making Finals but not really joining the Top 3 of Brisbane Adelaide and us with North now the best Vic  team but the challengers are coming thick and fast. Even yesterday watching North vs Tigers in the wet in Tassie I couldn’t help but  feel that other than experience and the rain  the Tigers are a different build and won’t be long before this takes effect. North’s champs are also good but not physical brutes but always so competitive even with their silly skills. But time is ticking with the tier 2 mids who are facing physical and skill challenges each week.  Heaven help GWS  and others if we/ they don’t recruit the new prototypes for the future. 

I know this all sounds very simplistic but I believe it’s a need for a cultural and game style change along with new recruits to renew our team back to the top. 

Either to beat them we need to join them and asap. 

Pretty well spot on. It's the perfect storm. Trading out some senior players and then getting hit with serious injuries to important leaders. We now enter a rebuild. But what seems worse (and I was there on Friday), is our spirit, effort and endeavour. In the second half I watched our players around the ball, rather than the ball. These things were non-existent and our body language deplorable. Many didn't call for the ball, didn't look to find position, and simply looked like they didn't want to be there. Things they can be controlled without the ball; shepherding, running, tackling, picking up, backing up, taking space... I could go on, weren't there. These players are not at all inspired. There's more to this than injuries.