Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

Posted

I have to say, with Birch and Gay leaving, it left a massive hole in our key defence.  We had young Gillard who at 20 shows signs of a very bright future but she is still very young.  In 2024 however we saw Maeve Chaplin step into a CHB role and was under pressure, but she excelled.  Certainly Maeve was a big improver with the opportunity presented.  
So it’s great see her season recognized . 
👏👏👏👏

MFC media article 

http://mfcde.es/4hEFEIG

Maeve Chaplin put together a career-best season in 2024, but it wasn’t without effort. 

THE AFLW world is made up of many unique journeys, but arguably none quite as unique as Melbourne defender Maeve Chaplin.

It was just two years ago when Chaplin was first signed by the Dees, only to be delisted by the club a few months later.

Now, after a career-best season, the 22-year-old has put her name in the mix of the top defenders in the league.

is a unique journey, and I'm really grateful for it, I think it's shaped me to be the person I am,” Chaplin said.

“I missed out on two drafts when I was 18 and 19, then got signed as a replacement player.

“Then I got delisted, then drafted again in that same year – the 2022 seasons - and then won a premiership.

“It's a unique start to a football career, but I honestly wouldn't change it. It's going to always make me work hard knowing that nothing comes easy.

I'm just super grateful for the experience Melbourne has been able to give me.”

While it’s been an increase of impact with each season that she’s been at the club, 2024 saw her skyrocket to new levels of talent.

To put her rise into simple numbers - at the end of 2023, she had averaged eight disposals and 3.8 intercepts.

In 2024, she finished the season averaging 6.7 intercepts (10th in the league) and 13.6 disposals, with a disposal efficiency of 78.7% (a team high).

Rather than just a player in the Melbourne backline, Chaplin’s name became known among the league, recognised for her strength and power in the defensive contest.

For the Demon, the season she put together was both a surprise and also a reward for effort, having put in an off-season of hard work.

“I wasn't really expecting it to skyrocket the way it did,” Chaplin said.

“I worked really hard in the off-season, so I feel like it's a surprise, but I also feel like I earned it.

 

 
9 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

with Birch and Gay leaving, it left a massive hole in our key defence.

She's already better than Birch...

 

Here's the interview:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1690667/season-review-maeve-chaplin?videoId=1690667&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1731135600001

Interesting that she notes, openly, that, 'we had a game style change half way through the season'.

Coaching awareness, flexibility and courage that I hope filters in to the men's program where many on here feel it's needed.

1 hour ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

we had a game style change half way through the season

I heard Stinear mention it in a press conference - maybe after their first win following the bad stretch. Players returning from injury helped, but changing the game plan was the big shift, I reckon. 


1 hour ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

I heard Stinear mention it in a press conference - maybe after their first win following the bad stretch. Players returning from injury helped, but changing the game plan was the big shift, I reckon. 

I also remember reference to "simplifying things," which I reckon helped a lot too. With so many young/less experienced players, you have to lean into their instincts to some extent.

On topic, great season by Maeve. Best disposal efficiency in the team (for players averaging 10+ disposals). Makes great decisions with and without the footy and is a nice long kick too. You can see how a good offseason helped her get to more contests and she was often prominent late in games.

On 10/11/2024 at 11:54, rjay said:

She's already better than Birch...

She's got a better understanding of team spirit than Birch.  Ooops, I didn't say that!  Seriously, though, you cannot find a happier player at Melbourne than Maeve.  She's so grateful to be at the club, and has the best attitude.

 
34 minutes ago, Dees_In_October said:

Glad to see some recognition for Chaplin, our only player named in the AA squad for 2024. Well deserved, just hope she makes it through to the final team.

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1255252/aa-squad-six-hawks-named-dee-misses-roos-streak-over

Great effort from Maeve...well deserved on a great season.

How McNamara missed out on the squad is baffling...

edit: will probably have more midfielders playing on the specialist wing position as per usual.

Edited by rjay

3 minutes ago, rjay said:

Great effort from Maeve...well deserved on a great season.

How McNamara missed out on the squad is baffling...

edit: will probably have more midfielders playing on the specialist wing position as per usual.

Yeah, it's the winger's lot in life, unfortunately.

Tbh I'd be surprised if Chaplin makes it, just given our win-loss.


Delighted to see her outstanding season recognised. Thoroughly deserved.

Kate hore and Eliza McNamara missing out is a joke. 

  • Author
18 hours ago, BDA said:

Delighted to see her outstanding season recognised. Thoroughly deserved.

Kate hore and Eliza McNamara missing out is a joke. 

Agreed. Kate Hore had one of her very best years. Above average in most KPIs and her leadership was outstanding.  Clearly AFLW Dees are not in the sweetheart group right now. 

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...

Featured Content

  • AFLW REPORT: Richmond

    A glorious sunny afternoon with a typically strong Casey Fields breeze favouring the city end greeted this round four clash of the undefeated Narrm against the winless Tigers. Pre-match, the teams entered the ground through the Deearmy’s inclusive banner—"Narrm Football Weaving Communities Together and then Warumungu/Yawuru woman and Fox Boundary Rider, Megan Waters, gave the official acknowledgement of country. Any concerns that Collingwood’s strategy of last week to discombobulate the Dees would be replicated by Ryan Ferguson and his Tigers evaporated in the second quarter when Richmond failed to use the wind advantage and Narrm scored three unanswered goals. 

    • 4 replies
  • CASEY: Frankston

    The late-season run of Casey wins was broken in their first semifinal against Frankston in a heartbreaking end at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night that in many respects reflected their entire season. When they were bad, they committed all of the football transgressions, including poor disposal, indiscipline, an inability to exert pressure, and some terrible decision-making, as exemplified by the period in the game when they conceded nine unanswered goals from early in the second quarter until halfway through the third term. You rarely win when you do this.

    • 0 replies
  • AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond

    Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations. With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.

    • 3 replies
  • AFLW REPORT: Collingwood

    Expectations of a comfortable win for Narrm at Victoria Park quickly evaporated as the match turned into a tense nail-biter. After a confident start by the Demons, the Pies piled on pressure and forced red and blue supporters to hold their collective breath until after the final siren. In a frenetic, physical contest, it was Captain Kate’s clutch last quarter goal and a missed shot from Collingwood’s Grace Campbell after the siren which sealed a thrilling 4-point win. Finally, Narrm supporters could breathe easy.

    • 2 replies
  • CASEY: Williamstown

    The Casey Demons issued a strong statement to the remaining teams in the VFL race with a thumping 76-point victory in their Elimination Final against Williamstown. This was the sixth consecutive win for the Demons, who stormed into the finals from a long way back with scalps including two of the teams still in flag contention. Senior Coach Taylor Whitford would have been delighted with the manner in which his team opened its finals campaign with high impact after securing the lead early in the game when Jai Culley delivered a precise pass to a lead from Noah Yze, who scored his first of seven straight goals for the day. Yze kicked his second on the quarter time siren, by which time the Demons were already in control. The youngster repeated the dose in the second term as the Seagulls were reduced to mere

    • 0 replies
  • AFLW PREVIEW: Collingwood

    Narrm time isn’t a standard concept—it’s the time within the traditional lands of Narrm, the Woiwurrung name for Melbourne. Indigenous Round runs for rounds 3 and 4 and is a powerful platform to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, community, and Australian culture. This week, suburban footy returns to the infamous Victoria Park as the mighty Narrm take on the Collingwood Magpies at 1:05pm Narrm time, Sunday 31 August. Come along if you can.

    • 9 replies

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.