Sunny, then cloudy day at Gosch's Paddock for the women's intra-club. A series of 7.5 minute stanzas.

Our list of 32 (on the website) includes Aimee Mackin (knee) and Jacinta Hose (knee and back), who are now on the long-term injury list and won't feature this year,

From the final list of 30, rehabbing today were Ryliegh Wotherspoon (a couple of weeks of away off a hamstring), Grace Beasley (to be back mid-season from her knee) Denby Taylor (short-term, ankle) and Gabby Colvin. Sinead Goldrick and Blaithin Mackin also not present today. So 24 having a run.

Blues versus Reds, looked like A team of Blues mids and forwards against the Reds containing A team backs, with assistance from the Casey girls (presumably) - 16 per side.

New draftees Molly O'Hehir (off half-back) and Maggie Mahony (midfield) both impressed and will be aiming for Round 1 selection.

All the regulars were prominent, McNamara, Fitzsimon, Hore, Hanks, Zanker, Chaplin and the talls, Gall, Campbell and Harris all featuring. Great to see Loz Pearce playng at this stage of the season.

A bit of a scare when Hanksy left the field (and did not return) which to me looked like a knee injury - others thought calf, or ankle. Limped off but was later doing run-throughs, presumably after knee checks, so hopefully only a short-term injury (with scans likely to follow).

O'Hehir and Amelia Dethridge were given an early mark.

Had to leave before the session finished but there was a good crowd in attendance, so I expect a few more comments here.

Edited July 16, 2025Jul 16 by Harvey Wallbanger
Typo

A good game was played, 8 sets of 7 1/2 minutes each, no time on.

Blues started with the first two, Hore and Hanks as mids, getting the clearances. They were able to hold in it the forward 50.

Dethridge turned the game, got the reds two clearances and got them back into the game. Two goals each, then the Blues kicked away.

Hanks went off, and the reds started to even up the possessions, late in the third (6th).

Hore turned the game again in the 4th (7th, 8th), as Dethridge gave her room to work in at stoppages, then she went forward, marking off leads and finishing well. I think the final score was about 9 goals to 5.

Paxman (wing), McNamara (other wing), and Hanks ran circles around them for Blues. They have a great connection, often finding the central corridor and connections into the 50.

I thought Gall and Campbell played well.

Harris played with smarts as a forward, creating one on ones, some good straight leads to mark. She moved into the backline in the 4th, and her long kicks got the reds moving. The three stay at home forwards for reds were all Casey players, and they struggled to get their hands on it.

Hore remained the outstanding player with great composure and feel for the right decisions, she rotated through the mid and forward lines.

Fitzsimmons was energetic giving plenty of options and endeavour up front.

Pisano got plenty of ball, with her look alike Mahony doing similar roles as high forwards.

Zanker played well as forward, leading well and finishing with good goals. She rotated into the mid late in the game.

Purcell worked into the game, she brought high energy when the reds fell behind.

Johnson ran the wings well, often getting overlaps for the reds. She really wants the ball and works hard to get space.

Rigoni playing of the halfback area, she is confident, fast, and solid, though needs to be smarter with her decisions

O'hehir moves well, is tall and was prominent early in the game, but fell out of it.

Pearce got the engine room humming.

Lampard was in and out of the game as was Beasley.

Chaplin played well with some carving runs out of the backline.

Bannan worked hard, but had the fumbles, though a very difficult match up.

They ran it out well, but looked a bit tired coming into the 3rd quarter (5th).

Skills were good, with a connection between the regulars a feature. We finshed our goal kicking well, and had some very fast ball movement end to end. They also worked hard to hold the ball in the forward area. The Blues set up a wall very well.

The women looked happy with their match.

Edited July 16, 2025Jul 16 by Kev

Addit: Forgot about Ebert, she showed some skill with ball in hand, though was in and out of the game, similar to some of the new and emerging players.

Our regulars had so much cohesion, the newbies need to find their rhythm with them.

tbh i thought the girls' season last year was even more of a let down than the boys' 2024

i'm hoping they can rocket back up the ladder in aflw, as opposed to what we've seen in 2025 in the aflm

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1832598/intraclub-watch-who-impressed

Some v good summaries by @Kev and @Harvey Wallbanger . I went down and got to see most of it.

I thought they were very good. Looked very sharp linking up out is stoppages and quickly getting it inside 50.

Whilst the usual suspects were leading the charge, we look to have really good depth. ‘Fringe/emerging’ players like Taylor, Rigoni, Pisano, and Johnson showed promising glimpses.

Thought all the new recruits showed a fair bit. O’Hehir looks most likely to get a start but the others not at all far behind.

Forward line of Gall, Zanker, Harris, Bannan, Fitzsimmons - with Pisano, Campbell and Hore swapping through will be super dangerous.

Paxman and McNamara excellent drive from the wings.

Hard not to get excited for the season with a nice draw.

Looked a good session, apart from the Hanks Injury. Hope it isn't too bad. Was impressed by Mahony, and also Ebert, as somewhat lesser sung recruits. Paxy looked to have been replaced by a Paxy from five years ago, and Campbell looked effective around the ground.

I'd have to guess the plan to play Harris in the backline has been abandoned. A forward line with Zanker, Harris and Gall as permanent fixtures is going to stretch the key defensive abilities of every team, and that's not mentioning Bannan. Hope it's not top heavy, though North seem to have made Randall, Shierlaw and King work.

19 hours ago, Craig T said:

Paxy looked to have been replaced by a Paxy from five years ago

I love this after we all prematurely retired her for about the third time!

On 16/07/2025 at 13:52, Harvey Wallbanger said:

A bit of a scare when Hanksy left the field (and did not return) which to me looked like a knee injury - others thought calf, or ankle. Limped off but was later doing run-throughs, presumably after knee checks, so hopefully only a short-term injury (with scans likely to follow).

Fingers crossed. Would have to be our second most important player...

23 hours ago, Kev said:

Lampard was in and out of the game as was Beasley.

Good signs for Beasley to be playing only about 10 months post ACL. Probably a bit off the pace.

23 hours ago, Kev said:

Pisano got plenty of ball, with her look alike Mahony

Watching a VFLW game a few weeks back I was constantly confusing them! Glad it's not just me.

20 hours ago, higgsy75 said:

Whilst the usual suspects were leading the charge, we look to have really good depth.

Also good to hear. We really had to test our depth last season and hopefully that exposure has fast tracked some development. Silver lining.

I wonder how we'll approach the praccy matches in terms of selection; try some things out or go full strength or what.

21 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

tbh i thought the girls' season last year was even more of a let down than the boys' 2024

i'm hoping they can rocket back up the ladder in aflw, as opposed to what we've seen in 2025 in the aflm

It was an interesting season 2024. I was really disappointed early on in the season but they really ground out some good wins late in the year with some key personnel missing.

In lots of ways I'm loving watching the women play more so than the men. They seem to play for each other as a really tight team.

I still reckon Stinnear should be a big part of the men's coaching squad. Culturally and strategically, he seems more confident to swing the changes mid game and has them all playing for each other.

We've got a bit of an injury list to start but I reckon we've got to be close to top 4 this year.

My only MFC premiership to see live at the ground. Will always have a soft spot for them. Go Dees

18 minutes ago, Brownie said:

It was an interesting season 2024. I was really disappointed early on in the season but they really ground out some good wins late in the year with some key personnel missing.

In lots of ways I'm loving watching the women play more so than the men. They seem to play for each other as a really tight team.

I still reckon Stinnear should be a big part of the men's coaching squad. Culturally and strategically, he seems more confident to swing the changes mid game and has them all playing for each other.

We've got a bit of an injury list to start but I reckon we've got to be close to top 4 this year.

My only MFC premiership to see live at the ground. Will always have a soft spot for them. Go Dees

admittedly I only really know MFC team, is the 2025 fixture kinder to us? I think i recall last year's being a bit unfair with our opponents.

Apologies Dee in Oct, Beasley number 16 didn’t play. Got her confused with Ebert number 19.

1 hour ago, Dees_In_October said:

Good signs for Beasley to be playing only about 10 months post ACL. Probably a bit off the pace.

2 hours ago, Dees_In_October said:

I love this after we all prematurely retired her for about the third time!

Fingers crossed. Would have to be our second most important player...

Good signs for Beasley to be playing only about 10 months post ACL. Probably a bit off the pace.

Watching a VFLW game a few weeks back I was constantly confusing them! Glad it's not just me.

Also good to hear. We really had to test our depth last season and hopefully that exposure has fast tracked some development. Silver lining.

I wonder how we'll approach the praccy matches in terms of selection; try some things out or go full strength or what.

Just to be clear Beasley only expected back mid-season. She wasn't playing in the intra-club....

21 hours ago, Kev said:

Apologies Dee in Oct, Beasley number 16 didn’t play. Got her confused with Ebert number 19.

20 hours ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

Just to be clear Beasley only expected back mid-season. She wasn't playing in the intra-club....

No worries, was a little surprised by the quick progression! Hopefully she gets some games in later on in the season if ready.