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That's fantastic @dee Viney. Good on you for contributing to the game. I think it's really underestimated how important women's football can be to the AFLs future. The younger kids both boys and girls can access most games in a quiet family environment at the moment. There's definitely some fantastic role models in our women's team to get kids following the Demons and help build our membership base into the future.

I certainly hope you are not being serious with this comment? The women take their game very seriously & give it 100%, there is no difference in effort & commitment between the 2 competitions. To call the AFLW a token league is insulting.

i have two passions in my football world 1. watching my team win 2. watching young talent develop their game and hone their skills mfc aflw is giving me both at the moment yeah sure i know there is still a long way to go and everything is far from rosy but it's continually on the up

The Mens comp has a fair head start on the womens comp and to say that the AFLW is a token competition is complete ignorance. I love my football, I coach my daughters team and have done so for the last 5 years and each year the standard gets better. In fact I also started yesterday with a rival AFL clubs Next Generation program yesterday as 7 of my girls are in their squad. The young girls coming thru are incredibly passionate about the game and the skills and their footy IQ is strong. The game is in great shape. I said it in an earlier post in my opinion our AFLW team play a much watchable brand of football than our male team. PM me if you want details of the Chelsea Girls next training session, you can come down and hold the tackle bag if you like.

Doesn't seem that magic

Not sure if anyone has seen this, but it's a fantastic analysis of the turnaround last week against Adelaide. Frankly I think it was the best game they've ever played. Just a brilliant comeback when it looked pretty dire at quarter time. And the girls were PUMPED after the game. Surely that performance places them clear favourites for the Premiership! https://www.womens.afl/news/114427/t-hanks-for-the-win-how-the-dees-turned-the-tables-on-the-crows

I'm really enjoying watching our women's team. Not only in the way they play but the culture they seem to have created. Not only do they seem really tight together but they also seem to really be enjoying their football and being part of our club. Back on the field for the start of the third quarter, only 2 points up in a qualifying final and they're in a huddle and having a huge laugh together! Two minutes later, they're back into it in a ferocious manner and smashing the reigning premiers. It made me reflect on what seems to be a different culture between the men and the women. Would the blokes get away with having a laugh on the field like that? Would the media make a big storm out of it? I know the blokes are under much more scrutiny, but footy must be a grind at times and this team seems to be really enjoying what they do. This must help build a team first culture. Is there a couple of leaves that could be taken out of the women's team book by the men's team? Mick Stinear and his team seem to have done a great job at building culture and even adjusting game plans from last seasons grand final defeat to how they play now. It's all happened very quickly and even the changes made throughout games seem to be quick and effective (probably a slightly different tangent here I guess or maybe not). Taylor Harris has stated a number of times along the lines of "I'm just happy to be on the field and do what's asked of me as best I can". It's going to be a shame to lose someone like Daisy from our club too I think. She definitely seems to be part of that bond between them all. I reflected on the punch on in a french restaurant last year. Maybe there's an extra level of competitveness and sledging that's (generally speaking) just part of male culture? Maybe some demonlanders closer to the teams can give some more insight. If you're not watching the girls play yet, you really should. They're a team this club should be really proud of.

fixed it for ya, nev

No way they can play the showdown on that weekend. Port and Adelaide surely have to be playing interstate teams. Make them play Collingwood and Carlton on those weeks. Can we play our Kardinia Park game against the Cats that weekend?

Sure is. One comparison between Trac and Oliver is that Trac has polled brownlow votes in only 2 of a possible 30 games (when he's polled votes) when the Dees have lost while Oliver has polled in 12 of a possible 54 games (when he's polled votes) when the Dees have lost - over their respective careers thus far. This suggests to me that Trac is more of a barometer than Oliver in terms of us winning games, where as Oliver can play absolute top shelf footy in losses - eg - Adelaide 2021, Collingwood x2 in 2022.

I reckon its great having footy to watch this time of year and good footy at that (Geelong North game aside. That was terrible) The crowds will go, the interest is there. In year one the attendances were high but have tapered off since. The new teams are getting higher crowds than the average as well I think the expansion has happened too quickly and diluted the overall quality. There are some very poor teams in the comp and the difference between top and bottom is a chasm. Maybe the trade off / thinking was getting as many teams up and running which would influence the overall population of girls / women playing the game. Not sure, but I reckon a smaller 10 team comp would draw bigger crowds as the standard would be higher. And yes, the AFL doesn't have a coherent plan. How can you not know where the final is going to be in a few weeks' time.

Great analysis by Gemma Bastiani. Kudos to Mick Stinear who must be impressing Goody. He would bring much needed match day strategy to the men. The way the womens team play just blows me away - it's just so exciting. Combined with the fantastic recruiting we have easily our best team in our short history. Incredibly, despite losing just one game and a % of over 282 we still didn't finish top! Brisbane are a seriously good side as well and if the expected GF match between us occurs I think we will witness the best AFLW game ever. Can't wait!

Such an appropriate user name.

Be the tackle bag would be my preference 😈

Here is another theory Roger. The Club, and most likely the Government as well, saw a better long-term solution in having our facilities included in the redevelopment of the Warne stand. This will obviously take a lot longer to eventuate. Until then, following the world cup, we will utilise the revamped facilities at AAMI. It may be that until the design work for the redevelopment has been finalised and the funding approved, the Club cannot /don't want to announce this. The silence from the Club on this is regrettably deafening, and I hope for the Board's sake that this silence is due to similar reasons to the above, and not because we have nothing - as a number of you are suggesting.

You run out of superlatives. With his absolutely relentless determination, he completely reminds me of Ron Barassi, and that is a very big thing to say.

Didn't you know that most supporters can glean more from these highlight reels than the recruiters who spend years watching them play live.

He's the one I want with our 2nd pick and have voiced this before. His ability to go into the ruck using his leap is appealing I would think in terms of Goody liking players with versatility. He's a lead up CHF who is a one touch grab and his work rate is what stands out the most. Seriously hoping he's still there and we don't hesitate calling his name out.

Our women's team seems to be always on the cusp of being absolutely unstoppable and having a great time while doing it. A breakthrough premiership could really be the first of many. I also think Alyssa Bannan is in the same 'moment' as an individual player; she is right on the edge of being the outright superstar of the women's game and also making everything around her feel more fun. Ugh, the anticipation is killing me. Damn I want that deeply deserved premiership.

I don't think Phillipou will be available. I'm thinking Melbourne would like to get in front of West Coast and select Elijah Hewett. It sounds like we are very keen on Ed Allan.

Reckon Weddle looks fantastic - does he play too tall to be a Hibbo successor...?

Whenever changes are mooted for the rules of the game, there are plenty of posters critical of the proposals. I'm generally less fussed. However, I'm much more concerned about tinkering with the fundamental structure of the game. There is no need for a "magic" round or a 23rd game per season for each team. Furthermore, if the AFL wants to see how not to run a professional sport, watch what cricket has done. By ignoring the "less is more" concept (more appropriately called "scarcity" in economic terms), cricket has devalued its product to the extent that the TV networks seem to have minimal interest in the broadcast rights any more, other than for Australia v England Test Matches. The AFL runs the risk of losing its audience if it changes the competition without good reason. (A good reason would be the introduction of a Tasmanian team, for example).

Gawd Dazzle u reckon you will look bad after 84 years, I'm likely to look like this guy!!

So we got an old oval resurfaced and some new change rooms 50k from the MCG

About to have my second kid up here in Canberra, so no. Everyone has their reasons/excuses, but 2300 for a home QF in the city is not great.

When they called Clayton Oliver’s name out at the draft and Roosy presented his jumper I remember thinking who the hell is Oliver. I went into overdrive and searched out every article that I could find on the kid, the fact that he had won the Morrish Medal helped ease my concern a little but still felt it was a bit of a left field choice. How grateful am I / We that JT called Clayton’s name at Pick 4. Clarry is well on the way to being Best Ever at the MFC and as Durango mentioned if Clarry can increase his goal kicking he will have ticked every box and put himself in line for all major awards and perhaps a few more Premierships as well.!!!

Wanna rock up to the girls' training session and tell them they're not a serious competition, that they're just tokens? Yeh, didn't think so.

BBB has ruckman height and is a lovely long straight kick for goal and up until this season could draw a free kick each game. He is more a leading mark than a pack mark, but unfortunately his injury and Tom’s injury, together with Goody’s game plan, cruelled his season in 22. Hopefully, free of injury and with Tom/JVR in and Goody using him to his best advantage, will see him have another good season or two with us. If we take Jefferson, that would allow him a couple of years to develop, before needing to play him alongside JVR, who could then be our key forwards for the next period.

Some intriguing analysis in here - there will be zero good players available at pick 13, and our needs are literally every position on the ground

I’m loving this thread. Keep it going folks!

Agree. The medisub is just so inhibiting to player development - Toby Bedford this year many weeks didn’t play for MFC nor for Casey. Has he had more time on ground at either level he may have stayed, and may well have developed far more. Absurd rule.

Christian Petracca, it’s hard to find the words that sum up my feelings for Tracc I have loved every thing that he has bought to our mighty club up to this point. To have a group of such elite players at our club at the same time has already shown us all what is possible hell even injured and with a broken leg he is still better than most, and with a bit of luck and continued smart recruitment we / they are capable of so much more. Looking forward to seeing what a tough fit Christian Petracca can bring in 2023.!!!

I reckon Cyndi Lauper was onto something! They're having a fantastic time, and working their butts off at the same time. Couldn't ask for more. It' been great watching them this season, they're playing a very exciting brand of footy.

I'm not sure I would call Tomlinson (168 games), Bowey (Premiership player), Chandler and Bedford (4th year players) or Weid (60 games) 'raw recruits'. That is also beside the fact that you wouldn't bring them in expecting them to carry the team or have a big impact. Just play a role within our system that enables the managing of more needed players preparation for when they are required for the business end of the season. If our game plan relies on an exact set of 22 players every week then we're in a bit of trouble.

Whenever I worry about our future success I think of Clarry and feel better. Genuinely the best player I’ve seen in red and blue and the most consistent bloke in the league. He won’t rest until we win another flag.

64kg? At that weight he’s an OH&S concern in the wind at Casey.

I absolutely love the AFLW. Wonderful to see the competition get better and better now

Can have the cell next to Goody

I agree, we oar to let this error RIP.

Believe it or not here's actually science behind this. I worked with a cognitive scientist a few years ago who has worked with some of the top sporting teams in the US. He got them to implement telling jokes before going out to play. He explained that when we laugh we release endorphins which can help to relieve pain and trigger feelings of pleasure. It is also a very effective way of calming nervous players down just before they play and counteracts negative thoughts and fears. The Tigers got on to this a few years ago and you could see them coming out of huddles laughing. They actually specified players each week that had to have a joke to tell in the huddle. I don't know if that's the basis for the girls doing it but it probably is. I'm in awe at the massive leap in their standard of play even from season 6 to 7.

Personally I reckon Max just made this comment for something to say. There's no comparison to the 2 scenarios and the Stanley/Blicavs model wasn't why they won the flag anyway. Swans were next to useless and outcoached and played injured players. But Max got us on the back page so well done to him. Think of it this way: 2 players worth combined $2.0M a year have a coffee and decide how to play together. - coz that's what he was saying. Yeah, good one Max - don't you just love the guy.!

This is one of the reasons why I love watching this team play, it exemplifies the very point of the OP. These girls are great to watch, they're unified as a team, they love spending time with each other, their fans, they are loved and supported by each other and their supporters.

After the flag, the footy world endured speech after speech from Roffey and Gawn about how good our culture is and blah, blah, blah. It’s no better than the best clubs. That’s what you aim for. It can deteriorate quickly when you seperate yourself from others as ‘special’. The women are great because they are a good team, they have great leaders who are respectful to the (very) different personalities they have below them, and their game plan is based around contested footy as a prerequisite for playing - which is the genesis for respect in footy. The boys can get back to that in 2023 if the leaders focus on it.

Actually I’ll make it easier for you. In the last month we played 3rd away, 5th away, and 9th (fighting to stay alive) and 4th at home. Geelong played 12th away and 8th, 10th and 17th at home. I guarantee if we got that soft a draw we would have rested players.

The opposition have enough trouble kicking it to Max when he's the main ruck, if he can have even more licence to drop back with Brodie as the main ruck, that could make things very difficult for them. Likewise, the unpredictability of using Max as a wepon forward or back while still having a dominant ruck in Grundy could provide some real headaches. Luke wasn't exactly that much of a contributor in alot of games this season, particularly the longer it wore on.

Matthew Jefferson is a very skilled, competetive goal Kicker who moves far and wide and reads the ball very well. He also clunks contested marks. He is also an exceptional young man. He is an attractive proposition for our first pick.

I get some of the trepidation with Jefferson and comparisons some here are making with Weideman. He projects as more of a Sam Reid type. Jefferson reads the ball in flight very well (amongst the best in the crop) and is mobile inside 50. His standing vertical allows him to reach over a lot of the opponents he came up against in the U18’s. Yes, he is skinny and yes, he will take time. The club showed patience with JVR, who has a physique that was further advanced than Jefferson. If the team select Jefferson, they’ll no doubt give him time as well. There is competitiveness and defensive effort in his game. He would have slid in recruiter rankings by now if it was completely absent (see Lemmey’s slide and the uncertainty around Keeler as examples), but the light frame really stops him from throwing weight around in a way Cadman has at times. Clubs will also note that Jefferson played through injury (leg) in the latter part of the season and still performed reasonably well.

‘Many’ is an overstretch. Maybe you’re a Nostradamus Picket, but I remember vividly the calls by numerous supporters of “why would we pick the fat kid from the country who has only come on extremely late and labeled the ‘bolter’ when Parish is right there”.