Leaderboard

Grundy in 6, Hunter 12 and Schache 19. AMW and Smith running reps, Grundy, Fritta and TMac all doing drills with running interspersed. Tmac looked totally unhindered and was doing the warmup kicking drills. I didn't see Harmes, Lever, Brayshaw, Gawn, Oliver, Lingers, Melk, Tomlinson, Dunstan, ANB, Petty, Brown and Smith. I didn't see Taj either but he may have been there. Usual warmups, then ball movement drills on 3/4 ground. Had to leave earlier than expected unfortunately so that's about all I saw. Spoke to AMW very briefly and he said he'd added 8 kilos and was 182 but still growing. He's got an infectious smile and personality. Hoping for really big things from him.

Can’t understand why we are persisting to talk about Jimmy Toumpas in this thread. How is he relevant to this?

Just got home from the game an hour ago. What an amazing day. My first Melbourne premiership witnessed live. We were right in the with Demon Army (they are wonderful) behind the goals and nah, it rolled away towards the boundary. It was pretty funny because we were screaming our lungs out at Banno as she charged after the ball and then she just stopped in her tracks and started screaming back at us. I didn't know what the hell happened as I didn't hear the siren. Hillarious. So proud of our club. A day I'll never forget. They looked dead on their feet in the first few minutes of the last quarter. Lions players seemed to be getting loose. Then the girls just seemed to dig deep. Zanker in particular looked absolutely shot but she just kept presenting with lead after lead to make those contests. Our team are just defensive beasts. Gotta say Tahlia Gillard absolutely slaughtered Wardlaw today. I think Wardlaw might have taken one mark? She was amazing to watch her just blanket her and she's an 18 year old kid! So incredibly happy for them all. A true gritty underdog win that reminded me of local footy grannies when I was a kid. It doesn't have to be pretty to be absolutely riveting. I gotta ask if there's any other AFL presidents that would spend a whole half of footy sitting with the fans week in week out. Kate Roffey has so much time for the supporters and seems genuinely appreciative of us. It was great to meet her for the first time today. I love this club. After so many years of disappointment, these chapters of success are so sweet. Oh, and we listened to The age podcast with Daisy on the way to the game. If you haven't listened to it yet, you just have to. A true leader.

He was born in 2004. I have socks that are older.

Long post incoming... I’ve finally calmed down from those hectic last few minutes! And now I’ve gone all reflective in my post-premiership thoughts… As a kid, I dreamed of a Melbourne flag. Normal stuff. After the siren heroics and all that. But at some point, an early one, as I learned a bit more about the world as it was, I stopped being the central figure in those fantasies. It became Jimmy Stynes, Garry Lyon, David Neitz, and later, the Wiz and Yze. I couldn’t conceptualise a team like this AFLW one—that was so far beyond the realms of my world, that its simply didn’t enter my imagination. During the Dees' darkest years, my love of the club grew into a greater appreciation and love of the game, of seeing players grow and learn. A love that nevertheless felt incomplete. I thought it was a flag missing, and it was mostly that. But there was also a little hole in my red and blue heart that I didn’t even know was there until that first exhibition series.. All that to say, I’ll be forever grateful for this team, this club, for making a reality of an impossible dream. The Dees jumped on board when it wasn’t remotely trendy. We took the hits that come from going early. But during those agonising close calls, wind-battered days at Casey, a global pandemic and some truly ridiculous circumstances caused by the AFL (never forget the conference system!), we’ve been quietly, with little fuss, building a foundation that will last long beyond this premiership. Even though Melbourne came into the competition as hot favourites and have contended every season, the club and this special group of members and fans, has done the hard yards. Now it’s all there to see in the way the players speak about the club, their coaches, the staff and each other. So, it’s fitting that Melbourne, the writers of the rules, is the first club since the AFLW’s inception in 2017 to win a men’s and women’s premiership, in a unique and unprecedented kind of back-to-back. It's also fitting that this AFLW premiership comes in a year of two seasons, with 18 teams involved, that taken together creates the first proper, full-length season of AFLW (25 games for us). And as we all know, a premiership earnt through struggle that takes some time to come is one that’s truly savoured. This one took seven seasons, but also 150 years and a slow build over a decade of commitment to the women’s game. Naturally we’re all channelling a lot of our joy about this towards Daisy. It's not just the player, but what she represents. For Daisy, unlike many of her peers, it was footy or nothing, even when the future in that was just passion alone. For her, the AFLW came just in time, but in some ways just too late. Now she’s done what only the best leaders do: raised up those around her to take the next steps themselves—to do it not for her, but for themselves and each other. The scene on the siren told a story: Daisy, at the top of the mountain, and Gillard, an 18-year-old reaping the rewards of the trail her leader’s blazed, with so much ahead of her. Gillard would have been 13 years old when the AFLW started, the age when so many girls of the past have had to give the game away. Obviously, I could wax lyrical forever, so I’ll finish my ramblings with praise for and reflections on this PREMIERSHIP team. Our team didn’t play its best, but just REFUSED TO LOSE, and that’s what matters in a Grand Final: Paxman—a warrior who after an already decorated career, has been able to bring her best in the national league, adapting season on season to stay in the top tier of a fast-developing league. She’s played all 64 (yes, that famous MFC number) of the Dees’ AFLW games and run her heart out in every one of them. The originals: Daisy, Paxy, Mithen, L.Pearce and Lampard. Survival of the fittest! The list managers made tough choices to trade away original players to build the list. Those that remain are so very deserving; as a battler at times, Lampard should be especially proud. The recruits: Purcell, Gay, Birch, Harris—all players out of favour or want-aways at their former club, lured to the Dees over the years by culture (not cars!) to go on to thrive. Irish legends: Goldie, the fan favourite, perhaps didn’t find her best this season but always inspired the right attitude in teammates, not to die wondering. Mackin, just an incredible story that is somehow glossed over outside the club. Four months ago, had never played an Aussie Rules game. Fought her way into the best team in the league, held her position, improved every game and is now a premiership player. There’s something about the Dees, the Irish and amazing sporting stories. The backline/team defensive structure: I was worried about this aspect at the start of and during the season, yet it became the stingiest in the league and the basis for our most important victories. Heath gets her own category for that desperate one-handed tackle in the GF alone! I’d pick her first every week. VFLW: Fitzsimon, Sherriff, Chaplin, West, Gillard—just some of many players who’ve benefited from our strong VFLW program, which has made depth and the evenness of the team a major weapon. This can’t be said of all clubs’ commitment to the women’s game at that level. For us it’s created an environment where Gillard, over the course of a year, can develop to the point that she dominates one of the best forwards in the league in a Grand Final. That doesn’t just happen on talent alone. The mids: In the early seasons we had the league’s gold standard midfield, the Darebin crew of D. Pearce, Paxman, Hickey and O’Dea. To see the evolution of that line to what it is today—led by young guns Hanks, Purcell and West—has been a real pleasure and like a microcosm of the growth of the league. Grand Final actual BOGs: West or Gay. Seriously robbed, particularly West. The future: Hore, Zanker and Bannan. Admittedly, many of our players could fit in here, but I feel like each of these showed a bit of something this season that represents the next stage for our team—leadership, belief and harnessing the X-factor. A thought for McNamara and Colvin, both a part of this, and Caris, Campbell, Brown, Johnson, Ivey, Wilson and Duffy who all contributed in games this season. And special congrats to our clearly beloved and now hopefully industry-wide respected premiership coach, Mick, plus the rest of the coaching panel, particularly Jane Lange, ex-player Shae Sloane, and AFL premiership player/AFLW premiership coach Ben Brown, plus everyone else behind the scenes. They’ve set the standard. One last thought with an eye to 2023. Nine of our 21 premiership players are aged 23 or under. GO DEES!

That’s true, but it was good to see senior players Trac, May, Salem, Viney, Pig, Schache and Hunter on track and involved in the match sim drills. It must be good for the junior players to see big dogs “up and about” and joining in sessions they don’t have to attend. Especially good to see TMac looking uninhibited, as @Slartibartfastpointed out - we sorely missed him last year. It wasn’t a frenetic match sim, but it was still pretty intense for a first up session in terms of running in support of teammates as they moved the ball up and down the ground. Just shows how the level of professionalism has lifted in recent years.Trac ‘talked the talk” at the B&F about how they’d already been doing running doing fitness work for a couple of weeks back then, and he was certainly “walking the walk” at Gosch’s today as a leader. I guess you always like to see them moving freely this time of year, and it was good to see Viney/Salem/Rivers in particular looking good; all three were either banged up last year or have been inhibited by injuries (Viney). I was interested to see the cut of the jib of Kyah Farris-White. Yeah, he’s tall, but fwiw he moved quite nicely for such a young beanpole, including mobility during the drills. Long way to go, but good luck to him.

Remember when this was the best day of the footballing calendar?

You didn’t have to go to that much trouble!

I understand reflexive criticism of the game in terms of how low the scoring was in perfect conditions (apart from the crazy heat that is). But a critique based on the score alone is so simplistic and one dimensional. For one thing, from the perspective of a fully invested fan, the tension in that match was through the roof - which might help explain why i cried at the end of this game, not the men's GF win. I'm not a massive soccer fan, and don't follow any clubs, but i'm super invested when i watch the Matildas and the Socceroos. When you are invested in the result, the tension watching soccer matches is, it seems to me, part of the DNA of soccer, but really only becomes a feature of watching footy when the scores are close in the last quarter and each goal becomes more influential on the end result. But for me, i felt that tension right through the prelim and GF wins - and despite both games being low scoring i was never anything less than fully absorbed. Each goal had so much significance that it was not dissimilar to watching say the Matildas or Socceroos at a World Cup. The GF was off the charts in this regard. I thought that after the first quarter we were by far the better side, but the fact that we couldn't convert that dominance into goals (something that is so frustrating watching soccer when invested) meant that despite our dominance, one random, against the run of play goal late in the last quarter from the lions meant they could have pinched it (in the way the Germans salvaged a draw against Spain, despite being outplayed for much of the match). But the big factor critics that just focus on the score line seem to completely miss is that, unlike the AFL, in the AFLW, there is huge disparity between the overall standard of performance (inclusive of fitness levels, strength, skills, etc etc) and the standard of the defensive element of the game. Take the dees women's team. Mutiple seasons of exposure to elite level defensive strategies and systems - and of course elite coaching in these systems - have resulted in an incredibly effective defense - we conceded an average of 15 points this season, which is just nuts. Combine this with a rabid desire to win every contest and all team crazy pressure, such as we saw in the GF, and you have team that has elite defensive skills that in reality are well in advance of the opposition's overall standard (and ours too for that matter) and therefore ability to absorb, counter and score against. For a number of years i coached my son and daughter's basketball teams and found that we could be competitive even when other teams were more talented if we could be defensively strong, and the players understood and played their roles. The AFLW is this time a million. A perfect example of this phenomenon is Goldy. Her skills remain way off those of players such as Paxy and Hanks, but her commitment to defense, bravery, attack on the ball and understanding of our defensive system - and her role in it - mean that she is a key player in our team and a key reason why teams struggle to score against us. It will take time, but now that the women are being paid at least enough money to focus on playing footy, and more and more players are coming into the system having played footy since auskick, the gap between defensive skills and skills that support offence and scoring (eg kicking, marking, ability to give off under pressure etc) will dramatically reduce. And scores will go up. When we get there, a player like Goldy, for all her defensive brilliance, might struggle to get a game, because such a player will be competing with players who are coming into the system with an appetite for hard-nosed defence AND elite skills.

Apologies if I’ve already posted these pics. I’m all over the place with today’s win and the champagne’s not helping … anyways, the two Irish flags I added to our flag kit a few weeks ago went missing after the match. But then they were found… And the girls are welcome to keep them. They earned them today. And I’ve got a couple more for our flag kit anyways. 🙂 #JimmyWouldBeProud ❤️💙☘️❤️💙

Several hours post match and I'm still in a haze. 2021 saw my #1 Bucket List wish fulfilled. Today came closer to that day more than I realised. The players are just so likeable and so obviously engaged. Very happy to know Karma is real because they so deserve it. They always play the game in the right spirit and I have NEVER witnessed a team so disciplined and focused. I am beyond proud of this team, it's bordering on adulation. They react to adversity better than any team I've seen. I feel privileged to say I am a member (and always will be) and saw them win their first (of many) Premierships. ❤💙🏆

EXCELLENT JUST FRIGGEN EXCELLENT WRAPPED FOR HIM

All the senior boys don’t have to be back until next Monday. 1-4 years the only lads required to train today but others can join in if they want to. Gawn and Lever are in Canada right now! Sneaky word is JVR will be in the number 2 next season.

Perhaps he could help in the rewriting of our constitution?

let's see how many of them have as many best and fairest awards after seven seasons

I won't go deep into detail but had a pleasure of interacting with Kate Roffey today, expressed to her how bloody proud I am of the club and that everything that's gone on in the last 16 months has been a fantastic ride to be a part of. She's a great operator, really down to earth in the way she speaks to the fans and the media, zero hint of an ego. I remember a few years ago there were laughs from the footy world about our lofty expectations, well here we are.

all the moaning and groaning about low scores, do people realise the aflw is in its 7th year, game time goes for around about half that of vfl / afl, and for some bizarre reason for most players that can't kick more than 40m they reduced on-field to 16? 1903 vfl grand final score: the filth 4.7.31 beat fitzroy 3.11.29 i'm sick to death of those talking down the competition!

You couldn’t have been in a better place. But I’m biased. 🤭 Seriously though that group of people that you got to sit with are the most dedicated, the most loyal W fans you could ever hope to meet. They have been there since the beginning. They follow the girls around the country, every single match. I’m extremely happy for them. After all they’ve given to our W comp, and our Club in general, they deserve this so much.

Starship!

These infants make me feel so old. He looks 12.

Unlike some recent Demon Forwards - I emphasize 'some', I am referring to a recent defector who I saw kick a swag against Box Hill, who marked 3 in 20 after that - this lad can hold a mark. A commodity not to be sneezed at.

Clarry let’s his footy do the talking

Pic #24 in the training gallery released by the club is one of those perfectly timed photos which seems to show something that it isn't. It looks like Petracca and Schache are holding hands.

Blaithin Mackin: Armagh player helps Demons win Women's Australian Rules title Blaithin Mackin making waves Down Under as Melbourne Demons tackles Brisbane Lions in AFLW Grand Final Glory for Irish duo as Blaithin Mackin and Sinead Goldrick win AFLW title with Melbourne Demons

You know how the old saying goes DiO: What happens at Mad Monday… Goes straight to Demonland 😁 PS Kat can’t get there until a couple of hours into proceedings (she’s flying back from Brisbane today). I told her if she can’t find me upon arrival she should look under all the tables. 🤣

Such a great post Webber. It's been fantastic watching them all season. Even before the game and in a grand final, they kinda had a crazy moshpit going amongst themselves firing each other up, fists in the fair yelling and laughing together. Such a tight passionate team. It shone through in the last ten minutes of the game.

I thought she just willed herself in the last Q, all the girls did really...they just were not going to be beaten.

I'd more be face plaming that you referred to him as a defector. Yeah Weid left the MFC, but I think it was a move that all parties were comfortable with based on him getting a fresh start and likewise for us and Schache, with the Bulldogs. Weid was going nowhere at the MFC for the past 2 seasons. Hardly a defection.

Having the draft over 2 nights is still a crock.

Jefferson, Jefferson, Jefferson Forward

I will be more than happy if we recruit more players that are horrible at public speaking but play as well as Oliver.

Welcome Matthew. He reminds me of Jack Watts . And that's not a criticism The way he moves and good hands when leading and jumping. If he is a level up in work ethic and competitiveness he'll be good for us.

Welcome MJ. Now you've got two choices son. Are you going to follow the TMAC or the BBB diet?

I’m happy with this selection, just like JVR he will be given time to learn and grow.

We wouldn’t have taken him if they had any doublets about the kid. Welcome aboard the Deetrain Matthew Jefferson.❤️💙

Yeah, but was does her mum want?

Didn't he used to play for the Dragons

Many of the whingers would probably have raved over Australia winning 1-0 in the World Cup qualifiers, and rightly so. Sport doesn't have to be high scoring to be entertaining. How tense and exciting was that last quarter and no goals were scored. Every 1% er meant so much, potentially match saving. Give me a match like that over US razzamataz basketball any day. The girls are all heroes - full stop. * Just read your post after I did mine Binman. You are a very wise man 🤣

I love all the expert callers on talkback radio this morning criticising the game and they hadn't even watched it. As someone said the AFL GF was hardly a great spectacle. What a bunch of ignorant F.........

Today I’m relaxed. Years ago this was our bright light and our search for a glimmer of hope. But we have our premiership 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆and we have confidence in JT and team to make the right moves.

Live images from Gosch's

disagree quality of the competition is getting better every year

I posted earlier that JT had confused me. Phillipou, Humphrey, Allan, Jefferson, Ginbey, George, Barnett. I haven’t got a clue now who our target is. Well done JT and Tim Lamb.

Ok so wasn't a goal fest, I normally couldn't stand such a low scoring affair, but this game demonstrated incredible tackling pressure, these girls hit hard, then rinse and repeat, in a pure display of heart and pressure. Very very proud Demon fan, you could show these highlights to some of the men's teams going around. The overall bravery really won me over. I love how TH came to the club under a bit of a cloud and has absolutely been a team player. I love that Daisy is just one of tje most credible football players going around at the moment and really hope she doesn't stay at Geelong very long. I hope Mick the coach gets the plaudits he deserves, he has the team sticking to the system under incredible pressure. Huge props to all the players, nothing more fun than supporting a champion team over a team full of champions. The umpiring was turgid and inconsistent and didn't do credit to the game at all, I guess the a list ups are on a break too. Tacky of the Brisbane coach, they can suck on their Dead sea of salt tears. AFLW is going to grow the game, no doubt in my mind at all. Thank you women you did us proud.

*** Runs in, breathless *** YEAH THE GIRLS! GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS! (coherent thoughts to come)

Toumpas didn’t work out, but it was most definitely due to poor culture and poor development, and less so due to poor recruitment. You cannot select that many players at the top end of the draft and have them all fail. Pure statistics say you’d nail at least something. The problem has since been proven to be culture and development. So many of those youngsters started their careers brightly, only to go backwards at a rate of knots. Wines obviously had a better career than Toumpas, but the part about attentive is incorrect and revisionist. Trengove dominated underage level, captained his side and won a SANFL grand final off his own boot. He was ready made and was superior to Dusty at underage level. He was the equal to or better than Dusty in his first two years. His first few seasons at AFL level were superior to any player currently on our list bar Oliver. He was, put simply, one of the best young players we’ve had this century. Unfortunately injury ruined him, and being stuck in rehab for years on end at a [censored] club like ours at the time wouldn’t have helped. I feel for Trengove as he is one player who could’ve been a star of the competition, but was unlucky with injury and being drafted to a poor club with bad culture and development. He was not a recruiting mistake. All worked out in the end though as we got others into the club and won a flag!