deanox

That is outstanding. Gillard has the potential to be the premier key defender in the comp. And the girls on 2 years are all ones we want to hold on to. Here is a link to the source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706290/emerging-guns-re-sign

Lampard and Pearce for 2 years, the others for one year it said. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1706287/demon-veterans-sign-on Also officially notes that Aimee Mackin will remain in the inactive list, but doesn't say for how long etc.

This highlights reel is exceptional. Kicking 45m+, hitting targets on leads, ball winning ability, clean pick ups of bouncing ball on the run, smart positioning around the contest to be first receiver, followed by power and speed to get away from the contest. I know it's a highlights reel, not a complete summary, but it's exciting to see just how high the standard is for this draft crop.

Very excited, she's exactly what we need in our mix.

The article on our website says 46 is gone. I doubt we'd get that wrong!

@Lucifers Hero no more started based drafting - it's a national draft this year. And I think we also traded out pick 46 as part of the Mithen deal.

I'd be disappointed if she walked to the draft after the optics of her exit from Carlton and move to the dees. She was being smashed in the media and by Carlton, and we stepped in and took her in. From what I can tell we've provided good support both in and out of football. I understand that this is a business, and that for the AFLW players in particular, the salaries aren't that high and careers are short. But I do think there needs to be an element of loyalty in return when you are looked after.

With Tayla Harris you are paying for potential. Her potential to us is worth a lot. And I'd want a pretty high pick, access to equivalent potential, in return.

I think this bolded part is why we have been willing to trade out Birch, West and now Mithin. Not saying they aren't good players who would have continued to be part of our team, but collectively they lacked the size/height and pace of the next generation. From a list management perspective you need to trade something out to bring something in. And if we want to bring in top picks to set up that next tilt, we need to give something up. You can also only have so many players in each tier, and if you want to retain young stars coming through, you need to have spots for them in your structure. Mithin and Birth would definitely have been relatively higher up the pay structure tiers too.

Lily Mithen is currently 26 and will be 28 for age at EOC. Not sure if we need to do a review of other ages too.

And Gillard.

I saw a report that I think Collingwood and Hawthorn were after her, but that we were still negotiating with her. I'd be disappointed if she chose to leave, given I feel like we've really looked after her, especially after the debacle that was her exit from Carlton.

Let's see the jig @Ted Lasso!

I thought they went to a farm out near Geelong. But maybe that was just Clarry? 😂

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1690502/delany-departs Delany Madigan has been delisted after one year on the list.

Unsurprising to me. The first season of AFLW was 7.5 years ago. The players getting drafted this year are probably the first to have a pathway open to them from age 10 or 11. I reckon over the next 5 years the quality of draftees is going to ramp significantly as we not only have a larger pool of girls who have played football their entire junior career, but we'll also have more girls coming from "elite" junior pathways and representative sides, where the talent pathways have identified the best players, and they've had the chance to improve by playing in those elite junior competitions.

He did what was reported as an 8 week hamstring at the end of January. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1074000/melbourne-demons-recruit-tom-fullarton-to-miss-start-of-season-due-to-hamstring-injury He made it back for round 1 of VFL which wasn't until 22 March, the same day as our 3rd match of the season. Not saying he will set the world on fire next year, but it's always hard to make an impact after that type of injury.

With the season dusted, we turn to the trade and draft period. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1622029/dates-confirmed-2024-aflw-trade-and-draft-dates-locked-in-for-2024-season Perhaps this contracts thread could be pinned like on the AFLM board?

I thought he'd go as a FA but I didn't think we'd just delist him due to our list position. We must have something planned.

If you ever cycle to work and cover around 21km in an hour, it's scary to realise you are only travelling at marathon world record pace.

It doesn't necessarily translate to 20m and bursts out of pack, but it translates extremely well to modern football between the arcs. Think ANB or Chandler doing repeat sprints and return sprints over 50-150 m up and down the ground. The ability to continually cover ground at a very high cruising pace and back it up again and again.

If this is what happens it seems to me that we have picks 5, 9 and 83 with 3 list spots left. And maybe 4 list spots if Tomlinson doesn't re-sign. I wouldn't be surprised to see us try something to get another pick. No idea what though.

Yeah the development of Gall and Campbell has been fantastic. They are young and tall, so I guess expect them to take a bit longer, but if they can stand up like that, when we add Harris and Pearce back in we'll be aerially very strong.

Yeah they slotted straight back in didn't they? Zanks found good form.

Saints only have 1 extra day break than us, and this will be their third game in ten days (our third in 11 days). So fatigue is definitely going to be a factor for both sides, and one might handle it more than others. We've brought back three key players - Zanker, Paxy and Purcell, and the three out (Colvin, D'Arcy and Johnson have been amongst our lowest TOG). My biggest concern is whether bringing these three in upsets the changes to structure and team balance that saw us with the last two games. Hopefully not.