1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't know why I formed this view, but I had assumed the role was long-term strategy. For example, understanding where the AFL product will be in the longer term, such as (say) in 7-10 years' time. Our club should be making decisions on player retention and selection taking both a short-term and long-term view. The short-term decisions should be the responsibility of King, Lamb, Taylor and Richardson, and equivalent for AFLW. The longer-term decisions should be the province of the Board, CEO and Ned Guy.

To make those longer-term decisions, the club needs to understand as best as possible what the competition will look like. What will be the rules of the game? Will it be a 19 or 20 team competition, or something else? What will be the future of Next Generation Academies and the Father/son, father/daughter rules? What will list sizes be? What will happen to the rookie list and other structural issues associated with list sizes? What will the salary cap be? What will be expected with injury management (eg, concussion rules)? And so on. There's a lot there for someone to be working on while not being distracted by the current day-to-day stuff.

We might have to get the round balls out again!😜

5 hours ago, Dees_In_October said:

Fairy tales like that rarely seem to work out in sport, but if there's anyone who I can imagine it happening for, it's her (not naming the name is contagious!).

Maybe you're biased there "Browny" haha. But yeah, definitely saw BBB barracking for the Dees at a few finals games along with his family. It was a shame to lose him from our coaching ranks.

Perhaps more a matter of tweaking for a new coach? I guess it depends how they view our ability to actually beat Brisbane and North with the current style - have we gone as far as we can with that, or is there a need for either big changes or tweaks to go that step further. Like you said, certainly the players we recruited don't deviate from what's been valued in the past.

Yeah I reckon it's our defense that struggled in the finals to get that ball back out fast and slingshot.

We've got some good talent and we battled hard, but I reckon that's the tweak. We've got a pretty good baby in the bath.

I think we can progress off our game style to match them without a revolution

16 hours ago, Dees_In_October said:

No, this is not an announcement.

But we may as well speculate.

Saw this on afl.com in the article about Mick Stinear luring North assistant (mids) Ryan Pendlebury to Geelong:

"A series of clubs have been expected to target North Melbourne's successful AFLW program for roles across this coming off-season, with fellow Kangas assistant Rhys Harwood another seen as a senior coach in waiting. Harwood is expected to figure prominently in Melbourne and Richmond's coaching search in the coming weeks, as the clubs look to replace Stinear and Ryan Ferguson respectively."

Shae Sloane was present for the draft last night, which would be expected, but she's obviously another name out there. Hopefully she's going to provide continuity for us, either way.

I hope we keep some continuity @Dees_In_October. Hope Shae stays in one form or another.

Ben Brown? He'd be great to lure back

I think we could do with some more defensive structure. building a better structure from within 40m out might be a priority too. Then we can rebound fast.

Nev Jetta? He's still in Melbourne and coaching at Fitzroy I think.

Ryan Davis from the lions would have been a good option but he's coaching the crows next year.

Would be great to see more women getting the top roles. Embarassed I can't think of anyone outside of Daisy and Shae off the top of my head.

In some ways, the field should be wider as there may be good candidates from the second tier competitions across the country. Vfl, WAFL etc

We've built the best culture in the competition I reckon. We need someone who can maintain and keep building it.

So. Mark Neeld is probably out of consideration

Savvy move by Mick to start poaching from the North benchmark.

Wonder if he's got ford lined up 😜

15 minutes ago, Meggs said:

Jemma Bastiani is an AFL stats guru and her comments on the Dees makes for exciting reading:

afl.com.au/aflw

Players selected: Jordyn Allen (pick No.16), Chloe Baker-West (pick No.22)

With their first pick the Demons opted for neat rebounding defender Jordyn Allen, which will be ideal for their hard-running, slingshot style of footy. Her kicking is among the best of the draft class, perfect for setting up that transition footy, and will help to cover players like Maeve Chaplin and Shelley Heath when they are increasingly needed up around the footy. Making out like bandits, Melbourne also managed to nab Chloe Baker-West with pick No.22. One of the most skilful players in the draft class, her footskills and capacity to open up the play is very Tyla Hanks-esque, and she will suit Melbourne to a tee.

It seems like we're still pursuing the fast rebound transition game and I'm pretty happy about that

8 minutes ago, Dees_In_October said:

I guess Aimee's delisted and they just haven't announced it? Assuming Goldy is playing on.

Would have thought Goldy be locked in by now. She's a driving force for us off half back

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

Very disappointing, Brownie.

Training is evidently a great opportunity to engage with Club folks, for those comfortable to do so. @Ghostwriter, or one of the other track watchers: post the AGM, if there's nothing clear from it, could you ask Paul or anyone else with relevant authority, at training, what's going on with the Club and its women's program?

Thanks Timothy, I'm up in northern NSW, so it's a bit of a commute!

Really appreciate those that are closer to the action for all of their Intel and insights.

53 minutes ago, rjay said:

PJ was very strong on the AFLW side of things and I fear it's incrementally slipped with each person that's moved on.

First him, then Daisy and now Mick.

I really hope I'm wrong here.

edit: we've got a great group & they need full support.

I sent an email to Paul Guerra before the prelim against North expressing my disappointment at the lack of promotion and support for the women's team.

I pointed out that I thought the comms and social media was excellent for those following the W's social pages but that very little was being done to get the broader club behind this team throughout the finals campaign

I never received a reply.

I totally get the timeframes are too tight and we can't rush the next coach but surely the club should have been working on succession

Can't the list management team from the men's group work in and support the women's team right now?

Maybe it's all happening behind closed doors but the lack of communication of what's going on and strange delistings of some pretty good players is on the nose.

You could see from the in-house footage from the Adelaide final "things will not be the same next year" being repeated a couple of times. It was on the cards and it seems like we're adrift.

I wonder how well the players are being kept informed right now?

That worries me.

I've been a supporter all my life and getting close to 20 years continuous membership for the club.

I'm considering not renewing for next year. It feels like something is nqr.

And yes it was great to see so many of the men's team turn up for the prelim but we were evidently outnumbered about 7 to 1 supporter wise.

and yes this is a fantastic group that deserves this club's full support.

Jemma Rigoni has gone to Collingwood.

I thought she might have developed really well with us next year. Bugger

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1941198/aflw-list-update-rigoni-to-depart

11 hours ago, poita said:

Good luck to Mick. I hope he does well at Geelong, but not too well.

Hopefully he stays well away from our players as well.

Yep for sure, i wish him all the best. Unfortunately I can't see why he would stay away from our players.

Is there any news whatsoever of what we're doing about recruiting a replacement?

1 minute ago, Bsims said:

I agree with this - take away the Johnson aspect as you mentioned she likely would have been delisted anyway, and take in the GC deal which looks to be tied to this one - Zanker for 9, GC F2, Freo F2 and we move pick 17 to 14 in 2025 - GC F2 likely to be 19, 20 or 21 so sitting just outside a 2nd first rounder?

Yep, I get it too. We had quite limited leverage on Eden to pull a strong trade if she really wanted to go.

but I still have a bad feeling about list management tied with us being without a coach right now.

Anyways, we'll see what shakes out.

We've got a pretty good list and we shouldn't forget Wotherspoon as a developing mobile forward target either.

I think she'll go from strength to strength

3 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I’m currently walking down Flinders Lane with Edo and Nikita on the way to the B&F and I’m even sadder now 😕

Focus on your next mission is to sweet talk Molly into inking a long term deal. Go get her Ghosty.

Enjoy the night and all the good eggs that are sticking fat with us

1 hour ago, Random Task said:

I don't begrudge Zanker leaving. She has given us great service over many years and has stated she loves the club. Has been a joy to watch.

Plus she ran through Birch and let her know about it in the prelim. Legend.

We should have got more at the trade table for her but that's on the club.

I know we shouldn't tie it together but geez I feel like we'll miss Mick in many aspects including trades and attracting talent

12 hours ago, Spirit of '87 said:

Seems a shame to me that it’s all deteriorated over the years into now being nothing more that a “walkout”, as your heading describes it.

Back in the day, as they say, after the Reserves match ended, there was then a quiet buildup to the main event, where supporters just waited in anticipation for the Senior team, who would suddenly run out onto the field and through the banner, to a rousing roar of the crowd, which was quite stirring. That was the entire focus of the pre-start of the game, and everyone was all fired up for the game.

No blaring music, no loud, relentless announcements or other distractions going on. No multiple pre “walkout” warmup exercises on the ground by players, wearing all sorts of non-uniform training gear. Nowadays, by the time the players actually come out onto the ground again for real ahead or the game, they’re just one part of all the multiple activities and noise going on around the stadium, and no longer the main focus at that moment so, in my opinion, it has lost a lot of the old atmosphere.

Yep and you'd have time to discuss with mates who's playing well in the ressies and is due for a call up

But.... We must become USA

5 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

What news on our new coach? Somewhat urgent if we're to put ourselves in a position to be attracting interest the other way.

In the absence of a replacement for Mick, are there any rumours of interest the other way? If Eden is leaving, what about prising out one of the two Power girls who topped the goal kicking?

Yep, this could leave us looking a little rudderless with out an appointed coach.

Macca is one of my faves. Both her and Shelly are just ferocious.

It's great being able to watch a comp like this where players with tiny frames can still have a massive impact on games.

Just now, D4Life said:

Agree, feel he definitely had something to offer men’s team in any number of roles!

A good reader of the game and match day coach and as good as Paul Roos with building team culture.

I'm more gutted with this than seeing Oliver and Tracc go.

2 hours ago, rjay said:

He's been enormous for us and if he hasn't already, I hope he gets rewarded with life membership.

I hope he doesn't take the Geelong job, a better move for him would be into a mens program if he is a career coach.

I'm angy that our club didn't make the move to put him across into the men's team to work on strategy/ game plan and culture.

I appreciate he was probably ready for a change but we've lost a really good coach when we should have been enticing him with more opportunities internally.

He's been incredible and built a fantastic culture

The W players never give in. They play for each other.

I think we'll lose a few good ones now for sure.

I hope Shae gets the job

Thanks for everything Mick. A fantastic coach and leader.

I'm quite shattered by the news.

2 hours ago, DEE32 said:

An interesting thought about attendance to games is for AFL men’s there’s AFL membership of MCC membership where there would be many ‘neutral’ supporters going as there membership allows or to get worth out if it.

I wonder if there is worth in combining the Melbourne FC membership to include the W team with maybe a small increase in cost. We are one club after all.

And finally, there’s a need for education to the non-believers around the realities of the W game being a lot shorter in time and only 16 on the field. Of course there’s lower scores, of course there is a fatigue with a need to cover more ground, and for some ridiculous reason they are officiated differently.

So whilst the marking is now the same level and kicking is getting to the same level distance wise, they are inherently different games, that should not be judged with the same lense.

Totally up for a combined membership package. I think it's a great idea

2 hours ago, darkhorse72 said:

It was a great almost game. Keeping the team together is important and yes Purcell was again a massive loss for us this season, same as last year. She has not had much luck. Hopefully next year she'll get both her knees scraped everyday as some extra support as we really need her.

If fit and healthy we can compete with the best. What we are missing is that massive strong forward/mid that North have targeted. Against smaller teams lie ours they can break those tackles and go.

I just did a scratch around via ChatGPT on injuries this year.
and... it was mentioned in the broadcast that Tayla Harris missed all of 2024 with her shoulder.
We've been up against it with injuries and even having players out for a few weeks disrupts fitness to go with teams like Lions and North. Here's a rough (not perfect list from chatgpt).

We had a soft draw but I reckon we did pretty well for a very disrupted season and another reason why i should be longer I reckon. We were pulling from unlisted players pool at one point I thought.

It also doesn't mention Goldrick but she was out for a couple of weeks with a fractured eye socket I think? and had a disrupted start coming back from Ireland I thought.

Players who missed the entire season or the overwhelming majority of it. All are 2+ games.

🟧 Medium-Term Injuries (Missed Multiple Games)

These players had multi-week absences = definitely missed 2+ games.

🟨 Short-Term Injuries (Likely 1–2 Games, Not Clearly 2+ Confirmed)

These players had injuries publicly listed, but evidence only confirms 1 game out, or timing unclear.

1 hour ago, Dees_In_October said:

ALSO - Thanks to everyone who’s made the discussion here a joy to be part of this season. The track watchers especially, and everyone who has kept the contract info, injury lists, game threads, votes threads, nominations, etc., updated and ticking over.

A seconded from me as a remote Dee supporter.
Thanks for the feedback on the crowd ratio too.

I guess I really noticed even the lack of participation on the AFLW threads on Demonland that there's a huge ratio of supporters that just don't get into the MFC W games.
I think the club needs to take this seriously and also take it up with the AFL who definitely don't take it seriously.

AFLW is a huge grass roots opportunity to grow the game.
It's more affordable, accessible (well apart from the Casey problem - we need to move to a central melbourne ground), it's family friendly.
If more young boys and girls get into the game and get the chance to get closer to the players and the action in general, it will only grow the game.

But..... the AFL is a complete corporate entity beholden to their broadcast partners.
Can't help but see the parallels with politics these days.
The AFL aint interested in the punters.

Something needs to give and I think it's got to be a longer season to play everyone once at least and accessible, centrally located footy grounds to play the matches at accessible times.
1pm start times are just stupid for finals and most games. kids sports are usually not finished and it's the kids we need to get along to the games with families.
3 or 4pm start times works much better for attending and viewing surely.

4 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Except yeah, you can. These are the very folks to whom I’ve been appealing for this finals campaign.

It doesn’t matter if they’ve not seen a single H&A game,* they don’t even have to like the W, they could’ve attended the finals at Ikon purely because their club is playing, and playing as underdogs, which means their presence is needed more than ever.

Yesterday’s turnout was disheartening to say the least. Our team made a prelim and so few of our fans attended. I’m not saying that affected the result but geez it wouldn’t have hurt it.

* This season we’ve played H&A games at Whitten Oval, Ikon and Vic. Park which are all inner-city. My point in noting this is that we don’t always play at Casey.

Just wondering what people who attended yesterday thought the rough ratio of Norf vs MFC supporters was?

The club had a great opportunity this finals series to grow interest and support for this team getting people along to watch some great footy.

Thanks to those that went along

16 minutes ago, Melbournepotter said:

Agree re the third quarter. I thought we really had them on the ropes in the later stages of the third but could not apply the killer blows and score a couple of goals. That seemed to be the scoring end and we rarely ventured forward in the last, after the North Melbourne/Tasmanian roos regrouped at 3 quarter time. Great effort by the girls,they gave everything.

That match for the first 3 qtrs really reminded me of a boxing match in lots of ways.

2 of those points were goals in the 3rd and I reckon we would have had them down for the count. We had the poise and players to shut the game down.

Just couldn't land those final two punches in the third.

It's really understandable that we ran out of gas in the last.

The lions loss cost us big time.

Fitter team in 2026 and away we go

Really hope Mick stays to get us another flag

8 minutes ago, BDA said:

It’s a pity more dees fans aren’t interested in aflw. We have a great team to follow. Plenty of heart.

And I had no problems at all with the north fans today. They supported their team throughout and showed up in big numbers.

You can't blame them in some ways. They've had nothing to cheer for for years with the North mens side.

Good on them for showing up and thanks to everyone from the MFC that made it there today.

It sounded like a great atmosphere on the coverage

One team had a weeks rest and I think it showed in the last.

We ran out of run and gun.

Incredible effort by this team.

Bugger

Harris needs to come back into the ruck now

Just now, Demongirl35 said:

How many times are we going to get put in a chokehold? Not one paid… absolute joke

The second last throw in landed 2 metres outside North's goal square.

We'll, that was a fantastic effort. We just needed to convert one or two and we'd have them rattled.

I reckon North must be starting to [censored] themselves.

We just need to get a couple through.

Great lift across the ground. Oheir starting to get into it.

Taylor is having a brilliant game down back along with Gillard. How was that pack spoil by her 2 on 1.

Zanker and Hanks and Heath have lifted too.

We can do this