kev martin

Ouch, Hope you heal quickly.

Is that stuff in the minority? Women are so angry, they still have to fight hard to get expression in the world. We need intelligent and skilled women, being able to find their potential. Changes to the culture, institutions and avenues are happening. The women can do this, and have to be supported by as many as possible. They are breaking through, let's help them flourish, or at least get out of their way. Let's have more women stories and legends to inspire us. Go Daisy and the group of original demons, a GF cup (within reach) and a legacy for our young ones.

The same (I named Gillard as one of our best), but I think Lions are a better forward line. I don’t want Birch on Wardlaw (Lions tall forward). Thought North did well to get a mismatch, with Birch often taking the taller one. They also need to help each other when out pointed, with someone cutting infront.

Harris has been great at stoppages, invaluable in the marking contest, hits opponents hard, and plays without any fuss. I thought the Lions were strong up forward. I think it will be our back-line that wins it, unless the mids can dry up the Lions supply. I want to see more from Birch, Gillard and Gay. Usually they intercept, set the tempo and create great run off the back-line. Today they looked flustered, and had to deal with a heap of pressure.

Ball didn’t quite bounce our way for 3 quarters. North cut down our handball game Thanks to the defenders in the 3rd, especially Chaplin. We couldn't find a way out of our back-line, and kicks into the forwards, we couldn't hit them up. The gusty conditions didn't help. Loved the number of smothers we did. Using Hore behind the ball helped, as well as having her capacity to move forward. Role players of Mithin and Heath, as well as Hanks, Paxman who were in everything all day, and Daisy, Zanker, Mackin, Gillard, Birch, Sherrif, did well. Not our best game but did it when we needed. Bring the milk crates, big week as the GF beckons. Go Dees

AFL treating the womens game as second rate, allowing Richmond then Brisbane to dictate the stadium. Setting the women up to fail by not giving them the best opportunity to excel and entertain, and the effect may be to set back the league, and to slow down the majority to become full-time players (conspiracy, though probably unintended), popularity is important, How does having to turn spectators away or not getting them to the turnstiles help? Could ask the sponsor what they want? The fans want a spectacle, for the Finals. How can the AFL continue to give home ground advantage to a few teams at the expense of entertainment, and call that good for womens footy. The turf at Springfield was laid 1 month ago, it must be dangerous to play on (Gosch's required 12-16 weeks). There are going to be cracks between the slabs just made for the odd boot, and no way it has any roots that will hold the pieces from moving. My guess is the opposition will inspect and say we are not playing on that. They are setting themselves up for trouble. If we play the GF, I can see Bannan hitting a soft spot as she bounces, or Hanks, Purcell, Paxman, Zanker losing their feet when turning tight, the ground giving way as the tall's hold their opposition from the drop zone, and half the team rolling the ankle to some extent. We do have the mantra anywhere, anytime, anyone, does North? 600 seats At least 8000 can enter.

Disappointing game, Adelaide were never in it, early umpiring decision or non decision hurt them. They also fumbled everything, whereas Brisbane were clean and direct. The Lions forwards were good, we (if we win tomorrow) will have to be careful of Wardlaw, Davidson and Hodder. Conway runs all day and has a good footy brain. Hoping Springfield reminds us of Casey (if we get over North). Sunday game.

Great for Tasmanian, apparently a stadium with a roof. Hope they get the necessary support from the AFL et al. I assume a team and the stadium will not be ready until 2025, even 2026. Will they get a magic round?

I would have thought they had a vested interest in promoting the AFLW game. Seems getting a small advantage (home), no crowds, minimal atmosphere and no corporates is the priority. Hope Adelaide do them.

Into a full sim. Finally they took a knee and Stinear talked to them for quite some time. Go Dees

After some sprints they split into 3 squads and their simulations were played in a 35 meter by 80 meter field. Congestion and very challenging game. Sherrif has een running some laps. Hopefully like Heath on Tuesday who has now joined the full squad. Duffy walking the boundary. Watt is with the rehabbing team now. The main squad has split into their lines. Paxman with the forwards. Mackin with the mids. Lampard and Heath with the backs.

Marty (volunteer for MFC), tells me AFLW training will be on from 6.45 pm at Gosch's. He also mentioned that the men will begin training, mainly at Gosch's from the 28 or 29th of this month. Into their warm-up, which finished with a bit of, grab the sash from a player through a small group, of british bulldog type. Into three groups. Line kicking, stoppages/smoothers/handball and takling, and a hanball game 4 on 4, with rotations to each station. Colvin and Mcnamara working together, kicking and small run throughs. Sherrif working wth a coach doing precision passes. Duffy handling the balls with a coach. Beautiful evening.

That will be a showcase for the women's game.(sarcasm) The tv broadcast will look like a country game. The crowds will be discouraged to attend, if that is where a GF ends up, wow (no glamour in it). May even, negatively effect attendees and interest to, AFLW next season. The women will have a difficult product to perform in and sell, if they can't get a premier stadium. At this stage in AFLW development they need the crowds, atmosphere and an exciting build up.

Which ground are the AFL putting forward? The article has a pay/fire wall on it.

The impression I got from tonight's training was how supportive they are of each other, their competitive nature, with a strong will to win, even the little stuff. I liked how Libby Birch and Tayla Harris compete and then discuss skills with each other. Karen Paxman, with her warrior bandage works hard and trains with enthusiasm and ego. Daisy does so much talking and giving to others. Hanks, Purcell and Mithen run very hard, always backing up and finding their way to the next contest. Bannan does well below her kness and creates turnovers with pressure, always hunting the ball. Zanker works hard up and down the field, making space and causing her defender to struggle as she leads back into the goal kicking area. Goldy and Mackin have a very professional approach, intention to get better. After most had left the field, they drilled Fitzsimons roving from the ruck of Lauren at stoppage to snap goals. I also noticed Brown working one on one with a coach. She has a beautiful kick, and hands (taking a mark).

Training finished with some goal kicking. Two squads in competition, Happiness the overriding emotion. Go Dees.

Shelley Heath was not with the main squad. Hoping she is fine. Was moving well when doing some one on one with Stinear.

Yes, beautiful, like a carpet.

They finished up with a chat and some social games, like paper/scissors/rock, in the centre of Gosch's Boisterous, happy and in it together. Oops not quite finished, they go into their lines (forward, back, mids) and do more drills. Perhaps not exact with lines as they are a bit mixed.

Into two squads again. This time playing more back-line transition through the centre to a forwad. While the other one drills starting on the wing. Roffey and a few administrators also in attendance.

They are now playing a half field game, one team is the coaches and assistance in the bibs. Seems mainly about finding a connection with the forwards.

Duffy only helping, Colvin one on one kicking, and Fitzsimons rehabbing. Fitz has now joined the squad. Perhaps just a test. Finished the warm ups with a competitive relay. They want to win! They split in half. One half play a two team frisbee game and the others kicking drills, then they swap.

Squad is out, first on is Daisy. Lots of noise then the whistle brings them to the line. Last in is Katy Hore.

Down at Gosch's, training cart has turned up. Heath having some one on one kicking with Stinear. Windy, cold, minimal rain.

AFLW administrators are really showing how disorganised they can be. Not giving the women much time to reorganise their time and work commitments in order to play this seasons AFLW. Not giving a heads up to Casey àbout having an early starting fixture, so the change rooms would be available for the finals. Not being able to find an oval for Brisbane to play a home grandfinal. Allowing Richmond to dictate where they play their final and not use an oval that can accommodate a larger crowd. Do the women know when the next season starts and finishes?