Craig T

Great if we can get both Gillard and Goldy back this week. And D. Taylor next week if she comes through the scrimmage match. Wonder who will be making space?

I think some people may not be aware that there is no added time on for the first 15 minutes of a quarter in the AFLW, except for after goals or if there is a major hold up, such as play being stopped if someone is injured. Regular time on, such as the umpires automatically blowing the whistle to stop the clock for an out of bounds or ball up, only happens in the last two minutes. The ball rolling about on the bowling green occurred in that 15 minute period so the umps didn't immediately blow the whistle. Having said that, the point at which it should have been obvious to the umps that we had a protracted delay and time on needed to be called was reached way before they actually did so. I haven't watched it back but I guess they should have pulled the trigger at least ten to fifteen seconds earlier, possibly more. Certainly enough time for us to have another attack on goal, given where the ball was. Certainly I'd realized what was happening and was shouting "Blow time on you (expletive)! at the screen. 👿

Put Gillard, Lampard and Goldrick in that back line today no way we lose, despite our atrocious goal kicking and over use of handball. I knew our patchwork, inexperienced back line would get caught out eventually. They've done a great job to date so plaudits for that. Agree with the earlier comment about seeking perfection, it's the biggest criticism I'd have of Stinear's coaching over the ten seasons. Looks amazing when it comes off but it's low percentage. Trust our quality forwards to win one out contests most of the time, and get the ball down to them quickly.

According to her bio on the club website her DOB is 01/09/03. Would make her 24 at end of contract. I'm sure she is loving being aged up! 🤣

But that would have veered dangerously close to promoting the women's game. We can't have that. 🙄

That's starting to look a lot better. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed! 🤞

Yes! I've always noticed she does that and wondered why, and the only reason I could think of was that it would make it harder to grab hold of her jumper. But I thought if that was the case why weren't more players doing the same? So one mystery resolved, but another one raised...... 🤣

Well at the game I initially thought we were getting a gift goal when the umps started running the ball back to the goal square, I thought a Tiger had done something silly and given away a free off the ball. Then I thought maybe they'd infringed the 5-6-5 rule for the second time, but then remembered that'd just be a free to us in the centre, not in front of goal. Magic chips in the ball and the ensuing confusion was a new experience! One that was not entirely resolved by watching the reply the next day! 🤔

Just watched the replay. Couldn't agree more. They're making a complete pig's breakfast of the changes to the tackling rule. They weren't too bad the first couple of weeks, a few teething problems but that's fair enough. The last two weeks have been horrendous.

How is Maeve? Bit worried about her elbow, I think, from late in the match.

Seems about right. Does anyone know how many we got for the St Kilda ball drop extravaganza? Definitely seemed a bigger crowd than average, but the match report still says TBC.

Finally got to watch the reply back last night after being at the game. I'm all for taking the time to get the decision right, but Fitzy's disallowed goal incident was a bit of a shambles! At the game I'd assumed they were looking at video footage, rolling it back forth like in the men's, possibly checking different angles, etc., and that can take some time. But last night I discovered they were using the ball chip technology which, you'd assume, should be quick and decisive. Even after the delay in the centre and the ball being returned to the goal square everyone stood around for a minute waiting for god knows what. Then the first graphic came up, indicating it was a goal. More wait, then it indicated a behind and we finally got on with the game. Anyone have any insight into what was happening?

Pretty typical Casey day - windy, about a standard sized crowd, and a Dees win. 😁

I'm a bit worried about Lampy, apparently over a week after injuring her calf they are still focusing on pain management. It's been reported it is a complex injury and they are seeking further guidance. So a simple calf tear it doesn't seem to be. 😥

Don't get me started on Casey. I head out to most of our games out there, always by public transport. 👿 One other venue possibly worth considering is Olympic Park Oval. As of now it has effectively zero seating or cover, but in the shadows of the 'G and right beside Gosch's Paddock it's a great location. The Pies usually only play a game or two there each season so finding spots in the fixture wouldn't be an issue. Just need the will to invest in some facilities - we apparently can do it for Caulfield. 🤔

By which stage, hopefully, we'll have everyone, bar Liv Purcell sadly, fit and firing!

And now Goldy's gone down. Labral tear in her shoulder. As I understand it the time frame for return would usually be in months. 😭

Sadly nothing I didn't already suspect. Several player movements/non movements involving some of the expansion clubs seemed very fishy.

Mackin's MCL was originally declared a grade 3 tear, which is at the bad end of the spectrum. It's now been re designated as a grade 2, but strangely still 10-12 weeks. Yesterday Josh Keily, the high performance manager, said she'd be seeing a specialist today and the timelines would be dependent on the consultation. Hopefully she'll be back well under the current official estimate. Same for Lampard - if it's not too bad four weeks should cover it.

AFLW has wings, but only five forwards and defenders.

Updates on the weekend's injuries: Liv Purcell - ACL as we knew. Blaithin Mackin - grade 3 MCL, so I'm guessing 6-8 weeks. Sarah Lampard - calf strain 4-8 weeks. We just can't take a trick. 😥 https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1876095/injury-update-purcell

A little worried about Chaplin. Noticed she pulled up right at the very end of the game and was hobbling and looking concerned after the siren. Hopefully nothing, perhaps just a touch of cramp. 🤞 Also do we have any news on how bad Lampard's calf is? As for Liv, I recall early in our premiership season Banno went down as if shot in the same half of the ground with a knee injury and was carted off, and I'd resigned myself to not seeing her out there for a year. She played the next week. There is always hope!

I just can't wait till tomorrow. That, but 3x as many golf balls. It will be the undoubted highlight of this 10th season of the AFLW. 🙄

Yeah, there is some definite confusion. But this is from https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1851810/aflw-round-2-details "Inspired by Mansfield Football Club’s annual Easter ball drop event, a helicopter will fly over Casey Fields immediately after the final siren, dropping thousands of numbered balls on to the ground." So obviously the players will be wearing helmets and other protective gear for at least the last quarter. 🫣

I think after the game is all we've been told. So allowing for the post game shenanigans - players shaking hands, winning team singing the song, autographs and selfies with fans along the boundary, etc. - could be 15-20 mins after the match finishes. Unless they hurry the players off the field post haste. We don't want half our team missing next week due to gold ball injuries. 😮