Craig T

Will be there with bells on. Well, not bells, but Dee paraphernalia. 😈 And I hope the Geelong "designated fan bays" are not where I usually sit......will not be happy.......... 😠

If we are over our reported health issues from last week we should win and reasonably comfortably. However the pessimist in me can't but help worry that a full recovery in a week is questionable for everyone with this particular illness. @WalkingCivilWar's reassurances about how they appeared at training is heartening, but the pressure and intensity of a final will really test their fitness.

Is there something we don't know?

I think your “handball-chain-happy” comment is a very insightful one. Last year we were, statistically, the best defensive team in the history of the comp. This year we are, statistically, the best offensive team in the history of the comp. That doesn’t happen by accident. I think we have become way too obsessed with the pretty, flashy looking ball movement that, to be honest, even on a really good day if all goes well, comes off leading to a goal about two or three times. Last year we were as tough as nails and swung into the flashy stuff when it was suitable. Now we try to artificially manufacture it all the time, even when it’s clearly just not on. And teams are of course ready for it, and the good ones are making us pay. Also, we nearly always start slowly and find ourselves under the pump. Again, it’s us not playing hard, percentage football when the heat is on at the start of the game, but trying to dazzle with flair. And how often when we do start to move the ball forward by hand do we have to stop, run in circles, and go sideways because all our forwards have come too far up the ground and there’s no one to kick to? Yesterday at the ground I said early in the game to my friend that the Kangas were going with a quick kick from the clearances strategy, just get the ball forward by foot. If that is the team plan, and everyone is ready for it, then it's a good, basic plan. You'll be in front and take marks from the inevitable short kicks. Melbourne did not adapt to deal with this. Conversely, when we tried to occasionally break from the handball game and hack it forward (usually as the handball chain wasn't working) it was so unexpected that no one was ready. The ball was coming into the forward line with no consistency, and the forwards didn't seem to be helping by failing to lead which meant "passes" were basically either going nowhere near them or landing on their heads, giving the north defenders an easy task to fist it away. I'm looking for positives, and for those who are too here is one. The last time were in this position was in 2021, after losing to the Dogs when we outplayed them but kicked 2.12 and lost, and then followed that up with a performance against Collingwood that was appalling, showing all the signs of a team that was still suffering from the hangover of kicking 2.12 the previous week. The next week Mick made a few changes (Daisy forward, Zanker onto the ball, etc.), and we got things going again against St. Kilda. But here's the good bit. Our next three matches were against probably the then three best teams in the comp - Adelaide, Freo in Perth, and Brisbane. And we beat all three. It was done with absolute grit and commitment mixed with belief in team mates. We can do it again.

Bannan is just plain hot and cold. She kicked three in the prelim against Brisbane in '22 season 1 and was instrumental in sparking us against the Crows in the qualifying final in '22 season 2. She can perform against the good teams, but she either plays a blinder or hardly touches it. I was hoping that by this season she might start to show more consistency, but maybe that's just the type of player she is going to be. 🤷‍♂️

Just got back from the game and obviously pretty disappointed but not overly surprised. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be close, either after six consecutive wins for us the law of averages would go their way and they'd win and win big, or we might get a break early and they'd start doubting themselves against one of the big three and drop their bundle. My fear is that with our easy start to the season we got into some bad habits. Too much Harlem Globetrotter football, flipping it around too much and it not really mattering when we did so. So we got out of the habit of playing direct, efficient football and that's now killing us against the better teams. We can obviously match the physical stuff, we did it so well last year, we were as hard as anyone. But, as I said, we've gotten into the habit of beating weaker teams with our big skill advantage and not being direct and efficient. Geelong are, in my opinion, comfortably the best of the rest. If we play the way we did today there is a real chance we will get done. But if we get back to how we can and should be playing, we can still win the flag. I'd like a rematch against both the Lions and Kangas (or the Crows for that matter), and if we are on our game I would really fancy our chances. I just worry we may not be able to fix our problems fast enough.

Fair enough, but then how does Sabrina Frederick get away with her loosely tied back dreadlocks?

Hmmm. So what is that hairstyle that Anne Hatchard is permitted to play with? 😕

What was that story about her having to change her lucky hairstyle? Something about the tight cornrows (or something like that) being considered dangerous? Apologies if I've got it all wrong, I don't know a lot about hairstyles! 😟

I would assume Paxy, Gay and Mackin A are definite to get back in if fit. We've lost Rhi and Casey, and Gall is out, so that's a straight forward three for three from last week. However I'd like Campbell back so Tayla can spend more time rampaging across half forward, and with North's tall forwards Wilson might be needed. So two more need to go to make room. Ivey and......? From the selected extended list of 24 that would mean, Ivey, Johnson and one more to go. It's a hard call.

Just got back from training. Excellent news - Paxy took part in full training and seemed fine. 🤩 Hopefully she'll stay that way! Maddie Gay and Aimee Mackin started apart from the main group, then joined them for basic ball movement stuff, and then separated again during the final match simulation. They were both moving well with no apparent restrictions, especially Maddie. I had a brief chat with Aimee at the end and though she was a little non-committal about being right for Sunday did say she was tracking well and seemed positive. Rhi Watt was there but obviously took no part. Gaby Colvin showed up late (either doing some work indoors, overslept or didn't get the email about the earlier session 🤣), did a few run throughs and then headed back inside, so I don't think she's much chance for this week. Casey Sherriff was wearing the extra large wrist brace, so she's still obviously still having problems and her involvement was limited.

I doubt it will be a sellout (sadly, but then it is the only game in Melbourne so maybe), but I guess give Ticketmaster a go.

Well we know that at least Ben Brown will be there. 😁

I wish I could be so optimistic. You have my admiration. 😁

Yep, have to say I'll really be pleased if we win on Sunday. Who plays will be important but I think fate might be against us.

I don't want to be too negative, but I'm worried for next week. Potentially Lampard, Gay, Paxy, Colvin, A Mackin, Chaplin, Goldy and Hanks (absolutely should be no concern but the tribunal has been so inconsistent on tackles that anything could happen) may all be unavailable. I'm also concerned that we've beaten the Kangas six times in a row, and it doesn't matter if you're the better team in the end the law of averages will get you. Beating a team nine times out of ten still means there's that tenth time. We really missed a chance last night to set ourselves up. Imagine If we'd had Gold Coast next week for a week off and straight through to the Prelim? Brisbane had the three big motivations - the GF loss, playing for a top four spot and to atone for their poor effort last week - but we should have been ready for that. We yet again were jumped, ironically the only game where we've come out hard was against Adelaide. Nearly always slow starters, it's as if we want to let the oppo play their best so we can then put in place our counter measures and then take control. Coming out with steam coming out our ears might not be a bad idea now and then. And as has been said the team selection was weird. With Paxy a late withdrawal we go with Gall over Campbell? With the three emergencies all being talls we didn't have a like for like, but we went for the least experienced option in a game of such importance?

And Sarah Lampard hopefully before the season is out. Not to mention Gaby Colvin and Aimee Mackin both of whom could be right to go this week, too.

It says something about this team that I'm prepared to make such a journey for each Casey game. I couldn't imagine a sporting team more deserving of fan support. The banner episode last week is a typical example of how you just have to love them. 🙂

Have to agree with the criticisms of Casey. I attend all my AFLW matches via public transport and Casey is a nightmare. I'm currently, temporarily, living in the northern suburbs and it's around three hours each way. Even from my regular abode in the inner city it's still usually over two hours each way. The wind nearly always has an adverse impact on the quality and spectacle of the match and I'd argue it has produced our three poorest performances this season, the loss to Adelaide and two scrappy wins over the Dogs and Dockers. If the club wants to grow the support for the women's team and the AFLW in general they need to play their matches where the majority of the supporters have more ready access, and the best of the game can be showcased.

Absolutely. Much prefer Suns/Bombers over Lions.

Still a chance Collingwood could finish fourth (win their last two and the Suns beat Essendon, or Essendon win but the Pies overtake them on percentage).

And I also had those very same thoughts about Ellie watching the dogs get thrashed by Sydney on the weekend. She busts her gut every week and I get the feeling the club is no longer really invested in their women's program. The team looks like they've checked out for the year. But she has shown loyalty in the face of big offers in the past, and she has won a premiership there, so she may stick. But I wouldn't blame her for looking elsewhere. As I said to a friend this weekend, we'd take her at the Dees. 😁

Paul Callery! Now that takes me back! I wonder who in this team reminds me of Ray Biffen? 🤣

I don't like the sound of this tendon issue.........

Yes, not a bad idea. You may well be right about Garner, she might almost be "untaggable", or at least very difficult to have a significant impact upon. I know it's hard to believe but Riddell is probably smaller than Heath. I couldn't believe just how tiny she was when I first saw her in the crowd at a VFLW game a few years ago.......I almost trod on her. 🤣