Craig T

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. 🤣

I remember during the first 2022 season there was a time, due to COVID concerns, the players were instructed not to come into physical contact with the fans by the fence at the end of games, not to cross the boundary line and just to interact with the fans at that distance. At one game some fans were calling to Tayla to come over and sign some stuff, but she explained she wasn't allowed to, and glancing at the security guard beside her added, "Imagine if I crossed the line and I was tackled to the ground by the security, how would that be!" 🤣 Meanwhile Shelley Heath ran up to the line, looked down, lined her toes up on it with great care and then stood to attention like a 12 year old at school assembly. 🤣 As I've said many times to others, I find it hard to praise Heath enough. She's fantastic. One of my very favourites in a team of favourites.

Garner is probably the toughest shut down job in the AFLW. Big bodied mid with the ability to get a lot of the ball and use it about as well as anyone. Very hard to stop. Curbing her influence to some degree should be one of our priorities, and Heath probably deserves first crack, but I suspect Stinear might not go that way. He often seems to like to back our midfield against the opposition's, I think banking that our greater depth of mids will eventually overwhelm theirs, even if they have a couple that are more dominant (Marinoff and Hatchard at the Crows, for example). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Garner and Ash Riddell get a LOT of the ball, more than any of our mids, but hopefully weight of numbers - Hanks, Purcell, West, Paxy, Mithen, MacNamara, Hore, Mackin B. - will win out in the end. Then again Stinear might go with one of his other tactics - let the match unfold and then move Shelley Heath onto who ever is doing the most damage at quarter or half time. She usually gets the job done. 🙂

Might be some tough calls at selection this week. Assuming they are fit, Paxy, Harris, Pearce and Gay would be most likely to come back into the side, and possibly Colvin as well to help counter North's tall forwards. Who do you drop? If Pearce is back then at least one of Campbell or Watt goes, and maybe Wilson and/or Chaplin make way for Gay/Colvin, but they all did what was expected of them this week and would be unlucky to miss. And that's not even considering how to fit Harris and Paxy in. It's a good problem to have, but we still need to get the selections right against the Kangas. No good having the depth if you pick the wrong players!

As I feared the loss of Paxy was crucial. Against Adelaide she is vital, as we need her to fill her role to enable our greater midfield depth to overwhelm their two stars. We also committed the cardinal sin, for most of the game, of allowing Marinoff to run around unchecked. Let her and Hatchard get 60 touches between them as they did today and you lose. Last year in our two victories over the Crows Marinoff had a total of 26 touches. As @poita said, coaching wasn't great today. Great game from Eden. Last season she was equal third in the competition goal kickers with little recognition, with that form continuing in 2023. She's now leading all comers this year......maybe people will start to take notice. 🙂 As for the umps, my neutral, Carlton supporting friend was as aghast as I was. So it wasn't just our Demon bias.

It would be news to me, but if they say so maybe give it a try. As long as they aren't charging more than the general admission $10.

There is only the one small grandstand and it's basically reserved for officials, player's families, etc., even us long term die-hard members who attend very game at that god forsaken place don't get in. 😆

Mmmmm, worried now that Paxy's out....... 😟

As I understand it history has tended to show, at least with the men, that a single five day break is not usually a problem, but consecutive six day breaks can be. Hopefully, though, all will be well.......

Losing Tayla is bad news, hopefully it will be just the one week, we definitely want her back for the next game against Adelaide. One concern I have for the Geelong game is that it is our third short week (six day break) in a row. The men often say two short weeks is a problem. It's not a question of fitness and running out of steam, but compounded short recovery time takes the edge off - you aren't as sharp, reflexes a bit slower, etc.

She was fine at training on Tuesday till right at the end when she lay on the ground and one of the trainers started working on her leg, giving it a bit of a stretch and test. Hopefully it's not too bad...... 🤞

Not too much to report. Maddie Gay spent the first half of the session away from the main group, doing run throughs and other work with Sammie Johnson. However later in the session she joined in with the main group in match simulation, so hopefully she'll pull up Ok and be available for selection.

Actually we did play Geelong in a "match simulation", i.e. a practice practice match, a few years ago. See attached photographic proof. 😁 Funnily enough, the photo is of Jackie Parry - now with the Cats.

Yes, got the same email. After I contacted the club yesterday and was told the same thing. 😆

Just wondering if anyone knows when the team trains these days. I've often headed down to Gosch's Paddock on Tues/Thurs ~6-8pm in the past to catch them, but my understanding is that nowadays they have started training earlier in the day. I'm on holiday this week so thought I might try to get down......... 🙂

Seems all in the past now, fortunately. After collecting my drink bottle as my "fulfilment item" from the members tent today a nice young man came up to me and asked if, as an AFLW member, I would like a deck chair. I thanked him but said as a creature of habit I'd go and stand in my usual position. 😁

And speaking of records, Kate Hore is now the outright leading goal kicker in the history of the comp with 61. Her two goals against the Dogs put her two clear of.......Tayla Harris. 😁

And we haven't conceded a single last quarter goal in any of those twelve matches.......

Yes, great news. Though I do notice the one absentee - Maggie Caris. I can only assume she might be looking elsewhere in order to get some game time. She's a very good young ruck with huge potential and would probably be starting in pretty much every other team. I do hope we can still hang on to her, Loz Pearce won't go on forever!

Got myself one of these a few weeks ago. Excellent product, and very fast shipping. 🙂

Yes, there was more merch available immediately after GF - a mug, pennant, premiership t-shirt, cap and stubby holder. And don't worry about Tahlia being lumbered with all the signing duties - mine was signed by Goldie. 🙂