binman

Ms Binners jnr loved it. I went with a mate who has a young son who is dead keen on footy, but i think i'm right in saying that was the first AFLW game they had both seen. Both loved it. And i loved it - such an enjoyable vibe and atmosphere and like i said about the two finals there last year felt like a throw back in terms of going to the footy. To be clear though, i really loved the footy played, not just the 'vibe'. Ms binners take was the atmosphere was terrific, and much nicer vibe than at the men's footy. She said she loves that women fans are right into it and cheer and carry on, but it all feels so much less aggro than when blokes, including me, are yelling and screaming. The AFL is really in danger of killing the golden goose. So short sighted to see it as the AFL subsiding AFLW. In reality, over the journey, it will be AFLW that, perhaps not subsidize the AFL but protects it's future. Lets face it, Aussie rules is an indigenous game in what is really a very small market. The only way it survives over the next 50 years is continuing to grow its audience. A unique element of AFL is how many women watch it compared to say soccer in Europe. Participation not only grows the pool of elite players it also grows the audience. Every young women who plays any footy, no matter what level they get to, are going to be AFL fans for life. It has ever been thus - play footy as kid, dream of playing on the MCG in Spring, give up on those dreams and watch footy for the rest of your life. Princess park is just the perfect place for AFLW. The stand and surrounding parkland protect from the wind, the surface is like a golf fairway and the ground is a touch smaller than most. Everyone is raving about how skillful we were in the 3rd quarter. That doesn't happen in the howling wind down at Casey It's a total no brainer - invest in the infrastructure there, make it AFLW HQ and have a game there every single Friday night of the AFLW season. Make it an event vibe like last night, with a real focus on stuff for kids to do - so great to see so many kids just having a ball. Every fan knows there is game there on a Friday night, so just rock up ad know they'll see some good footy. Public transport is brilliant. The shorter quarters mean it is not such a late night for families and the vibe is really family friendly. All the Vic clubs would look forward to their turn for the Friday night special and turn up. Telecast it live on 7. Every Friday night. Make it part of the fabric of a Melbourne weekend at this time of year.

Murphy is super important to their system i reckon. The Pies have a similar advantage as us over the rest of the comp. Most teams have only one elite intercept defender - but we have two in May and Lever, and Petty too when he was down back. I'm sure a big factor in Disco getting selected (and i think he'll hold his spot) is he is also an excellent interceptor. Which means that teams can't focus on shutting down the one elite intercepting defender the way they can with say Andrews at the Lions or Allir at Port. The Pies have three elite intercepting defenders - Moore, Murphy and Quaynor. Intercept in the back half is critical to our game plan, but i'd argue event more important for the Pies as their whole game plan is based on fast transition from the back half, and that method is reliant on intercepts. Moore is coming back from a hammy, so at the very least he would have been off legs for a bit so his running power might be off. If Quaynor plays on Koz, as he has done the last couple of times we've played them, Koz might play out of the square as he did last week, which negates the impact of any intercepts by Quaynor (becuase they are not up on the half back flank). Which means Murphy becomes even more important to them. Fingers crossed he is a non starter.

Tell the pies tragic that that may be the story the pies are leaking out to the nuffies. But the real reason they picked the Thursday night (which i think is true actually) is they know they are going to get beaten and are desperate to get as much time as possible between the loss and the semi final against the blues - which will surely be Friday week.

I saw Campbell is our first father daughter selection. Do you know who the father is?

I'm going with my daughter. The first time we have gone to a footy match together for over 10 years. She hasn't been to an AFLW game and has no interest in the AFL. Interestingly though she really got into the Women's work cup and went to the fans sites multiple times. Is going to join Melb city women's team as a member such is her new found enthusiasm for soccer. I say interestingly because when i asked if she wanted to come with me to watch the dees AFLW game tomorrow night i was really surprised when she said yes, and is really keen. I couldn't get her to a game, men's or women's, last season and i have no doubt the experience of being at AAMI park to watch the Matildas is why she is keen to go to a footy match.

I don't think he has less intensity, but I take your point - Josh is not naturally super competitive but he still works really hard But despite us being desperate for a forward option Josh has only been able to play two senior games tgis season. I suspect resigning him is about ensuring we can replicate the one's structure at Casey.

I agree he is super talented. He is a natural forward who as you suggest is a good second ruck option. And that is exactly the sort of player we need. But i reckon his lack of intensity rules him out from any team goody coaches. No coincidence he's keen to leave the Suns. I suspect he left the Tigers because Hardwick is like Goody in that he values intensity and attack on the ball over all else. And who is coaching the Suns next year? Hardwick.

That's a great call. Assuming Quaynor goes to Koz, in addition to perhaps challenging him defensively, playing Koz out of the square also negates the offensive impact of Qualynor, who loves to intercept and bounce of half back (which is even more crucial with no Nick Daicos) and means Koz is always close to goal and a chance of scoring. I suspect Goody actually wants koz to fly for pack marks rather than stay down. He has been doing it all season and would have stopped doing so if Goody told him to. Playing out of the square means Koz can continue to fly for pack marks and crunch the oppo defenders. Might even take a speccy for the ages too at some point!

I'm 4 for 4 if it's 1964!.

Yes, but only because they were fighting for a spot in the team. When nibbler missed his only game, Bedford took his role. Bedford is 100% playing the high half forward role that nibbler and spargo (and now laurie) play In soccer vernacular, box to box gut running at speed all game. I have heard several gws players, mutiple media people (eg Daniel hoyne and gerard healy) explicity say that bedford was specifically recruited to play the high half forward role and that that is the role he has played all season - to a very high standard I might add.

Yep. The first half of last year's round 22 clash is well worth a watch too.

George, Andy be like:

Behind Nibbler and Spargo for the high half forward role (as opposed to the speed forward role played by Koz and Chin) - which is exactly the role he is playing at GWS. We were dead keen to keep him, and if he stayed he would be playing now instead of Laurie.

That leaves a lot of familial options. Sister, cousin, grandma? Grandma Laurie would make for a cool posting name!

Me too. No email. I even checked to make sure my email was right. Funnily enough I got my ticket via the link in the text I received at 9:58, not my pc browser which I had been waiting on since 9:30

Do tell chook.

I want to every dees forward in two moon boots as a precautionary prophylactic.

Three minutes into the last quarter.....

I'm M55 too. Wanted Cat 1, level two but all gone by the time i got in. Had to make do with Cat 2 seats, ground level. But fortunately 19 rows back from the fence, so pretty good elevation. And got seats 1,2,3 which i love because they are at the end of the row Go redlegs

I can't find the breakfast bar in this lounge. Cheapskates

No

I agree, smithy might get the 'diffuser' role melky has been playing and reference (ie not a pure defensive forward) the oppoos best intercepting defender (Moore or Murphy in the QF). I reckon its actually a perfect role for Smithy because, one, we now need someone to play it, two he has the attributes and discipline and three he can still create, zone off, go third man up, fly for his marks etc etc and make his defender super accountable. In some ways he'll be a better option than melk. Melk has been brilliant, but although gets up the ground is a touch slow and that can be exposed defensively. Smith gets up and down the ground to help out on all team defence better than Melk, so we may not need another high half forward player in the starting 22 (meaning Laurie or Spargs can be the sub and come in and do that high half forward gut running as required). And it mitigates the risk of bringing in tmac, should we be considering it, in terms of tmacs lack of pace.

The most bullish I can ever recall you being dazzler. Agree with your sentiments. I'd add we are clearly running out games the best of the contenders. I reckon GWS are the only team close in terms of fitness and running power late in quarters and games.

Max gawn not in the squad? And Jackson is?