Pates

Bring it home girls!

I think the interesting thing about this venue choice is that they will have home support advantage but they haven’t played on a match on it either, so they will be new to its dimensions and quirks in the same way we will be. I can only hope that there will be plenty of research by the coaching staff on it to determine particular points of interest and be wings to exploit at certain times. By the way has it been established if our players will get an opportunity to train on it prior to the match?

So I’ll admit from the start I haven’t been following the AFLW as closely as I would’ve liked this season, but I was curious from those in the know that with the shorter season and not playing every team, which of the two clubs had the easier draw? The fact that we missed out on hosting the final by such a narrow margin makes it very interesting in that regard, though I do know there were some games that we should’ve been way more accurate in front of goal.

I have to admit I’m torn on this whole stadium debacle. On the one hand Brisbane fair and square won the rights to host by just pipping us at the post for percentage. On the other hand this venue seems grossly inadequate to be hosting a grand final of a professional competition (which is what they keep pushing for). I would almost have said play the game in Sydney at Giants Stadium, that way it’s not being played at an undersized venue and incomplete ground, and the Lions aren’t playing away. I get the decision not to host it in Melbourne, much as we would’ve loved it to be here.

Urgh don’t get me started on that.

Honestly given his output last season I’d be really worried if the match committee were relying on him being our main focal point up forward. I like Petty in defence but I really would like there to be a serious consideration for playing him as a permanent forward.

Even better I’d rather them lose after the siren.

Fair call, the AFL have created this debacle and it’s them that need to wear the consequences.

Apparently Cairns being considered should Brisbane win through. If the AFLW actually agree to go with it then they will rightfully labelled as a laughing stock. Crowd will be nothing, buzz will be zilch, atmosphere of a practice match.

Brisbane need to accept some responsibility on this, surely they should’ve been canvassing the grounds for the potential home grand final weeks ago when they were top of the ladder. Is it the competitions responsibility to be micromanaging the teams on their ground availability?

Look maybe it is going to be either of the two, but what I can tell you is I work on the broadcasting and I’ve been booked for the Sunday without being told anything about the Saturday. So if I was a betting man I’d be leaning towards that being the date.

Haha very true, I should have said the one thing AFL should be making paramount is fairness and integrity. But it’s one thing they CONSISTENTLY fail at.

It’s really strange, there are some rules that they seem harsher on (allowing opportunity to get rid of the ball) but then don’t punish rules the incorrect disposal enough. Something I love about women's footy though is they throw the ball up so quickly for ball ups. Keeps the game in motion as much as possible.

This one I can tell you, Sunday 27th November. I hope if we win through the powers that be decide it will be in Melbourne. If so Marvel seems the best choice for all involved, we’ve never played there so in theory the turf is neutral, and it’s the best location for fans to get to. Plus there is a strong Fitzroy following in Victoria evidenced from our finals loss.

Seems like scheduling ignorance or perhaps hope that it wouldn’t come about. I guess who’s responsibility is it to ensure this situation doesn’t come about? It’s definitely not the the GABBA or Metricon, they have every right to push forward with their own events. So surely it’s on the Lions and/or the AFL to make sure should this situation comes about. This job though them trying to make CA look like the bad guy for them wanting to hold them to their obligations of ensuring an international standard cricket ground. Does raise the stake a touch for us, win and we get a home grand final.

Ultimately just not what we’ve been doing for the last 18 months, and dare I say it a bit of variety with how we exit from behinds.

I’ll throw in something crazy just to make things totally bonkers (not actually saying this could possibly happen). How about we make 17 players on the field instead of 18, put that extra player on the bench. The reason I put this out there is the possibility of the odd number throwing out traditional positioning and match ups. The odd number could mean one less play in the middle to start (possibly opening up the game) but then the odd player can either be used as an extra forward or back depending on how teams would like to use it. There’s also been plenty if talk that there are too many players on the field so could this be an option to creating more field space?

I gotta say I’m hoping that when May is kicking in if they are both out there and in position to be there let’s get them on opposite HB pockets to reduce the predictability of our kick ins. Fair dinkum I reckon it was one of our biggest failings through the year and most importantly the finals series. Nullifying Max from taking contested marks went a very long way towards teams having repeated entries. I actually think Grundy could work as a great pick up IF USED CORRECTLY.

This is what bemuses me is why not take this opportunity to say no team gets a home game here. Port and Adelaide play each other on Thursday night to kick off the “monster magic round”, and then the rest of the round plays itself out with zero home ground advantage. Instead as you say two teams will feel hard done by with copping Port or Adelaide. Again, the single thing that the AFL fail at is fairness.

Hard to have ill feelings towards Jacko, helped us break the premiership drought when Max was having a poor game. I do have ill feelings towards Freo, they can go and bottom out for the next 20 effing years, and never see a bloody premiership. Sick of them putting time into snatching our players but not paying fair price, hope they get their worst injury run ever and finish bottom 4. We got bent over on this deal.

Totally respect the reasons and I hope it makes Goody and Co pay attention, reward effort and Casey form with real games not medi-sub selection (or not at all). Nibbler and Spargo both had very patchy form this year and deserved to be dropped for Bedford or Chandler, but GF exploits kept them in the team. Sad to see Bedford go, good luck to him.

Will always have the 2018 finals wins as fond memories. Wish him well, even if it is at Essendon.

The footy gods have cursed quite a few trades for Freo, here’s hoping it continues (though nothing against Jackson personally).

Can I just ask are there any out of contract next season players we can target to [censored] them right back?

While I wouldn’t like it I would accept Freo first round this year + next year F1st & F2nd. Then we pray that the footy gods give Freo their worst injury run in history next season.