FarNorthernD

Happily for us Adelaide’s Chelsea Randall is apparently very unlikely to come up for Friday’s match. She is both an inspirational captain and arguably their best player.

So does anyone want to offer an opinion on the Tigers? It’s easy to see them getting walked over by Brisbane next week but they have beaten them this year (we haven’t) and they also forced North to a draw who had everything to play for. Tigers also apparently have some handy players to come in.

I will go to Brisbane if we make the GF (it’s difficult to see Brisbane not winning through). Anyone other Demonlanders thinking of going?

Didn’t hurt the Geelong AFL side this year!!

Personally I’m going to blame Collingwood and their putridly poor effort last night for us missing out on top spot. They were shothouse.

Yep it’s a rout

I don’t think that is quite the case Poita. The pies have quite a strong back half. If they can keep the Lions to 35 points while scoring 27 points themselves the Lions will end up with a percentage of exactly 250% If we then can keep the Eagles to 9 points (which is what we have done the last 3 weeks) and score 41 ourselves we end up with a percentage of 250.5 In the above scenario if we score 1 point less both teams end up exactly on 250%. No idea what happens here but maybe the Lions get top spot because they beat us during the year??

We have a strong side in and are part of that small group of sides who will win the flag. I also know we are a 95% chance of winning tomorrow against the expansion side in Essendon. I do seem to worry about that 5% though

I doubt she will get dropped Werridee. She has kicked a goal a game so far and will only get better. She isn't perhaps as fit as she’d like but is just as likely to have a purple patch and kick 3 in a final.

Very good summary DIO but I don’t think Daisy was going anywhere but to Melbourne. Before the very first AFLW draft I remember her and Gill McLachlan being interviewed and, this won’t be anywhere near verbatim, but Daisy said ‘I’m going to play for Melbourne’ and Gill said ‘nothing is for sure’ to which Daisy replied ‘well I won’t be playing for anyone else’ and then there was a bit of awkwardness. It was brilliant

Watching the 2nd qtr of the Brisbane V Adelaide game and AFLW has officially reached a new standard. Fast, clean skills and some great overhead marking.

Agree Werridee, we are weaker but I am looking forward to seeing if Caris can step up. At only 19 and 190cm she is one of the new breed of AFLW footballers. It would be great to see her progress and eventually take over when L Pearce hangs up the boots.

Coaches votes from the game. All three Melbourne mids scored points with West judged BOG. Sarah Lampard got a couple of votes too as she did a couple of weeks ago. She could be underrated on here or by me at least. Melbourne v Western Bulldogs 8 Eliza West (MELB) 6 Kate Hore (MELB) 5 Olivia Purcell (MELB) 4 Tayla Harris (MELB) 3 Tyla Hanks (MELB) 2 Sarah Lampard (MELB) 1 Ellie Blackburn (WB) 1 Alyssa Bannan (MELB)

Aside from our Rnd 1 win against the Crows in Adelaide that was our most complete performance of the year. The Bulldogs are still a half decent side but we comprehensively beat them all over the ground. We had 66 more disposals, a whopping 28 more inside 50’s (40-12), 19 marks inside 50 to 3 and 107 to 82 contested possessions. We did lose clearances 20-26 and somehow the free kick count 12-15. Olivia Purcell - Topped the disposal count for us (25) and also the tackle count (9). In one of the podcasts it was said she gets a case of white line fever when she walks on the ground and it shows. She is a ferocious competitor. Is seemingly getting better each and every game and looks like a bargain after picking her up for pick 15 and 47 from Geelong. Midfield. Purcell/West/Hanks. Bloody hell they were fantastic today. They are achieving a real synergy together particularly getting the ball from inside to out into clear air. They did this time and time again. My only concern is, at an average height of 160cm (5’ 2”) we lack size and the brute strength of someone like the Adelaide mids. Harris. You get the feeling the former Brisbane and Carlton player was pretty unsettled until she got to Melbourne. The video suggests she is now at home and enjoying her footy. At 1.26 she describes her forward line colleagues as ‘the best’ and I think she is talking about them as human beings. Talking about bargain pick ups, I stand to be corrected, but to secure her we effectively parted with pick 32 https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1235465/aflw-rd-7-tayla-harris-post-match?videoId=1235465&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1665299649001 Paxman. Earlier this year (S6) some posters here were saying Karen was done. Well she is back baby. Playing more of an outside and link roll suits her skills beautifully. Huge head clash yesterday. Is she done for the day? Nope, just chuck a few stitches in their and she’ll run out and put her head over the ball. Inspiring. Whilst fellow team stalwart and original Daisy Pearce is hanging up the boots this year Paxy still looks to have a good couple of years in her yet. And to finish up - Goldrick. Earlier someone wrote that you have to love Goldy. You do. Yes she coughs the ball up a bit but that tackle on Ellie Blackburn was brilliant. The joyful response from our team and the subsequent Bannon goal was my favourite play for the day. Go Dees.

Brisbane play Adelaide next week. This game isn’t over yet a but top 2 spot can be ours if we are good enough

Thats brilliant, good on you WCW and all your cheer squad friends

Perfect. Daisy can go do her 2 year apprenticeship at the Cats and take over from Mick in 2025 after his 9th season in charge.

It will be interesting to see if Heath gets more midfield time this week. Her 4th qtr cameo against Freo was pretty promising

Freo are playing pretty well with better skills, hopefully we will wear them down. Think our girls may have looked at the ladder, remembered the thrashing we gave them last time and have thought it was going to be easy Tayla Harris is getting it done though

Interestingly Jackson and Spargo averaged the same B & F points per game. I’m pretty sure this means Charlie is also worth 2 first rounders on the open market.

Yes it is a long contract for a player of his ilk. At least when, the 12 times a game, he has the ball you know it will be used constructively. As you pointed out he is probably on minimal dollars. Im more concerned with 4 more years of Salem on what would be considerable more of salary cap pie.

Thanks Werridee. Aside from the injured McNamara that’s the strongest side we can field. Unlike the early years where the gulf between the top few players (Daisy, Paxy, Elise O’dea) and the bottom ten was enormous, we are now a much more even side. The bench you have of Sherriff, Heath, Duffy, Mackin and Fitzsimmons is strong. Just on Duffy she is only going to get better with each game and, hopefully, will be fully firing by the time finals come around. A zippy goal kicker is what we desperately are missing. Some of her highlights below.

Coaches Votes V Carlton 9. Tayla Harris (MELB) 9. Eliza West (MELB) 6. Vaomua Laloifi (CARL) 4. Olivia Purcell (MELB) 2. Sarah Lampard (MELB) The opposing coaches were in almost complete agreement as to the best players were aside from who was BOG. Eliza West’s improvement has been dramatic. She only debuted this year (season 6) and it is fair to say all her skills, aside from her ball winning capabilities, were sketchy. She is now a reliable (short) kick, good with her hands and a tenacious tackler. She seems to have a natural feel for the game and is a vital cog in our midfield set up.

Wow the Bulldogs have had an easy run - Giants, Port, Freo and Hawthorn - 4 of the 5 bottom sides. The only top 8 team they have played is North and they lost.

For me Jackson leaving is a bit like the Queen dying, I knew it was going to happen but still surprised when it did. I’m also a bit sadder than I expected to be