Dees_In_October

Agree O'Hehir looks to be that type we lack, and that all the best contenders have: tall, explosive, good kick, aerially sound. Fish could add some real pace and athleticism to our midfield (also needed), but I'm not sure we should be adding yet another player around the 160cm mark, especially a light one even more easily pushed off the footy? Yet clearly she's a talent... Types like Painter at 2 or Martin at 20 make sense to bolster our more contested mid depth. We're still one injury away from oblivion in that area. The other major gaps to fill at some point would be an intercept defender and perhaps a back-up ruck to take Watt's place?

Sarah Black's draft preview here: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263082/sarah-blacks-draft-late-mail-who-will-your-club-pick Based on this: Pick 2: Fish or O'Hehir (outside chance Painter - comparison is Bri Davey) Pick 20: Linked to Grace Martin, a small utility (though after about 10, things seems variable so could be some surprises here)

So basically, if we take everyone at their word (though the Hawks haven't had much to say). Tayla wanted to stay. Hawks approached us, promised a high pick. The club were willing but only for a certain number. Cue much back and forth and attempts to do mega trades. These fall through. Hawks won't give what they implied they would. The club refuses to give Tayla up for a packet of chips a la Carlton. Tayla stays. The media put out click-baity headlines about why she wanted to go. Fin.

My understanding is that injury replacement players have a one-year contract and are pretty much automatically delisted once the injured player returns to the active list. Hose will presumably be good to go next season, so this follows. There is the opportunity to re-sign a replacement player if the list space allows. If Harris had gone, I reckon it may have been different. We're right to laud Grace's qualities to improve her chances elsewhere and remain on good terms in case we need to call her up again. I'm biased, but our statements in these instances, regardless of the player, are often more personalised and genuine-sounding than the rote stuff some other clubs put out.

If I'm calculating correctly, assuming we retain all the remaining listed players from this season (not factoring a potential Paxy retirement), that's 27. Add back in A.Mackin and Hose from the inactive list and remove their replacements, D.Taylor and Hill, back to 27. Beasley presumably goes to the inactive list as 1 year post ACL will be mid-September. 26. So 4 list spots, including 1 injury replacement. Potentially we sign D.Taylor back on.

Never in doubt! We were right to stick to our guns. There was no point giving her away cheaply. All said and done, she's still #1 all-time for total contested marks and marks i50 in the league. That's not something to under-value in competition where contested marking is still developing. Onwards and upwards! Some quotes from list manager Todd Patterson here: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263248/tayla-harris-to-stay-at-melbourne-demons-after-shift-in-hawthorn-hawks-negotiations "We worked tirelessly to try to improve our list and assist other clubs' outcomes during this Trade Period. It's unfortunate that things have transpired so publicly, but we sit really comfortably with how we have operated over the last week and a half," Patterson said. "I think the best of Tayla Harris is still to come," Patterson said. "She's one of the most resilient people that I've met and I know that if anybody can come through this and be their best, it's Tayla. I have absolute certainty that, with the quality of people we have, no one is better placed to support her in that."

At this point, if she goes, it must be an untenable situation. Hopefully not the case. I just dredged up the trade we brought her in with, as a curiosity, and because I want to call it a win even if she goes haha. Part of a five-team, seven-player mega trade that boiled down to: MELBOURNE In – Olivia Purcell (Geelong), Tayla Harris (Carlton), picks 44 (Carlton) -> Tahlia Gillard, and 49 (Adelaide) -> Alison Brown Out – Chantel Emonson (Geelong), picks 15 (Geelong), 32 (Carlton), 42 (GWS) and 47 (Adelaide)

Now things get really interesting!

Plenty of the unexpected! Love seeing when it just clicks (seemingly) all of a sudden. Agree on Denby. If we can't keep her, she should get a go somewhere.

"I just really loved the tackling" That's what we like to hear! Also good that she's already had a year out of school, so hopefully a bit better prepared for a move across.

I think it was a trade request back to SA? I don't recall registering it as a great loss at the time... then she was league leading goalkicker a few seasons later!

Yeah, expanding from 8 to 18 teams in 6 years makes for a lot of movement. It'll settle...and then in comes Tassie! It'd be fun if they made it a joint podcast during the season overlap of men's and women's. Something different.

Yeah Tarrant has come along well. Reckon there was some go-home factor involved in that one. Another one is Ash Saint (Woodland), to Adelaide then Port. Go-home factor again there.

Congrats also to Megan Fitzsimon with the Demon Spirit Award, Saraid Taylor with the Club Ambassador Award, and as already mentioned, Maeve Chaplin with the Coaches Award. Daisy Pearce Medal Honour Roll 2017 Daisy Pearce 2018 Daisy Pearce (2) 2019 Paxy Paxman 2020 Shelley Scott 2021 Tyla Hanks & Paxy Paxman (2) 2022 S6 Daisy Pearce (3) 2022 S7 Kate Hore 2023 Tyla Hanks (2) & Kate Hore (2) 2024 Kate Hore (3) So Kate's equalled Daisy with the win this year.

Happy for them both! Maddi certainly looked way fresher in her body than in 2023. Also she was a Bombers fan as a kid, so can never begrudge someone that opportunity. It's hard to see players succeed elsewhere though. But when we see players like this have an immediate impact elsewhere, we can say we're doing our part for the growing and evening out the league. Which is to the benefit of all in the long term. I do note that there's one ex-player who has achieved success but is conspicuously absent in our congratulations. 😂