Dees_In_October

Love your work @red and blue forever! I think the top-up players are not technically on the list so don't really "count" so to speak. So D'Arcy, Lin and Casey drop off automatically. Hill and D.Taylor also go when the players they were replacing become "active" again (Mackin and Hose), though we could extend them, in which case we'd be at 30. Something's gotta give...

Pretty happy with this. The league is slowly clawing its way to a somewhat legitimate fixture. Once it gets to around 80% of teams played (14/17), the impact of which teams played or not will reduce, and it becomes more like the men's where fairness is certainly compromised (e.g., by who teams play when or who they play twice) but not completely skewed like it is in AFLW now. And with more games, losing a couple because of a tougher fixture shouldn't impact ladder position so much; teams that deserve to be there will be more likely to make it. Of course, it might still take several years to get there, and we'll complain about the fixture even then! Still, it's funny/frustrating to look back at what an absurd ride of too-fast expansion it's been. H&A season % of teams played League size 2017 100% 8 teams 2018 100% 8 teams 2019* 78% 10 teams 2020** 62% 14 teams 2021 69% 14 teams 2022A 77% 14 teams 2022B 59% 18 teams 2023 59% 18 teams 2024 65% 18 teams 2025 71% 18 teams * Conference system (we were robbed!) ** Planned fixture but not fulfilled

In the interests of Kate appreciation, this is a great visualisation of her rise to the top of the all-time goalkickers list across the first 9 seasons: https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/20167163/embed?auto=1 (as of the weekend gone, Ponter drew equal at 81) Courtesy of: https://credittodubois.com/blog/aflw-goals-goals-goals

I'd love to keep D.Taylor in particular, but with Hose and A.Mackin potentially back on the active list, there's a squeeze. Has anyone heard anything regarding Aimee's recovery and if she's keen on coming back? Harris staying or going will probably impact decisions regarding a couple of tall defenders on the fringe. Some ruck depth would be good to replace Watt, with Hose apparently a few years away. Although, Pearce is perceived (including by me until I actually looked it up) as being more injury prone than she really is - 2024 aside, she hasn't missed more than 1 game in a season since 2020. Across the 9 seasons, 72 out of a possible 87 games. Not getting younger, of course. Maybe a retirement to come from Paxy, though we've been counting her out since about 2020! I won't believe it til it happens. Keeping an eye on the un-contracted, if we could re-sign Gillard and Chaplin ASAP that would be nice. Also Gall since I saw she has interest from elsewhere. And Beasley because I'd hope we'd do the right thing even if she won't recover til September at the earliest and we must cling to midfielders even if they're on one leg.

Yeah, it's the winger's lot in life, unfortunately. Tbh I'd be surprised if Chaplin makes it, just given our win-loss.

Glad to see some recognition for Chaplin, our only player named in the AA squad for 2024. Well deserved, just hope she makes it through to the final team. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1255252/aa-squad-six-hawks-named-dee-misses-roos-streak-over

Finally a role reversal after he carried us for years!

I also remember reference to "simplifying things," which I reckon helped a lot too. With so many young/less experienced players, you have to lean into their instincts to some extent. On topic, great season by Maeve. Best disposal efficiency in the team (for players averaging 10+ disposals). Makes great decisions with and without the footy and is a nice long kick too. You can see how a good offseason helped her get to more contests and she was often prominent late in games.

Yeah, it can be surprising. Even Purcell only missed being eligible by a few months, which seems ridiculous as well.

My wish list: inside mid via trade inside mid via draft inside mid via anywhere, please.

KEY AFLW PLAYER MOVEMENT DATES Monday, November 4: First Rookie Signing period opens Wednesday, November 6: AFLW Draft nominations open Wednesday, November 27: AFLW Draft nominations close Wednesday, December 4: Restricted Free Agency and first Delisted Free Agency Period opens Thursday, December 5: AFLW Trade Period opens Wednesday, December 11: AFLW Trade, Restricted Free Agency and first Delisted Free Agency periods close Thursday, December 12: First Rookie Signing period closes; second Delisted Free Agency period opens Friday, December 13: Second Delisted Free Agency period closes; 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft order finalised Monday, December 16: 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft (the AFLW's first fully national draft) Monday, February 3, 2025: Supplementary Signing Period opens Friday, February 28, 2025: Supplementary Signing Period close

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/aflw-2024-22-under-22-squad-named-charlie-rowbottom-and-georgie-prespakis-who-is-in-it-who-made-it-port-adelaide-full-list-latest-news/news-story/98bc00a0a8b96ddc807a818c23744619 44-person Squad Selected: Maeve Chaplin (22), Tahlia Gillard (20), Eliza McNamara (22), Alyssa Bannan (22) Vote for the final squad here: vote.22under22.com.au (closes midnight November 13). Final team will be announced November 20.

Three squads - Richmond doesn't field a VFLW team anymore but instead sends their players to Port Melbourne through an alignment.

Following on from that, and in the context of this thread, it's so good to have such an independent platform like this for all things Demons. Club-sanctioned media by its very nature has to be restrained in what it can communicate, and while there are thankfully limits to what can be posted here, it does often fill the gap that lies between what the club can say and what the fans want to know. Especially because there's such a range in fans' levels and areas of interest, from those who are perfectly happy with the social media happy snaps to those who'd like to know the nutritional content of each MFC player's pre-game meal. I'd wager that most on here are leaning towards the latter end of the spectrum, which probably isn't a need that the club would ever or should ever be aiming to fulfill! So yep, thanks to everyone involved in keeping Demonland up and running, and all the contributors here.

On Patterson's comment on existing players in new roles, could they have someone in mind to replace West? Can't say anyone we've rotated through really stands out as a more permanent option there. But none of the ins fill that gap in an immediate way, possibly Wotherspoon but yeah, she's a pretty raw (though the same could be said for West originally). Apparently Saraid Taylor will be played back, so she might break into the team. Gillard also mentioned for more ruck time. Hopefully we'll be able to try some stuff out in VFLW.

Pretty sure Goldie made the move to Australia with her partner earlier this year, so I'm guessing Irish. I think they intend to return to Ireland eventually though, hopefully that's a few years away.

The above article in video format. Seems like there were decisions made mid-season that prompted some of the player movement. Says that a few of our incoming draftees will allow for some positional changes in the existing list and a change in our game style. Reading between the lines, Pisano, Wotherspoon, Rigoni and Madigan are all considered ready to play at some stage next season. Hose a very long-term prospect, not surprisingly. Also some pointed remarks about the 11-club trade on the last day of trade, referring to "different sophistication levels at different clubs" in how trades are done, so a bit going on there...

Mentions Goldrick as a player she's followed particularly and wants to learn from - I can't think of a better player to emulate in terms of attack on the game. I knew Jemma had a few games at Casey last season but glad to hear she's been a train-on and clearly involved at the club for a while even rehabbing after her draft year.

So true, these are the 12 year olds of 2017 that were a big focus at that time - choosing in greater numbers to keep going with footy rather than give it up, having continuous access to youth girls teams, etc. (albeit pandemic interrupted for some). You could tell from the way they spoke that their idols are very much AFLW players and that AFLW was a career choice for them.

#43 jumper is ready and waiting - if she wants it! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1478752/aflw-draft-pick-no29-rigoni-legacy-continues

And this is exactly what we need some more of!

Pick 23 Jacinta Hose Big cheer in the room - looks like she was there for a teammate so a happy surprise. Has done two ACLs, 3 months out from most recent.