Dees_In_October

Thanks! He's a pretty cool customer 😁

Just saw that former Demon Shelley Scott has announced her retirement. She won't be playing this weekend, but hopefully gets a send off from some former teammates at Kardinia Park, alongside other Geelong retirees captain Meg McDonald and Kate Darby.

It suddenly occurs to me, what does Mick do for that other 5 or so months? I'm assuming he's full time during the pre-season and season, but I imagine not the off-season? I know there's a lot that happens unofficially during the off-season that isn't "counted" since players don't have contracted hours during that time, but does he have another job?

It goes back to there being a stronger onus than before on the kicker to try to keep the ball in play, regardless of what players positioned 30m away do. Agree there's a grey area with that though. Still, the idea of the rule is that it's on the kicker to be better with their disposal to avoid the situation arising where the opposition can do that. Harsh perhaps. And I guess the AFL believe it's easier to adjudicate because it takes away more (not all, as you've pointed out) of the judging about intent as compared to deliberate out of bounce (time will tell).

The way I interpret the rule as stated for SANFL, a player kicks the ball, it bounces and then goes out of bounds without being touched and an opposition player elects not to pick up the ball themself when they could have, instead shepherding it over the line in an attempt to win a last disposal call against the kicker. In that instance, it wouldn't be paid as a last disposal free kick against the kicker, nor would the shepherding player be penalised, it would just be a boundary throw-in. They "played" for a free kick and failed (plus lost the advantage of taking possession of the ball, so a bad option to take all round). Insufficient intent can only be applied to a player in possession of the ball who fails to sufficiently attempt to keep it in, not one without it?

Avg. games experience of teams as selected: Melbourne: 50.7 Geelong: 43.0 Selected players averaging 15+ disposals at 65%+ disp. eff. in 2025: Melbourne: Hanks (24.0, 66.7%), Hore (21.2, 65.2%), Chaplin (18.9, 72.6%), Paxman (16.7, 65.%), Heath (16.0, 66.9%) Geelong: Bowen (20.8, 69.4%), A.McDonald (19.8, 72.4%), Webster (15.5, 69.4%) Played all 12 H&A games for the Dees in 2025: 11 players: Bannan, Chaplin, Ebert, Fitzsimon, Hanks, Harris, Hore, McNamara, Paxman, Pearce, Zanker In 2024 we had 9 players (from 11 H&A games); 2023 13 (10); 2022B 14 (10). Fun fact: The clash between Hawthorn v. North Melbourne is the last remaining match-up to feature in the AFLW, so soon the set will be complete. Until the Devils show up in...TBA.

Her luck has turned! Hopefully nothing too serious for Molly though... Geelong v Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium, 7.15pm AEDT GEELONG In: Nil Out: Nil MELBOURNE In: D.Taylor, G.Gall Out: J.Rigoni (omitted), M.O'Hehir (injured)

Photographic evidence and all! I like that we get to celebrate MFC's 100th W game and Mick's 100th in two different weeks.

It's those one percenters that make the difference! 😁

Good point. I've definitely seen it paid that way...but also the other way. Consistency 🙄

The rule states: "It will operate similar to SANFL in the sense that if a player blocks an opponent or doesn't play the ball before it crosses the line, a normal boundary throw-in will occur instead of a last disposal free kick." I'd think that includes shepherding instead of playing the ball.

You can have a picture of a heater and a lamp 😉 Now that one's solved, does anyone know the official figure for Mick's number of games coached? The Dees have played 98, so 99 this weekend and the 100th in Week 1 of finals. But I know Mick missed at least one game as coach, maybe 2?

It's last disposal not last touch. So the first would be a throw-in because the last interaction with the ball wasn't a disposal but a touch. The second would be a throw-in if the umpire deems it to be a deflection (touch) not a disposal (kick).

Beasley was in the scrimmage this weekend gone, so heading in the right direction. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQTNhspEuh_/?hl=en

Another big game. More pressure practice! We're making diamonds here. All going to plan, @WERRIDEE's team is our best 21*, the one we've been working back to all season. Hopefully we can get that team gelling together for a few games now. *minus Purcell, tweaks depending on oppo, Beasley somewhere in the equation

A great report as always! RE: Lampard's 75th, a few sites like AFLW Stats have her on 75 but the AFL website has her on 74 (which is what I had, with 71 games before Round 1, and 3 games this season so far). Either the AFL hasn't updated and I can't count, or we might need to celebrate again next game!

It's a credit to her effort in those 3 games over a year ago that we're so keen to get her back! Or maybe just a bit desperate!

6 Hore 5 McNamara 4 Hanks 3 Pearce 2 Gillard 1 Zanker

I think she's been training with the main group for a few weeks. I feel like they've been conservative and very deliberate with how they're building her back up.

Frustrating. Can't fault the effort of our players but... Brisbane were harder at it for longer. We'd spent everything surviving the first quarter defensively and didn't have enough left in the last quarter to execute properly. On paper, that was our best 21 (sans Purcell, Gall and Goldrick), but if we compare the "bottom 6" of each, that's where the difference is - in experience and fitness, not necessarily talent although the jury's probably out on that for a while yet. The big one is that after the first quarter, they took their chances in the key moments while we didn't (Chaplin's goal excepted!). And not just in goal kicking but some important contests where they came out on top. We play that game again though, and I reckon we go a lot closer to winning it. And just as important for this team as any wins we might get this finals series is earning more games against quality opposition. Keep earning those and who knows what might happen. I abstain from umpiring commentary.

And a little on the strength of QLD women's footy, while we're at it, courtesy of Sean Lawson: More analysis on this topic by Sean here: https://thisweekinfootball.com/twif/round-23-2025/#aflw-state-s-of-origin

Avg. games experience of teams as selected: Melbourne: 46.1 Brisbane: 59.3 Only 2 Lions selected have played 26 or fewer games, compared to 7 Dees. Melbourne's recent results against Brisbane: 2024: -18 2023: -25 2022B GF: +4 2022B R4: -15 2021: +4 2025 Top 5 score involvements: Melb: Hore 76, Zanker 59, Hanks 55, Harris 47, Fitzsimon 43 Bris: Smith 50, Hodder 45, Dawes 42, Anderson 40, Davidson 38 2025 Top 5 rebound 50s: Melb: Chaplin 54, Paxman 20, Hanks 18, McNamara 13, Colvin 12 Bris: Dunne 32, Campbell 30, Koenen 22, Ellenger 21, Anderson 16

Will be interesting to see if she gets the call up at some stage or if we stick with the status quo. Certainly a welcome option if there are injuries. Tough for a three-game player coming off such a long lay-off, though they've clearly taken a careful approach. When Georgia's good to go, she's obviously in, but I wonder if we're starting to look a bit tall then.

I would expect nothing less!

Good to hear! Thanks for the report. We're lucky to have you!