Dees_In_October

4 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

still only one oval to accommodate four playing squads

do they have another training campus?

 

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

5 hours ago, dpositive said:

Thanks to all operators, moderators and contributors.   Hope you all have an enjoyable festive season and we all have a great new year.

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.

6 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Aussie?

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.

2 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

what's interesting to me is that this crop of girls coming thru is the first lot that have seen aflw as a pathway for their sporting careers

good luck to all!

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

6 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

Has that classic “I decided to go back to footy because I just love hitting people” style. Love it.

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.

Immediately nicknamed "Reese", surely?

Was mentioned in the broadcast that clubs were requesting footage of her today so clearly garnered some attention late. Previously a train-on with Brisbane. We must've done our homework on this one.

Alyssia & Alyssa forward combo, add in Zanker and Hore, pretty exciting.

Here we go, pick 5, Alyssia Pisano.

I think she was a little star struck receiving her jumper from Kate and seemed pretty happy with the idea of playing for the Dees.

Four goals in her return from an ACL, then backed it up with 6 the next week. Hopefully that genuine small forward we all want!

23 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Dees will be boosted by the addition of Jemma Rigoni.  She’s got real pace and plays like a youngster who’s grown up with footy skills built up over many years.  
AFL website write up… 

Position: Winger
Height: 172cm
State: Victoria, Oakleigh Chargers/Ashburton
Nomination: Victoria

Slightly older at 19, Rigoni missed out on her draft year after suffering a torn ACL in 2021. She's returned to both under-18 and VFLW level (with Casey Demons) in fine style, providing plenty of pace and neat kicking skills on the wing. Can also play off the flanks if needed.

Saw Jemma and Guy on ABC news last night. She wants to continue the family name at the Dees but wants more to be drafted for what she can bring to any team. Right attitude.

47 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Not sure they can continue with the stay at home or national option in the draft. Highly compromised even with other concessions. Top prospects in WA or SA can elect to stay at home. Piper Window (great name) is probably a top 3 pick but choose to stay in SA so nominated state and not National.  Port gets a free hit as long as they stay in the draft ahead of the AFLW crows.
Time to equalize the rules!!! (Oh sorry it’s the AFL way!!!) 

Not to mention the pre-signing of a bunch of the top 10 talent before the draft even began. And the arbitrary compensation picks for teams who lost talent to expansion last trade period. That was real rules on the run stuff, luckily we weren't affected, but seriously there was zero transparency about it and the AFL just did whatever after the fact.

I really hope there's only a couple of state-based drafts left. It was necessarily in the previous phase of the competition due to the financial burden of moving interstate and the difficulty in terms of employment for the higher percentage of older players with established careers. But it's getting closer to the point where a possible interstate move should just be part of it, with most draftees being 18-20 and choosing AFLW as their career path. Like you say, it's just too easily manipulated in the two-club states. It actually might even be impeding equalisation in some instances, with bottom teams being blocked from the most needed top players they might otherwise have drafted.

23 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

 and would like to see a fit TAYLA HARRIS back and firing.  

Amen to that. I liked the one-year contract for Tayla for 2024 as this season was a tricky one to negotiate on. Another season for us and her to decide how the last phase of her career looks, hopefully to finish it out with us off the back of a great season.

On 16/12/2023 at 14:08, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Priority needs to be to sign Gillard beyond end of 2024

Agree, at the earliest opportunity. Big future. She's still SO young though that we've got away with another year likely with a promise for something more substantial next time.

On 16/12/2023 at 19:50, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Yeah; I wonder what the stories were, behind the quite different lengths of contract that resulted, all apparently in a common timeframe of negotiation. Club driven or player driven?

To be a fly on the wall! There is something of a logical pattern to it, though, with priority given to seniority for those in or coming into their prime, one year for the over 30s and the very youngest/newest, and a little extra to some key cogs (correlates strongly with B&F results) and those who potentially had some negotiating power in terms of other interest but who the club views as keepers (I'm speculating Bannan and McNamara in that category).

Keeping track of contracts (with age as of 1 Sep in that year) -

2027: Hanks (27), Hore (32)

2026: B.Mackin (27), Mithen (28)

2025: Goldrick (35)

2024: Colvin (33), Harris (27), Lampard (27), A.Mackin (27), Paxman (35), Pearce (31), Taylor (26), Watt (36)

Everyone currently aged 25+ (plus Hanks) has been locked in and announced, so no age-related retirements this off-season. Assuming the remaining 10 are locked in, that would make 23 players retained of the list of 31 from 2023.

4 hours ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Mick Stinnear mentioned at the fan forum the other night that we have a rookie spot that we will look to Ireland to fill. 

Awesome, obviously we've had a fairly good success rate and have only become more knowledgeable in spotting players whose skills translate not just to footy but our game plan. Also would have a good reputation in terms of attracting and keeping quality players.

4 hours ago, deanox said:

Are we looking at adding a couple of delisted free agents?

Assuming we get an Irish rookie, that would leave one spot if we use all our picks, so at least one. Wouldn't be surprised it we pass in our last pick if there's another DFA who suits our needs.

Noticed that Hannah Bowey (sister of Jake) was de-listed by North. Not sure of her playing ability and we probably shouldn't be signing players purely on genetics!

Also Sophie Casey de-listed by the Pies - another one in the experience, know what you get category, though on the older side.

70% of applicants for the draft have nominated nationally. So it's definitely heading more towards being a true national draft, which is exciting.

So effectively we started with:

R1 (16), R2 (35), R3 (56), R4 (74), Birch, Gay, Sherriff, West, Wilson

and ended up at:

R1 (5), R2 (12), R2 (23), R2 (40), R4 (74), Johnson

Six spots left on the list as it stands, so presumably we'll pick up a DFA or two (or three if we pass in 74)... or some left-field cross coder. Thankful at least that we didn't lose a single player on my "keep at all costs" list but not sure that we've been adequately compensated for the outgoings. AFL will be happy to have finally weakened us in this regard; even still, I reckon they'd have wanted a few more big names out.

2 hours ago, JTR said:

We had to go away for a while after that, so my first Melbourne game (by which point I had finally settled on the Dees as my team) wasnt until a couple months later in round 14, also vs Collingwood, where the Wiz kicked 9 and we smashed them by 65 points.

I've barely missed a Dees game in Melbourne since!  😎

What a welcome the Dees gave you!

I don't remember my first game because I was probably 3 or so. My first few years of watching were curtailed by lack of height or ability to have any idea what was going on except when we kicked a goal. Just the rise and fall of the crowd's reactions, while I busied myself with snacks and other diversions, and hoped for the song at the end. All I knew was red and blue = good; everyone else especially black and white = bad, and that's just how it is. I wasn't particularly accustomed to winning or aware that success could be a thing. So, no one specific 'first game', just a gradual dawning of awareness.

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Someone needs to post a photo of the CRRT master plan.

The ovals are in the southern half of the infield, they don’t look like spectator venues.

Hopefully they provide some cambering so there’s potential for small crowds for things like intraclubs but it doesn’t seem like it’s designed for aflw. 

Ah, thanks I didn't see the link to the master plan earlier.

Here's some screenshots from the plan for anyone else who'd like to visualise it: