Dees_In_October

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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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:

How would it work for spectators? I'm assuming the oval is some distance from the seating, with the race track in the middle?

Seems like a deal is getting closer, with one day remaining: "After days of intense negotiating, it's understood pick No.13 is now on the table and is likely to be the centrepiece of the deal but the two clubs are still haggling over a swap of later picks [which depends on some other trades]." No update on Wilson to Gold Coast, or Lily Johnson from Port. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1071859/where-trade-periods-biggest-deals-sit-ahead-of-deadline-day

Has nominated nationally. Is 18 but still in Yr 11, though sounds like going interstate is more of a priority than finishing Yr 12 in Melbourne next year. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1071856/i-worked-my-absolute-butt-off-kristie-lee-weston-turner-shaping-as-top-prospect

A lot of battlers and journeywomen there, but some possibilities if we're at panic stations, particularly for depth and players with experience. Of the older crew, Hosking, Dillon and Hunt are ones where you know exactly what you're getting (and their deficiencies) and could plug a gap.

It's like interpreting a school report 😆

If only everyone in Melbourne had such a thought process, our membership would be through the roof! New membership strategy based on this thread: Put a membership delegate at the Irish embassy. Find a way to reach out to influential older siblings in families likely to produce several children (and then occasionally check in to make sure none are secretly harbouring disloyalty!) Have a "give your neighbours a scarf" membership option. (After googling what the "Tarax Show" was) get a Dees player on an episode of Bluey ASAP. Seek out regional/international sporting teams with the same colours and convert on that basis. Reach out to players with short or non-playing careers and cement the friendship for generations to come, so no one can question the validity of their claims. Give junior members money for playground bribery. Start enforcing the "no choice" clause when it comes to house-kicking-out. Pets with red and blue strings attached.

"Mithen (25) has signed a three-year deal, that will extend her time until at least 2026, while Paxman (35), Pearce (30) and Lampard (26) have signed one-year contracts, that will see them remain with the Dees until at least 2024." https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1476278/four-original-dees-put-pen-to-paper

Hoping for some injury luck for Lampard next season, we really missed her.

Unless players from other states nominate nationally, it's slim pickings for players of that type and quality right at the top of the draft, as far as I can see. Of the VICs, Kayley Kavanagh is the right type but estimated pick 15-30. So maybe we go best available with our top pick, then try to fill that void later.

Just getting round to looking at the final standings. Melbourne AFLW Best and Fairest – Top 10 = 1st – Tyla Hanks (64 points) = 1st – Kate Hore (64 points) 3rd – Lauren Pearce (54 points) = 4th – Sinead Goldrick (52 points) = 4th – Olivia Purcell (52 points) = 6th – Eden Zanker (51 points) = 6th – Lily Mithen (51 points) = 8th – Libby Birch (48 points) = 9th – Blaithin Mackin (47 points) = 9th – Shelley Heath (47 points) = 11th – Eliza McNamara (46 points) = 11th – Tahlia Gillard (46 points) Mithen is an interesting one. I think I tend to see her mistakes more than what she contributes, but this is some indication that she's mostly fulfilling her role as the coaches see it. Super happy to see Goldie up there, of course. Well deserved. I reckon we'll see B.Mack continue to climb in future seasons. We take Pearce for granted sometimes. She's been very consistent over the years and just manages to keep going.

Sounds like a Melbourne player with that double-hyphen. Anyone described as a Tayla Harris type, not a common thing given the rare attributes Tayla has at her best, is a good proposition in my book!

Glad to hear you made it through in one piece this year! Hmmm your description of the vibe only leave me with more questions, but I'm happy to accept there are some things we just can't (and perhaps even shouldn't) know as random fans. It does make me feel even more assured that a change in the squad is good and necessary, maybe freshening things up and making some new dynamics (plus adding super talent on the field, of course). Hopefully next year the atmosphere will return to its 2022 levels.

Interesting. Aside from having the best name in footy, probably hasn't reached the heights expected at Freo. I seem to recall there being rumours that she wanted out last season as well. EDIT: Just been traded to West Coast. The truth comes out! Haha, just kidding. I suspect the DA may not be alone on this. It probably won't surprise anyone that Libby did not make my "top 10 players to please, please let us keep" list. There's always a bit of regret to see a premiership player go though, and no one would deny she had a her part in that flag, as did West and Sherriff. Appreciate people's thoughts on if we've done well or not in what we've received. It's not something I have a good gauge on at all.

Love this. Looking forward to watching Kate develop further as our captain and to Tyla one day taking the helm. With a bit of upheaval coming, it's good to have steady leaders who you can tell are committed to improving themselves and others. As an aside, I hope we get similar detail about the contract lengths of all players signed on. With contracts becoming a bit more meaningful and less likely to be thrown out by expansion stuff, it's good to have transparency about it.

Alyce Parker is off the table! Seeing some of the highlights packages (usual disclaimers about the lower level etc.), the draft is exciting. It's nice to think that 2023's 18 year olds were 12 year olds when the league started, right at that age where a tough choice used to be made. I'm choosing to view this as evidence of brilliance 😆 Some more on Rigoni from Draft Central, where she's the top power ranking pick in a small pool of utilities: Jemma Rigoni (Oakleigh Chargers / Vic Metro) 04/06/2004 | 172cm | Victoria Rigoni is a talented over-ager with explosive speed and the confidence to break the lines. Tucking the ball under her arm, she takes off and has proven to be able to play forward, back and then off a wing, making her a versatile utility. She is good overhead and reads the play well, with some of her fundamentals in her kicking and execution being the next step in her development. She is tied to Melbourne through the father-daughter rule – dad Guy played 107 games for the Demons – and is tipped to head there in the second round. Our draft picks in the indicative order: 16, 35, 56, 74

From list manager Todd Patterson (more here): "It was a really disappointing end to the season, not just the last game but a series of games leading up to that. We've been thoroughly reviewing the program and the playing list, not just as that occurred, but for a period of time before that. ... Once we actually put the remaining players on the whiteboard and have a look at the nucleus, we're really comfortable with where we're at. What has been missing through the expansion periods, our retention, our success having us at the back of the draft, and concessions, is we've really missed out on getting some young talent through the door. That'll be a key focus for us, getting up the draft order as high as we can and really targeting that next wave coming through with our already established 22-25 year olds, who are some of the best players in the competition."

Wow, this kind of exodus has been such a long time coming that I'm almost (almost!) relieved the other shoe has finally dropped. Most upset about Gay, who I have in my "top 10 players to please, please let us keep". On the fringes of that, but still. The one consolation is there were definitely questions about her durability (always have to find a silver lining - we could lose Hanks and I'd still find something to nitpick to make myself feel better!). As for reasons for leaving, I agree the "stick-together-ness" after the premiership that had such huge buy-in was always going to have an abrupt expiration date on it. Even if we had gone back to back, I suspect this would have played out to some extent. And who know what kinds of expectations were set in exit interviews regarding what 2023 might look like for these players... Of course, pay is probably the big one. The next few seasons in particular the pay raises could be the difference for some between being a year-round full-time athlete and not. Faced with that decision, with the opportunity to fulfill what was likely previously a pipedream for many? Well, the day I begrudge an AFLW player for moving for money hasn't arrived yet. Getting closer though.