Dees_In_October

Key Dates Monday, November 13 2023 AFLW Draft Nominations Open Expansion U18 Talent Pathway Pre-Signing Period Open Friday, November 17 2023 Expansion U18 Talent Pathway Pre-Signing Period Close Monday, November 27 2023 2023 W Awards Sunday, December 3 2023 2023 NAB AFLW Grand Final Friday, December 1 2023 AFLW Draft Nominations Close Thursday, December 7 2023 Trade Period Opens Restricted Free Agency Period Opens Delisted Free Agency Period (1) Opens Wednesday, December 13 2023 Delisted Free Agency Period (1) Closes Thursday, December 14 2023 Trade Period Closes (2pm AEDT) Restricted Free Agency Period Closes Friday, December 15 2023 Delisted Free Agency Period (2) Open Saturday, December 16 2023 Delisted Free Agency Period (2) Closes Sunday, December 17 2023 AFLW Draft Order confirmed Monday, December 18 2023 2023 AFLW Draft Monday, February 5 2024 Supplemental Selection Period Open Rookie Signing Period Open Friday, March 1 2024 Supplemental Selection Period Closes Rookie Signing Period Closes https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1055048/aflw-draft-and-trade-dates-locked-in

Thanks Meggs and well done on the match reports this season, always a good read!

Such a disappointing end to the season! Would have never guessed circa Round 9 that we'd crash and burn so spectacularly. First three quarters were basically a repeat of the last few weeks, though we were more physical and had slightly better connection and at least were able to create some movement forward. But the players left loose, lack of run, missed kicks and repeatedly being pushed under the footy in marking contests, sigh. And some ill discipline creeping in due to the frustration of it all. A different team in the last quarter, though part of that was Geelong initially taking a foot of the pedal to let us back in. Credit to the those who led the fight back though. THANK GOD FOR GOLDRICK. It does suggest that there were some mental shackles on the team, that once released, saw us show some spark. Even still, if we'd snuck over the line, barring some miraculous return to form, I couldn't see us doing much against Brisbane. The competition is narrowing in the middle section. Next season might see the bridge to the top teams crossed. It's dangerous to stagnate in this competition where staying still means going rapidly backwards. This is the first year that I feel like what we added in personnel or game plan was consolidation rather than progress. Recent performances notwithstanding, though, we do have a good core of players who can learn and execute a (hopefully revitalised!) game plan. Anyway, thanks to everyone for the discussion here this season. Time to turn back to the men's. Thus is the cycle of the never-ending football season.

6. Goldrick 5. Hanks 4. West 3. Zanker 2. B.Mackin 1. Gay

Geelong against the Final Six: Nth (-9), Melb (-49), Ess (-10), Syd (+27), Ess (EF +18). Goals for: 26 (8 Scheer*, 5 A.Moloney, 4 Parry, 2 Bowen, A.McDonald, Morrison, Prespakis, 1 Crockett-Grills). Points conceded: 208. Melbourne against the Final Six: Geel (+49), Adel (-10), Nth (+23), Bris (-25), Nth (QF -41). Goals for: 28 (8 Zanker, 6 Hore, 3 Hanks, 2 McNamara, Paxman, Sherriff*, 1 Bannan, Campbell*, Gay, Harris, Mithen). Points conceded: 198. Avg. games (avg. finals) experience selected teams: Melb 47.4 (6.9); Geel 38.1 (2.5).

Amateur hour as usual.

Agree with all this and I think that not being able to adapt mid-game, which is something we became really good at in 2022 despite it being quite hard to do in short quarters, was something really striking as missing in this game. Aside from a lack of physical energy in covering the ground, it looked like a lack of mental energy as well, in how we wanted to play, to be able to change things up, shift the angles, re-set. And like you said, when players tried a different approach, or Mick shifted players around, everyone else seemed so bewildered that it ended in some horrific turnovers. I like Zanker on the ball, especially with Harris back in the side. I just think it needs to be done more proactively rather than as a back-up to resort to. I think we can safely call her a confidence player - give her the task and get her involved early. So many times I've thought to myself, "Death, taxes and us leaking the first goal". Sometimes it can't be helped due to a wacky umpiring decision or whatever, but as we saw on the weekend, the longer the scoreboard stays empty... Even in our most dominant games this season, without actually checking, I feel like we've given up a lot of early goals.

Possible ins: West, Wilson, and tests pending, Colvin and Watt. Lampard would be an extreme outside chance and would be under done regardless. Realistically, Gall or Johnson aren't getting a go. I agree with others that we need West for physicality. Aside from that, I don't think changes are necessarily going to solve anything. It's smart to be reactive, a bit defensive and absorb pressure early in a final (though perhaps we were just flat). But it felt like took ages to get out of that mode against the Roos. What I really want is for us to control the footy and keep it in our hands, just for a few minutes here and there, without necessarily going all-out attack handball-chain-happy. But that very clearly doesn't mesh with the game plan we're trying to execute... Anyway, lots of players needing a big lift. Looking for Harris, Gay and Paxman to improve with some continuity after being in and out this season.

6. Hanks 5. Goldrick 4. Hore 3. Purcell 2. Heath 1. Chaplin That's what I can muster in a team that played like they'd never met each other before. On WCW's intel, I'm hoping that was the result of some kind of fever dream...

I almost don’t feel like dignifying that performance with anything! I’ve never seen us so flat and that’s saying something after last week. Couldn’t take a trick and credit to North they did everything right and finally put it all together. So many dropped marks, half-hearted ground balls and lack of run. Then every small chance we mustered we butchered with poor skill execution and some absolutely shocking decisions with the footy. Consecutive performances like that is new territory for us. You could feel it coming a mile off. After what turned out to be a soft draw we’ve been battling complacency and haven’t prepared well for this phase of the season. Next week it’s back to basics and just absolute hunger for the contest. No passengers. Some desperation from the first siren please.

Yeah, it is surprising. The two seasons in one year is deceptive as well. Bannan and McNamara are in their last season of eligibility. Gillard is still a teenager for a month!

A bit of background to the QF. Seems like a long time since we played North, a few weeks back! Across the H&A season, Melbourne and North's top four teams played were the same (Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong and each other). In those games, Melbourne had 10 goalkickers for a total of 27 goals; North had 8 for 16. Melbourne conceded 148 points; North 135. Avg. games experience selected teams QF (and Round 8 for comparison): Melb 45.2 (42.8); North 42.4 (37.9) Avg. finals experience selected teams QF: Melb 5.7; Nth 4.0 From the Round 8 team that faced the Roos, Sherriff, West and Wilson are out, and Harris, Ivey and A.Mackin are in. Bit of a pre-game trivia question. Which two of Melbourne's players have the most finals experience?

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1462644/22under22-squad-three-demons-feature?spMailingID=10200469&spUserID=Mjg4NTYxMjMzODA0S0&spJobID=1860190465&spReportId=MTg2MDE5MDQ2NQS2 Gillard, Bannan and McNamara have been named in the squad. Vote for them here: https://vote.22under22.com.au/ Voting closes November 15th, with the team announced November 22nd.

Extended team: In: A.Mackin, P.Paxman, M.Gay, G.Campbell, C.Wilson, S.Johnson Out: R.Watt (concussion), C.Sherriff (arm), G.Gall (omitted) So what do we reckon? Can't fit everyone I want in. Just really hoping for no late outs.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1462275/qf-injury-report-sherriffs-season-ended Such bad luck for Casey! Two games away from her 50th as well.

Match review lottery results: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1061934/match-review-brisbane-lion-dee-heslop-sent-to-tribunal-teammate-charlotte-mullins-also-banned Breath easy, Dees fans!

Listening to the W Podcast and they're discussing this very thing (why no game fixtured for Friday night). Sam Lane's put this question to the AFL and their official line is that they didn't want to clash with the WBBL game, for which channel 7 is also the broadcaster. Of course, the memorial might have been an additional consideration, and I'm sure you might be in the know beyond the official justification! For Saturday, they reckon they'll get better live and TV audiences for Adelaide vs Brisbane in the arvo than at night, while they don't believe the timing will have impact #s either way for GC vs Sydney. And also prioritising Brisbane as the higher-finishing travelling team to be able to return home Saturday night. And while's we're at it, the reasoning for the Sunday fixturing being back-to-back (preventing people from attending both) is to give those four teams relatively equal rest. The AFL questions, reasonably I think, how many would actually do the GMHBA -> Ikon double.

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1061949/dees-double-act-share-leading-goalkicker-award Had to post this just for the picture they chose for the article. Too bad, Zanks 😆

I've got my ticket! This game is anxiety central. Like others, I feel that North is really on the brink of breaking through right now. We need a big effort. Soft fixture or otherwise, everything resets now and nothing is guaranteed, for us or anyone else. Hopefully we'll have the crowd behind us like we did last game against them. Every bit counts!

* Racks brains * 6 Hore 5 Gillard 4 Purcell 3 Goldrick 2 Pearce 1 Hanks

Noooooooooooo! Credit to Brisbane, they really brought it and we were simply not up to it. Negatives Outplayed all over and SO MANY MISTAKES. Frustrating. Need to find a way to wrest back momentum and own the ball when the pressure is up. Small sample, but we haven’t been able to do that against proper competition this season and it’s a worry. We started too reactive and weren’t switched on. Any chance we could come out all guns blazing sometime? Then again, the way the Lions were on…if we’d backed our game, they might’ve had 5 in the first. Too many were ineffective with the ball under pressure (count West, Mithen and Heath among those). Goalless in the second half. The forward line was starved and then when we found a bit of connection looked fairly toothless in the last quarter. We’ve struggled to get Bannan’s full impact against the top teams this season. A couple of our tackles will be looked at. All season players have been getting off for dangerous tackles so of course just watch Hanks and possibly Heath get weeks. Hate to see Watt who surely has limited chances left in her career have her season possibly ended like that. Positives The ball bounced, I guess. Not our way. But it did bounce. I thought the most likely way for us to lose that game would be through inaccurate kicking. Well, we did lose, but not in that way. I was also worried about their speed and they definitely broke us open a few times…wait, that’s not a positive. Hopefully that was about as bad as we can play and about as well as they can play. We’ve seen Adelaide and Brisbane’s tactics—do we have a response? Paxman as a late out set off a chain of shifts that were less than ideal and left things out of whack. A tough ask for Gall. We can field a better team than this, but no excuses. Thought it was a good return by Harris overall. Mackin the only player who had any real space. Goldie tried hard. Hore and Hanks tried to lead the way. The backline did about all it could under that level of attack before caving. People reacting in the gameday thread with vitriol and exaggeration. It’s Demonland code for "This hurts", which translates to “I care”. May the sting of losing send us into beast mode for finals. Our best beats anyone. Just need to do it.

I reckon occasionally Tayla goes into a mode where she throws her body around even more than usual, but agree she's very controlled and usually plays with a sort of calm aggression. There are several more hot-headed players on our team and certainly a few more interested in the niggle than she's ever been. Speaking of hard at it, enjoyed this interview with Goldie. She talks about the switch between codes, moving to Australia this season, and the Jim Stynes connection. It's very obvious how Sinead's experiences at Dublin, failing many times then achieving success, made her a great asset for our team in taking the next step. Probably an underrated aspect of her contribution, aside from what we (and she, as it turns out!) describe as the "chaos" she brings on the field.

Congrats to Libby Birch on 75 games! 🌈 And a happy Pride Round to all 🌈 Michael Voss Oval win-loss record: Brisbane 2-3; Melbourne 1-0 Melbourne's win-loss record against Brisbane: 6-2 (Melbourne last played Brisbane in the 2022B Grand Final, a 4-point win) Selected teams avg. games experience: Melb 46.4; Bris 43.3 2023 formline comparison: Brisbane 6 wins (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 14th and 17th); 3 losses (9th, 10th and 12th) Melbourne 8 wins (3rd, 7th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th); 1 loss (2nd) Both played Adelaide (Melb -10; Bris +3); North (Melb +23; Bris +2); Collingwood (Melb +42; Bris -5) and Hawthorn (Melb +59; Bris +27) If we take the field as selected, the following 14 players will have played all 10 H&A games in 2023: Bannan, Birch, Goldrick, Gillard, Hanks, Heath, Hore, B.Mackin, McNamara, Mithen, Purcell, Sherriff, West and Zanker. Ivey's first game of 2023 means we'll have played 28 total from our list of 31.

Thanks for kicking us off in such spooky style! Retro jumpers! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1459316/aflw-training-gallery-retro-jumpers?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1459316&playlistSize=10 "Harris set for return" https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1459233/rd10-injury-report-harris-set-for-return