Dees_In_October

Wardlaw's Brisbane's leading all-time goalkicker and equal 6th in the league. Woodland's 3rd on Adelaide's all-time goalkicking tally and equal 8th in the league. All that to say, these are very good gets for the Saints and Power. And pretty big losses to Brisbane and Adelaide. So far, so good 🤞🤞🤞

The AFLW website has been putting together hypothetical state of origin teams, and not surprisingly, there are plenty of Demons featured - QLD: Harris VIC Metro: Birch, Hore, Paxman, Bannan, L.Pearce [7 Dees or former Dees total] VIC Country: Zanker, Hanks, Purcell, Heath, Mithen (Depth: Sherriff) [11 Dees or former Dees total] Ireland: Goldrick, Mackin [4 Dees or former Dees total] Here's the link to the VIC teams. Would love to see this match-up: https://www.womens.afl/news/118292/our-aflw-state-of-origin-vic-metro-and-vic-country

@deanoxYeah that looks about right, though of course it's hard to know! And yeah there'd have to be players who've agreed to a lower tier than their worth as a sacrifice to keep the team together (or given their earning capacity off-season compared to other players) or with a promise for future promotion. I think players who value their progression as footballers would be keen to stick with us, especially off the back of last year. I can't imagine any of that group you listed (Lampard, Bannan, Gay, Heath, Gillard) being dissatisfied with their opportunities to develop or their progress (with McNamara being well supported it seems through a very difficult injury). @Lucifers Hero Agree re: seeing what the AFL's (trying) to do. In the big picture for the competition, it needs to be done. We've benefited in other ways from doing the hard yards early. That's the stuff (coaching - including by a head coach who's full-time at the club, professionalism, stability, leadership) we're offering instead of cars. I've got no doubt that AFLW players are highly attuned to the worth of all that in a sporting landscape edging ever-gradually towards professionalism. Fingers crossed our players are all earning well enough elsewhere to offset anything they can be offered. Hopefully though, even if we lose a couple of mid tier players, so do the other top clubs, and it's all relative. I just wish they'd gone harder to "equalise" the Crows when they were a one-state team getting first look at all of SA's young talent while losing basically none of their established team...but anyway. Pretty sure that's the AFL's motto, especially when it comes to AFLW.

Hopefully this is just a rinse and repeat of every other ridiculous expansion scenario that we've weathered so far. My concern was always that we'd lose our entire core in one fell swoop before winning a premiership and have to do a complete re-build. Through team culture and smart list management, we've avoided that at least. Of the mid/lower tier who are most at danger, that big focus on positional flexibility last season pays off in this regard as well. Though, there's already a squeeze on for some positions with McNamara and Colvin returning from injury. The players who replaced them or otherwise broke into the premiership team (Gillard, Mackin, Chaplin) have strong claims as well. Those positional questions won't be answered til preseason though, so I can't really see that affecting players' thinking in terms of being lured elsewhere at this stage. It would be an interesting exercise to try to guess which players are in each tier... Presumably we just lost a Tier 1 or 2 in Daisy. So there'll at least be some movement up the ranks. Transparency about a projected tier progression for each player over the next few seasons would be valued, and I trust the club's managing that appropriately. The players in danger who we'd most like to keep can probably be promised (if not immediately, then in a season or two) the same increase they'd get by moving anyway, so they'd have to be very unsatisfied with their role or something else for that to be worth it? Plus, there's a new CBA coming, so likely some pay increases through that. As it currently stands, I'm pretty sure our entire list is from Victoria (or Ireland!). Harris is the exception but surely isn't a flight risk. I continue to expect Caris to go, as she's waiting in a ruck queue that's only got longer with Harris in there. She was impressive in her game last season, so she'd surely have interest if she wants game time.

Trade period is getting closer and more details about the 2023 season are coming to light: https://www.womens.afl/news/118211/aflw-trade-period-looms-as-clubs-ponder-options-for-one-off-draft Trade period: late February or early March. Similar to previous seasons, decisions on some parts of the CBA will be prioritised so the trade period can be completed. Hopefully one day these decisions will be made with better alignment, so club's can plan list adjustments with the full details. Draft: April. Mature-age only - those born in 2004 or prior (due to the extra draft last year). The 2005-born players (18 in 2023) will then be eligible for the draft ahead of the 2024 season, fixing the clash with the end of Yr 12 that occurred last season for draftees. List size: "It is likely clubs will not have to take three open list spots in their squads of 30 to this particular draft (as has been the case in the past) given the special restrictions around mature-age talent, but the exact number is yet to be determined." Currently, after Daisy's retirement, our list stands at 29 players (at least 1 of which will be inactive for 2023, so really 28). In other off-season news, was pleased to here that our premiership coach has presented to the AFL Commission about the future direction of the comp: https://www.womens.afl/news/118228/afl-commission-asks-premiership-coach-to-weigh-in-on-aflw-comp-s-future

I reckon if the club's not going to keep training info up to date, they shouldn't announce it at all. Just causes problems. Then maybe have a few sessions over preseason that are 100% set in stone as fan days, so people travelling/bringing overseas guests to convert/with kids/planning a strategic sick day can make plans with confidence. They should see it as another marketing opportunity. Seeing the players train would be more appealing to a lot of fans as an alternative to a Family Day type event, for example, so they'd be engaging another market. All easy from the outside, I guess. Meanwhile, trackwatchers will figure out the pattern and find their way to other open sessions with the same degree of confidence that they currently have... By posting times, the club's created the expectation that fans should know when and where training is, always - and consequently, any other looky-loos. I'm not sure that's necessarily ideal from their perspective. But perhaps it's a normal expectation from modern fans to have that kind of access?

Just came in to make sure everyone is panicking. ✅ Carry on!

Interestingly, I actually remember reading/hearing Daisy talking about the connection between the women's and men's programs being something that she and the club were working on improving. Not that she was saying it was bad, just that it was something that they should work to evolve, with things returning to a level of stability with Covid. It was pretty important to keep separation between the lists for a few years there, so I can see there being lingering effects of that. I recall there being several events involving both teams before that (training, social stuff), but there's been significant list turnover in that time. The constant up-in-the-air nature of the women's season and the fact that they're not contracted for the vast majority of the year probably doesn't help. The contact hours they have with the club are limited and really need to be maximised carefully for on-field success - though the new CBA for Season 7 did allow players more scope to attend the club more often, which was great and I'm sure taken full advantage of, with great results on-field. It really has been a pretty hectic few years at club land, so I can see how this stuff isn't top of mind. From a fan perspective, though, I reckon we do the "one club" mentality increasingly well... But I don't get the sense that there's been much opportunity for cross-program exchange from a playing group perspective. Or even that it's something that (most) members/fans might value? Maybe some Demonlanders will get an insight at Family Day, assuming both teams will be in attendance. It's still pretty new territory, really.

The tributes are flowing and yet it's hard to capture Daisy's immense impact across women's footy, men's footy and the media landscape, and as part of the MFC. The vast, vast majority of players in the AFLW today would have been directly or indirectly influenced by Daisy's career on some level. She's shaped the culture of women's footy at every stage, from Darebin in the VWFL, to VFLW and AFLW. In some ways it's amazing to think how much of her playing career actually occurred before AFLW, given her huge impact as the face of the game. Those 55 games at AFLW level are the tip of the iceberg, and we can only dream what might have been if her opportunities had come sooner. I've said it many times before, but thank god she was a Demon. And she has epitomised all the best parts of our club: pioneering, history-making and competitive yet humble. A couple of stats: And some highlights from that era before the spotlight came: VWFL/VFLW Darebin captain: 2008–2016 10× VWFL/VFLW premiership player: 2006, 2007, 2008 (c), 2009 (c), 2010 (c), 2013 (c), 2014 (c), 2015 (c), 2016 (c), 2017 6× Helen Lambert Medal: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 VFL Women's best and fairest (later named partly in her honour): 2016 2× Lisa Hardeman Medal: 2005, 2014 5× Darebin best and fairest: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Yeah, I snapped up a few things. Sold out pretty quick. Lucky you to get Goldie! Although to be fair, I'd be happy with any of our players.

Based on what we've seen for other premiers in previous seasons, I wouldn't expect there to be anything else released at this late stage. Strike while the iron's hot and all that. I'd love a t-shirt or whatever with the '21 and '22 cups on them, but I guess that's pretty niche. I did get a magnet with the premiership team on it for renewing my membership back in early December, which was a nice touch from the club that could be done inexpensively I spose. I'm sure they'd have extras if you don't have one already. Mine came with a thank you note from Gillard and I was amused to imagine they'd saddled the kid with all the signing duties!

Agree on Duffy, I felt like we'd finally found a winner for that position and with so much upside given her limited preseason and time out of the game. She's second all-time in the league for avg goals per game, and that's not off an overly small sample or anything. Surely she won't be left unsigned again if she wants to continue. Anyway, our list management has been among the best in the league, so I guess they know what they're doing. Good point about a co-captaincy, hadn't considered that. Hore-Birch might be a good transitional move, but if I had to choose, I'd have Hore as the natural successor if it's a standalone. Loved her finals series in terms of leadership. Chaplin as a smokey if she somehow convinces everyone to vote for her - wouldn't rule it out! Watt, on paper as a soon to be 35-year-old coming off an ACL, looks an easy de-list. But clearly there are a lot of intangibles going on there! Feels like we got some extremely good karma from throwing her a lifeline...

For sure, although she mightn't be the best players to ask, as I seem to remember that she pretty much never watches men's footy. That might be outdated info from the early seasons though. I'm sure she'd offer plenty regardless - she'd be especially well placed to comment on the evolution from Darebin days to now, in her own game and the game style as a whole. Also, you can implore her to keep the lucky bandage!

Appreciate your efforts DL, and that it’s a fine balance to walk when you’re trying to maximise engagement/listenership of your men’s content. I agree that keeping on giving it space is the way to go. There’ll always be people who disagree one way or the other, but I like to think things will ever-so-gradually trend a certain way. It increasingly sounds like you guys have plenty to say about it (and surely all listeners can get on board umpire complaints!). Plus, a lot of the amateur AFLW media I hear is from people who comment on AFLW only, in a league-wide sense, so it’s good to have the Demon perspective from a slightly different angle out there. And if you’re looking for a chaotic interview, maybe try for Maeve Chaplin next season haha! Hopefully with a break after the two seasons in a year, players might be more available—I did hear a few on various fan podcasts in the lead-in to finals, so fingers crossed.

Me too please. Can never have enough merch, right? And AFLW is hard to come by!

Great listen as always and a super insightful interview with MFC recruiting royalty. And thanks to @binman for flying the flag for Westy - your outrage about that ridiculous HTB decision in the GF was palpable through my earphones! I hope footage of that incident makes some kind of umpire training video, including her withering stare to cap it off.

Current list standing, after the 3 de-listings brought us back to the normal list size of 30. We'll be required to free up 4 (3?) further list places for draftees. The 2023 draft will be 19-and-over since there is no new pool of 18-yr-olds. It comes down whether or not any premiership players are lured away, retirements, the potential to trade in and upgrade (no need to offer cars, wink wink) and then to retaining the right mix for depth. There's a queue forming for backline spots, ruck stocks are very healthy, so players on the fringe there are targets for other clubs. Johnson will be inactive in '23, so that's a spot one way or another. And do we have the 2 best rookies in the league, or what!

B&F speeches. Especially recommend Mick and Daisy's (featuring Chaplin!) for some insight into the behind the scenes stuff from S6 to 7:

Yep it's why I struggle to begrudge anyone leaving, especially those later in their careers who have sacrificed a lot of earning over the last six years. At some point, you don't have to be particularly money-focused to need to make some tough decisions to look after your future. Having said that, I think our club is among the best placed in the league to retain players. They've shown it time and time again through expansion. We've lost players here and there, but nowhere near the extent of other clubs and never the really big fish. For the at-the-time bigger name players who've gone, it's seemingly mostly been the other way around - us letting them go knowing we've got replacements in development who would have superseded them anyway. Plus, and this is pure speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the players we might expect to be in higher tiers would be willing to make sacrifices to keep others around, especially those who have established careers/big sponsorship deals/who knows, even generational wealth, to supplement their footy income. And in AFLW (rightly or wrongly) there are more ways to make players feel valued than cold hard cash - not talking about cars, but stuff that eases problems with conditions/access to facilities etc. - flexibility, coaches who go the extra mile. All that would be really valued by players.

I'm sure others have said, but it was extremely loud through the TV as well (helped along by the fact that the Brisbane fans had been silenced and having much of the play down the Dees cheer squad end in the last). It actually reminded me of a comment I'd read on here about the 2021 men's GF, that mid-way through the 3rd someone in the cheer squad said something like, "Next goal, we have to go crazy and not stop til the end of the game, this is it" and well, we all know what happened then. Along similar lines, our players definitely felt that passionate support when it was really needed, against the odds. So happy for those that got up to see it live! I don't even care if this is true, I'm choosing to believe it. (Although apparently Brisbane were always happy to have it at Marvel, so who knows?) I liked how Kate Roffey addressed this at Gosch's the other day - she didn't sugar-coat it at all, describing what happened when the players tried to bounce it on the Saturday (nothing) and that the game plan had to shift in response. I might be misremembering her exact words but she basically said the turf was awful. Luckily for us, it all becomes part of the story now in a positive way. Other favourite parts from Saturday: - The spontaneous applause when the players started to arrive and how everyone (fans and players) was at the same level of excitement. - L.Pearce's apologies for not being able to attend and then her attendance anyway! - One of the twins (was at the back and couldn't see) asking for face painting during Daisy's speech. - The way Kate Roffey always speaks in the down-to-earth manner of a suburban pie night yet still with appropriate gravitas to whatever the situation - she really knows how to make people feel like they're part of the club and even instill a bit of "us and against the world" to it all.

You're absolutely right re: pay, especially with more teams to throw money around. Detail in here about where it stood for S7, which was a one-season extension. This is to be re-negotiated for 2023:

The umpire's angle...

I sniggered... https://www.leaguetees.com.au/product/housewarming-from-hell-shirt/