Dees_In_October

MFC Final Votes Hanks 12 (2 1 3 3 3) Hore 12 (3 2 1 3 3) Paxman 6 (1 3 2) Zanker 6 (2 2 2) Bannan 5 (3 2) Pearce 2 West 2 Purcell 1

Winner: Monique Conti (Richmond) Final leaderboard: Conti 23 Am.McDonald 16 Molloy 16 Riddell 16 Whitfort 16

R10 v Brisbane 3 Conway (Bris) 2 Anderson (Bris) 1 O'Dwyer (Bris)

R9 v Fremantle 3 Hore (Melb) 2 West (Melb) 1 Strom (Freo)

R8 v North Melbourne 3 Hore (Melb) 2 Paxman (Melb) 1 Purcell (Melb)

R7 v West Coast 3 Hanks (Melb) 2 Bannan (Melb) 1 Hore (Melb)

R6 v Adelaide 3 Hatchard (Ade) 2 Zanker (Melb) 1 Marinoff (Ade)

Leaderboard after R5 Conti 13 Toogood 10 Hanks 9 Hatchard 8 Marinoff 8 B.Moody 8 Riddell 8

R5 v Geelong 3 Paxman (Melb) 2 Hore (Melb) 1 A.Moloney (Geel)

R4 v Hawthorn 3 Hanks (Melb) 2 Zanker (Melb) 1 Paxman (Melb)

R3 v Western Bulldogs 3 Hanks (Melb) 2 Zanker (Melb) 1 Blackburn (WB)

R2 v GWS 3 Hore (Melb) 2 Pearce (Melb) 1 Hanks (Melb)

B&F Voting R1 v Collingwood 3 Bannan (Melb) 2 Hanks (Melb) 1 Davey (Coll)

Currently streaming on the AFLW website. So far from an MFC perspective: McClelland Trophy presentation Accepted by Kate Roffey, Kate Hore and Max Gawn Leading goalkicker Joint winners Kate Hore and Eden Zanker (Interview: Kate would have liked to kick one less, Eden happy to share the award!) All-Australian team: - Kate Hore (half-forward) - Eden Zanker (interchange) Kate Hore has also been named the All-Australian captain

The list as it currently stands:

GOLD COAST is hoping to bolster its key position stocks during the upcoming AFLW Trade Period, with the club chasing deals for Western Bulldogs star Katie Lynch as well as Melbourne's Charlotte Wilson. Wilson struggled to break Melbourne's best side since moving from Carlton last year. The 22-year-old has played just eight games in two seasons for the Demons, having featured 22 times for the Blues. Despite the club's interest in the players, there remains a question mark as to how deals will be completed given the Suns don't currently hold a second-round pick ahead of the Trade Period opening on December 7. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1066681/gold-coast-suns-chase-western-bulldogs-star-katie-lynch-melbourne-demons-defender-charlotte-wilson-to-strengthen-key-position-stocks

Melbourne has gained access to speedy winger Jemma Rigoni under the father-daughter rule. Her father Guy played 107 games between 1998-2005. AFLW clubs will now need to hold a pick in the round where the player is bid on in order to match and win access to the player. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1066623/talented-mid-heading-to-geelong-under-father-daughter-rules

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.