Dees_In_October

Speaking of which... "Tayla Harris and Jordan Ivey have been offered one-week suspensions following Narrm’s Round 3 match against St Kilda at RSEA Park. The club will provide an update on its position regarding both incidents in due course." https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1220542/harris-ivey-charged-by-mro

Bizarre game but that first quarter was just the salve I needed in dealing with...that other event (no, not the Queen). We arrived switched on; they thought they were having a Sunday stroll. To the Saints' credit, they re-applied themselves admirably after quarter time, while our ability to miss was baffling. Maybe over summer we should have a club-wide goal kicking camp. I got my wish of more physicality and instinctive play from Zanker. Didn't lay a tackle but impacted in other ways. Saw a pick-up and handpass from her bootlaces that would put many smaller players in the league to shame. Last season she had 1 behind and many shots that missed completely. This season she's 3 straight after Round 3. Daisy was just not quite right. Hoping she'll build back some form as she edges towards 50 games (on 45 after R3). Of course, she did have that great one-hander. I'd never count her out. Liked the game of Fitzsimon and 4 tackles from Bannan was nice to see. Saints fans near me were shocked by Harris's brutal attack on ball and player. I worry about our defense against more capable attacking teams... BIG test next week.

Apparently she's fine injury wise but not match fit yet. Building for Round 5-6 (this is according to a twitter comment I saw so no idea if verified). I know you're waiting for that crumb!

Glad it's just the week for Gay after her struggles last season. For those wondering about Duffy, according to twitter comments, she's fine but not match ready yet. Building for Round 5-6.

Some vision of Spargo's test:

I think that our Melbourne fans (as in, Dees fans in Melbourne) are coming off an experience unlike any other fanbase, in terms of watching a drought-breaking premiership from afar. Some of the "boost" that fans get from success was naturally somewhat dispersed. I think a lot of people don't know quite how to be in these uncharted waters. I'd also say that our fans are hesitant to be vocal when things are going badly - it's a learned response that hasn't quite been unlearned yet (although I'm not sure that it's any worse than at other clubs with similar histories). Also I'd wager that our fans are, on average, smarter about the actual rules of the game and less interested in yelling ball every five seconds, which comes off as less passionate...but I might be biased in that opinion. One thing we do and have done consistently even in the dark years is show up at a great rate. I'd say the core of our members are among the MOST rusted on in the league, because how on earth else have they stuck around? Not sure where this page sourced their info and if it's verified, but it certainly goes counter to the narrative around Dees fans attendance this season:

Freo lost two of their most experienced leaders on the eve of the season to injury (the Antonios). Losing Houghton to Port has greatly diminished their scoring power. Tbh, despite their result last season, I think they might have been about to plateau anyway. Check out their games experience for R2 compared to the other 'original 8'. Even Carlton who've leaked players for years had more experience.

Victory from the jaws of defeat! They looked pretty flat and disjointed after the big build up to last week. Even Hanks was uncharacteristically fumbly and indecisive. Some diabolical kicking all round. Will be interesting to see where the Roos stand come season's end. Some big individual efforts to get us over the line though, and a handy four points from a poor game. Next week: would love Zanker to fire up and just play on instinct with some more physicality. So much to offer but just off the boil at the moment, drifting in and out of the game.

Maddi Gay's in the running for Round 1's Mark of the Year! Vote here: https://www.womens.afl/markoftheyear

Double the smile

Late to the party...but HELL YEAH HOW'S THAT FOR A ROUND 1 WIN! Thoughts: - Great team effort. Every single player super focused and aware of what was needed. A resilient mental game. - Lucky on that goal review, but NEVER FORGET that obvious goal that Hanks was absolutely robbed of out at Casey Fields. - Persistence in the stoppages was off the charts given the high level of pressure. Simply refused to concede clearances several times. Gritty stuff. - Pretty sure I saw Blaithin Mackin taking a really active part in the strategy chat during one of the breaks. Love that. - Great game by Birch but please put away the "tough" afters. There's a time to fly the flag and that wasn't it. - Win was all the more impressive given little contribution from Bannan and Zanker, two major X-factors and the absence of another in Goldie. - Debutants were fairly seamlessly integrated, no mean feat given the circumstances. Looking forward to seeing lots of Dees fans at the double header on Friday.

Compared to the GF team earlier this year: IN: Gillard, Chaplin (debut), Johnson (club debut), Ivey (club debut) OUT: Scott (traded to Geelong), Goldrick (injured), McNamara (injured), Colvin (injured)

Update to our club win record at the end of the men's H&A seasons. Has remained steady at 80%: AFL Men's = 16/22 AFL Women's = 10/12 Grand Finalist VFL Men's = 17/18 VFL Women's = 12/17 Prelim Finalist

Not quite a smile, but it's the vibe of the thing!

The list is complete, with Ella Little signed as an injury replacement player to replace McNamara. From https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1201679 - Little, who hails from Millicent in South Australia, earns her opportunity after impressing for Woodville-West Torrens and as an overage player in the NAB AFLW National Championships. The 19-year-old is a strong-bodied utility and has most recently been working on her craft as an inside midfielder. She is known for her clean hands, both in the contest and aerially. Little was overlooked in the AFLW Draft earlier this year and has since been training with the Adelaide Crows as a train-on player. AFLW list manager Todd Patterson said the signing was reward for Little’s perseverance. “Ella is a versatile player, who has experience playing as a medium-tall forward and has recently developed as an inside midfielder.”

Agree with all of the above! Not much to measure against but a comfortable and enjoyable hit out (especially in retrospect given the absolute stress in the game to follow). They tried a few things positionally and seemed like plenty of new faces got a run. Only blight was the injury to Harris (ankle?). She was testing it out at half time and was running so hopefully nothing catastrophic. Highlight for me was Blaithin's goal. The team-wide celebration said it all. Bring on Round 1!

Scratch match vs. Essendon at the Hangar today From Twitter- MELB 12.12.84 ESS 6.4.40 Incomplete goalkickers list: Harris Bannan 2 Sherriff Fitzsimon Mithen Purcell Campbell Injuries: Duffy was helped from the field at 3 QT time.

Needs an update. There's a nice space for it!

While we wait to hear about an injury replacement player for McNamara, some trivia:

Sounds like a freak accident! Spinal is never a word you want to hear. I'm glad the surgery went well, though it sounds like a long road to recovery. She's had some bad luck already, with that nasty concussion early in the final last year. A super talented player and obviously a well-liked club person.

The Lever chant was brilliant! Also love the big white letters and the sign from the Pink Lady game "We love you Mum" - a nice touch. While we're keeping the positives flowing, I've also always been really impressed by the Demon army presence at AFLW games. These days at Casey in particular they create a strong home game atmosphere.

Good point re: Casey availability. Must be something like that, coupled with the men's season reducing other time slots available. I knows there's talk of moving the Round 1 game between Hawks and Bombers from Port Melbourne due to the small capacity. Obviously that won't be an issue for our game given the time slot. In general, though, I think they've handled the crossover between the seasons fairly well, with little danger of clashes for likely finals contenders. Just imagine a proper 17-game H&A season, with home games alternating each year. Super fair. But then what will we complain about? Haha.

Tough draw, as expected. BIG game first up. Not sure why we're playing a home game in Port Melbourne. To give Dees fans on the other side a chance to attend? Nope, Friday arvo, so no one will attend (first week of men's finals explains the time slot but not the venue). Also continue to find it an amusing quirk that we're still not fixtured to play Geelong. That'll be no match-up for four years and five seasons by the end of 2022. The teams we play and their 2022(a) ladder position: Adelaide (1st), North (4th), St Kilda (13th), Brisbane (3rd), Carlton (8th), Freo (5th), Western Bulldogs (7th), Gold Coast (10th), Essendon (n/a), West Coast (14th) The teams we don't play and their 2022(a) ladder position: Collingwood (6th), Geelong (12th), GWS (9th), Hawthorn (n/a), Port (n/a), Richmond (11th), Sydney (n/a) To put a positive spin on it, we'll have a contest every week and if we get there, we'll have earned it.

BUT IN A GOOD WAY 👹