Dees_In_October

If I'm calculating correctly, assuming we retain all the remaining listed players from this season (not factoring a potential Paxy retirement), that's 27. Add back in A.Mackin and Hose from the inactive list and remove their replacements, D.Taylor and Hill, back to 27. Beasley presumably goes to the inactive list as 1 year post ACL will be mid-September. 26. So 4 list spots, including 1 injury replacement. Potentially we sign D.Taylor back on.

Never in doubt! We were right to stick to our guns. There was no point giving her away cheaply. All said and done, she's still #1 all-time for total contested marks and marks i50 in the league. That's not something to under-value in competition where contested marking is still developing. Onwards and upwards! Some quotes from list manager Todd Patterson here: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263248/tayla-harris-to-stay-at-melbourne-demons-after-shift-in-hawthorn-hawks-negotiations "We worked tirelessly to try to improve our list and assist other clubs' outcomes during this Trade Period. It's unfortunate that things have transpired so publicly, but we sit really comfortably with how we have operated over the last week and a half," Patterson said. "I think the best of Tayla Harris is still to come," Patterson said. "She's one of the most resilient people that I've met and I know that if anybody can come through this and be their best, it's Tayla. I have absolute certainty that, with the quality of people we have, no one is better placed to support her in that."

At this point, if she goes, it must be an untenable situation. Hopefully not the case. I just dredged up the trade we brought her in with, as a curiosity, and because I want to call it a win even if she goes haha. Part of a five-team, seven-player mega trade that boiled down to: MELBOURNE In – Olivia Purcell (Geelong), Tayla Harris (Carlton), picks 44 (Carlton) -> Tahlia Gillard, and 49 (Adelaide) -> Alison Brown Out – Chantel Emonson (Geelong), picks 15 (Geelong), 32 (Carlton), 42 (GWS) and 47 (Adelaide)

Now things get really interesting!

Plenty of the unexpected! Love seeing when it just clicks (seemingly) all of a sudden. Agree on Denby. If we can't keep her, she should get a go somewhere.

"I just really loved the tackling" That's what we like to hear! Also good that she's already had a year out of school, so hopefully a bit better prepared for a move across.

I think it was a trade request back to SA? I don't recall registering it as a great loss at the time... then she was league leading goalkicker a few seasons later!

Yeah, expanding from 8 to 18 teams in 6 years makes for a lot of movement. It'll settle...and then in comes Tassie! It'd be fun if they made it a joint podcast during the season overlap of men's and women's. Something different.

Yeah Tarrant has come along well. Reckon there was some go-home factor involved in that one. Another one is Ash Saint (Woodland), to Adelaide then Port. Go-home factor again there.

Congrats also to Megan Fitzsimon with the Demon Spirit Award, Saraid Taylor with the Club Ambassador Award, and as already mentioned, Maeve Chaplin with the Coaches Award. Daisy Pearce Medal Honour Roll 2017 Daisy Pearce 2018 Daisy Pearce (2) 2019 Paxy Paxman 2020 Shelley Scott 2021 Tyla Hanks & Paxy Paxman (2) 2022 S6 Daisy Pearce (3) 2022 S7 Kate Hore 2023 Tyla Hanks (2) & Kate Hore (2) 2024 Kate Hore (3) So Kate's equalled Daisy with the win this year.

Happy for them both! Maddi certainly looked way fresher in her body than in 2023. Also she was a Bombers fan as a kid, so can never begrudge someone that opportunity. It's hard to see players succeed elsewhere though. But when we see players like this have an immediate impact elsewhere, we can say we're doing our part for the growing and evening out the league. Which is to the benefit of all in the long term. I do note that there's one ex-player who has achieved success but is conspicuously absent in our congratulations. 😂

Rookie Me Power Rankings here give some idea: https://central.rookieme.com/afl/power-rankings/aflw-draft-power-rankings-november-2024/ Havana Harris (linked to Gold Coast Academy) Ash Centra (will be taken by Collingwood with #1 pick) So based on that: Zippy Fish https://youtu.be/DnodDs7LGX4?si=3sqjVffYMxQeQjZv India Rasheed https://youtu.be/uTjRYfybk9c?si=z8COKHI7eNRG9E27 Molly O'Hehir https://youtu.be/aFdMsaejvdA?si=K6Yylc2IcGLWAKXx Lou Painter https://youtu.be/jHjZOJquvgg?si=O47r5aMunzdvkx4- Sara Howley https://youtu.be/V40XbdkL8Xo?si=-2qQV3RJx72Y4qrx Who do we think?

From https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-2024-lily-mithen-joins-gold-coast-tayla-harris-deal-in-limbo/news-story/17a3fedd881cc9d654c07c29dace9556 Melbourne list boss Todd Patterson said Mithen had been exploring a “lifestyle change” for some time, but only wanted to move if the Demons could secure a high draft pick. “Lily has been a terrific servant for our club over her journey, and as an inaugural player, her contribution cannot be underestimated,” Patterson said. “She has been an integral member of a program, and given an enormous amount to her teammates, her coaches and the broader club. To watch her grow from an 18-year-old, as both a player and a person, over the past nine seasons has been incredibly rewarding. “In recent weeks, Lily and her management team identified an opportunity and lifestyle change that could work for her. Testament to Lily’s character, she was only willing to explore an option that would put the club in a favourable position, such as a return like pick No.2. “We thank Lily for all she has given during her time in the red and blue. She will forever be part of the Melbourne family.” Nicely done. Farewell to Lily, always has my respect as an inaugural Demon and premiership player. Commitment at the footy could never be questioned. Super durable, playing 82 of a possible 87 games. I'll miss that inevitable hit-up kick to Kate that the opposition somehow always failed to predict! Wish her the best.

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1262823/six-club-trade-harris-in-limbo "Hawthorn is no longer involved in the multi-club deal, meaning it will now have to negotiate trades for Harris from Melbourne and Najwa Allen from Adelaide separately while sending Charlotte Baskaran to St Kilda. The Hawks had been reluctant to slide their No.14 pick back a few spots to secure Harris and Allen as part of the earlier version of the multi-club trade, complicating their negotiations with the Demons. Melbourne has been adamant that pick No.14 must be involved in a Harris trade in some capacity, while the club has also been open to retaining the 27-year-old despite allowing her to explore her options. Collingwood had earlier shown an interest in Harris, but the Pies are no longer in consideration for the key forward, leaving it suddenly possible that Harris returns to Melbourne for season 2025. Mithen is now the only player involved in the mega deal, with the Melbourne premiership midfielder set to move to Gold Coast in a trade that will land the Demons the No.2 selection and ensure the Suns bank later picks. Gold Coast has three Academy prospects – Havana Harris, Tara Harrington and Mia Salisbury – who could all attract first-round bids, with the Suns needing to match those selections with picks within 18 spots of where the bids land."

I feel like we could judge the end of 2023 losses much better if we'd had a less injury plagued season this year! You can look at it glass half full or half empty. Certainly the loss of West impacted us badly and in retrospect we gambled with our depth and lost. But as good a player as West is, I think we were too 'samesy' with her, Hanks and Purcell in there, when competing against the best teams, at least. If we'd known that both Beasley and Purcell would be out for much of the season, well, that's the benefit of hindsight. It's interesting looking at the list age. At the end of 2023, we had 3 players on our list aged 18-20. Heading into 2024, there were 7. Yet as our list currently stands, at the start of 2025, we'd be down to 2 players 20 or under. I just think, if you're not able to compete with the top teams, retention and failing to refresh just compounds the problem in the long run. Maybe I skew too far towards this way of thinking because I've long been concerned that we would rest on our laurels (the advantages of getting in first) and get left behind when the long-awaited boost in quality youngsters arrives. I suppose the question is, has it arrived? Our recruiters seem to think so. Though I guess if the trades go through, we'll be gambling on our depth again. Edited to add: Harris looking more likely to stay, so that's a relief. Covers a lot of positions and will be hungry.

Ugh, Carlton. You just have to look at the leak of players from there over the years to know that their program had major issues. I might be biased but I suspect our club does player movement much better, even though of course these are tough decisions and things can seem sudden because we're not privy to everything behind closed doors. And yeah, Tayla attracts some flack because she's out there taking opportunities and she's recognisable, especially to non-W fans. But I suspect a lot of what drives her comes from what she experienced as one of the faces of the league as a very young person, bearing the brunt of a lot of negative attention. None of that would have been a walk in the park given her actually quite reserved personality.

Loving the discussion. If it were up to me I'd struggle to be cut-throat about it. But I also want our club to make bold moves and not to get left behind in a competition where the value of experience vs. talent of the youth can be skewed in unintuitive ways. Looking at our list, one of our trade strengths is players who we can upgrade on in terms of on-field performance, but who other clubs are desperate for in terms of their experience and culture-building skills. It's tough to look at players this way, but it's an advantage we won't have much longer. Having looked at the Rookie Me Central guide, it's clear we finally have the opportunity to get the kinds of players we need (thankfully, unlike last year!). There's no point messing around with later picks; if we're going down the youth path, we have to really commit and go for quality. And that means making moves to get those picks... Of course, doing so without tearing apart the fabric of the team or destroying morale is important, but I'd like to give the club some credit for its track record in handling things professionally. And to trust that players can do the same. After the injury plague of this season, we've never had a better idea of exactly what we've got (on-field in terms of positions and off-field in terms of leadership and resilience) - and also our ability to develop players even when having to throw some to the wolves. That's quite different to where we've stood before and I think it's shaped our draft strategy. I've also got my eye on some uncontracted players on our list (Gall, Gillard, even Chaplin) that it would be really detrimental to lose - for the long-term and we need to offer something to retain.

Thanks for writing this. I'll admit that my perception of her was misinformed before she came to the Dees, not that I was a hater or anything, but the media had shaped my perception wrongly. I did always admire her stance on the online harassment stuff though. In fact, seeing her actual personality type has made all that more impressive if anything. One thing I've never doubted is that she has particular skills in the game that few players in the league have. Even if she's traded out now, bringing her in was a huge win for us and I hope Tayla would still say it was for her too.

The intensity of scrutiny/resources must surely be far below what exists in the men's. But because of that, in some ways, moving up the draft in the W might be MORE worth it, since the depth of quality is shallower and presumably the players at the top are the most known quantities in the pool. Interesting to think that these draftees would have been 11 years old for season 1 - a big shift at a pivotal time in a young athlete's career. We've rarely had much to work with in terms of high picks. But there's been creativity and effort in our recruiting outside the draft, which is still coming to fruition. List manager Todd Patterson was apparently in contact with Grace Beasley for six or seven YEARS while she was playing basketball (including overseas) prior to her signing for 2024. But aside from the 2023 draft which is too early to judge, 2020 is really the only year we've had access to high picks since early in the comp. That year we got: Bannan (pick 5), McNamara (15), Caris (17, now at Geelong), Fitzsimon (35), Kendall (41), Simmons (48, played a few seasons at West Coast). Looking at the other draftees that year, our decisions look as good as they ever do with the benefit of hindsight.

Bit going on at the Suns, with the coach sacked and the captain requesting a trade. Charlie Rowbottom also uncontracted through apparently likely to stay. More names being thrown around with trade period starting on Thursday, nothing regarding the Dees aside from Harris and Mithen though.

Yes. Prescient analysis. And kicked the first goal in the first ever AFLW game. Nice that it was a player who went on to great things rather than some random. Needless to say, Garner is welcome back at the Dees any time!

Mithen apparently weighing up a move to Gold Coast, with the Dees looking to move up the draft order. https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1262111/suns-plot-shock-move-to-land-heart-and-soul-dee You can see the logic from both sides. How much upside does she have left for us compared to a team like the Suns and compared to the quality apparently available in this draft. You wouldn't say that Lily's on the fringe of our best team quite yet, but in a few years? Would be sad to see an inaugural and much-loved premiership player go, of course.

I'm in two minds on this one. Start of this season I'd have wanted to keep her at pretty much all costs. But if she's keen to go, for adequate compensation and considering the gaps we've got to fill, if we drive a hard bargain... As to what the sticking point is. Could be role? We intended to play her backline this season apparently and with the progress of the young talls, things may have shifted in a direction she doesn't like or maybe she wants security of a longer contract than we're willing to give. All speculation. At 27, with her stocks relatively high and plenty of teams looking for experience, it's wise to explore options. But. Despite missing the season, she's still 10th on the all-time goalkickers. 1st for marks i50. 1st for contested marks. And she can cover forward, ruck and back positions. She's handy like that, assuming the shoulder is sorted now.

Enjoyed this video with EMac. Honest and humble. Interesting to hear the progress with her back injury, this season being the first she was freed to work on other things aside from getting her body right. We saw the results. Shouts out Fitzsimon's season - she won't get the attention, but obviously valued internally at the club. A player that does a lot of those little things. And reading between the lines, a bit of insight into what went wrong in 2023 and how that played out this season. Learning how to bounce back from losses more quickly as a team.

Ditto to this. With a special mention to Banno for her second half of the season. I thought she really lifted after the Essendon loss and was a big part in steadying the ship.