Dees_In_October

Best of luck Hunty. Will always remember this fondly:

I think I'm officially becoming a harsh marker of this team! Last two weeks have been solid enough wins, but I always feel we can do so much more. Watching other top 4 contenders demolish expansion sides probably isn't helping. I will give credit to Freo though for what they brought for three quarters of the game - easily the best they've put on the park this season in terms of pressure and two-way running. Then fourth quarter we simply put the foot down and got it done. Seems Stinear is more willing to throw the magnets around this season. It's a good thing in the (slightly) longer season, giving us more options if we need a shake-up in later games. Defense-wise, I worry. Wish Colvin was out there for that extra grit. I'd think that Goldie will re-calibrate just a tad this week and maybe rein that "go-go-go" in...about 5% 😂 Duffy has some of the best goal sense in the league (we've seen glimpses of it). Agree with WCW, she's never had that "typical" footballer physique and in her earlier time at Freo was probably way fitter than she actually looked. Obviously has some work to do there now, but she'll build that back, I just hope she's loving being a Demon and finding a good balance. Bannan's having a super frustrating season and probably feeling it. Had some almost moments today. It will come! Shout out to the fans over there and those that travelled for their great support, could hear you through the TV for sure. The least said about the umpires the better.

Vote for Paxy for GOTY! Also noteworthy (although as has been pointed out, take out a couple of the older players and our core is quite young, though that's a theme across the competition, I'd imagine):

Late to the party, but yeah, a good win that's hard to complain about, though slotting a few more would have been handy as per usual. Loved the four-quarter effort and pressure though against an obviously under-resourced team that played very defensively after half time. Smother work top notch, all those little things. Liked the way everyone got around Duffy on debut. Also good to see the magnets thrown around a little. Goldrick a welcome return and she'll build. And congrats to L.Pearce on a magnificent 50 games. Special shout out to our cheer squad who completely outperformed the home fans on every level!

Great news. I was fearing what the "personal reasons" for her absence could be, but this is surely the very best result. You can feel the love (and surprise!) in that room!

Round 5 team: IN - Duffy (club debut), Harris, Goldrick OUT - Campbell, Chaplin, Wilson (all omitted)

To be honest, I was expecting a heavier defeat. A few Dees definitely went missing... Brisbane also looked to run the game out better fitness wise. Our forward line was so one dimensional. Felt for the debutant in Campbell, a tough ask for a pretty raw player - good experience though. Those soccer goals were super frustrating, but it's why those really deep entries with players out of position are gold. We need more of that. The Lions were certainly 'due' a win against us. We've definitely got away with some against them. Apart from half a quarter in the first, we didn't play near our best though, so that's something to build from. We've had a good look at how they get it done and hopefully by season's end we'll be in stronger form. On a positive note, I like Mackin's involvement in her first ever full game of AFLW. You expect a cross-coder to give away some free kicks or get caught out on game awareness stuff, but so far as I could tell, she was up to speed. Selection will be interesting this week!

I reckon it'll be worth about 15 points, give or take 😉

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!