Dees_In_October

Thanks for your detailed reply! That does clarify things for me, especially in terms of it being about not impeding the player going forward with contact. I can definitely see that now. I appreciate how they use their footwork to corral the opponent and restrict their movement - a useful but maybe somewhat under-developed skill in Aussie Rules. I did get the sense that they are allowed to push the physicality to a certain extent, but it's very hard to see the line when you don't really know the original rules! And yes, I think the 5 second advantage was what I was picking up with the 'double tackles' and why that seemed to slow the play sometimes but not others. I watched the Tipperary game on the weekend and saw some great examples of Dublin dispossessing the opposition while they were soloing. It's all in the timing, I guess. As for the language, I still keep it on because it's quite soothing to listen to and it helps with picking up players' names. Also funny to think that not too many generations back in my family they'd have been able to understand! Will try to catch up with the rest of the games at some point. Hopefully more victories to come for Dublin.

ROUND 13 (finally!) Well, the Demons are back on the winner's list and Casey VFLW are a shining light on an otherwise thin weekend for red and blue content. Did I jinx a lockdown by complaining about the VFLW games never aligning with my own personal weekend schedule? Yes, that must be it! It was a welcome return to footy and Casey Fields (I can only imagine, since crowds were not allowed), with the Demons victorious by 53 points against Darebin, a name that once struck fear in the hearts of women's footballers and of course, the original home of so many of the league's very best. AFLW-listed for Casey: McNamara, West, Colvin, Parry, Fitzsimon, Heath (and Kendall, currently de-listed) It seems the game went pretty much as you'd expect for a top-4 contender against an almost winless team, but danger games only become more dangerous the longer you have to wait for them, so a dominant performance was welcome. The inside 50s perhaps tell the tale: 46 to 9 in Casey's favour, while 99 handballs to 55 likely speak to Casey's ability to move the ball in a more dynamic way despite ruck dominance by the Falcons. The Elizas combined to lead the disposal tally for Casey, closely followed by another young Demon in Fitzsimon, which hopefully augurs well for AFLW season 21-22 and beyond. FINAL SCORE Casey 9.6.60 Darebin 1.1.7 Goalkickers: 2 Milford, Parry, 1 Fellows, Fitzsimon, Gillespie-Jones, McNamara, West Casey's Disposal leaders: 22 McNamara, West, 21 Fitzsimon Good to see new AFLW rookie West hit the scoreboard. And always good when a player you notice is almost immediately recruited to the big-time! She's actually the 4th-ranked in disposals in the league so it probably wasn't my recommendation that did it. Other notable league-wide stats leaders (since I just found them on the app): Milford is 2nd in goals with 19, one behind the leader; and Fairchild is 5th in tackles. The sign and trade merry-go-round has come into immediate effect at VFLW level, with Casey snapping up ex-Carlton and North player Gillespie-Jones, who just might be a handy addition to the AFLW side. From memory, she can play either key forward or back so might add the kind of versatile depth that's so valued by our team. The ladder: Casey retain 4th place Next week: Casey take on 6th-placed Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval, as was originally planned for R13. This is the final home and away game. A win would cement a top 4 finish for the Dees and great lead-in to their very first VFLW finals campaign!

I checked out the game against Cork - thanks for sharing, very enjoyable and a bit of nail-biter! Dublin are clearly a well-drilled team that's able to find another gear when challenged. Was fun to watch 'our' girls in their natural element as well. McEvoy, when she came on, seemed to be a bit of an organiser of the play behind the ball, leading an (almost ill-fated!) attempt to suck some time out of the game. Interestingly, Magee's speed really stood out to me among what is obviously a speedy bunch of players. She has so much up-side for Aussie Rules with a bit more time getting used to the game. There was another player who stood out to me as having great potential, but her name escapes me right now - I'll try to pick her out next game I watch! One question - where exactly is the line with a legal tackle? It seems like a player can be sort-of grabbed once but if they go in again it's a penalty? But then other times that's allowed.

Thought some of you might be interested in this piece by AFLW expert Gemma Bastiani. It's an in-depth look at how the Dees' 2021 list was put together and how the club is developing its young players in the unique AFLW environment: https://sirensport.com.au/aussie-rules/aflw-player-development-how-the-demons-are-getting-it-right/ I've cherry-picked some highlights: - Melbourne fielded the fewest Victorian top-ten draftees in the 2021 season - While most Victorian clubs built their 2021 lists through the draft, Melbourne has looked to cross-code rookies more than any other Victorian club. A strategy somewhat making up for their limited access to high-end draft picks. Of the four inaugural Victorian clubs, the Demons have had access to just eight top ten Victorian players since 2017, compared to 11 at Collingwood, 12 at Carlton and 17 at the Western Bulldogs. - Players aren’t the only ones putting in extra time outside of contracted hours year round. Head coach Mick Stinear and his coaching panel run extra skills sessions twice a week, and willingly conduct one-on-one sessions with players whenever requested. - L.Pearce, on the turning point in her form ahead of her All Australian 2019 season - Pearce would head down to the men’s training sessions outside of her contracted hours to work with men's coach Greg Stafford. “Prior to that, obviously, I was working during the days and stuff and it was not until that 2018 [VFLW] season that I was able to drop off work quite a bit, which therefore gave me more time to invest in my game outside of normal training hours.” The fact that the club and Pearce were able to negotiate this extra position-specific training time meant the ruck was able to develop her ground-level game during team training sessions. - Also some interesting stuff from the likes of Hanks, Heath and Tarrant about their progress in the last few years.

In better news, Eliza West from Casey has scored a spot on our rookie list: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/955804/west-earns-spot-on-dees-aflw-rookie-list Definitely stood out to me in the bits and pieces of Casey I've seen this season - no way I'd have guessed it's her first season of footy (ex-basketball)!

Cunningham definitely copped some flack over the years (from me included!), but considering she was a cross-coder who switched to footy in her late twenties, she got the absolute best out of herself and was evolving even in her last season. Unfortunately for Downie, injury caught up to her in the last few seasons. I'll always remember that massive hit she took in season one - did her hamstring and then got hit immediately. She did have some bad luck but I sense she'll be missed around the club. I can't help but imagine what both these players would have been like if they'd played since childhood and had a proper pathway to follow. Their games totals will seem small in the not distant future, as seasons get longer and players have 10+ year careers, but hopefully fans and the club will remember the important part they had in our foundation years.

Well this turned out to be a bit of a steal. I was concerned by what we'd have to give up for Tayla...as it turns out, nowhere as much as I'd thought. Sad to lose Emonson, but key forwards are at a premium. Not sure what's gone on at Carlton - perhaps they're trying to clear out before expansion and got too many players off side in the process? The retirement of Cunningham also puts things in a different light for us. The thing about Tayla is, regardless of form, opposition coaches aren't going to underestimate her, which will give the likes of Bannan some more development time.

Can someone go and get my lid? It flew off about an hour ago and went outside my 10km! I need it back because I don't know how to deal with MFC 2021? ???

I was against it but if Daisy's in, I'm in. I imagine it would be similar among the players and I feel like the culture of the club is strong enough for this to be handled properly. The money or loyalty issue doesn't bother me at all. It's a different landscape in the AFLW - for a lot of players 'the extras' or what a club means for their work or what their offseason looks like can be the difference between playing and not. Tayla's not quite in that category (probably because of her savvy in this area!) so I respect her approach. She's off the charts in terms of marketing, which given the financial reality of the league at present, has to be a factor for all clubs. It's Tayla's form of late that I'm iffy on. She can be inconsistent and can really struggle to be involved in games. The same could be said for some of our current forwards though. There's potential that Tayla's strengths (contested marking) will be better suited to our game style and also what we've lacked at times. When her tackling pressure's on, she makes a big impact, sometimes recklessly. She's 24, and 8th on the goalkicking list for the league with 29 goals from 37 games...

No worries at all - I want to keep updated on the players over the offseason so may as well share! Hopefully more to report sooner rather than later but we'll see.

Maybe wants to see how the knee goes on the slide Queen's Bday before making the call ?

ROUND 12 Was again able to watch the game courtesy of a YouTube stream. Hard to get to a game live with times being announced week to week, but hopefully the schedule will fall my way in the last two rounds. AFLW-listed players for Casey: Kendall, Tarrant, Colvin, Emonson, Birch, McNamara, Sherriff, Simmons, Zanker, Fitzsimon It was a hectic first quarter, with both teams playing at breakneck speed, and the camera work didn't do anything to reduce the general feeling of chaos. Both teams really applied the pressure but struggled for composure. Port went into quarter time with a narrow lead. The game remained tight to half time, though Casey's goals seemed to come from opposition mistakes rather than any clear system forward of the ball. Port took control in the third and despite a focused effort to draw them back early in the fourth, Port's goal kicking accuracy assured them deserved revenge for the teams' last encounter. FINAL SCORE Casey 5.5.35 Port 8.1.49 Goalkickers: 2 Milford, 1 Zanker, West, Emonson Eliza McNamara again impressed, finding plenty of space in a hotly contested game and again leading Casey's disposals with 23 and 5 marks. Was also impressed by another Eliza, of the West variety, a Casey-listed player with some great presence. The ladder: Casey stays locked on 4th with 2 rounds remaining. Next week: Casey take on 6th-placed Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval, date and time TBA.

The Casey VFLW Dees' 5-game winning run has come to an end at the hands of the Blues, who saved their finals hopes. This report is based on social media alone, so not much in the way of individual player comments... The Dees had 5 changes to the team from the previous round, with Heath, Gay, Lampard and Bannan all making way, while the Blues were bolstered by some experienced players to snap a 4-game losing streak. Good to see that McNamara made her return for the Dees after that concussion in the AFLW Prelim. AFLW-listed for Casey: Kendall, Birch, McNamara, Fitzsimon, Colvin, Sherriff, Zanker, Simmons Casey had the breeze in the first quarter and capitalised, going into the break with a 23-point lead to no score. They led by 2 points at the half with the Blues also taking advantage of the wind. In the third, the Dees only managed 2 behinds, which set up the Blues for a strong final quarter and the win. Clearly it was a Casey Fields special, and our girls' failure to the hit the scoreboard accurately (and with any majors after quarter time!) proved costly. FINAL SCORE Casey 3.7.25 Carlton 8.3.51 Goalkickers: Sherriff, Simmons, MacDonald McNamara led Casey in disposals. The ladder: Casey sits 4th with 3 rounds remaining. Next week: 3rd-placed Port Melbourne at Casey Fields, Saturday 22nd of May, 10.30AM

Very informative! This is something I often wonder about and I try (and usually fail) to figure out what our preferred structure is or at least see when changes are made if it isn't working. Especially when watching a replay as during a live game I'm usually too absorbed in the contest to notice much...or I tend to look more at what the forward or backline setup is doing. The TV commentary is rarely any help in this regard in terms of what teams are actually trying to do at a centre bounce. Admittedly it's sometimes hard to tell on the fly, but you'd think commentators watching the team over many years with the same diligence as our posters could produce similar analysis...

Enjoyed watching our new President speak at the AFLW B&F as well. Right at home and showed a lot of passion for the team https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/924307/aflw-best-fairest-kate-roffey?videoId=924307&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1619789389001

Unless I'm losing my mind, we've definitely worn these socks several times over maybe the last 5-7 years? I remember because I actually think they look really good, as opposed to the short red sock which tends to get a bit lost. Are the long sock even in the uniform anymore apart from rucks? Obviously these are the big issues of our time.

ROUND 10 It’s another winning weekend for the Demons, with the VFLW Dees again victorious. Not quite the 3 from 3 of weekends past with the VFL game postponed, but the streak continues! Thankfully, as we were all glued to proceedings at the MCG, the game was streamed on YouTube: At least watch the opening play of the first quarter (00:16:13 into the video) to see Zanker evade, fend off and spin out of traffic in super style! Williamstown, 11th of 12 on the ladder, are obviously not up there in terms of quality opposition so perhaps not the best measure of how the team’s going. Casey were clearly a class above, with solid contributions pretty much across the board and the AFLW talent carrying them into complete dominance from the first quarter onwards. The rain we enjoyed at the MCG came midway through the third quarter at Downer Oval but by then the game was well and truly in Casey’s control. Of the non-AFLW listed players, I enjoyed the games of Fairchild, Buchan and ex-Dee Emma Humphries. Commentary mentioned that Milford is the leading goalkicker in the comp – didn’t hit the scoreboard in this game but definitely brought the forward pressure. A few NAB league girls made their debuts in the game including young ruck Grace Matsa who represented Vic Country and certainly made a good first-up impression. I also liked the effort of Fitzsimon, who was the only yet-to-debut AFLW-listed player in the team. Sherriff had a solid game, including a couple of great goals. Parry had some key moments of brilliance. Meanwhile, Gay was simply a class above. FINAL SCORE Williamstown 0.0.0 Casey 9.5.59 Goalkickers: 3 Gay, 2 Parry, Sherriff, 1 McDonald, Kirkwood With four rounds remaining, Casey are solidifying their spot in the top 6 and could even push for top 4. Next week: 10th-placed Carlton at Casey Fields, Saturday 15th of May, 10:30AM

I agree that we'd want a more consistent player than Harris given what we're lacking in that area. When she's good, she's very good, but otherwise I don't really see her as a good fit. I doubt she'll be at the Blues but I can see her going north (Gold Coast or GWS) where her marketability would be a huge asset. Having said that, I don't really have another option for who we should be targeting... The idea that Molloy would leave Collingwood stuck me as very unlikely. That's all external though and I guess you may as well try!

ROUND NINE Another three-win weekend for Casey/Melbourne, with the VFLW Dees getting the win against North as well. AFLW players named in the team: Heath, Birch, Tarrant, Sherriff, Colvin, Bannan, Gay, Zanker, Lampard. Interesting to see Colvin hit the scoreboard! Final Score: North 4.2.26 Casey 10.8.68 Goals: 2 Milford, Colvin, 1 Gay, Fairchild, Harasimiuk, Thompson, West, Bannan LADDER after Round 9: Coll 9-0 Port Melb 8-1 Geelong 7-2 Essendon 6-3 Casey 6-3 Southern Saints 4-5 North 3-6 WB 9-3 Carlton 3-6 Hawthorn 2-7 Williamstown 2-7 Darebin 1-8 Next week: Round 10 v Williamstown (11th place) at Downer Oval, Saturday 8th of May 7PM I'll be at the 'G, but my first VFLW viewing of the season is surely coming soon! Four home and away rounds remain so a strong finish should seal Casey's first VFLW finals berth.

Congrats to the winners, well-deserved and very fitting to have a veteran and future star share the honour. Sums up the progress this season. The full leaderboard for posterity: Hanks 64 Paxman 64 L.Pearce 57 Hore 55 Mithen 47 Zanker 46 Heath 46 Scott 45 Gay 44 Cunningham 37 Cunningham at 10th suggests she fulfilled the role the coaches asked of her despite not having the same kind of impact as in other years. Love seeing Heath recognised among some big names for her contribution.

Seriously, how are we even meant to sleep after that?

Well, just thought I'd round out a great day by checking on the VFLW scores and lo and behold, the girls got the job done too! So it was a three-win day, with each win coming against Richmond (since Port Melbourne in VFLW are essentially Richmond's affiliate this year because unlike every other AFLW affiliated VFLW club, the Tiges didn't feel like paying to field a VFLW team but that's a whole other thing). Port Melbourne were undefeated going into this round, while Casey were 4-3, so this was something of an upset and quite a margin too. FINAL SCORE: Port 4.4.28 Casey 10.9.69 AFLW players for the Dees: Birch, Lampard, Tarrant, Gay, Sherriff, Parry and Bannan Goalkickers: Bannan 3, Parry 2, Johnson 1, Milford 1, Humphries 1, Fairchild 1, Thompson 1 Next week, Round 9: North Melbourne (2-5 going into Round 8) at Arden St 2PM Saturday 1st of May

Well, a disappointing way for the season to end! But all credit has to go to Adelaide who were simply too good in every facet of the game and completely outplayed us. They never looked in doubt. In many ways, it was a reversal of our effort against them a month back. They responded to that as you would expect of a two-time premiership team. Too many of our players failed to get into the game and we just couldn't take a trick. The luck we'd had the last four rounds (much of which we admittedly created through sheer grit and determination) abandoned us and Adelaide showed no mercy. It took so much to get there that you could kind of sense a flat performance would eventually trip us up. Felt for McNamara and Randall - not a nice way to end your season. And we all lose by not getting to see Randall in the Grand Final. All that said: what a season! Like others have commented, as disappointing as it was to lose in such a fashion, I'm still so proud of how far this team came this season and the spirit they played in couldn't be faulted. No one would have had us in the Prelims at season's beginning. Few would have had us in the finals. Some of the predictions were very dire! I'll admit I was iffy! While it's still too soon to say if our draft strategy has paid off, it feels like the right move. Of those that left, the hardest to replace probably turned out to be Cordner, somewhat expectantly but mostly due to Downie's injury. This is a credit to the players who stepped up and the continued development of our youngsters. We equalled last year's effort - and actually surpassed it given the season being three games longer. Three or four players who would have been in our bottom six or on the fringes last year stepped up to cement places in the team. The debutants made their mark, with Bannan and MacNamara playing every game, and Magee improving well beyond what her first game might have suggested. The much-anticipated (well, by me!) break-out season of Zanker was great to witness - the sky's the limit from here if the work is done. Same goes for Hanks who achieved some deserved recognition. Shout-out also to Lampard, whose return from an ACL during this season was perhaps not spoken of much but she really built into the season. Next year...is an eternity away. It seems even longer than usual, despite the fact that it is actually closer due to the lengthened season. There are many questions: The season structure is (if I recall correctly) meant to expand to 10 H&A rounds - will that happen and will it impact when the season is started/how much overlap there is with the men? I've heard talk of starting in November. Will Daisy play on? The vibe I get is yes at this stage but things can change quickly. Other retirees/trades etc.? You'd wonder about Cunningham's role going forward. Downie? Does McEvoy make the trip again? Things must become difficult for Sloane now, after that third ACL and now 28. Will we be as proactive in the trade and draft period this year? Personally I feel we'd be better off targeting some proven performers rather than going the draft route again although further expansion is a ticking time bomb as well. We still need that big marking forward we so sorely lack and more depth down back. Who might we move along? Emonson? How much will we need to improve on this season's output to be finals contenders again? Sides like North, Freo and Carlton who were very strong in 2020 came into 2021 as favourites but didn't improve enough and were exposed. Can Port Adelaide enter the comp soon? ? Looking forward to the Grand Final and celebrating what was undoubtedly the best season of AFLW so far. Funny to think how lots of us raved about that Melbourne v North game at a locked-down Casey mid-season as the best game in the comp history so far - since then I reckon there's been about 5 games of equal quality or excitement-factor. Onwards and upwards. It might be a while before I muster the will to trek to Casey Fields again but hopefully I'll get along to a VFLW game or too at some stage to check out what's happening at that level - at this stage the Casey girls sit 5th of 12 teams, with 3 wins and 3 losses.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! It's great to have more detail about the season structure there. Unfortunately it seems like it may become more difficult for players to cross-over in the future but certainly happy to enjoy it while it lasts and players are happy to do so (and inter-county and club level willing). Like I said, it really brings a different dimension to the competition and the success rate has been quite good in terms of players cementing places even in strong sides and having an impact. Especially considering that as cross-code rookies these are essentially 'free' players for clubs, in the sense that they don't have to spend draft picks to acquire them and have to fill up rookie spots anyway. You can't help but wonder what some of these players would be like with more consistent game time across a year because they learn so quickly already and are such naturals to many elements of the game. Of course, it's all a balancing act. Anyway, Dublin's definitely my team now (if it wasn't already due to Jimmy!). I think a lot of Melbourne AFLW supporters would feel the same. Hopefully all three girls are able to build strongly from the season here, Goldie especially, and continue their great careers back home. 2022 feels a long way in the future but I'm sure they'd be welcomed back with any other talented mates!

How good is it to wake up Monday after a double victory weekend! Another excellent team effort by the girls, with Maddi Gay the standout. As someone said upthread, couldn't really name any passengers in this game, with every player bobbing up at some point to play their part. Cunningham's best game in a while, had some good quick hands and important touches and the role she's playing structurally is valuable for Zanker and L.Pearce. Glad they went with Tarrant up forward and what a time for her first AFLW goal! Good to have adaptable players like this who can play forward or back. Also well done to Emonson who slotted in well. Special shout out to Magee who played her best game yet in her short career. Her improvement week on week has been immense all things considered. She's learning at a rate of knots. It's heart in mouth stuff at times but her dash out of defense was a sight to behold. Shelley Scott goes completely under the radar outside the club, which is weird considering she was our B&F last year! But she just keeps on keeping on. Only injury concern is Downie who I saw limp off in the dying stage. The race is on for Daisy but even if she doesn't get up, her influence will be all over the field. Adelaide in Adelaide is a tough ask but our team should go in with every belief and a good understanding of what kind of effort will be required.