Dees_In_October

Agree with this completely. Even her body work in marking contests will help down there, while her limitations will be minimised. One thing about Daisy is she knows her strengths and will play smart. And her biggest asset now is to bring others into the game and show the way, not necessarily make the impact herself.

Monday after a loss - I don't like it! One thing I'm grateful for is that this happened in Round 4 not Round 8 or whatever. It's a good thing I'm not a coach because I'd be super reactive to this, which is probably not the way to go. They can't throw out the baby with the bathwater and make drastic changes to the game plan in a ten-week season. Obviously they need to find a different approach or just a clearer idea of what to do when that Plan A isn't working. How to get back control in that situation. Because it seemed like they had no idea, no response except "try harder to do what we're clearly failing to do", which is fine to a point, but a switch in approach needed to come earlier. The poor start did us absolutely no favours... While I'd love to see us come out firing, I think they need to work their way into games more strategically. Not all guns blazing necessarily, but build from contest and pressure - basically, put on the heat that the Crows did (no mean feat, of course).

Agree but it was consistent across the games I saw across the round. 'Rule of the week'

Yep, a struggle: McNamara Hanks Lampard Goldrick D Pearce

Some interesting behind the scenes info from the Lil and Ben podcast this week (AFLW Gus and Gawny equivalent). Gay, Sherriff and Lampard had just moved in as housemates when Gay tested positive in the lead-up to R2. They decided to isolate within the house, and neither Sherriff or Lampard ever tested positive, hence their quicker return. Lots of laughs in this one about that situation, as well as Lily's own isolation: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/podcasts/lil-and-ben

Another one to thank Daisy for. If memory serves, she had a part in getting Libby into footy from netball and then across to the Demons from the Bulldogs.

Just to tie up the round, congrats to our second Rising Star of the season, Megan Fitzsimon. Well deserved! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1052092/fitzsimon-a-rising-star-in-round-3

Loved that! Seems like a great person to have around our young players as well - to pick up a sport in your late 20s and keep learning and pushing to get better all the time, on the other side of the world. Great stuff.

I didn’t really consider it given it’s a Pies jumper. Always looks ugly to me! But at least they’re selling them…

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this!

I'm with you there. I find giving votes difficult at the best of times, but this was tricky. 5. L.Pearce 4. Hanks 3. Harris 2. Birch 1. Fitzsimon

Just saw that the Pies have theirs on sale so checked if happening for ours too - unfortunately, doesn't look like it. There's are tshirts available at Cotton On though, not nearly as nice! https://cottonon.com/AU/aflw-2022-pride-tee/9630712-09.html?dwvar_9630712-09_color=9630712-09&cgid=afl-melbourne&originalPid=9630712-09

Some random thoughts: Weird not seeing Mithen at the bottom of a pack a million times today! Thanks to the footy gods for the Saints' inaccuracy... That last quarter blitz was a delight but you wouldn't want to rely on that against the better teams. Slow starts are becoming a bit of an issue. Big ups for Fitzsimons' game today. Taking strides every week and really loved her repeat efforts. Harris could kick five and still have detractors, but where would we have been at half time without her?

The competition has caught up in a way that denies her some of what she's previously got away with, BUT I agree her experience and endurance are what will keep her in the game for a while yet. To me she looks rusty more than declining, but I admit that's a fine line! I remember Daisy saying (of her own game) that she knows there are certain elements, certain little tricks that won't serve her as well as the competition develops, e.g., relying on knowing what a probably skill error will result in to read the play, as some of those will happen less and less frequently.

Success!

Injury update - Mick gives the timeline of last round's Covid impact. Gay, Lampard and Sherriff were all ruled out just 24 hours before the game, so a great effort to adjust quickly. As we all understand with Covid, seems like some feeling the effects more/longer than others.

Checked out the training gallery, thinking I might get some insight into whether any of last week's five have served their Covid protocol time already. But no, only players from last week's team included. However, great to see Purcell up and running. A month away by my count, fingers crossed for no setbacks.

I've seen a few people asking on socials, so hopefully someone will be able to answer.

The icing on the cake of the round, GOTY and MOTY nominations for Bannan and Harris. https://www.womens.afl/markoftheyear https://www.womens.afl/goaloftheyear Plus Bannan has been nominated for the Rising Star award: https://www.womens.afl/news/81037/speed-demon-no-1-suns-gun-revealed-as-r2-rising-stars

Vote for Bannan here: https://www.womens.afl/goaloftheyear Vote for Harris here: https://www.womens.afl/markoftheyear

5 Hanks 4 Paxman 3 Hore 2 McNamara 1 West

Just thinking about Parry's game. Has been with us a few years now but has yet to become the major goalkicker she was touted as or to my mind really imposed herself on the game. Perhaps her role has become more defensive over time. She bobs up with some marks here and there, and is pretty solid in the physical stuff but something is lacking... Would love others' thoughts on her role?

Fitzsimons has earned another run IMO. Got to reward that. Feels like the 'protocols' five are walk-up starts though. Petrevski, Magee and Parry in the mix to miss. Anyone remotely in need of a refresh should get that, though unlikely at this early stage. Depth is the key this season - early season game time could prove vital for some of the lesser lights to jump in later...but how far can this be pushed without sacrificing team synergy and the form of the big guns?

KP didn't have much impact, although a nice cameo in Harris's sealer. But she not the kind of player I'd expect to hit the ground running. She's had such a roller coaster with injuries, border restrictions, etc. Feels like we haven't seen her best yet - another player who might benefit from some unexpected game time due to Covid outs.

Yep, laying the shepherds and making some tackles too. Great to see.