Dees_In_October

Live scenes from MFC HQ: Yeah the girls! Yeah the boys! Break out the deluxe cheeseboards everyone! (Against all logic, still fearful in posting this of some truly wacky Collingwood results #mfcss)

Described in the MFC article as a key forward 🤷‍♀️ Let's go with versatile! Hopefully the scan comes up clear for Maddi. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1457279/new-dee-to-take-on-dockers More Heath appreciation, this time from teammates: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1457234/heath-reaches-50-the-underrated-star

Great point. And we're third in the league for average home game attendance, same as last year. The actual figure for attendance average per game has decreased by about 1,000 compared to last season, but those numbers last year were bolstered by a 17,000 attendance for the double header at the 'G. So I'd consider our crowd numbers as a supporter base (within the context of the league) to be quite solid this year. But I get your perspective too, @WalkingCivilWar Dees AFLW fans are prominent in the fan space and striving really hard to push things along. As a competition leader, we want more. In memberships, we were 12th last year I think, so we definitely want to do better there. Agree completely. Women don't have an obligation to support women's footy, at least not to any greater extent than anyone else does. In fact, I'd say women in general have done a fair bit in that regard already, in battling for over a century for the right just to play. A big part of it from an AFL perspective would (or should) be to gain ground in the most rapidly growing battle in the code wars, which is women's sports. And on that, they miss opportunities time and time again. We've seen how cricket (T20 World Cup at the MCG in 2020) and soccer (World cup this year) have put on big marketing campaigns to drive attendance and break records, which has a significant flow-on effect. The AFLW GF might be in Melbourne for the first time since 2018 this year. Great opportunity for a similar campaign to break the AFLW attendance record, right? But no, the capacity for a Vic-based GF will be capped out at 12,000 at Princes Park. So...

Gall's a defender I think? Exciting to have a debut but I don't like mystery outs!

I totally jinxed her by naming her a player to watch! Will make things easier but I kinda wanted to see Gillard go against her. I reckon Heathy off the field, Heater on the field, seems apt for her on- vs. off-field vibe haha.

Also, if selected (!), it will be Shelley Heath's 50th game. We really went a week early with out appreciation of her in the last matchday thread but why not go again! In checking that this was indeed 50 games for Heater, I came across an article describing her drafting at pick 44 in 2018 as a shock. It seems that Melbourne was the only club that showed interest (she'd only been playing footy since age 15). Wasn't even watching the draft when her name was called! From the beginning we've lauded her tackling ability - hard but typically fair and controlled, in a way that is increasingly valuable. She's also probably the most noted tagger of the league to this point, with some seriously big-name scalps. The addition of more attacking attributes has now sent her to another level, still aged just 23.

Here we go, round 9! Saturday 1.05PM at Casey Fields (likely our last game at Casey this season). Fremantle's Casey win-loss record: 1-2 Melbourne's win-loss record against Fremantle: 5-2 (Melbourne last played Fremantle, in R6 2022B, a 30-point win) Fremantle's 2023 formline: Fremantle's 4 wins have come against teams 10th and below, with 4 losses to teams 8th and above. Both teams have played West Coast (Melb +70; Freo +8), Collingwood (Melb +42; Freo -21), Hawthorn (Melb +59; Freo +13), North (Melb +23; Freo -45) and Geelong (Melb +49; Freo -24). Fremantle are coming off a 24-point win against 10th-placed St Kilda. A player of theirs to watch for is Aine Tighe, a super athletic genuine matchwinner. An article on Paxy and her name change (which is a name change only, not pronouns, as it turns out). Plus the infamous dog incident, which could have been much worse: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1057131/why-dees-star-changed-her-name-and-that-dog-related-incident Lily's podcast with new Demon Saraid Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVjIrZ20TKI

Agree! Whoever chooses must have blinked during that one.

Yeah in all seriousness I think there's very little chance Ellie would switch teams. She strikes me as the type who'd prefer to stay a one-club player and lead the next phase for the Dogs. There's clearly something very wrong there in the management of their program - I'd liken it to Carlton a few years back. If there's not a serious shake-up at season's end it'll be clear that those up top have not sustained interest or the support required. I don't think Poita was suggesting we get rid of Harris, just that it would be less of a loss if she were to be given an offer she can't refuse in some AFL equalisation measure, because other players have come on and we rely on her less. I think that's fair enough. But, yes, obviously she's best 21 when fit. No one sees Tayla Harris's name on the team list and thinks, "Well, we won't need to put any time into her". Has contributed plenty in most of the games she's played this season - leads the competition in avg. contested marks and goal assists, and is third for avg. marks i50. Just hope she can string a few games together ASAP.

Vote for Paxy for this round's Mark of the Year nomination! https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/mark-of-the-year Coaches votes for R8: NARRM v NORTH MELBOURNE 10 Tyla Hanks (MELB) 7 Tahlia Gillard (MELB) 7 Olivia Purcell (MELB) 2 Mia King (NMFC) 2 Ashleigh Riddell (NMFC) 1 Jasmine Garner (NMFC) 1 Shelley Heath (MELB)

What was that for? I had no idea at the ground. Agree there were some truly ridiculous decisions both ways.

Love this WCW! I missed the banner so appreciate you posting it. "Two feet and a heartbeat" is a great mantra and I think our team really lived it in how they played this game - every player has two feet and a heartbeat, everyone can do their little bit even if it's not fancy or something that's going to make a highlights reel. That puts it so well and it's reassuring we've recaptured that hungry way to play against a team that has some physicality to it. Hopefully we can replicate it when it really counts! I'll admit I had to do a google. "Diminutive but courageous" sounds about right. 165cm, only 8cm taller than Tyla - you wouldn't see a player of that height in the men's today! Agree, it's a great league to watch if you're not into footy just to see "the best" (some people are, and that's fine). If you appreciate player development and what it looks like when it does vs. doesn't happen, plus how the process can happen slowly then very quickly in some players, just like the men's, AFLW has all that. But it's in overdrive, even in the best players and teams, all while the game style matures and expectations on players re: fitness and preparation rise. Dees 2023 vs Dees 2021 would be interesting. I'd put Heath on Heath and see the universe explode. In a similar vein, I wonder which teams in 2023 could beat the inaugural premiers? Played under 2023 rules, the longer quarters would have a big say. The top 8 could for sure.

Yeah, bring her home! It's been 10 years but she was ours at the beginning.

6. Hanks 5. Heath 4. Purcell 3. Gillard 2. Hore 1. Paxy

That was a well planned and mature performance. After the first quarter, took away their strengths, played with a disciplined structure but ferocious attack on the footy and player, control and even a bit of tempo footy. Every player clear in their role and the team's aims for each phase of the game. A slow start and a few goals left out there, but that's pretty standard! The mids set the tone. Heath, Purcell and Hanks were focused and aggressive. Who said we couldn't shut down Garner? Oh yeah, that was me! Well, that was about as close to shut down as she gets. Watching live you appreciate how well Paxy moves across the ground. A few head in hands disposal choices tonight though not alone there. Credit to Fitzsimon and Sherriff for their forward pressure (7 & 6 tackles) and Zanker for her tireless efforts to always make a contest. As good as bags of 5 snags are, a spread of 5 individual goalkickers has its own value. We made PLENTY of mistakes with ball in hand (telegraphed kicks into the corridor!) but could often mop it up through weight of numbers and sheer will, while also capitalising better on their mistakes. Our attack has got a lot of the attention this season, but this was a great defensive effort, particularly in that 3rd quarter (very similar to the final last season). Loved Gillard's game and Wilson had some impressive one-on-ones. Six to one marks i50, considering North's talls - that was telling. Great Demon crowd - felt like it was just red and blue people and that one North guy calling for a free kick every few seconds! And all after the Lions took down the Crows. That was a better spectacle, a more free-flowing game. But nothing beats a Dees win.

Those are some good ins, but we're definitely on a bit of an injury rollercoaster. Sucks for Lampard. Fingers crossed that they really are just being careful with Harris and she can get some continuity soon. Some background to the game... Princes Park win-loss record: Melb 6-0; Nth 3-1 Melbourne's win-loss record against North: 5-1 (in 6 meetings, the average margin has been 7.3 points) North's 2023 formline: The Roos have 6 wins on the board, their only loss coming against Brisbane (4th) in R4. Their wins have been against the currently placed 6th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th (Melbourne's: 6th, 8th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th). Both teams have played and beaten Geelong (Melb: +49; Nth +9) and GWS (Melb: +77; Nth: +30). North has the stingiest defense in the league, with only 126 points conceeded, compared to 198 for the Dees. Randall is North's leading goalkicker with 14, next best is Shierlaw with 8. Selected teams avg. games experience: Melb 41.5; Nth 37.8 Last time they met: Our last match-up in the 2022B PF was a physical affair, with North putting immense pressure on our ball carriers. To some extent, it was the Roos' wayward kicking and failure to create good forward entries that put them out of the game (18 i50s in the 3rd for just 2 behinds), as the Demon defence stood firm. North played with a spare back, and Kearney in particular cleaned up behind the ball, while Garner had a typically prolific game. In the end, Paxman and Hanks pushed us across the line and a bit of Daisy brilliance sealed the deal for a 16-point win. Also notable given Harris is out is that she was limited in this game by an early injury, forcing the likes of Zanker into the ruck. This time round we're playing a second ruck anyway, though of course we'll still miss her as an aerial threat.

Relevant to our discussion. Puts Garner and Riddell as the best midfield partnership: https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1054849/four-on-the-floor-aflws-most-powerful-engine-rooms "Between the two of them, Garner and Riddell are responsible for 23 per cent of North Melbourne's disposals, 32.2 per cent of its inside 50s and 40.8 per cent of its clearances."

Tests all round! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1453638/rd8-injury-report-five-demons

I'm a full Dees games at "Princess" Park convert now too. I used to not like that it wasn't "ours", but the benefits clearly outweigh those cons. If they could work out a way to cover that ugly Carlton logo, I'd be happy for us to play our home games there, with maybe just one out at Casey for old times' sake and to force interstate teams or Geelong to travel there haha. Of course, this is all until we build our proper club home base and AFLW boutique stadium... in the distant, distant future.

For those unaware, apparently (according to The W Podcast with Sam Lane) the average attendance for this season could reach the metric the AFL has required to unlock an extra game next year, so 12 H&A instead of 11. Some very good attendances in the last few rounds are needed though. The AFL has kept this quiet, but it's all detailed in the new CBA. Currently I think the average is about on par with last season, which is impressive given there were definitely some double headers that bolstered those figures and none this season. Anyway, we all like to whinge about the short season, so here's a chance to do something about it by getting along to games and get whoever to tag along. I'd also imagine that strong crowds at Ikon will beget more Dees home games there...

I love that this thread just became a Heath fanclub meeting. Should happen every week! Underrated GF moment: On the Garner tagging question, I reckon we go Heath on Riddell. We could put a lot of energy into Garner with not much effect. It's a tricky one.

That's good news. Although the injury report last week didn't even list Harris or Colvin. Or Gay, though I guess technically she's being managed more than injured. Any word on the length of Colvin's injury? Ankle I think? Can we get some money from the soft cap for a dog grooming service for the rest of the year? Money well spent though Poppy might not agree 😄

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1054453/top-four-battles-set-to-shape-mcclelland-trophy-race

6. Bannan 5. Hanks 4. B. Mackin 3. Purcell 2. McNamara 1. A.Mackin Apologies to the backline who didn't get much of a look-in but I'm sure held their structure and concentration for 99% of the game, just weren't really tested. If I was them, I'd have jumped the fence for an ice cream during the last quarter, so credit to them.

The fact that this didn't even register for me during the game says... something! Absolutely. This game was meaningless in terms of any player's form or ability due to the quality of opposition, but it's a battle in itself to ignore the scoreboard and keep pushing in those conditions. They'd have loved to kick several more, but we can't say it was for lack of trying. There were some tired kicks in the last. Play of the day for me (with apologies to Banno) was the Irish connection for the Sherriff goal in the third. Goldie with the one-on-one contest to B.Mack with the step to A.Mack hard up against the boundary with the flawless centring kick. Just an impressive little skills showcase. Also enjoyed seeing the ruck combo of Campbell and Watt. Hugely important stepping stone for Campbell and she really put her best foot forward from the get-go. Watt was solid also and worked into it well. And that was possibly the best mid-game interview I've ever heard, just so honest and natural. I tried to focus in on West in this game. She does so much to clear the way for others. She's not part of the handball chain so often, but her tackling pressure was apparent. Even though the oppo wasn't convincing, the fact that we can take out Paxy, Gay, Harris and Pearce (almost 250 games experience) and get that result... well. For context, even with those outs (3 of our top 5 in games experience), we had 784 total games experience compared to the Eagles' 543. An even match-up it was not.