Dees_In_October

You can have a picture of a heater and a lamp 😉 Now that one's solved, does anyone know the official figure for Mick's number of games coached? The Dees have played 98, so 99 this weekend and the 100th in Week 1 of finals. But I know Mick missed at least one game as coach, maybe 2?

It's last disposal not last touch. So the first would be a throw-in because the last interaction with the ball wasn't a disposal but a touch. The second would be a throw-in if the umpire deems it to be a deflection (touch) not a disposal (kick).

Beasley was in the scrimmage this weekend gone, so heading in the right direction. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQTNhspEuh_/?hl=en

Another big game. More pressure practice! We're making diamonds here. All going to plan, @WERRIDEE's team is our best 21*, the one we've been working back to all season. Hopefully we can get that team gelling together for a few games now. *minus Purcell, tweaks depending on oppo, Beasley somewhere in the equation

A great report as always! RE: Lampard's 75th, a few sites like AFLW Stats have her on 75 but the AFL website has her on 74 (which is what I had, with 71 games before Round 1, and 3 games this season so far). Either the AFL hasn't updated and I can't count, or we might need to celebrate again next game!

It's a credit to her effort in those 3 games over a year ago that we're so keen to get her back! Or maybe just a bit desperate!

6 Hore 5 McNamara 4 Hanks 3 Pearce 2 Gillard 1 Zanker

I think she's been training with the main group for a few weeks. I feel like they've been conservative and very deliberate with how they're building her back up.

Frustrating. Can't fault the effort of our players but... Brisbane were harder at it for longer. We'd spent everything surviving the first quarter defensively and didn't have enough left in the last quarter to execute properly. On paper, that was our best 21 (sans Purcell, Gall and Goldrick), but if we compare the "bottom 6" of each, that's where the difference is - in experience and fitness, not necessarily talent although the jury's probably out on that for a while yet. The big one is that after the first quarter, they took their chances in the key moments while we didn't (Chaplin's goal excepted!). And not just in goal kicking but some important contests where they came out on top. We play that game again though, and I reckon we go a lot closer to winning it. And just as important for this team as any wins we might get this finals series is earning more games against quality opposition. Keep earning those and who knows what might happen. I abstain from umpiring commentary.

And a little on the strength of QLD women's footy, while we're at it, courtesy of Sean Lawson: More analysis on this topic by Sean here: https://thisweekinfootball.com/twif/round-23-2025/#aflw-state-s-of-origin

Avg. games experience of teams as selected: Melbourne: 46.1 Brisbane: 59.3 Only 2 Lions selected have played 26 or fewer games, compared to 7 Dees. Melbourne's recent results against Brisbane: 2024: -18 2023: -25 2022B GF: +4 2022B R4: -15 2021: +4 2025 Top 5 score involvements: Melb: Hore 76, Zanker 59, Hanks 55, Harris 47, Fitzsimon 43 Bris: Smith 50, Hodder 45, Dawes 42, Anderson 40, Davidson 38 2025 Top 5 rebound 50s: Melb: Chaplin 54, Paxman 20, Hanks 18, McNamara 13, Colvin 12 Bris: Dunne 32, Campbell 30, Koenen 22, Ellenger 21, Anderson 16

Will be interesting to see if she gets the call up at some stage or if we stick with the status quo. Certainly a welcome option if there are injuries. Tough for a three-game player coming off such a long lay-off, though they've clearly taken a careful approach. When Georgia's good to go, she's obviously in, but I wonder if we're starting to look a bit tall then.

I would expect nothing less!

Good to hear! Thanks for the report. We're lucky to have you!

I agree, it would make a huge difference. Our team has turned it into something of an advantage, but you have to wonder how we'd go if we played at Ikon all the time. Though there are drawbacks to those venues as highlighted by @Brownie At the very least, I wish they would consider Docklands for a Grand Final. It's sold out three (?) years in a row. Neutral W fans in Vic would absolutely turn up (if nothing else, to beat the Adelaide Oval record for the 2019 AFLW GF). But the AFL has already ruled that out for this year. Another thing they should consider but probably won't is the ball itself. While easier to handle, it's pretty widely accepted now that the smaller ball is harder to kick for distance and penetration, especially in windy conditions. And let's not forget, despite the way the AFL likes to present it, girls didn't wake up one day in 2017 and decide they wanted to play football because of AFLW. They've always been girls who wanted to play but were prevented (including actively by the AFL). It's easy to forget how quickly the perception has changed and I agree with you that the AFL don't quite understand what they have on their hands or how to best showcase it. I have many thoughts on this, obviously, but I won't go on! (Looking forward to hearing your trade thoughts on the podcast - and maybe some thoughts about the pointy end of the W season?)

Glad you enjoyed! I know what you mean about it being like suburban footy but also very much not! 😂 That's so interesting what you say about the skills looking better live. Part of that might have been the lack of wind! So true re: Rigoni. Plus the likes of Ebert, O'Hehir, Mahony, etc., it's still early days in terms of building that next level of fitness as well as the concentration to play out games.

It's a big one, and I agree that Brisbane are better than Hawthorn. Finally some options at the selection table!

Also hope to hear from first-time Casey attendee @FarNorthernD Were you shocked by the relative lack of wind?! Did you get your face painted? Play some mini golf?

First but not foremost, thank you to Port. Second but foremost, thank you to our girls for a great effort today! To the umpires: I just…no. Don’t get me started. The middle stretch of the game was some really good stuff, after a shaky start and ending with our old enemy: dominance without reward. But overall, loved our pressure and hard running. A few times I saw someone launching themselves for a tackle and thought, “There’s Heater doing her thing,” but no, it was someone else (although, yes, it was Heater a lot too!). Our physicality was great, especially in a game where Harris was pretty much out of commission in that sense—kudos to her for getting out there. Once we got some possession, the Swans did well at enacting the tried and tested method for beating us. BUT I think (hope?) we’re making inroads on this, with players not coughing up the ball as much and being composed with the release, and getting the ball beyond the pressure layer more effectively (at times). We also often had players in much more quickly to mop up any error or provide tackle support to prevent an easy chain for them. We need this because in big games no team can be perfect. It's about getting numbers in at the right times. I thought Lampard was steady in her return but as important was the flow-on effect across the field positionally. Fish vs. Rigoni was an interesting battle. I also enjoyed watching O’Hehir line up on McEvoy – she kept her feet in some big contests with a stronger and more experienced player. Gillard was vital when the game was there to be won. All in all, very good. Mick tried some stuff, our players worked into the game and... dare I say it, no injuries?

Heath Hore McNamara Hanks Gillard Zanker

It's terrible news. I'm sure many of us here know this cruel disease all too well. There was an announcement at the ground before the AFLW game today, with condolences to the family, along with the family of the teen boy who died in Bendigo last week, whose family are also MFC supporters.

Tough as nails. Tough as nails. I'm very glad we won't be seeing "stubbed toe" on the injury list 😅 Actually, how's Tayla? I was thinking, could be a late out. Surprised she isn't under concussion protocols TBH.

Well good news, because the score review's just come in (wow, much quicker than usual!) and actually, it WAS a goal!

Yes, I added this for managing expectations (mainly my own!). On my "more realistic ladder", we're about 6th and hoping to lock in finals and build form for the pointy end. It could all fall apart or we could be in for an exciting run!

The countdown continues. Credit to... Credit to Du Bois: https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/1o61ctq/the_race_to_100_aflw_career_goals_is_coming_to_a/