Dees_In_October

Match-winning milkshake

Don't give up, don't refresh.

Success! Stressful, stressful success!

Seriously, I'd prefer a ballot to this.

A champion team over a team of champions any day. And each will get their kudos from those whose opinions they value most.

Just not fair. Any success we have from here, we couldn't have done it without Milkshake.

5 days til Round 1... Previous answer: Emoji-react with your answer: Q: In which year range was most of our list born?

7 days til Round 1... Previous answer: Emoji-react with your answer: Q: Who has kicked the most goals for Melbourne?

Not to long to go now! In the lead-up, I've put together a couple of trivia questions for the devoted W crew here. 9 days til Round 1... Emoji-react with your answer: Q: Melbourne has scored two of the top three winning margins in AFLW so far (78 and 88 points). Which teams did these wins come against?

Loved the way players referenced Fitzsimon’s game (the run down tackle and the smother response) and what that represented for the team. It’s not fearing failure and knowing how to respond to mistakes - because footy’s full of them - that got us the cup. Also, I’m officially on Tayla goal-celebration watch this season 😂

Loved it, some real honest insight from the players. Especially enjoyed Tayla describing her “first ever” goal celebration! And Mick - so much emotion for his players.

Couple of notes on a comfortable (if shockingly inaccurate) win. McNamara and B.Mackin on the wings, a great combo. McNamara moving well and covered heaps of ground, super involved. Sherriff forward, which aside from anything else creates confusion between the speedy brunettes 16 & 18 in long sleeves! Hore with a few centre bounce attendances. Good to see Colvin back and she was solid as per her season 6 form - when the ball made it down. Campbell, previously a forward, played in the ruck late and looks a backup option there. Took one really strong grab. Stand out: Zanker. Not about the 4 goals she kicked but the way she played - full of confidence, using her body, crafty. Could go a level up again this season. All the above comes with the disclaimer of the preseason nature of the game, the Casey conditions and the oppo (though the margin doesn’t convey the Hawks’ intensity in the second half which blocked us up pretty well). All of the list featured minus Gay, Gall, Fowler, Ivey, A.Mackin, Watt. Cobwebs blown out. No obvious injuries. ✅ Melb 8.16.64 Hawks 0.6.6

Live stream here: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1407010/aflw-at-casey-practice-match-info Not sure if it will be available to watch later or if it’s live only.

Inspiring stuff, seems like just yesterday Sammie’s pregnancy was announced (though I’m sure it doesn’t feel like that to her!). https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1407387/sammie-is-back-johnson-re-joins-primary-list https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwEnSl1BOkL/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In this article on the Top 10 biggest questions for AFLW 2023, I'm sure you can all guess the one related to the Dees! https://www.womens.afl/news/122540?_ga=2.169718247.73516909.1692161723-2126436883.1692161721 "Daisy Pearce's impact as a leader and coach has been discussed at length, and is something Melbourne has been working to cover since the star retired in January. Her impact as a player, however, has been largely forgotten. Playing her final seasons as a forward, Pearce was often tasked with roles on damaging opposition defenders, while also kicking 19 goals across both 2022 seasons. A combination of new captain Kate Hore, experienced player Eden Zanker, emerging star Alyssa Bannan and new recruit Aimee Mackin may just be enough to cover the loss of Daisy on-field." It's interesting because I feel among fans we tend to focus more on Daisy's leadership value in recent seasons, while respectfully hinting at a drop-off in contribution on the field. She certainly still had the ability to pop up in big moments (that classy goal in the Prelim against Nth) and may have had a nullifying defensive impact. But looking at the stats in the cold light of day, for Season 7... well, I won't go into detail but Daisy was well aware and made her decision accordingly. I guess it's inevitable, but it's a bit of a lazy narrative.

An absolute legend of the club. And across many years of high performance, some truly standout, unforgettable ones that we'll never forget.

Practice match report from the MFC website: MELBOURNE has triumphed in its first hit-out of the 2023 pre-season. The Dees travelled to IKON Park on Saturday to face the Blues in their opening practice match of their pre-season campaign, sealing a win at 5.5 (35) to 2.2 (14). Newly appointed captain Kate Hore kicked three goals in the match-sim and was quick to show her leadership on-ground, while winger Eliza McNamara was also in-form on return from her season-ending injury in 2022. Tyla Hanks and Megan Fitzsimon both made scoreboard impact kicking a goal apiece, with Charlotte Wilson and Sinead Goldrick impressing down back. Defender Shelley Heath reviewed the initial hit-out and said that despite a shaky opening quarter, the group was able to hit some rhythm in the second half. "We started off a bit slow," Heath said. "We had to get use to playing alongside each other again, we were trying out our game style and had lots of different types of playing coming in and out. "But after that first quarter, we eventually found our feet and started to play the way we wanted." Heath highlighted the work of her teammates, in particular the efforts of young Demon Georgia Campbell who impressed in her various roles across the ground. "Georgia did really well in her new role in the ruck," Heath said. "I thought she competed really well, laid tackles, offered plenty of follow-up at ground level to her ruck work, took a good couple of marks and I think overall she's really stepping well into that ruck position."

Couple of updates from the socials the last few days: - Eliza McNamara has been cleared to play in the practice match this Saturday, completing her recovery from that nasty spinal fracture last year - Sammie Johnson is back training after giving birth earlier in the year and could be ready to go in 3-4 weeks - The Mackins have arrived from Northern Ireland Tickets are on sale for all 10 H&A rounds this Thursday, 10am for members, 2pm for general public: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1398353/tickets-on-sale-aflw-countdown Photo day and training pics here: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1398876/aflw-gallery-from-photo-day-to-the-track?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1398876&playlistSize=10

Occasionally when watching a game I'm struck by just how many decisions umpires have to make and communicate within very short periods of time at an often frenetic pace these days. It's even more obvious now that umps are mic'ed up. Especially with needing to say "Stand" with every mark (surely this will end at some point?). I don't think there's another sport that requires so much involvement of umpires not just in adjudicating the game but directing players and often with the expectation that decisions be explained to players in real time as well. When you add in the fitness and other physical components (centre bounces), it's a lot. Anyway, congrats to Brett!

I've skimmed this thread, so forgive me if already mentioned, but does the AFL have anything set in writing about the consequences for not following the concussion protocols in this manner? I'm assuming that, when putting those in place, they also would have foreseen that they might not be followed (given the obvious advantage of failing to do so) and designated some kind of penalty for that in advance rather than having to be reactive to a situation like this one? Too much to ask? Clearly. I still remember a head knock I saw out at Casey Fields right in front of me, an opposition player from an interstate team that seemed under-resourced. It went unnoticed because it was on the far side of the ground away from any runners or medical staff, and with no video checks in place at the time. Most of the spectators were on the other side of the ground as well. There weren't even many teammates in the vicinity to force the player off. So, the player played on (it should never be up to the player to decide), and I felt helpless in my concern for that player, but what could be done? But this Port incident occurred in full view of everyone - fans, viewers, players, coaches, medical staff, the AFL and the media. Such a blatant breach.

Haha don't worry, late fixture release complaints are the lifeblood of any AFLW chat 😆

Love this. Makes sense to maximise resources like Choco and if we can do it across the club, why not: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvTYgjshREF/?img_index=1

Unbridled optimism on Demonland? I love it!

Boxing isn't my thing, so I'll leave it up to others to comment on Tayla's ability or otherwise. But until the AFLW H&A season takes up more than 20% of the year, I'm cool with pretty much anything players choose to do to earn a living - or just as importantly, maintain fitness. Helping players to juggle competing commitments is a huge part of what makes a successful AFLW team in this current phase. Give and take, of course, and you have to draw the line somewhere. But I'm sure the club were aware of the potential for injury in a boxing match.