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...and Daisy? Daisy played for Darebin in the VFLW league. This is her record: ...Pearce is a ten-time premiership player (seven as captain), six-time Helen Lambert Medallist (VFLW Brownlow equivalent). In her two completed AFLW seasons to date, Pearce has twice been voted AFLW Players' best captain, and is a dual AFL Women's All-Australian (as captain in the 2017 team and vice-captain in the 2018 team) and dual Melbourne best and fairest winner. She also captained Victoria in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match in 2017, where she was adjudged best afield. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Pearce She has captained our AFLW team since the beginning and had a number off-field roles for the club. She is a huge draw card to games and memberships. What else does someone need to do to make it to the DL banner?

FI organisers have said if any team is prevented from racing they'll cancel the Grand Prix. That is a huge amount of tourist dollars lost to the Vic economy if it is cancelled. imv the government is playing a high risk game in putting $ before health, especially as Ferrari's location and perhaps it's major fan base is in northern Italy. Wouldn't be at all surprised if a ban on travellers from Italy is activated as soon as the race is finished.

Brisbane and Richmond also do not have any injuries. This is exceptional given they played in the Prelim and Grand Final respectively. Other Finalists with minimal injuries are Giants (4) and Eagles (2). Here is a summary of all clubs (excl those listed as 'Test' on AFL website. Carlton (3), Sydney (2) and Port(3) are also in good shape from an injury perspective. While we are rightly proud of our improved injury list and pre-season I'm wary of how much of an advantage it is for us as many other teams have improved and lists are healthy.

Too early? Conference B Ladder and Fixture Black: Conference B teams, Red: Conference A teams; Blue: 8 point games of finals contenders. Top 3 in Conference B play finals. Top team goes straight to Prelim. 2nd and 3rd play a semi and that winner plays in the Prelim. Winner of the Prelim plays in Grand Final vs winner of Conference A Prelim. Fremantle: Freo were extremely lucky to beat the Saints. They won only because of a really soft 50m penalty to take them to the goal square with less than a minute to go. Freo have tough games ahead: Lions are top of Conference A ladder; Bulldogs a mere shadow of their former selves so Freo should win that. Then they play 2nd and 3rd. Will make the finals but don't have top spot sewn up. Demons: Technically we should beat Eagles and Suns but then we should have beaten the Saints but kicked ourselves into a loss. They are must win games. Then need to beat Freo and/or Blues. Blues: Very similar fixture to us. Pies: Their challenging game is vs Lions. Win their other 3 games and they can play finals. Depending how the '8-point' games go they could do a 'Bradbury' and make finals by 'default'. I would say Bulldogs, Saints, Eagles can't make finals but given they each play at least 2 of the top 4 they can really determine who does.

I suspect the result will be less meaningful than most preseason games as the Hawks will want to practice their new go-fast-thru-the-corridor game plan and to work out how to cover Hardwick in defence. A win will be great for our optimism, confidence etc. Nonetheless there will be a lot more to this game than meets the eye.

Dunkley, Gawn and May listed as 'Test' on the Injury Report. Fair chance they will all get a run vs Hawks even if it is only a few quarters each.

Harley Bennell Calf TBC Kade Chandler Wrist 1-2 weeks Kyle Dunkley Foot Test Max Gawn Knee Test Mitch Hannan Groin TBC Kade Kolodjashnij Concussion TBC Steven May Knee Test Nathan Jones Corked shin Available Harry Petty Groin TBC Braydon Preuss Knee 5-7 weeks Updated: Tuesday, March 3 Early prognosis The Demons have a few that are a while away with Bennell and Preuss working their way back from lengthy complaints, although the former has stepped up training in an encouraging sign he might finally be putting his calf issues behind him. Gawn and May are expected to play this week against Hawthorn while mystery surrounds Joel Smith's fitness, given his absence from the first two pre-season hitouts. – Jennifer Phelan Source: https://www.afl.com.au/matches/injury-list As an aside, while this shows injury list as being in the 'matches' tab on the AFL website I couldn't find the lists that way. This new site leaves a lot to be desired - so much good info has simply disappeared or impossible to find from the menu.

There are a few 2020 RFA's that might attract a first round pick; Wines and Viney come to mind. Both out of contract and both recently lost their captaincy. With all the Academy, FS and high quality FA's the 2020 draft will be a bit of fiasco. Re Daniher, various clubs who need a tall forward will back themselves in to rehab him - it sounds like his rehab issues were as much (lack of) motivation at Essendon as physical. Given that a club only has to stump up $ and no draft picks I suspect it won't only be Sydney keeping an eye on him. I reckon he will get a package that with/without some AFL fiddling, rates him a first round comp pick. Whether that is pick 2 or 19 depends on where Ess end the season. Landsberger was suggesting they will be bottom 4.

34,579 up from 32,985 a week ago. So, it looks like some optimism has kicked in among members, as well as memberships from last week's Family Day. Still about 2,300 behind same time last year but wouldn't be surprised if this gap isn't bridged before too long.

An interesting prediction by Sam Landsberger: Bold prediction: Essendon nosedives into the bottom four … delivering new coach Ben Rutten an early compensation pick as free agent Joe Daniher successfully departs. Question: Is this a year for Ess to tank again? The 'woe-is-me' injury narrative is already dampening expectations. They would get two top 5 picks; a natural one and an FA comp pick for Daniher. While 2020 is a compromised draft they can do well cashing one or both in for 2021 picks.

Round 2 vs GWS is shaping up to be more challenging than round 1 vs Eagles. GWS thrashed Swans by 16 goals without Origin players: Green, Whitfield, Cameron, Haynes, Cogniglio, Kelly and they lost their 2019 B&F winner in Taranto 10 minutes into the first qtr. Sydney were missing Origin players: Mills, Papley and maybe some senior players and they rarely take pre-season games seriously. Nonetheless, GWS look a team to be very wary of. Fortunately we are fit and healthy and hopefully we have sorted out the wrinkles in our game plan. Players and coaches will need to be sharp from the first bounce of the first game.

Excellent news for Max and May to get extra game time, especially if they don't make it back for Marsh02 in Tassie next week.

AFL Review of the game https://www.afl.com.au/news/378990/melbourne-midfielder-emerges-unscathed-from-practice-game 90% of the article is about the Dees ? Interestingly, it says that Gus played the first half in the forward line which may explain why he was quiet and not sighted at center bounces. No injuries reported.

Make or break game for finals. Both teams in the same Conference and both on 8 points. Pies second and Dees 4th on the Conference B Ladder.

If you wish follow the current figures they are posted on the club website https://am.ticketmaster.com/melbournefc/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=parallax&utm_campaign=2020_membership#/ and to track vs prior years

Interesting. They have shown 'waitlisted' for a while. Maybe there are premium members who haven't renewed yet and the club is holding their spot open. Thanks for the tip re Trident membership. I renewed Redleg memberships for myself and my niece last September so will stick with those.

It isn't the Reserved Seat with GFG members that haven't renewed. These memberships have been 'Wait Listed' (I assume means 'sold out') for a month or two. https://am.ticketmaster.com/melbournefc/reserved-seats#/ I've no idea where our membership will end up but with the Family Day sales yet to kick in, Max as Captain and Petracca starting to fire all bode well for the 'undecided' members from 2019 to re-sign. And ANZAC Eve and QB are Home games this year which should encourage a few extra 3-game memberships. A few good early wins and who knows. Let's wait a few months before making verdicts on 2020 membership level.

Squad named for North Melbourne practice match 9. C.Spargo 10. A.Brayshaw 12. T.Bedford 18. J.Melksham 20. A.Tomlinson 23. J.Jordon 24. T.Rivers 28. O.McDonald 29. J.Hunt 31. B.Fritsch 32. T.Sparrow 33. O.Baker 34. M.Hore 36. K.Pickett 38. M.Brown 40. C.Wagner 41. J.Lockhart 42. J.Wagner 46. A.Bradtke Eight VFL players to top up the squad. Names in bold played last week. Good to see Brayshaw over his elbow injury and ready to play. Max has said he will be ready for Marsh02. But no sign of May getting a preseason workout. Otherwise our injury list is looking quite good re the top 22-26 players. North Melbourne squad 1. M.Daw 2. M.Williams 3. J.Anderson 6. T.Garner 8. B.Scott 14. T.Dumont 15. P.Ahern 16. A.Bonar 17. J.Pittard 18. S.Atley 19. J.Walker 21. D.Tyson 23. B.McKay 24. S.Durdin 25. R.Tarrant 30. C.Comben 31. C.Taylor 32. M.Wood 34. J.MacMillan 36. J.Crocker 38. T.Xerri 40. T.Murphy 41. M.McGuinness 42. T.Campbell 43. A.Hall 44. C.Zurhaar 46. L.Hosie VFL-listed player Adam Tipungwuti will also be part of the North Melbourne squad, wearing no. 28.

Also updated for Bennell. We now have a full list of 44 players: 38 Senior List plus 6 'A' Rookies. Whether we can add players in the Supplementary draft and/or the mid season draft depends on what happens with Kolodjashnij and Nietschke, both having been delivered cruel blows by injury. I would think the high priority signings are: Viney, Petty and Fritsch. Followed by Hannan, Hibberd and a few others.

fitter-faster-petracca-closes-in-on-new-deal It would be great to have him signed up early in the season, eliminate external speculation and allow him and the team to focus on getting us back up the ladder.

Those that do not venture over to the Demonland AFLW Forum, may like to know that Zurich have signed on as a Major partner with our AFLW team and will be their BOJ sponsor. Zurich will remain the FOJ sponsor for the AFL team. Great to have Zurich extend their relationship with mfc.

Great news! Sign of confidence in MFC.

I called the membership department re the loss of the 2 free tickets option as I have Collingwood supporting family and we go to those games. They offered to have 2 available for us at the time. So if you choose a game I would think the club will make them available for your family. Just can't see what the club achieved by removing the option. It is not as if our Home games are filled to capacity. The free passes are GA only so we still need to buy reserved seats or pay for their entry to the Redlegs guest area. ...if anything it makes it harder to invite a friend (and potential demon fan/member) to a game they wouldn't otherwise go to.

'lynch mob'. 'outrage'. A bit over the-top-comments for what was a reasonably put post. I repeat my doubts are about the revenue loss of the timing of exiting pokies not the decision.

I wasn't counting the non-pokie revenue from Bentleigh in the $1.1m that needs to be made up elsewhere. The amount to make up may be may be 10% but of overall revenue but it is still $2.5m! As I posted the 'several ideas' were mooted to be linked to our new training centre which seems a long way off. My point stands that the timing of exiting the pokies should have been linked with the other ideas being ready to go. I'm certainly not arguing for keeping pokies it is the timing of the exit that I have doubts about.