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AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

I'll be very interested to see our line-up for this game. Especially how the mids structure up with one of the game's best players permanently missing (Still irritated about that!).
I'll be going on Friday night. I'll be on the southern wing, near the coaches' boxes.
This may be our home ground, but we are not the home team.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #1
The team looks reasonable.
Car'n the Blues!
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #2
I've been listening to 'Behind the game changers' podcast by Sarah Hosking of late. Only has like 6 episodes.
She interviews, mostly players and gives a little bit of insight into what the girls go through, but is more light hearted in nature.

Anywho....i forget which player it was but they were talking up Nic Stevens and implied that she will be in a new role this year, but stopped themselves before they gave too much away. Based on the teams, it apears she is going to spend more time up forward.
An interesting proposition considering we lost Bri Davey, the best defender in the game and Nic Stevens went a long way in plugging gaps in her absence in the past.

Obviously we have Kez Harrington and Gab Pound as AA defenders, but i think we still look a bit light on down back against bigger opponents.
Who takes Sabrina? Who takes Brennan??

Interesting to see Vescio named in the middle too. Hopefully she's over her knee issues and has had a solid pre-season.

Other girls worthy of a pump up in 'BTGC' podcast were...
Chloe Dalton - ridiculously fit.
Lucy McEvoy - Showing the benefits of the teenagers coming through watching AFLW1.0 and having something to strive for now. Pure footballer who shows up most if not all of the originals, despite being 18.
'Mua Laloifi - Can do some exciting things.

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #3
I'm not expecting Vescio to repeat the performances of the past, in the first seasons she had a clear physical advantage over her opponents that with each pre-season evaporates a little more.

Vescio is still a very good player, but the players and opponents around her have closed the gap, it had to happen that way as they had more scope to improve relative to Vescio.

Davey is a big loss, because she is such a good player and yet ironically has plenty of room for improvement still! Our Prespakis falls in the same category.

Looking at our list and selections, our game plan must be dramatically different for 2020.
The Force Awakens!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #4
I’m looking forward to seeing how Joanne Doonan goes.  She is elite, and a leader, in her primary sport and it will be interesting to see how she adapts to the oval ball and physicality of our game.
“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?”  Oddball

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #5
I'm not expecting Vescio to repeat the performances of the past, in the first seasons she had a clear physical advantage over her opponents that with each pre-season evaporates a little more.

Vescio is still a very good player, but the players and opponents around her have closed the gap, it had to happen that way as they had more scope to improve relative to Vescio.

The thing with Vescio is, yes others will catch up and have more scope to improve, but she basically played last year without a pre-season. She is a quick thinker who is a one-touch player when fit and is very agile, good in traffic. If her tank is up to scratch, she could be our best 'recruit' playing in the midfield.

She should NOT be used as a FF which was required early days. She will do well in any 1-on-1 situation, but is not a KPP. Playing her in a lesser role, will help her dominate.

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #6
The thing with Vescio is, yes others will catch up and have more scope to improve, but she basically played last year without a pre-season. She is a quick thinker who is a one-touch player when fit and is very agile, good in traffic. If her tank is up to scratch, she could be our best 'recruit' playing in the midfield.

She should NOT be used as a FF which was required early days. She will do well in any 1-on-1 situation, but is not a KPP. Playing her in a lesser role, will help her dominate.
 You'd think Vescio's ideal position was on the wing,.............Doh!
The Force Awakens!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #7
Maddie Prepakis is a gun!!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #8
Our live percentage is 1650%...lol.

Game seems much greater in physical pressure than other years. That's the first thing I noticed. Tackling is so much more physical.

Live percentage now 1950%!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #9
Won 6.12 to 2.2.

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #10
Carlton: 1 - 5 - 11   1 - 8 - 14  5 - 9 - 39  6 - 12 - 48
Richmond 0 - 0 - 0  0 - 2 - 2  0 - 2 - 2  2 - 2 - 14

I had a very enjoyable evening yesterday down at Ikon Park, where the girls took on Richmond in their 1st ever AFLW game. I enjoyed the fact that we won. I was reasonably impressed by what I saw as far as our team was concerned.

Some notes:
[1] Richmond appeared all night to want to be the aggressors. They threw our girls around and tackled over-enthusiastically. They are trying to reproduce the pressure their men's team produces. It didn't work. They gifted us with a lot of frees due to their stupid tactics. However, it may well be sign that some of our girls, especially Maddy P, are going to targeted.
Our tackling, on the other hand, was no less aggressive, but a LOT more intelligent. The Tigs were under pressure every time they got the ball.
I was really pleased with our pressure and intensity, but disappointed that the Umps didn't rub out the girl throwers at the first opportunity.

[2] Our rucks were excellent on the night. Both Ali Downie and Bree Moody really played well, probably the first time they have both done it in the same game. Moody's athleticism in the middle was excellent and her marking was improved. More importantly, her taps were 1000% better. In 2018 every one of her taps went to the opposition. Not so last night. And she didn't always just thump it forward, but guided some great taps to Maddy P and the rest of the mids. Her own clearances were excellent, reminding me of Matthew Kreuzer. or Nic Nat. Ali Downie took some nice marks under pressure and her taps were strong, until the last quarter, where the taller Richmond girl made her first impression.
Importantly, both girls something as forwards, which has not always been the case.

[3] I was very pleased by Grace Egan and Lucy McEvoy, both of whom had excellent debuts. Bother girls looked like they belonged. Joanne Doonan wasn't bad either, off the bench. The Irish lass has a lot of work to do on her kicking, which was really up in the year. But she appears to have a future. Voamua Lalolfi, on the other hand, didn't have a big night. She was a bit overwhelmed by the experience a bit. However, she didn't give her opponents much of the ball and was willing in the tough stuff.

[4] How good is Tayla Harris? Now to get her to kick straight! She played mainly at CHF and dominated her position.

[5] We managed to really curtail Richmond's name players. Conti had 13 disposals, but not a lot of influence. Brennan had even less of the ball. Fredericks was toweled up. Her only contribution was a mark and goal. Our defenders really took the Richmond forwards to the cleaners.

[6] Nick Stevens was a disappointment at half forward. I would rather her on the wing.

[7] Darcy Vescio: so near and yet so far. Darcy was clearly a lot better and a lot fitter than last season, but her touch and her kicking haven't returned yet. She flew for a few big marks, but mistimed them badly. She tried to break some tackles and got caught. However, she continued to get the ball. She was quite reasonable in the middle, because she is a smart player. Her passing to team mates made goals. There was a lot to like, but she hasn't got the touch yet. I think one of the reasons is that she played so few VFLW games in 2019. She really has the yips going for set shots too. But the signs were positive. I hope to see her more in the midfield rotations.

[8] I thought we were in real trouble during the warm-up when Jayde van Dyke went down. However, she did get on the park and had a strong game in defence when she came on during the 1st quarter. She and Charlotte Wilson and Harrington were excellent in the area and on the ground.

[9] The lighting was still a problem. I found it difficult being on the southern side of the ground, as 90% of the play was on the northern side. It was difficult to mark my footy record (which was also a let down - no place to score) and make out some of the numbers.

[10] We made so many chances, but still have issues converting them. We really have to work on that if we are to be a contender. We could have had 10 goals up before half time with a little better ball handling, etc.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #11
Voamua Lalolfi, on the other hand, didn't have a big night. She was a bit overwhelmed by the experience a bit. However, she didn't give her opponents much of the ball and was willing in the tough stuff.
I thought she did a few nice things late in the 1st and early 2nd Qtr that showed she is up to it, sold the dumby a few times and used it OK in traffic.

A tough night for our defenders to have an influence.
The Force Awakens!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #12
I thought she did a few nice things late in the 1st and early 2nd Qtr that showed she is up to it, sold the dumby a few times and used it OK in traffic.

A tough night for our defenders to have an influence.
Indeed. She was a bit loose at times, but she showed some nice things in the period you mentioned. From memory, she only had 1 possession after half time. Definitely something to work with.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #13
@Crash....
I think Mua did her job without doing much else. Tough night to have an influence when the ball is almost exclusively in the opposite half to you. She'll be ok.

Can't agree with you on Stevens Crash. She provided a level head and helped with structures. I was worried pre-game about our defenders struggling without her there, but i don't think its a coincidence that we kept the ball in our half with her there.

Harris is a freak in the air, and just needs confidence in her kicking.

Vescio i think you were a bit harsh on too. re flying for marks, she almost always flies early and it usually works for her. I dont think she was overly fumbly, and her class with the ball is something we need more of. Part of the reason she missed VFL games was because she spent a month overseas!

Richmond tried to copy Adelaides game strategy....be hard to play against aka be aggressive at the ball/opponent.
We absorbed it without being put off by it and just focussed on our structures and it showed. Maddy P had a heavy tag early but kept on trucking and for one reason or another they let her go free and she dominated. I'd be querying why the tigers changed tact with her....because it was the wrong move.

Moody and Downie could very well be the best thing to come out of last night. Moody must;ve been watching Kreuzers efforts because her centre square efforts were awesome. Downie around the ground was equally as impressive. I have been critical of Moody in the past, but she has lifted to another level.

Kez and Katie led from the front and didn't take a backwards step, nor put a foot wrong. Good leaders who our girls should try to emulate.

McEvoy did what we had hoped. Looked at home from day 1 and will only get better. Egan was a little less impressive, but certainly a good pickup still.

Plenty of other positives from the night too.

A couple of negatives....or at least question marks from the night.
1. Wilson. Was not terrible, but i'm not sure her kicking is up to standard. One kick sideways to the wing under no pressure went over the head of Hosking by 10 meters. You could hear the audible groans from the crowd on the telecast.

2. Jess Hosking was left out of the team. Not sure if she was injured, she was seen with strapping on her knee at a rival practice match a couple of weeks ago. However, her tenacity has been a staple of our team for a while now...even if her kicking has been a bit iffy.
Which brings me to her sister, Sarah. She had 17 touches last night, but a lot of them were questionable. Again, effort is a given with her. Just got question marks on her skill level.  In a way, this is a good thing. If players like her are starting to draw some questions, then our team is improving out of sight.

Re: AFLW 2020 Rd 1: Carlton vs Richmond

Reply #14
Harris is a freak in the air, and just needs confidence in her kicking.
 She has changed her kicking action, who'd have thunk social media and media scrutiny would have such an effect! :o
The Force Awakens!