In terms off positions and the way the go about it.
Nice comparisons
Knowing both ladies, the Navy is in good hands here.
Outstanding citizens. Loyal. Determined. Respected. Very professional. Approachable. Lead by example just what the young ones in the squad need. Have good life balance away from footy. Always give 100%.
Looking at the list of potentially available venues.
Clubs could play their home games across them.
Say
Ikon (lighting would need to be upgraded, already muted to be done) - Carlton, Collingwood & Richmond Whitten (lighting good) - WB, Geelong & North Casey (lighting ?) - Melbourne & St. Kilda
Play match day double headers.
Ground over usage wouldn't be too dramatic if training is limited on them. Teams affected would be Carlton (outside ovals available) & Doggies. All others already have training bases elsewhere.
Victoria Park, Kardinia, Arden, RSEA, Punt etc... could still be used when available for the home teams to use.
The match day double headers could in theory happen now. The AFL could extend the season to thirteen games as the most want. Play the double headers and still fit the season into the 10-12week time frame the AFL wants.
Games would still get boardcast.
Haven't done the sums re: costing it etc... but it does open it up for the AFL to charge even a small amount and they'll still get crowds.
Imagine a round of
Thu WCE vs Freo (night)
Fri GWS vs Adel (night)
Sat Melb vs StK (Casey early afternoon) Bris vs GC (late afternoon) WB vs Geel (Whitten night)
Sun Carl vs Coll (Ikon afternoon) Rich vs North (Ikon night)
If possible I've listed additional tenants when they are not cricket, obviously all these venues excluding Kardinia are nowhere near utilized 100% of the time, but they do have existing tenants, some with commitments to other sports.
Training is obviously not affected by having cricket tenants as they fence off the square, but I doubt they would allow games.
Keep in mind, most of the shared tenants also have 2nd, 3rd or even under-age squads.
Thanks for the feedback LP.
Re: Olympic Park (i'm talking about the CollingwoodFC oval on the site of the old Olympic track). Does soccer/Victory use that?
With Kardinia, I think you'll find that the outside ovals are used pre-dominantly for the cricket & other sports, other than the big bash stuff. Hold on the new soccer Western United are going to be based down there aren't they
Most of them have central turf wickets and are used by the VCA for District Cricket over summer, no way they'll allow football on them.
If its an issue about grounds how about the following:-
Feel free to left me know if cricket is played on these ground during spring/summer.
Ikon Park - Parkville Preston Oval - Preston Victoria Park - Collingwood Olympic Park - Melbourne Arden Street - North Melbourne Port Oval - Port Melbourne Punt Road - Richmond Kardina Park - Geelong RSEA Park - Mooorabbin Whitten Oval - Footscray Casey Fields - Cranbourne
Most of these would be used by the men for pre-season, but surely there would be enough grounds with correct scheduling to enable a spring/summer football comp to work. Enough ground & spread to cover the Victoria based teams.
Also, most of the AFLW teams are already utilising these ground for their pre-season and their AFLW season. They are available now so makes sense to me that they could be available for a Spring/Summer competition.
Where are you on the Carlton / Collingwood supporter scale these days? What about a #17 we all know? Is there any good left in there or is the transition to the dark side complete?
Cheers!
As I say to my Pie mates/supporters My heart is B&W in summer but NAVY all other times. As for #17, she's pretty much entrenched in the B&W (in truth they are a pretty solid club) but the navy does still flicker deep down inside.
Speaking from experience on both Wayne & Katie These are solid appointments.
In my time at the Pies (stop laughing u lot) Wayne has been 100% into identifying talent & developing players. The young group he deliberately targeted/drafted last season after his team had talented player reamed from his grasp is very very solid. They will be the foundation that will see the pies become a force in years to come.
Although his coaching record at AFLW level isn't flash he has been around womens football a while now and has had strong & successful results with youth girl teams along the way. He can spot a talent a mile off. He'll be just the person the baggers need to top up the youth talent and add to the talented current list.
As for Katie, having watched her close up at the Creekers and knowing her personally, she is an intelligent woman with a passion for football (read NAVY). Understands the game, a good mentor for the young ones, communicates well at all levels (as a teacher she has too), doesn't stand for bullcrap, very professional in her preparation and respects the game. A prefect role model for young players. She'll grow into the role, especially with Wayne as a mentor.
I reckon whatever Adelaide will offer (is offering) will blow us out of the water (7 year 1mil+/year offer) so we should focus our efforts elsewhere IMO.
And more than likely they'll have a very early draft pick (unfortunately) to help trade negotiations along...
Stevens was not plastered across all the collingwood marketing. Stevens was not chosen by her club/peers as most worthy of Captain. Stevens was not even chosen to be in the leadership group.
Within the clubs 4 walls she was rated highly... You don't need to be named captain to be a leader. She was the on-field leader in defence.
Stevens was not a match winner, she was a defender who played her role. She won the B+F by 4 votes to Alicia Eva, she is a matchwinner.
You say "without question" their marquee player, I challenge that remark.
Personally, i am more than happy to have Stevens playing for us. But if i had a choice of Collingwood players, she's just scrape into my top 5 i reckon.
Your logic suggests that whoever wins the B+F is without question the best player in the side. I challenge that logic.
I'll back LP here.
Stevens was crucial to the Pies in 2017. They identified her ability & footy smart before the draft. They were delighted to get her in the draft at their first pick, considering they thought others would snap her up. A player they could build a defence around. She left a big hole.
Watched the video ages ago as her being half Italian interested me. Agree she came across as humble and respectful in that doco. Doesn't mean she hasn't has got a bit full of herself lately. I have seen alot of her instagram videos she makes, some of them seem like they would take up alot of time making them. Could that time be spent more wisely? Dunno, but thats how I perceive it. I noted also she has a heavily strapped knee, perhaps thats restricting her output but she certainly isn't the player she was in AFLW year one.
Would have Darcy V. on my playing list in a heartbeat on any day of the week & twice on Sundays. Wanna do a trade
I posted back when she was name a marquee player with Davey that the blues have 10+ year players. Injuries have curtailed both. but both have shown enough when fit enough to play.
She is skillful, a team 1st player and footy smart. Standing her in the backline makes many a defender nervous.
Either do I, but i searched google images to remind me who she was and a lot of photos had 2 players attempting to take her down, so the 'wrecking ball' description seems apt.
I think we needed a bigger bodied, more aggressive mid in the lineup, so its a good get in that regard.
Apt description. She'll give you guys good service as a hard at it mid, just don't expect brilliant skills.
Very much in the Loynes mould, maybe a little quicker.
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