Did anyone else watch the AFLW Rottingwood game? The last quarter was actually exciting... yep. And there was something oddly very pleasing watching Rottingwood lose a game they should have won.,.
Now that the VFLW finals are on, it won't be long until the Draft comes up for the girls. Hopefully there are some good midfielders going around, that is what we need. We have some decent forwards, a good defence and some of the better rucks. But strengthening our midfield is the last step.
Pencil in Kerryn Harrington into the mid-field. Playing with us at Diamond Creek and she is a gun. Can play anywhere. Has size, reasonable pace and great hands. Basketball background. And has little or no exposure to football growing up. She'll thrive in the AFL environment. Talented lady.
From my understanding all the interstate teams aren't interested in picks coming their way.
Come draft time they only pick from the pool of girls that have nominated to play in their state.
So giving Bris our 10th 12th pick means nothing. They would be picking the girls at that pick anyway at one of their picks.
The interstate clubs want players not picks.
But the victorian clubs are more than happy to get the interstate picks because they are picking girls in which there are 4 clubs vying for pick positions.
If for example GWS get a deal from a Vic club for their 1st & 2nd pick that club would have the 1st pick in the draft (& 1st in the Vic pool of talent) and then GWS 2nd pick which would be pick 9 overal (but pick 6 in the Vic pool).
There in lies the power the interstate clubs can give the Vic clubs.
Not the traditional green shoot as in young player, more a green shoot in TEAM.
Really enjoying the brand of footy being played ATM, seems every player is on the same page and playing for each other.
The green shoot for me was watching the reaction of the players after Alex Silvagni's chase down. To a man they got around him. But best of all was Billie Smedts. Billie was involved in the play immediately after the rundown that sent ball into our fwd line for a goal. After the goal, down the ground footage showed Smedts run from the fwd line to the back to get around Alex.
That for me shows me we are well and truly on the right track. Young, old and all buying into the TEAM.
Getting booed is BS, especially your own. You can't blame the opposition supporters for it, as its Gold Coast and they have none. People should be ashamed of that.
One thing these same people probably failed to see was what happened during the run through. There were 2 young girls who were the mascots for the game. Ran through the banner and did some running around and warmups with the boys. Almost all of them ignored the girls. Daisy went to them and was talking to them about how to stretch and what not.
Now none of that means squat once the ball is bounced, but those girls will remember that for the rest of their lives and will be forever grateful to Daisy for it. However, things like that go a large way to fixing the culture at Carlton and are in line with what Bolton has been preaching within The Journey.
Now i don't know if anyone else noticed that, or if anyone else cared. But that is the guy people are booing.
Krud,
I watched Thomas last night, yes he isn't the same Thomas as circa 2010/11 but he is still a smart hardworking footballer. Put his body on the line. Does a lot of off the ball stuff to impend the oppo or direct the young ones. His kicking is letting him down at times, but he still finds the bloody thing.
Had a chap next to me howling for his blood all night to the point where he was blaming Thomas for the easy goal missed in last qtr when Picket was going into a open goal, think Marchbank ended up with the shot on goal for a point. Had to point out that it wasn't Thomas that stuffed up, he was at the time was organising the troop 60m's from the ball in case of a point.
He just shook his head and mumbled something about others would do better.
He's no longer at his best but he provides experience and some hardness around a group of very young, underdeveloped bodies talented footballers. Saw SPS rag dolled in the last when running for the ball purely because the oppo player had 3 years development into him.
Need the experienced guys around out group ATM, if not Thomas then Palmer or Silvagni (the older). But they'd need to be finding the footy as well.
Being at the game tonight was one of the best footy experiences of my life. Having played women's footy (albeit really poorly) for a number of years before my body had enough, I've seen a lot of these women come through the ranks. I was so proud at what they were able to achieve in terms of attendance and pure atmosphere at the game. Princes Park was well and truly alive.
The skill level wasn't elite, but I've seen poorer efforts at time in the AFL. Keep in mind these women were playing in front of the biggest crowd most of them would have ever played in front of. Nerves would have been a factor. This is also the infancy of this comp. it's going to take time to grow. But the sheer excitement of the game is going to generate interest and increased participation, which will only increase the talent pool.
I know first hand how hard these women have worked to get to this point, but it's still only the beginning. Instead of being critical and trying to compare apples with oranges, let's celebrate what is growing here. Let's support it so that soon there won't even be anything to comment on, it'll just be another game of footy we can all watch...which is never a bad thing!
...and on that note ("funny old world")... the Collingwood captain's father has just earned himself a ban.
(seriously, good luck to Steph, hope she plays well in a losing side. )
Don't do that Lods.
My heart is and will always be NAVY BLUE. There is a tinge of B&W ATM but that will last for about 8 weeks, and return next AFLW season if she gets a gig.
But what a night. Absolutely awesome.
Think I mentioned before that the Blues have recruited really well. Marquees are guns and some others like Jacobssen, Loynes, Downie, Exon, Hardimann are going to bring some real excitement and good footy to this club. Brazzale & Keryk & the Hosking girls bring some real hardness & skill. Enjoy the ride.
Katie Loynes inside mid from Diamond Creek - about 27 yo
Katie is 30yo. Gun footballer, cruelled by knee injuries the last 2 seasons. Fit now and if she stays fit, your gonna enjoy watching her play. Midfielder. In & Under. Hard at it. Very skilled. Runs all day. My favorite player.
Of the other Diamond Creek girls. Lauren Brazzale HB/HF/Mid who has pace, skill and hardness. Loves it tough. Alison Downie ruckman. Basketball background. Mobile. Great leap. Good contested mark. Surprised she was selected so late in the draft. Named in this years VFL Team of the Year. Shae Audley Mid. If you can't see her on the field it will because she is under the pack your looking at. Finds the ball with ease. Hard as nails. And is a tackling machine. Don't come home short in the pay packet. Laura Attard Def. Traditional old fashioned one on one defender. Hard to beat. Plays on talls & smalls. Not overly quick but has smarts to compensate. Will do a job for you.
I think she's just been disowned by half her extended family.
Hopefully its only for 6 months, then we can get her back.
Suffice to say some are struggling with the concept others are revelling in it.
Seriously thou, its the luck of the draw.
I can understand the anguish the TAC boys & families go thru on draft day.
Seeing the joy that being selected brings to some and the total devastation to others that aren't.
One thing for sure I'm stoked that Stephanie gets a chance to play the game she's always dreamt of doing on the big stage. Not at the Blues. But an opportunity that she'll grasp with both hands.
Seeing her joy at being picked left me speechless. I'll cheers her on in the B&W but the women only.
As an aside the Blues did very well with their drafting today. Get excited guys you have some talented girls going to play some good footy for the club.
Watch out for Katie Loynes, if she gets back to her pre-knee injury days, wow what a player. Skilled, in & under a joy to watch.
Get on board everyone, as Bolts say its going to be an exciting journey.
I thought the season was 8 weeks long, starting in the new year and ending before the afl starts.
Correct. Pre-Season starts Nov. Games Feb thru Mar, with current thinking the GF the week before the 2017 AFL Season. The marquee contracts I think are 12months.
After the season ends current thinking is that the clubs will get to nominate 10-12 players to remain on their list. The rest of players are delisted and go back into the draft pool and can be picked up by anyone in the future drafts.
ALL non-marquee players at seasons end can go back to their local clubs or club of choice. Think the marquee players must remain in the state they have been marqueed to and play in the local comps. Marquee players have year round AFL club committments/promo's etc... that they need to attend to as part of their contracts.
Any idea on if any of the top rated girls are putting their hat into multiple pools? Or are they all staying home state?
Kruddler,
Players could only nominate into the one state draft pool that they want to be selected from.
After the draft each team will have 22 listed players and then each club has until the late October to approach undrafted players from outside of their state draft pool and top up their list by 3 more players.
For example, Carlton can approach any undrafted players from the WA, SA, NSW & QLD draft pools.
