After a solid effort against Freo, we should have an easier week this week against Gold Coast. However, we can not take them lightly as if we are any chance of making finals, we need to bury our next 2 opponents and increase our %.
Friday 'night' match is something a little different at this time of year and it will give us a short week, especially since we have to travel!
Not sure a 5-day break after a gruelling match is what we need right now, but if wanna contend, we can't make anymore excuses.
My predictions...
In: Walker
Out: Walker
I've been calling for Al Downies head the last few weeks and while she was far from impressive, her playing down back has freed up Harrington who has put in her best 2 games of the year courtesy of this.....so Downie stays....for now.
My ladder predictor for the next 2 weeks
Carl win against GC (30pts) & GWS (15pts) = 20 points @ 119%
NM lose against Freo (20) & Bris (20) = 20 points @ 127%
WB lose against Ade (10) but beat Tigers (15) = 20 points @ 102%
Mel lose against Bris (10) & Freo (10) = 20 points @ 119%
That takes care of spots 5-8 so if it goes to plan, it will be nothing but % that makes finals.
In the above scenario, i made up IMO likely scores of all games and then worked out % last it actually meant we make finals by 0.8%....which is about 2 behinds worth.
Shows how important % is from here!
My ladder predictor for the next 2 weeks
Carl win against GC (30pts) & GWS (15pts) = 20 points @ 119%
NM lose against Freo (20) & Bris (20) = 20 points @ 127%
WB lose against Ade (10) but beat Tigers (15) = 20 points @ 102%
Mel lose against Bris (10) & Freo (10) = 20 points @ 119%
That takes care of spots 5-8 so if it goes to plan, it will be nothing but % that makes the 8.
In the above scenario, i made up IMO likely scores of all games and then worked out % last it actually meant we make finals by 0.8%....which is about 2 behinds worth.
Shows how important % is from here!
It's only a top 6 though not a top 8 isn't it?
It's only a top 6 though not a top 8 isn't it?
Yes, so 2 of them will make it and 2 will miss out.
I meant to say finals, instead of top 8.
We have to really put this mob to the sword if we are to have any sort of chance.
To be honest, I don't think we'll make it. We just don't have what it takes to get over the line in the close ones.
We have to really put this mob to the sword if we are to have any sort of chance.
To be honest, I don't think we'll make it. We just don't have what it takes to get over the line in the close ones.
Hopefully this game will be on Kayo now that I have internet access again.
Hopefully this game will be on Kayo now that I have internet access again.
Kayo has all the games crash. ;)
Kayo has all the games crash. ;)
Wunderbar! I am so looking forward to seeing the game.
I've been calling for Al Downie's head the last few weeks and while she was far from impressive, her playing down back has freed up Harrington who has put in her best 2 games of the year courtesy of this.....so Downie stays....for now.
I don't think it is a coincidence. Kez has been freed up while Downie has been an effective defender against the taller forwards.
I don't think it is a coincidence. Kez has been freed up while Downie has been an effective defender against the taller forwards.
Exactly my point RR. Glad you've noticed as well. ;)
After a solid effort against Freo, we should have an easier week this week against Gold Coast. However, we can not take them lightly as if we are any chance of making finals, we need to bury our next 2 opponents and increase our %.
Friday 'night' match is something a little different at this time of year and it will give us a short week, especially since we have to travel!
Not sure a 5-day break after a gruelling match is what we need right now, but if wanna contend, we can't make anymore excuses.
My predictions...
In: Walker
Out: Walker
I've been calling for Al Downies head the last few weeks and while she was far from impressive, her playing down back has freed up Harrington who has put in her best 2 games of the year courtesy of this.....so Downie stays....for now.
I think that Downie is an important piece of the puzzle. She mightn't get a lot of the ball but she is always in the contest, gives Moody a chop out, wins the contested footy and is a bit of a hard nut.
I would prefer to see her in our team each week and her ability to add a defensive role to her toolkit has positive outcomes for our other defenders.
If the opposition goes small, Ali has the ability to provide a marking target in our forward 50.
My ladder predictor for the next 2 weeks
Carl win against GC (30pts) & GWS (15pts) = 20 points @ 119%
NM lose against Freo (20) & Bris (20) = 20 points @ 127%
WB lose against Ade (10) but beat Tigers (15) = 20 points @ 102%
Mel lose against Bris (10) & Freo (10) = 20 points @ 119%
That takes care of spots 5-8 so if it goes to plan, it will be nothing but % that makes finals.
In the above scenario, i made up IMO likely scores of all games and then worked out % last it actually meant we make finals by 0.8%....which is about 2 behinds worth.
Shows how important % is from here!
Just wish it was a final 8. Unfortunately it's a final 6 and we are 2 games and a huge percentage out with 2 games to go sadly.
In: Hammans, BROOKE WALKER ;D
Out: Gibbs (omitted), Wilson (managed) :o
After what happened last night, it will be good to get a win......% the bonus.
I was confident we would lose last night and i'm equally confident we will win tonight.
Lets see...
So....3.1 to GC (0.0 to us) halfway through the first quarter is not ideal. :o
We'll come back, but not a great start
Vescio gets 1.
Walker starting to work into the game.
1/4 time, down by 2 goals.
Twice harris has had head high contact and twice she has flopped for no free.
I reckon if she didn't flop, she'd get the free. Stop playing for frees!
Vescio on fire today.
Has us 2 points up.
Gold Coast 3.1
Darcy Vescio 3.1 (other carlton players 0.3)
After what happened last night, it will be good to get a win......% the bonus.
I was confident we would lose last night and i'm equally confident we will win tonight.
Lets see...
Despite giving them a 3 goal headstart, its now 3 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter (after a 5-day break) and we are double their score.
52-26.
Darcy Vescio just took mark of the year and kicked her 5th.
She'll get the 3 votes.....and the 2 and 1 as well.
Carlton have kicked the highest ever AFLW score.
87 points.
Final score
GC - 4.3. 27
CFC - 13.9.87
I said we needed % and i went with a conservative 30 point margin.
SMASHED IT.
Owned the game after half time... you just knew if a GC player was running at a ground ball, two of our gals would front up and we'd take the aggott away. Those last few minutes had me grinding my teeth... could have easily had another 2-4 goals if not for hurried shots.
Well done BlueBaggers, took your chances and reaped the rewards. Best game from us so far... what a great score line. Woo, hoo. %.
Now for Adelaide, Dockers and Lions to do the right thing by us with big wins ;D ;D
Now for Adelaide, Dockers and Lions to do the right thing by us with big wins ;D ;D
In all honesty, they just need to win. Our % boost has got us to where we need it.
We just need the other clubs to lose
Not vote winners for mine but the following 3 veteran Creekers showed their stuff today.
Loynes - best game for the season with the benefit of considerably more time in the midfield
Brazzale - room to run and kick the cover off the ball
Downie - has definitely earned her place since being moved to the tall defensive role - not a lot of possessions but rarely beaten in the air and has significantly contributed to Harrington's increased output.
I wonder if McKay is carrying an injury. She had been playing so well but the past 2 weeks she has looked very slow and has been repeatedly caught with the ball.
I wonder if McKay is carrying an injury. She had been playing so well but the past 2 weeks she has looked very slow and has been repeatedly caught with the ball.
Probably suffering a bit form the absence of Mimi Hill, she is getting one of the fastest / strongest opposition taggers now week after week. Before Mimi Hill got injured she was probably 3rd or 4th in the pecking order behind Prespakis, Egan and Hill.
If Brooke Walker or Jess Hosking revert to a bit more of the on-ball roles she might get some relief.
I notice too that clubs have switched tactic on Prespakis, they no longer go with a small fast opponent to run off her, they are using bigger heavy bodies as pure negative players and it's had an impact. I suppose they have realised Prespakis hurts them on turnovers too much to let her get possessions in free space. But standing a bigger body on Prespakis releases yet another faster /stronger type to go to someone like McKay.
Just on this, Prespakis only had 11 touches. There was 11 girls in a navy blue jumper that had more than her. That is unheard of and she still contributed, but was nowhere near the bests IMO. Point being, so many girls were deserving of votes and its the best team performance we've ever had.....and the highest score ever in AFLW. Coincidence? I think not.
Just following up on this from the Votes thread.
It was an incredibly even performance and I don’t think that any of our players lowered their colours, with the possible exception of Abbie McKay who seemed down on form.
Prespakis had an unusually quiet day but, while she was not racking up possessions, she was still cracking in, putting pressure on the opposition and supporting her teammates. I thought that she was playing very much in the style of Katie Loynes; doing the grunt work and enabling others to benefit. Loynes managed to win a lot more of the ball as the game went on, and that was good to see.
I would be taking a video of the game to the umpires and asking them to explain what Tayla Harris has to do to win a free :-\
I would be taking a video of the game to the umpires and asking them to explain what Tayla Harris has to do to win a free :-\
I made a comment about this in the in-game thread. In short, not dive.
I made a comment about this in the in-game thread. In short, not dive.
Poor Tayla, she gets blatantly shoved in the back and also hit high regularly, I'm not sure I've ever seen an opponent not chop her arms when she is marking in front of the pack, yet hardly ever awarded a free.
If she hits someone high they'll crucify her!
Our girl Prespakis is dumped in the very same manner that saw her suspended multiple times a game, no frees and no reports.
Gee cops high bump after high bump from bigger opponents and isn't rewarded a free, the high hits are not hard to do as they are all pretty much bigger than Geogia. But flip it around and Tayla hands out one to a smaller defender and is immediately penalised then crucified by the commentators, who warn her "to be careful!"
It's us versus them, feck em, feck em all!
Now for Adelaide, Dockers and Lions to do the right thing by us with big wins
Adelaide 40 up on Dogs near 3/4 time 🤞
I made a comment about this in the in-game thread. In short, not dive.
I just watched the replay and Harris didn't dive once.
In the first quarter head high tackles on Hosking, Laloifi and Harris weren't penalised and Prespakis was often held at stoppages.
In the second quarter, Harris had her arms chopped in a marking contest - play on. Later in the quarter Harris fumbled the ball, looked down to grab it and her opponent pushed her head with both hands - nothing. Harris was then penalised for a dangerous tackle which really was quite innocuous. Prespakis was hit high - play on.
In the third quarter Harris was pushed in the back in a marking contest - play on. Prespakis was crunched and had a free paid against her for holding.
In the last quarter Harris was penalised for another innocuous "dangerous" tackle. A bit later and she was held without the ball - play on of course. Finally, she copped a glancing high tackle during a chain of possessions that ended up in a goal for us and no free was a good call.
There were many other dubious decisions, most of which favoured Gold Coast.
While it's probably going too far to suggest that there's one set of rules for Harris and Prespakis and another set for other players, I suspect that the umpires have been told to keep an eye on tackles laid by Harris and Prespakis and there's a reluctance to pay frees to both, particularly Harris.
I just watched the replay and Harris didn't dive once.
In the first quarter head high tackles on Hosking, Laloifi and Harris weren't penalised and Prespakis was often held at stoppages.
In the second quarter, Harris had her arms chopped in a marking contest - play on. Later in the quarter Harris fumbled the ball, looked down to grab it and her opponent pushed her head with both hands - nothing. Harris was then penalised for a dangerous tackle which really was quite innocuous. Prespakis was hit high - play on.
In the third quarter Harris was pushed in the back in a marking contest - play on. Prespakis was crunched and had a free paid against her for holding.
In the last quarter Harris was penalised for another innocuous "dangerous" tackle. A bit later and she was held without the ball - play on of course. Finally, she copped a glancing high tackle during a chain of possessions that ended up in a goal for us and no free was a good call.
There were many other dubious decisions, most of which favoured Gold Coast.
While it's probably going to far to suggest that there's one set of rules for Harris and Prespakis and another set for other players, I suspect that the umpires have been told to keep an eye on tackles laid by Harris and Prespakis and there's a reluctance to pay frees to both, particularly Harris.
Sorry my first comment was saying she flopped. I mispoke when i said she dived.
There is a difference.
A flop is an over-exaggeration of contact.
There were 2 instances where this occured.
One in a marking contest (going left of screen) where she was at the front of the pack and their were 2 GC players behind her. The mark was taken by the third in line. She realised the ball was going over and tried to push back where she was met with by the GC player who held her ground....or at worse, had the slightest of hands in Taylas back. Technically its a free, but it made no difference to the contest. Tayla felt the contact and went forward down on all fours. Her action far exceeded the force put into her......she flopped.
The other one is when she bent down to pick up the ball, front on, and a GC player contacted her head with her belly (i think) from a standing position. Clear contact, should've been a free. Tayla felt the contact and it knocked her back a bit.....she threw her head back and landed flat on her back....and may have even thrown her legs up in the air as well. Less of an exaggeration, but one none-the-less. That was clearly a wrong (non) call by the umps, but her actions may have rubbed the umps the wrong way, making them put the whistle away.
Tayla is obviously a very strong individual, quite capable of holding her own in just about any physical contest. Her actions suggest otherwise and its not a good look. She needs to get it out of her game.
Its a minor thing, but i feel she'll get treated more fairly by the umps if she stops flopping in that manner.
I just watched the replay and Harris didn't dive once.
In the first quarter head high tackles on Hosking, Laloifi and Harris weren't penalised and Prespakis was often held at stoppages.
In the second quarter, Harris had her arms chopped in a marking contest - play on. Later in the quarter Harris fumbled the ball, looked down to grab it and her opponent pushed her head with both hands - nothing. Harris was then penalised for a dangerous tackle which really was quite innocuous. Prespakis was hit high - play on.
In the third quarter Harris was pushed in the back in a marking contest - play on. Prespakis was crunched and had a free paid against her for holding.
In the last quarter Harris was penalised for another innocuous "dangerous" tackle. A bit later and she was held without the ball - play on of course. Finally, she copped a glancing high tackle during a chain of possessions that ended up in a goal for us and no free was a good call.
There were many other dubious decisions, most of which favoured Gold Coast.
While it's probably going too far to suggest that there's one set of rules for Harris and Prespakis and another set for other players, I suspect that the umpires have been told to keep an eye on tackles laid by Harris and Prespakis and there's a reluctance to pay frees to both, particularly Harris.
And this in a game where we won the free count 16 to 14. Makes you wonder how many frees we really should have got.
For that matter, we got a lot of frees against Richmond, but then they paid some absolute shockers to even up the numbers.
Sorry my first comment was saying she flopped. I mispoke when i said she dived.
There is a difference.
A flop is an over-exaggeration of contact.
There were 2 instances where this occured.
One in a marking contest (going left of screen) where she was at the front of the pack and their were 2 GC players behind her. The mark was taken by the third in line. She realised the ball was going over and tried to push back where she was met with by the GC player who held her ground....or at worse, had the slightest of hands in Taylas back. Technically its a free, but it made no difference to the contest. Tayla felt the contact and went forward down on all fours. Her action far exceeded the force put into her......she flopped.
The other one is when she bent down to pick up the ball, front on, and a GC player contacted her head with her belly (i think) from a standing position. Clear contact, should've been a free. Tayla felt the contact and it knocked her back a bit.....she threw her head back and landed flat on her back....and may have even thrown her legs up in the air as well. Less of an exaggeration, but one none-the-less. That was clearly a wrong (non) call by the umps, but her actions may have rubbed the umps the wrong way, making them put the whistle away.
Tayla is obviously a very strong individual, quite capable of holding her own in just about any physical contest. Her actions suggest otherwise and its not a good look. She needs to get it out of her game.
Its a minor thing, but i feel she'll get treated more fairly by the umps if she stops flopping in that manner.
Both of those incidents were clearly free kicks to Harris. I didn't think that she flopped or dived but it's inconsequential really, she should have been paid those two frees as well as another three. The two frees paid against her may have been there ... if they are trying to eliminate tackling from the game.
Four of the non-frees were in our forward 50, probably too far out to score but close enough to get the ball to Vescio or Stevens.
I just realised that I haven't commented on Brooke Walker's first game of the season. I thought that she started slowly but worked her way into the game. Her run and hardness has been missed and she finished off with a couple of nice goals.