Vescio has not placed in the top 5 since. I say top 5, because they don't give you full top 10 results for some reason. They gave a top 6 one year, but she wasn't in that either.
In 2022 (x2), 2023, 2024 there have been the following players place in the top 5 (or 6).... Prespakis Kez Harrington Hill Bree Moody/Harrington Paige Trudgeon Gab Pound Abbie McKay Laloifi McEvoy Sherar Good Guerin
There has also been a MVP awarded to... Cordner A. McKay Kez Laloifi
B&F rarely come from D50 unless they are exceptional, and when the team is winning it's even less likely as the balance of play should be at the other end.
....and the excuses begin
FYI 2024 B+F...
1. Patrick Cripps (204 votes) 2. Nic Newman (148 votes) 3. Sam Walsh (147 votes) 4. Jacob Weitering (144 votes)
It's a racing incident, not a tactic, that's twice this season they've asked Piastri to slow up and let Norris pass, it doesn't make sense unless you want Norris to win the title.
Verstappen if quoted correctly probably put it best, post race he said something like "I'd let Norris pass but only if he caught me". Inferring that if he could keep the gap or pull away it was bad luck for Norris, just that bad luck and nothing more.
Also Piastri was previously told a pitstop event is a racing incident, and if it happens it's bad luck for the other driver, until it wasn't!
Why would Piastri ever have to trust them, is it because Lando's dad is a billionaire who can cause all sorts of commercial havoc?
I don't agree with it, i'm just saying i can see their logic.
Personally, i would've loved Piastri to pit first, then have a safety car which would've dropped Norris back to 4 (or worse!)
You don't have to worry about it anyway. Norris crumbles under pressure and can't pass anyone. Piastri thrives under pressure and can pass anyone.
re bold....what you are saying is this.... Superman could only save someone from plummetting to their death if they jumped off the top of the building first. The person jumping made superman what they are today.
Anyone could've created that. Not anyone could've taken the mark.
Darcy ALMOST took a mark.....but didn't. Darcy gave away a free kick for attempting one this week too and got nowhere near it.
I don't want to turn this into a Darcy bashing thread, because its not about that. Darcy is playing (almost) at the same level they always have. However, everyone around Darcy has improved dramatically to the point where Daisy is a cameo player. You need good users of the ball behind the footy. Sure....but.... Darcy isn't doing the grunt work in the middle. Darcy isn't hitting the scoreboard. Darcy isn't taking big intercept marks in defence.
We have others doing that role and doing it very well. Its why we are 3-1 because we have a solid team who are working for eachother and all have a great level of skill and courage not seen in the team before. I think Darcy is just keeping the HB seat warm until Gab Pound returns, then we might see Darcy further up the field. I wouldn't mind her taking Duursmas spot who i think is not quite up to the rest of the teams standard at present.
Well, that’s your opinion, and you’re welcome to it.
Of course, you don’t have a monopoly on football wisdom and, in my humble opinion, you’re completely wrong … again!
But that’s what our site is all about.
I've got no issue with you having a different point of view.
Where do you think Vescio will place in the B+F this year?
If you ever want to see how politics and finances can b0rk up sport, watch the last 10 laps of the Italian GP!
You'll be Gobsmacked at the McLaren decisions.
Piastri is being treated like a placeholder for a Norris world title.
Actually it started in Quali, when Piastri was ordered to give Norris a tow that let Norris qualify ahead of Piastri on the grid, and it ended late in the race when Piastri was told to give Norris 2nd place.
All this happening while Piastri sits points clear at the top of the drivers table, and the 3rd placed Verstappen winning the race?
McLaren basically dealt Max back into the contest, was this to stop Lando turning sook?
Lando let Piastri pit first, so he could get stay out in front of LeClerc.
Had Lando said, yep, i'll pit first.....and he ended up behind, then nothing would've had to be swapped.
It was seen as Lando played the team game, so Oscar should play the team game.
You can understand that logic...whether you agree with it or not is another story.
I watched the game. I watched a 4th gamer in Sophie McKay do things that Darcy Vescio used to do. I watched irish girls do things Darcy Vescio used to do. If you saw it differently, so be it. Vescio was not in the top half players on the ground.....and there is nothing wrong with that.
Once again, i'm just pointing out how far everyone else has come, not criticising Vescio.
Sophie's mark, which was reminiscent of Darcy's leaps (and Darcy almost took mark of the year against Hawthorn), was set up by Darcy getting to the ball first, executing a clean pick up on the run and in traffic, and nailing the handpass to the best option in Cordner. Without Darcy's skill and quick decision-making, Sophie doesn't get to leap for that mark. Cordner gets the goal assist but it was Darcy's work that created the opportunity.
And who had the most metres gained for us? Fitzpatrick 360, Finn 345 and Vescio with 331. Next best was Harrington with 319. Darcy's rebound from defence is a critical factor in our success even if her highlights reel isn't as flashy as it was.
re bold....what you are saying is this.... Superman could only save someone from plummetting to their death if they jumped off the top of the building first. The person jumping made superman what they are today.
Anyone could've created that. Not anyone could've taken the mark.
Darcy ALMOST took a mark.....but didn't. Darcy gave away a free kick for attempting one this week too and got nowhere near it.
I don't want to turn this into a Darcy bashing thread, because its not about that. Darcy is playing (almost) at the same level they always have. However, everyone around Darcy has improved dramatically to the point where Daisy is a cameo player. You need good users of the ball behind the footy. Sure....but.... Darcy isn't doing the grunt work in the middle. Darcy isn't hitting the scoreboard. Darcy isn't taking big intercept marks in defence.
We have others doing that role and doing it very well. Its why we are 3-1 because we have a solid team who are working for eachother and all have a great level of skill and courage not seen in the team before. I think Darcy is just keeping the HB seat warm until Gab Pound returns, then we might see Darcy further up the field. I wouldn't mind her taking Duursmas spot who i think is not quite up to the rest of the teams standard at present.
I don't want to labour the point too much, but in terms of points, Vescio was the 5th lowest scorer from Carlton. Below Darcy was...
Key forward - Bohanna Key back - Scholz 2nd gamer irishwoman who played 21% game time - O'Connell A player who got injured - Duursma
That's not the output of an elite player. Thats the output of a player who once was elite and is now being swallowed up by the improving AFLW playing group.
Darcy did some good things, but the most impact they had all day happened to be transferred to Mimi Hills knee. Not sure why Darcy felt the need to hip and shoulder Hill, but that could be very costly. Hope Hill is ok.
And that’s where watching the game gives a much better appreciation of a player’s contribution than statistics and “points”.
You can’t measure energy and impact without the ball but Darcy’s work enables others to shine.
I watched the game. I watched a 4th gamer in Sophie McKay do things that Darcy Vescio used to do. I watched irish girls do things Darcy Vescio used to do. If you saw it differently, so be it. Vescio was not in the top half players on the ground.....and there is nothing wrong with that.
Once again, i'm just pointing out how far everyone else has come, not criticising Vescio.
I don't want to labour the point too much, but in terms of points, Vescio was the 5th lowest scorer from Carlton. Below Darcy was...
Key forward - Bohanna Key back - Scholz 2nd gamer irishwoman who played 21% game time - O'Connell A player who got injured - Duursma
That's not the output of an elite player. Thats the output of a player who once was elite and is now being swallowed up by the improving AFLW playing group.
Darcy did some good things, but the most impact they had all day happened to be transferred to Mimi Hills knee. Not sure why Darcy felt the need to hip and shoulder Hill, but that could be very costly. Hope Hill is ok.
Have you seen Darcy lately? There isn't much to get excited about. Fumbles, can't stay on their feet. Brain is quick, absolutely. Body less so. Skills no longer stand out. Size wise, Darcy is now one of the smallest out there. Age catches up with everyone, injuries too, but Darcy 2025 is not one of the first picked in our team.
Hill, Abby, Keeley x2, Guerin, Bree are our best. Then you throw in Good, Bohanna, Cordner, Finn, Ronny who are all offering more. Thats half a side before we get to Darcy. Darcy is average, in an average side. That doesn't mean they are no good and need to be sacked. But AA calibre, no longer.
Actually, yes, I have watched Darcy quite closely and her footy nous more than makes up for her drop in athleticism. Pay attention to her positioning, providing help defence, setting blocks, getting a hand in to cause a miskick, and making good use of her possessions.
Darcy hasn't been close to AA standard since 2023 but she always attracts a strong opponent and her work helps her now more prominent teammates to shine.
Again, not saying Darcy has forgotten how to play or that we need to put them in the delist pile, just that others have caught up. Plenty of players block....which is new and more to the point. Plenty of players use their body.....which is new and more to the point. Darcy was always pretty clean by hands with the ball. Now others are much cleaner.
I'm picking Darcy in my side each and every week. I'm not betting on Darcy to be in the top 5 in the B+F though.
Harsh, Krudds, but probably accurate. Darcy isn't getting any younger, no matter how strong she may be between the ears. She is finding it harder to do the things she used to excel in. And she was never a tall forward, just a good one. I'm glad that she seems to found some form and a decent place in defence, as she has been pretty average for the last couple of years. The Jack Silvagni of the AFLW side? Maybe. But I am happy to see her making a decent contribution after a couple of years of mediocrity.
For the record, i've got no issue with Darcy. Early on, if it wasn't for Vescio playing, it would've been close to impossible to sit through a match and see much to get excited about. Vescio is responsible (in part) for bringing a whole new audience to the carlton football club. Great character, personality and footballer. Its a marathon, Vescio started out in front, now the rest of the pack has caught up and are overtaking. No shame in that. Just proof of how much better everyone else has become.
You want to see how far the AFLW comp has come in its 8 years or so. Darcy Vescio won the league goal kicking award in its first season, 2017 and again in 2021. (Probably should name it after Vescio as a result!) Now Darcy is a run of the mill player in an average side.
The talent growth has been amazing, and will get better.
I wouldn’t say that Darcy is a run of the mill player. She’s not as athletic as she was and the youngsters are improving their skills each season. What Darcy has, and is standing her in good stead in her backline role, is footy nous in spades. While the improvement in skills is continuing to build, most AFLW players are formulaic rather than instinctive. That will change as the game grows but, for the moment, it gives Darcy an edge.
Have you seen Darcy lately? There isn't much to get excited about. Fumbles, can't stay on their feet. Brain is quick, absolutely. Body less so. Skills no longer stand out. Size wise, Darcy is now one of the smallest out there. Age catches up with everyone, injuries too, but Darcy 2025 is not one of the first picked in our team.
Hill, Abby, Keeley x2, Guerin, Bree are our best. Then you throw in Good, Bohanna, Cordner, Finn, Ronny who are all offering more. Thats half a side before we get to Darcy. Darcy is average, in an average side. That doesn't mean they are no good and need to be sacked. But AA calibre, no longer.
You want to see how far the AFLW comp has come in its 8 years or so. Darcy Vescio won the league goal kicking award in its first season, 2017 and again in 2021. (Probably should name it after Vescio as a result!) Now Darcy is a run of the mill player in an average side.
The talent growth has been amazing, and will get better.
