I have been travelling around New Zealand over the past few weeks so I missed the PF against Brisbane. The thing about NZ is that they seem to have 100 TV Channels and none of them having anything worth watching. However I did get to catch a replay of the PF and it confirms what I thought was going to happen. Our girls had played in WA on a five day break, two finals and then played Brisbane up in Queensland. The team definitely ran out of energy. I think we would gave done better against Melbourne simply for the fact that we would not have had to travel. Since 1995, there has been four occasions where Carlton appeared to be on verge of Premiership success, 1999-2001, 2010-13, 2020-21 for the AFLW side and 2021-23, and each time we have stuffed it up by believing it was going to happen bu osmosis and not by improving the playing squad, which lead to chaos around the Coach and within the administration. Once again we are now on the verge of success with our AFLW team and it is really important that we bring in players that will strengthen the squad and that we do not lose players that lead to the squad being weakened. The lack of depth really hurt us in the end and probably cost us against Sydney and St Kilda. We need to be in the top two next year. Next season Darcy Vescio and Breann Harrington should both play their 100th games which will be great for the Club. From a team perspective however, you would want both of them to be really fighting for their spots in the side because the team has improved. Three years ago the Club devised a plan for our AFLW team and they have basically stuck to it. The lesson is that unless you stick to a plan there is no way you will know as to whether the plan will work or not. Sticking to a plan has not been the strength of Carlton over the past thirty years.
Carlton played pretty well before the lightning break. They obviously got a bit comfortable sitting on their bikes. The last ten minutes was better again. Bohanna is clearly very important to us. She provides a focus and structure that we missed over the past two weeks. Valardo and Gruen played well as well. Experience is important in finals. Carlton will have played six of the of the other top nine teams and normally seven wins from twelve games would get you into finals but WCE have had a far easier draw, which the AFL should fix by having all sides playing one another in a season, but the AFL isn't serious about women's football. They always tell you what is wrong and never focus on it's strengths or the opportunity. Now Carlton has to go to Perth on a five day break to ensure it's place in the finals. I believe Carlton is a better side and hopefully they will play to their ability and win.
With Curnow, TDK, Silvagni and McGovern gone, Lewis Young will probably be our most important player next season. If he can hold down CHB it will go a long way to ensuring we have a better season next year. Had a pretty good year last season.
I thought Freo were the better team overall on the night but we took our chances. I didn't think our forwards gelled this week as a unit. While the general kicking has improved over the years it is still the big weakness in the women's game which is why Darcy Vescio is such a weapon. She is the one player at the Club, men and women, who can actually kick the ball. The knock on boys when growing up was 'he played like a girl' but the women's game is contested and hard and one of continual tackling. There are times I wish our mens team would play like girls. Our midfield will work better when Abbey McKay returns. Good support for Freo at the game and I think the Carlton team is worth getting behind. At five and two we should make the finals but still need to win a couple more games.
Actually went to the game. Darcy Vescio is a star. She reminds me of Jezza when he went to the half back flank. She is one player who can really kick the ball. Harrington is another star who actually understands the game. Almost kicked one of the best goals you are ever likely to see with a chip and charge. Sophie McKay's mark was a good mark in any competition. They are still a work in progress but they are hard at it and the other teams seem to get hurt in the tackles. Looking at the ladder and the draw we really should be playing finals this year.
Flynn Riley may be someone they might bring in as a rookie to develop. We obviously now need an additional ruckman. Lemmey is an interesting one. I am a big supporter of having big guys who can run, kick and jump. With a couple of first round compensation for free agency we will probably look at picking a forward ruckman type player. I am not sure there is a spot for Darcy Hogg no matter how much I would like there to be.
