AFLW 2024 AFLW season - Geelong & the greater league...

[winty]

The commentators on Foxtel mentioned that they think with so many players who are relatively new to the side playing tonight (ie. Kennedy, Kenny, Featherston, O'Rourke, Bragg and Thorne) that we lacked the cohesiveness we would normally have if the players were more familiar with each other.

Makes you wonder then why we never allowed some of the girls to play together more in the VFLW to build up that cohesiveness. I think last year we had a lot more AFLW listed players playing in the VFLW earlier in the season, and then in the last month or so pulled them out to rest them up for the AFLW, which is why the VFLW side crashed out of the top six, but at least it gave the girls a better idea how each other plays. I think we even had Chloe Scheer play a few VFLW games last year. I think this year we were lucky to have half a dozen AFLW listed players play any one week at VFLW level.

I know that when Sydney played a few games against VFLW sides earlier in the season, their team was stacked with AFLW listed players. Pretty sure Hawthorn did the same as well when they flogged us by 16 goals early in the season too.

Just on my last point, I had a look at the sides who played in the VFLW game vs Box Hill I spoke about where we lost 0.2.2 to 14.14.98. Of our AFLW listed players, only Melissa Bragg, Chantal Mason and Brooke Plummer were playing for us (Caitlin Thorne was also playing for Box Hill).

As for the Hawks, Emily Bates, Eliza West, Aine McDonagh, Casey Sheriff, Mackenzie Eardley, Bridie Hipwell, Tamara Smith, Emily Everist, Lucy Wales and Kristy Stratton all played in that match.

So, in other words, it was 3 AFLW listed players vs 10. You only need to look at Hawthorn's improvement this season to see how beneficial building up team synergy by playing together at the lower level has been for them.

 

[AnUltimateRessie]

Thinking of someone like Rohan as an assistant - obviously when the two seasons were completely separate it allowed the time to focus on his AFL career, and then turn to the AFLW over summer. With the AFLW now starting in August, pre-season starting in June, how much focus could he give to his assistant coaching role compared with his playing career?

Rohan is only a development coach and isn't that major in the scheme of coaching. They usually have very little say in the space of setups, strategy and ball movement

 

[PzBlinky]

Just on my last point, I had a look at the sides who played in the VFLW game vs Box Hill I spoke about where we lost 0.2.2 to 14.14.98. Of our AFLW listed players, only Melissa Bragg, Chantal Mason and Brooke Plummer were playing for us (Caitlin Thorne was also playing for Box Hill).

As for the Hawks, Emily Bates, Eliza West, Aine McDonagh, Casey Sheriff, Mackenzie Eardley, Bridie Hipwell, Tamara Smith, Emily Everist, Lucy Wales and Kristy Stratton all played in that match.

So, in other words, it was 3 AFLW listed players vs 10. You only need to look at Hawthorn's improvement this season to see how beneficial building up team synergy by playing together at the lower level has been for them.

Yeah, I was wondering back then why other teams were running a swathe of AFLW players through their VFLW team while we only did a couple at most. Would be interesting to know the reasons.

 

[cats_09]

If she’s getting a game, we’ve got issues. We’ve got issues

We've got issues further up the ground, and while Scott is probably in her last year, she's not one of our main issues at the moment

She's been much improved over recent weeks, and if anything it comes from playing deeper than earlier this season - 6 goals in her last 3 games is double her total goals from 7 matches last season

If she keeps going at 1->2 goals per game over the remainder of the season, she would have played her role

 

[cats_09]

Just on my last point, I had a look at the sides who played in the VFLW game vs Box Hill I spoke about where we lost 0.2.2 to 14.14.98. Of our AFLW listed players, only Melissa Bragg, Chantal Mason and Brooke Plummer were playing for us (Caitlin Thorne was also playing for Box Hill).

As for the Hawks, Emily Bates, Eliza West, Aine McDonagh, Casey Sheriff, Mackenzie Eardley, Bridie Hipwell, Tamara Smith, Emily Everist, Lucy Wales and Kristy Stratton all played in that match.

So, in other words, it was 3 AFLW listed players vs 10. You only need to look at Hawthorn's improvement this season to see how beneficial building up team synergy by playing together at the lower level has been for them.

Yeah, I was wondering back then why other teams were running a swathe of AFLW players through their VFLW team while we only did a couple at most. Would be interesting to know the reasons.

Don't hold me to this, but when the AFLW was run over summer in that Jan/Feb through to March time period, with the VFLW starting not long after the end of the AFLW season, I'm pretty sure they had a rule in place about VFLW teams with an AFLW affiliate being able to field no more than 10(?) "senior" listed players per match

During those early seasons, I'm pretty sure we did run more of our AFLW players through our VFLW team, but definitely seems something steered away from this year and I'm not sure why

Looking at our AFLW listed players & their VFLW games this season:

• Bella Smith, 1
• Brooke Plummer, 11
• Bryde O'Rourke, 5
• Chantal Mason, 8, kicked 8.5 from her 8 games
• Gabbi Featherston, 3
• Abbey McDonald, 7; averaged 25.1 disposals & twice had a season high of 35
• Melissa Bragg, 2

With the large break between seasons, we really needed to make better use of the VFLW season and then there's more than a few of our AFLW players who really could have used an extended run through there

 

[cats_09]

This may be a stupid question, but is anyone else surprised that Rankin is only 26?

I don't know why, but I thought she was part of the older brigade and that was one of the reasons she seems to be slowing down out there - I didn't realise that instead she was at an age when you view players as coming into their prime

 

[cats_09]

Does anyone know how to look up more detailed player stats from previous seasons compared with just the basic overview on the AFLW app?

I'm curious about Morrisons CBAs and clearance stats from last year in comparison to this season - part of me feels like last year we saw Morrison play more of an outside role, primarily on the wing with the occasionally burst in the guts at centre bounces, whereas this year she's basically been at every centre bounce unless on the bench

No doubting Morrison is strong at the contest, but when looking at the options we're playing on the wing in her places, it's often been JCG, Moloney or Friswell and nothing against them, but they aren't at the same level in terms of ball user as Morrison is

Last year we seemed to have a clear plan to get the ball to the outside of the contest and if you can get it into the hands of a decision maker like Morrison, it served us well going forward. There's obviously a benefit to having Morrison in at the coal face, but not sure we're getting the same, clean looks going forward and if that's an area we can look at things - get the ball into her hands on the outside so she has the time and space to make things happen

 

[cats_09]

Unfortunately this doesn't tell us much

Cats eventful night​

It was a rough night for Cats debutant Bryde O'Rourke whose first game was nearly over before it began. The father-daughter selection ran onto the ground to the cheers of the crowd, laid a huge tackle on the opposite wing, and then ran straight off. The 18-year-old injured her left shoulder, but much to the delight of Cats fans, returned to the ground. The tough defender tried to continue, but called it a night half way through the third quarter after playing in what seemed a fair amount of pain.

 

[ToreadorMarch]

We've got issues further up the ground, and while Scott is probably in her last year, she's not one of our main issues at the moment

She's been much improved over recent weeks, and if anything it comes from playing deeper than earlier this season - 6 goals in her last 3 games is double her total goals from 7 matches last season

If she keeps going at 1->2 goals per game over the remainder of the season, she would have played her role

Agree and disagree. I actually think our list is the biggest issue at the moment and exposed by a few key outs, eg. Pres early, Amac now, Scheer throughout and ruck issues. The Scheer one is the perfect example, because Shelly Scott is VFLW and filling in for an injury really. She’s got a few goals, a few lucky ones and agreed that she has improved over last couple of weeks, but she doesn’t offer enough and too much is falling on Parry - her game is suffering for it too. Lingy has been brilliant but she is one out of the bag, a genuine star just realising how much better than most she can be. Nothing against Shelley Scott, but she just isn’t a solution to going forward in the AFLW.

 

[ToreadorMarch]

Does anyone know how to look up more detailed player stats from previous seasons compared with just the basic overview on the AFLW app?

I'm curious about Morrisons CBAs and clearance stats from last year in comparison to this season - part of me feels like last year we saw Morrison play more of an outside role, primarily on the wing with the occasionally burst in the guts at centre bounces, whereas this year she's basically been at every centre bounce unless on the bench

No doubting Morrison is strong at the contest, but when looking at the options we're playing on the wing in her places, it's often been JCG, Moloney or Friswell and nothing against them, but they aren't at the same level in terms of ball user as Morrison is

Last year we seemed to have a clear plan to get the ball to the outside of the contest and if you can get it into the hands of a decision maker like Morrison, it served us well going forward. There's obviously a benefit to having Morrison in at the coal face, but not sure we're getting the same, clean looks going forward and if that's an area we can look at things - get the ball into her hands on the outside so she has the time and space to make things happen

Good observation. Nina has been brilliant this year and shouldered a lot of weight - more than she should. I agree we need to have the ball coming from her in space more often, as we have manufactured for Webster, who has had her best season.

 

[PzBlinky]

Don't hold me to this, but when the AFLW was run over summer in that Jan/Feb through to March time period, with the VFLW starting not long after the end of the AFLW season, I'm pretty sure they had a rule in place about VFLW teams with an AFLW affiliate being able to field no more than 10(?) "senior" listed players per match

During those early seasons, I'm pretty sure we did run more of our AFLW players through our VFLW team, but definitely seems something steered away from this year and I'm not sure why

Looking at our AFLW listed players & their VFLW games this season:

• Bella Smith, 1
• Brooke Plummer, 11
• Bryde O'Rourke, 5
• Chantal Mason, 8, kicked 8.5 from her 8 games
• Gabbi Featherston, 3
• Abbey McDonald, 7; averaged 25.1 disposals & twice had a season high of 35
• Melissa Bragg, 2

With the large break between seasons, we really needed to make better use of the VFLW season and then there's more than a few of our AFLW players who really could have used an extended run through there

That's more than I thought we'd done, but still nowhere close to other teams.

I know Bragg is a depth player but watching her last night, it was painfully obvious she's still got a long way to go (even though she's 29). Half a season in the VFLW might've done wonders for her development...and she's far from the only one.

 

[cats_09]

Agree and disagree. I actually think our list is the biggest issue at the moment and exposed by a few key outs, eg. Pres early, Amac now, Scheer throughout and ruck issues. The Scheer one is the perfect example, because Shelly Scott is VFLW and filling in for an injury really. She’s got a few goals, a few lucky ones and agreed that she has improved over last couple of weeks, but she doesn’t offer enough and too much is falling on Parry - her game is suffering for it too. Lingy has been brilliant but she is one out of the bag, a genuine star just realising how much better than most she can be. Nothing against Shelley Scott, but she just isn’t a solution to going forward in the AFLW.

I don't see Scott playing beyond this year, but she has offered something over recent weeks

Parry is one who started well against Melbourne but has been up & down across the season - she's someone who has had experience in the past of running through the ruck, so with how that hasn't been working for us this season, wonder if she's one we can run through that a bit more to try and get her into games

Want to see us try a few different things over our remaining games, because we definitely got areas for improvement and might as well use the remaining games to get a look at something different

 

[Willo_]

This may be a stupid question, but is anyone else surprised that Rankin is only 26?

I don't know why, but I thought she was part of the older brigade and that was one of the reasons she seems to be slowing down out there - I didn't realise that instead she was at an age when you view players as coming into their prime

I would say she has always been a very limited player getting the most out of herself, as the standard of the league has improved it has gone past her basically

 

[Willo_]

Don't hold me to this, but when the AFLW was run over summer in that Jan/Feb through to March time period, with the VFLW starting not long after the end of the AFLW season, I'm pretty sure they had a rule in place about VFLW teams with an AFLW affiliate being able to field no more than 10(?) "senior" listed players per match

During those early seasons, I'm pretty sure we did run more of our AFLW players through our VFLW team, but definitely seems something steered away from this year and I'm not sure why

Looking at our AFLW listed players & their VFLW games this season:

• Bella Smith, 1
• Brooke Plummer, 11
• Bryde O'Rourke, 5
• Chantal Mason, 8, kicked 8.5 from her 8 games
• Gabbi Featherston, 3
• Abbey McDonald, 7; averaged 25.1 disposals & twice had a season high of 35
• Melissa Bragg, 2

With the large break between seasons, we really needed to make better use of the VFLW season and then there's more than a few of our AFLW players who really could have used an extended run through there

this is damning i reckon... it actually to me reeks of a side that just thought they were up there and has gotten a touch ahead of themselves.
Particuarly Bella Smith, we traded her it... play her once only in the VFL but she isn't in the AFL side either.. why did we bother?

 

[cats_09]

this is damning i reckon... it actually to me reeks of a side that just thought they were up there and has gotten a touch ahead of themselves.
Particuarly Bella Smith, we traded her it... play her once only in the VFL but she isn't in the AFL side either.. why did we bother?

Smith's only game was round 8, and doesn't sound like there was an injury concern - The tough midfielder showed plenty of her potential as she collected 15 disposals, laying eight tackles and picking up three clearances


I wonder if there was a bit of disconnect between our VFLW & AFLW programs this year as we had a crazy number of debutants in the VFLW and most weeks we were on the completely wrong side of the AFLW experience equation - wonder if the program was being used more as a pathways for local players to gain experience at the VFLW level rather than being used to get games into our AFLW players

Hocking talks up our AFLW program and where they want that to go - think that between the VFLW & AFLW programs they need to have a strong review of both starting next month, how are they meant to work together and what is the aim especially of the VFLW as we don't seem to have given ourselves the best preparation going into this season

 

[cats_09]

I would say she has always been a very limited player getting the most out of herself, as the standard of the league has improved it has gone past her basically

Totally agree - always has got the best out of herself but is one of those players that as the league has improved, you can see she hasn't gone to that next level with it

I was genuinely surprised that she's only 10 days older than Amy McDonald - one is a player who looks to be coming into her prime and improving each season (except for stupid injury this year), and the other seems at the end of her career

 

[AnUltimateRessie]

Particuarly Bella Smith, we traded her it... play her once only in the VFL but she isn't in the AFL side either.. why did we bother?

I believe she wanted to come to us/victoria and not the other way around

 

[winty]

Decent melee this.

 

[cats_09]

From last night's melee

 

[cats_09]

This is one positive from the last week

 

[cats_09]

Week 6A | Post Game Coach Takeaways​

See what Dan Lowther had to say following Geelong's loss to Fremantle

Lowther on what went wrong on Tuesday​

The difference from this season to last season is that we took our chances when we were presented them.

Last week we kicked accurately in the first half and waned a bit after that, where as today we had plenty of looks inside 50 early and didn't capitalise.

Then the ease for them to take it the other way into our defensive 50 and we get scored against, which is a really disheartening part of it.

I am sure that is how the players reacted on the field too, all that work for not much reward and then it can become emotionally and physically taxing.

Lowther on the Cats mentality heading forward​

We will still fight the fight, clearly we are playing well below standard but it is great to see the competition improving each year.

With five games to go, we have five day before our next game so that is the focus for us.

We want to make some significant ground from today's game heading into the Swans.

We will keep fighting the fight until it is round 10 and we are done.

Lowther on Caitlin Thorne​

We had to find players who can support the inside mid role and then get out and challenge, not just inside but outside in second phase footy.

I thought Caitlin Thorne came in and did a pretty good job again today, with real limited exposure to AFLW footy.

Just like she did against Gold Coast, she played her role really well again today.

She is going to learnt he consistency piece around what it is like under this type of pressure, but she did really well.

Lowther on the takeaways from 2024​

It has been a strange season to be honest.

Our progression has been pretty positive over the past couple of years, this season has been a bit strange in regards to the consistency of our performances from quarter to quarter.

Our fundamentals were off today, that is something we pride ourselves on with our kick and mark ability and that was clearly down.

Pressure applied by the opposition can add to that in games, it is a strange one but we will go to work as we always do to prep for Sydney. We have to get our own stuff right.

Week 6A | Post Game Coach Takeaways

See what Dan Lowther had to say following Geelong's loss to Fremantle

www.geelongcats.com.au

 

[cats_09]

Damn, Bryde did well to try play through this

Geelong have named their initial squad ahead of Sunday's clash with Sydney.

Georgie Rankin, Bella Smith, Chantal Mason and Brooke Plummer have all been added to an extended interchange.

The only confirmed change is Bryde O’Rourke, who is expected to miss at least three weeks following a collarbone injury suffered on Tuesday night against Fremantle.

“It was an unfortunate injury for Bryde. She has remained upbeat and we now work through what the coming weeks look like for her in terms of a return-to-play plan,” Geelong Cats Assistant General Manager of Football Brett Johnson

Brett Johnson

Age

42

Ht

179cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.6

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

said.

“It’s an undisplaced fracture, which does not require surgery, and at this stage we’re hopeful Bryde will be available for selection in a few weeks’ time.”

The final team will be announced at 5pm on Friday night, with five players to be selected from the extended interchange and the remaining three to be emergencies.

Geelong will head to Henson Park for a clash against Sydney on Sunday afternoon, with the opening bounce at 3.05pm.

The match will be broadcast live and free on channel seven from 3.00pm.

 

[cats_09]

We would now have 5 on the injury list:

• Kate Surman, concussion
• Chloe Scheer, toe
• Amy McDonald, hamstring
• Bryde O'Rourke, collarbone
• Lily Pearce, ACL

And based on timeframes, the first two are the only two we could reasonable expect to return before the end of the season


Looking at the 24 named in the extended squad for Sunday, the only available player not named would be Abbey McDonald

 

[winty]

We would now have 5 on the injury list:

• Kate Surman, concussion
• Chloe Scheer, toe
• Amy McDonald, hamstring
• Bryde O'Rourke, collarbone
• Lily Pearce, ACL

And based on timeframes, the first two are the only two we could reasonable expect to return before the end of the season


Looking at the 24 named in the extended squad for Sunday, the only available player not named would be Abbey McDonald

Melbourne needed to name a top-up player in order to be able to field a full team tonight. I doubt they'll be the last team who will need to do that this season too.

 

[cats_09]

Melbourne needed to name a top-up player in order to be able to field a full team tonight. I doubt they'll be the last team who will need to do that this season too.

I wonder how close we were to ruling Bragg out after that knee to the chest?

I can't remember the team, but pretty sure there was a club naming a top up player in their 24 in round 2 or 3

The lists need increasing - at least to 35 players, and maybe the ability to name an Cat B type rookie (1 or 2) outside the list for their first season. The lists aren't a suitable size