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

[cats_09]

Reckon Friswell played tonight under a bit of duress - left boot off and iced up on the outside of the ankle to the lower calf area

That kinda sums up our season - 10 players confirmed unavailable due to injury, at least one more out there tonight was maybe doesn't play if we had senior replacements available


We've battled injury concerns since our preseason matches with players out ill or injured and it's continued all season - outside of a genuine #1 ruck option for 2025, the biggest help will a healthier list to choose from

One benefit though from the issues we've had this season is that we've got to see all bar 2 players get their opportunities and we've been able to see who grabbed those chances and those who maybe didn't quite look up to it

 

[winty]

Was interested to see Bragg only had 29% game time tonight, but then had a look at the game time she's had over the rest of the games she's played this year. It wasn't pretty reading.

• vs Fremantle: 23% game time
• vs Sydney: 41%.
• vs Richmond: 36%
• vs Brisbane: 41%
• vs West Coast: 53%

Staggering that she's playing so little game time week in, week out. Wonder if that's why we've had so many injuries over the last month or so as we've basically been one player down for most of the match since Bragg has been on the pine for so long each match so other players are being more fatigued as they're forced to be on the ground for longer.

 

[ToreadorMarch]

All the female comm box people seem to dislike the cats .

Yeah, ive been noting that for last two seasons, but really prevalent this year. Where does this come from?

 

[ToreadorMarch]

Not good in general.... can never win a 1 on 1

Not true, often wins and generally halves. Had a poor night tonight, not at all indicative of her season though

 

[joe444]

Because I don't watch many full AFLW games except Geelong ones, I didn't have much of a read on what was the sort of standard to expect. Surely, I've thought all year, it can be possible to find girls who run faster, kick longer and mark better.

It is - they're called Adelaide.

For all our obvious deficiencies, we've had an okay year. But it should be non-negotiable that if you struggle to handball without looking like an under-12s, you can't get a game.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Yeah, ive been noting that for last two seasons, but really prevalent this year. Where does this come from?

I don't know but it really stands out.
But they bais against the cats W team.
I doubt any of the comm box woman have any media training.

 

[goyoucatters]

I understand that some injuries to key players have been very unhelpful this season. But the brutal reality is that our bottom six are just not at the level. That's always a factor when the heat goes on in the men's game. And it's even more of a factor here, where you've got less players on the field in the first place.

6/16 is nearly 40% of your team. That's a truckload of players to carry if they're really not up to speed.

 

[cats_09]

Was interested to see Bragg only had 29% game time tonight, but then had a look at the game time she's had over the rest of the games she's played this year. It wasn't pretty reading.

• vs Fremantle: 23% game time
• vs Sydney: 41%.
• vs Richmond: 36%
• vs Brisbane: 41%
• vs West Coast: 53%

Staggering that she's playing so little game time week in, week out. Wonder if that's why we've had so many injuries over the last month or so as we've basically been one player down for most of the match since Bragg has been on the pine for so long each match so other players are being more fatigued as they're forced to be on the ground for longer.

Would be interesting to compare her game time with Darby, because at times it does feel that Bragg's primary role is just to provide a break for Darby in the ruck and that we're maybe but utilising both players as well as we could

We've looked on the shorter side all season, so wonder if we could have played both a bit more and using the extra height as a spare behind the ball like we've seen Parry do late in quarters

Altlternatively, Darby started her career as a forward and Bragg played forward in our VFLW team ahead of us drafting her - considering our struggles up forward at times this season, why not try either/both at times and see what they have to offer

 

[cats_09]

In good news, down in the rooms after the game and just before kicking us out there was a little group of us having a chat with Darby & A. Moloney

Darby is the absolutely nicest Cats player I've met - she'll always sign autographs, take photos and make time to talk to the fans, even when her daughter is hanging around her feet

And good to chat with Moloney also. Since she came out here last season, she's had a total of 2 weeks downtime - 1 week after the end of our season last year and 1 week before starting pre-season this year

She returns to Ireland in December, they were obviously hopeful of playing finals, so now she's get a few weeks off before going home and getting into Gaelic football season

I asked about next year (cheeky I know) and she said she'll be back, that there's a definite Irish feel at the club and will be great to see Cillian coming out here

 

[OzeSparky]

Pretty nice down in the warm up area

View attachment 2156343View attachment 2156344View attachment 2156345

Have you just captured Rohans last time in the Geelong rooms?
Just going by Rumour he might be signing on at north

 

[cats_09]

Have you just captured Rohans last time in the Geelong rooms?
Just going by Rumour he might be signing on at north

Maybe - could be a special moment

 

[cats_09]

This is a pretty good read for AFLW fans - good to hear things from the perspective of a player who's still involved and not just those on the sidelines

 

[terry_bright]

I understand that some injuries to key players have been very unhelpful this season. But the brutal reality is that our bottom six are just not at the level. That's always a factor when the heat goes on in the men's game. And it's even more of a factor here, where you've got less players on the field in the first place.

6/16 is nearly 40% of your team. That's a truckload of players to carry if they're really not up to speed.

From the team last night, I agree too many players who aren’t up to it now or at this stage of their careers.

Substitute Bragg, Rankin, Abbey MacDonald, Plummer, Scott and maybe MegMac (Father Time has caught up to her IMO) with a ruck, Scheer, Kenny, Featherston, JCG, a tall defender hopefully and the team improves dramatically.

Darcy Moloney I would seriously consider trading to get a proven ruck or key defender. I think we should also trade our draft picks for talent as the list is still young enough.

 

[terry_bright]

After how this season has panned out, the result last night was to be expected.

A few highlights this season but more negatives. Disappointing really.

Cons
Injuries
Playing the season with no recognised ruck
Meg Mac’s form
Darcy Moloney’s form
Rankin
Second half fade-outs

Pros
The Irish contingent proving they have an important role to play going forward.
Getting games into the youngsters.

 

[cats_09]

From the team last night, I agree too many players who aren’t up to it now or at this stage of their careers.

Substitute Bragg, Rankin, Abbey MacDonald, Plummer, Scott and maybe MegMac (Father Time has caught up to her IMO) with a ruck, Scheer, Kenny, Featherston, JCG, a tall defender hopefully and the team improves dramatically.

Darcy Moloney I would seriously consider trading to get a proven ruck or key defender. I think we should also trade our draft picks for talent as the list is still young enough.

Regarding the bolded, I was a thinking about that exact same thing last night after getting home from the game - while Darcy is still young at just 21, she's now got 46 games under her belt and just don't think she's come on we likely would have wanted to see from her. If there was some outside interest, I wouldn't be opposed to her being a youngster we lose as I don't know if we necessarily lose a lot with her moving on - good player, but not exactly critical to our structure

I know JCG has a lower ceiling than others, but to me she's a heart & soul type player and one you can't doubt the efforts when she crosses that line - her presence out on the field is something we as fans can maybe take for granted at times

Meg Mac is an interesting one when looking forward - I can see her retiring, but at the same time if we were able to get bring in a genuine tall defender option it could allow her to potentially move into that Rankin third tall role, with Gunjaca moving into the Meg Mac role rather than being looked to as our main key defender option. There's times during this season where Meg's experience has been on show & an asset, and then other times where she's been totally shown up - her position on the list & in the team going forward, to me anyway, depends on other decisions we make this off season as we can't go into 2025 with her as one of our key defender options

 

[cats_09]

I've posted this before, but since our season has now ended it seems a good option to post again

Our list contract situation - what are folks thoughts on who will re-sign, who will retire, trade or be delisted. I've bolded the already known situations

2027
Georgie Prespakis
Nina Morrison
Becky Webster

2026
Mikayla Bowen
Chloe Scheer
Jackie Parry

2025
Amy McDonald
Chantel Emonson
Julia Crockett-Grills
Georgie Rankin

2024
Darcy Moloney
Kate Surman
Kate Darby
Meghan McDonald
Liv Fuller - unavailable for 2024
Shelley Scott
Anna-Rose Kennedy
Brooke Plummer
Zali Friswell
Rachel Kearns
Claudia Gunjaca
Gabbi Featherston
Abbey McDonald
Melissa Bragg
Aishling Moloney
Erin Hoare - retired
Bella Smith


Unknown contract status due to late or supplementary signings
Kate Kenny
Lilly Pearce
Caitlan Thorne

 

[cats_09]

2027
Georgie Prespakis
Nina Morrison
Becky Webster

2026
Mikayla Bowen
Chloe Scheer
Jackie Parry

2025
Amy McDonald
Chantel Emonson
Julia Crockett-Grills
Georgie Rankin - I would trade but not sure there'll be takers

2024
Darcy Moloney - trade/re-sign
Kate Surman - re-sign
Kate Darby - re-sign
Meghan McDonald - retire or wait & see
Liv Fuller - unavailable for 2024, not sure if she'll be back
Shelley Scott - retire
Anna-Rose Kennedy - re-sign; hopefully coming back with Aishling
Brooke Plummer - delist
Zali Friswell - trade/re-sign
Rachel Kearns - re-sign
Claudia Gunjaca - re-sign
Gabbi Featherston - re-sign
Abbey McDonald - wait & see. Been good signs in the VFLW, depends on other list decisions
Melissa Bragg - delist
Aishling Moloney - said she's coming back
Erin Hoare - retired
Bella Smith - delist


Unknown contract status due to late or supplementary signings
Kate Kenny - re-sign
Lilly Pearce - unsure due to not getting to see Pearce play. Tall but slightly built player, don't know where she fits
Caitlan Thorne - re-sign

 

[terry_bright]

2027
Georgie Prespakis
Nina Morrison
Becky Webster

2026
Mikayla Bowen
Chloe Scheer
Jackie Parry

2025
Amy McDonald
Chantel Emonson
Julia Crockett-Grills
Georgie Rankin - I would trade but not sure there'll be takers

2024
Darcy Moloney - trade/re-sign
Kate Surman - re-sign
Kate Darby - re-sign
Meghan McDonald - retire or wait & see
Liv Fuller - unavailable for 2024, not sure if she'll be back
Shelley Scott - retire
Anna-Rose Kennedy - re-sign; hopefully coming back with Aishling
Brooke Plummer - delist
Zali Friswell - trade/re-sign
Rachel Kearns - re-sign
Claudia Gunjaca - re-sign
Gabbi Featherston - re-sign
Abbey McDonald - wait & see. Been good signs in the VFLW, depends on other list decisions
Melissa Bragg - delist
Aishling Moloney - said she's coming back
Erin Hoare - retired
Bella Smith - delist


Unknown contract status due to late or supplementary signings
Kate Kenny - re-sign
Lilly Pearce - unsure due to not getting to see Pearce play. Tall but slightly built player, don't know where she fits
Caitlan Thorne - re-sign

Agree with most of that.
I would keep Bella Smith. Thought she showed us enough as a crash & bash midfielder, and we were a better midfield with her in the mix.
Lily Pearce I’d keep as well. Even if it’s only for depth, but the recruitment of a ruck (or 2) is essential.