AFLW AFLW 2023 - Geelong & the greater league
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Frederico_WA
West Africa's #1 qooty player
Are there any stats on HO to advantage? If our rucks arent impacting around the ground, and aren't giving any advantage to those around them ... whats the point of having a true ruck?
Could use someone with a decent leap on them in the middle to contest the throw up, then hit the ground running. 4 mids v 3 to get the clearance.
I imagine that plan could help. But I'm not sure who we would use to employ it. And it's not just the question of quality hit-outs or better clearance numbers that could flow from a competent ruck. We're also getting owned in taking big marks around the ground and where bigger bodies can clear space for mids/smalls to get to work when the ball hits the turf. So it's actually more the incidentals of a decent ruck and their influence around the ground that we're missing for mine.
Frederico_WA
West Africa's #1 qooty player
And thats where I think Fuller is way superior to Hoare. She was finding some decent form last season and shes moved back in the pecking order for someone taller (and no other advantage).
I'd be playing Fuller over Hoare every day of the week. And twice on Sundays, as well. Gives us more now and still has some prospect of reasonable development into the future. Also has an edge to how she plays that Erin will clearly never possess.
Frederico_WA
West Africa's #1 qooty player
IN: Scott, Plumber, A.McDonald
OUT: Hoare, Bragg, Kearns
Plumber and McDonald both to bring a bit of grunt. Reckon Aishling could pinchhit ruck and use that instinct of hers to be the 4th mid. Fuller in ruck for the rest of it. Shelly rotate through the FWDs and Scheery to rotate through the MID a bit more.
Don't mind it. But wouldn't really want to expose Aishling to the physicality of ruck contests at this point in her development. Not saying she wouldn't relish it. But the last thing we need is some serious injury to her as a result of a collision injury around the inevitable congestion of ruck contests. Looks to me that her greatest strength will be getting the ball in space and burning opponents from there.
Given Webster and Johnson are further away, I'd be OK with the other changes you noted. Shelley will be a very good inclusion. Although I would say that neither Bragg nor Kearns did too much wrong against North. Just don't potentially give us a surety with ball in hand or a good rebound option out of our back half. Will Plummer and Abbey Mc improve us in that regard?
Webster now supposedly a 'test' for this weekend's match as well. Shelley and Bec would be massively handy ins for this game.
Frederico_WA
West Africa's #1 qooty player
Good point re: aishling. Possibly next year as she hones her craft.
I thought AbMc offered plenty in her debut. Give her a job and I reckon she goes hard for it. Same with Plummer, only debuts last year. Have to get games in them both while theres opportunity.
Agree neither Kearns or Bragg did anything wrong, but they are replaceable when you need to move a few magnets around. Bragg just as likely to give another zero stat game imo and Kearns looks OK but gets lost at times. Not sure what he role could be for us. What you think?
As I said, I think you're probably right about both Plummer and Abbey Mc needing games. The only factor potentially keeping Bragg in the mix above either of them is having to take on extra talls in any given match.
As for Kearns, it's hard to see a role for her in our best team now. Thought she might make it up forward initially, but others have clearly gone past her there. So I understand trying to run her off the backline now. Having said that, there seem to be better options bobbing up back there as well. For example, I see Rankin as one who has continued to improve in the defensive group over time. So Rach might end up being a depth player for now, particularly if Annabel gets back and the likes of Abbey Mc kick on.
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It's a fair point - I know Gabbi Featherston (who is injured atm) used to play that type of role for the Falcons before being drafted. She'd no doubt be way too short for the role at AFLW level.
I'm not sure we actually have anyone listed with either the leap or the strength to play that kind of role - perhaps Melissa Bragg, who is inexperienced but relatively strong and tall ...
Frederico_WA
West Africa's #1 qooty player
I think the solution is currently outside the club. Need to entice a decent ruck away from their club, or rookie draft a standout from the u/18 carnival. Look how many of those young rucks have walked into #1 ruck this year and going OK. Positive signs going that route.
Still no Shelley Scott.
Great to get Bek back in, though.
And Fuller omitted as well. So the ruck annihilation will be continuing unabated for this week, at least.
cats_09
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Interesting that it's Fuller out - I really want to see Darby having an impact, and maybe they think getting her back into that 2nd ruck role is the way to do it
I know we say it with the mens team sheets so no reason it would be different with the women's, but I'd be happier to see Parry named at FF and shift Scheer to that CHF role and seeing if we can start getting her involved a bit more further up the field. I know she kicked the 5 goals against Sydney, but majority of those came when we had control of the match & looked the more dominant team through the midfield
When we are in bit more of a midfield battle, we don't necessarily get the clean clearances & entries into our forward 50, and it seems that our forwards can struggle to get into the match in those situations. If Chloe is struggling to get her into the match, I wouldn't mind sending her into the guts for a bit just to see if that creates a spark, even for her to build into things. I doubt we're going to win too many matches where she plays 94% TOG but finishes with a stat line of 1 kick, 2 handballs for 3 disposals to go with 1 behind & 1 tackle - she's a better player than that
AnUltimateRessie
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If you think Fuller is the answer to the ruck problems, you haven't been watching Geelong AFLW the past couple of seasons.
She's not the answer, that's for sure. But the players retained in the line-up at her expense don't give me any cause for confidence, either. What a barren wasteland our AFLW ruck division has become.
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