Women's Footy AFLW season 2023 - Season 8

[freoextra]

AFLW injury update: Round four

Get the latest AFLW injury news in the Perth Radiological Clinic injury update for round four

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Seth and Roux both tests, Gabby potentially back by round 5.

You'd think Roxy is a must-in - brings much more to the table as a high marking target compared to Wielstra.

Yes, unfortunately Wielstra really struggles at this level but probably gets one more game whilst Roxy gets match fit.

 

[arsesmart]

AFLW injury update: Round four

Get the latest AFLW injury news in the Perth Radiological Clinic injury update for round four

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Seth and Roux both tests, Gabby potentially back by round 5.

You'd think Roxy is a must-in - brings much more to the table as a high marking target compared to Wielstra.

Wouldn't mind seeing Roux take on an intercept marking role down back, albeit the backline is doing so well and probably be loath to disrupt it at this stage. Don't know if she's been doing any work in the preseason down back either.

Still, new year, new coach, new system, might really help her hit her stride down forward.

 

[UncleChipsy]

Still coming to terms with how young our backline is.

Jess Low (23), Emma O’Driscoll (23), Madi Scanlon (22), Sarah Verrier (21) and Mikayla Hyde (20).

 

[footyknut]

Wouldn't mind seeing Roux take on an intercept marking role down back, albeit the backline is doing so well and probably be loath to disrupt it at this stage. Don't know if she's been doing any work in the preseason down back either.

Still, new year, new coach, new system, might really help her hit her stride down forward.

We need her forward, only West Coast have kicked less score than us so far this year.

 

[Taylor]

Round One: 37 inside fifties to 23 (27%) - WIN
Round Two: 31 inside fifties to 21 (35%) - LOSS
Round Three: 29 inside fifties to 38 (48.3%) - WIN

We are tracking less and less inside fifties per game but our quality of them appear to be improving because we are drastically increasing our rate of scoring from an inside fifty.

You could argue that our non scoring inside fifties are more likely to generate a repeat inside fifty. Either way, our forward line is improving and our midfield connection is improving.

 

[arsesmart]

We need her forward, only West Coast have kicked less score than us so far this year.

Unfortunately her output over the past few seasons would suggest she's not going to contribute much to scoring. As I said, her game may be reinvigorated this season, but she has undeniable talent and it's a matter of how that might best be brought to fruition.

 

[Sumwun]

So it's a long weekend in WA this weekend, school holidays start and there are no AFLW matches in Perth. Great fixturing by the AFL.

 

[freo_leo29]

So it's a long weekend in WA this weekend, school holidays start and there are no AFLW matches in Perth. Great fixturing by the AFL.

Wafl grand final is on, Sunday!

 

[UncleChipsy]

Wafl grand final is on, Sunday!

Mid school holidays in Victoria and we get the chance to watch the team train and Richmond game on our crazy Grand Final public holiday!

 

[DragoDelph]

Hey Tonga Bob

 

[Tonga Bob]

Hey Tonga Bob

 

[UncleChipsy]

TEAM: Freo switch one for Dons

Fremantle have made one change for Sunday's round 4 AFLW clash with Essendon

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Tough call on Mikayla Hyde who i thought has played well

 

[freoextra]

TEAM: Freo switch one for Dons

Fremantle have made one change for Sunday's round 4 AFLW clash with Essendon

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Tough call on Mikayla Hyde who i thought has played well

And has played ok in all games.

 

[Schauermann]

Looking at the scores good teams pile on now, we really need more dangerous forwards. Can't see us score like 70, 80, 90...

 

[ImperialPurple]

Holy Bejeebus Roberts is so fricken-fracken good

 

[Tundrawolf]

Early days with Lisa Webb but I'm not seeing any particular playing style.

Yesterday as has happened all year we were out marked consistently.

Started well but have some players really struggling. Weilstra has no impact at all and I honestly saw East get just one possession.

We have to continue to look to Ireland for recruits as WA footy isn't looking good at the moment.

 

[Wizard]

Early days with Lisa Webb but I'm not seeing any particular playing style.

Yesterday as has happened all year we were out marked consistently.

Started well but have some players really struggling. Weilstra has no impact at all and I honestly saw East get just one possession.

We have to continue to look to Ireland for recruits as WA footy isn't looking good at the moment.

Weird that when the tail wags to dog that you might get the wrong selection of coach.....

 

[Taylor]

It looks to me that the power of Fremantle marking the ball is being denied as much as possible by the opposition. There is really only a handful of players on the field for Freo who will take a contested mark or a clean uncontested grab in transition so if you can play close with their opponents and body them then you remove the ball movement for the Dockers.

We don't look to have much of a run and carry game even with Antonio and O'Driscoll running the ball from behind. Ebony takes a bit of time to get the wheels turning at full speed so the ball hitting the grass or needing her to fetch it turns her into a statue for a moment, letting them mob her.

I wish we could inject a player like Lewis Jetta circa 2014 to float across half back as a spare and be fed the ball.

 

[apuchar]

Weird that when the tail wags to dog that you might get the wrong selection of coach.....

Are you serious? She has been there two minutes and the squad at her disposal is below average thanks to the Afl prioritising the expansion clubs over us. She needs to be judged when we have had a couple of years to do some decent recruiting, if the Afl ever allow us to, with WC continuing to be crap and consequently being given access to all of the limited quality talent we have in WA. We are too slow, too short and have a critical mass of poor decision makers and disposers.

 

[arsesmart]

Are you serious? She has been there two minutes and the squad at her disposal is below average thanks to the Afl prioritising the expansion clubs over us. She needs to be judged when we have had a couple of years to do some decent recruiting, if the Afl ever allow us to, with WC continuing to be crap and consequently being given access to all of the limited quality talent we have in WA. We are too slow, too short and have a critical mass of poor decision makers and disposers.

It does stick in the craw a bit to read the centrepiece of the game review on the AFL website how great Essendon, as a newbie, is for beating a “foundation club". No mention of the unfettered raiding that has been allowed and encouraged to go on, particularly of our list.

 

[ignoramus]

Are you serious? She has been there two minutes and the squad at her disposal is below average thanks to the Afl prioritising the expansion clubs over us. She needs to be judged when we have had a couple of years to do some decent recruiting, if the Afl ever allow us to, with WC continuing to be crap and consequently being given access to all of the limited quality talent we have in WA. We are too slow, too short and have a critical mass of poor decision makers and disposers.

This is my fear. We're in for years of middle-order and and bottom-order placing, at least until the comp is made full-time and the draft nationalised (and/or WC start winning more games than we do).

What was an advantage (state-based draft which gave us exclusive access to best WA players) has been made a disadvantage: first, with the entry of WC and the truckload of PPs they've been given, which sees us having very little access to the best WA draft prospects; second, with the further expansion that actually encouraged the raid of quality WA players from our list; third, with the predictably differential rate of growth in the state competitions, with the increases in rate of production of WA talent trailing that of Vic talent, turning the (more or less) lack of access to draftees outside WA into reduced scope to improve at the same rate as the competition leaders.

Our only hope is that Vic produces an "oversupply" of quality that prompts draft prospects to nominate for any state.

 

[arsesmart]

This is my fear. We're in for years of middle-order and and bottom-order placing, at least until the comp is made full-time and the draft nationalised (and/or WC start winning more games than we do).

What was an advantage (state-based draft which gave us exclusive access to best WA players) has been made a disadvantage: first, with the entry of WC and the truckload of PPs they've been given, which sees us having very little access to the best WA draft prospects; second, with the further expansion that actually encouraged the raid of quality WA players from our list; third, with the predictably differential rate of growth in the state competitions, with the increases in rate of production of WA talent trailing that of Vic talent, turning the (more or less) lack of access to draftees outside WA into reduced scope to improve at the same rate as the competition leaders.

Our only hope is that Vic produces an "oversupply" of quality that prompts draft prospects to nominate for any state.

With the new CBA and full 12 month contracts in the $60k+ range, we might see a national draft implemented sooner rather than later.

 

[ignoramus]

With the new CBA and full 12 month contracts in the $60k+ range, we might see a national draft implemented sooner rather than later.

I think that's the obvious next step with the next agreement, but it will hinge on hitting audience targets, a la the proposed additional rounds in the last year of the current agreement. I had thought that the av. 6K attendance at the ground would be a stretch. Freo home crowd would struggle to hit an average of 2.5K, but but from watching some of the games played in Vic the last few rounds, where the crowds were very healthy, it might be doable.

TV audience numbers probably the more important targets, so I've already started streaming games even when I'm not actively watching them!

 

[arsesmart]

I think that's the obvious next step with the next agreement, but it will hinge on hitting audience targets, a la the proposed additional rounds in the last year of the current agreement. I had thought that the av. 6K attendance at the ground would be a stretch. Freo home crowd would struggle to hit an average of 2.5K, but but from watching some of the games played in Vic the last few rounds, where the crowds were very healthy, it might be doable.

TV audience numbers probably the more important targets, so I've already started streaming games even when I'm not actively watching them!

The aim of the nominated draft zones was to ensure you didn't have players have to relocate interstate if they had no liveable financial safety net. The minimum wage in the AFLW could now support someone with no added dependents etc to a large degree, especially with a casual or part-time job that surely most clubs would have the business coteries provide.

At the very least, the healthier wages at the top of the bracket might have the more talented players willing to nominate nationally (if not the rules stipulated by the AFL that the top 20 in the draft be open slather, with the proviso of wages to match).

From this perspective, full or partial "open" drafts are feasible from either 2024 or 2025 onwards.

 

[ignoramus]

The aim of the nominated draft zones was to ensure you didn't have players have to relocate interstate if they had no liveable financial safety net. The minimum wage in the AFLW could now support someone with no added dependents etc to a large degree, especially with a casual or part-time job that surely most clubs would have the business coteries provide.

At the very least, the healthier wages at the top of the bracket might have the more talented players willing to nominate nationally (if not the rules stipulated by the AFL that the top 20 in the draft be open slather, with the proviso of wages to match).

From this perspective, full or partial "open" drafts are feasible from either 2024 or 2025 onwards.

I don't see the salary tiers affecting it much — assuming, at least, that draftees automatically come in at the bottom tier (don't know, but seems counter-intuitive to be otherwise; maybe 2nd bottom?). Not yet. The wage is higher, yes, and maybe high enough that more local players can do a Hayley Miller, supplementing their AFLW wage with minimal part-time employment so as to train effectively as a full-time athlete. But it's a bigger ask for someone coming from interstate, away from (e.g.) potentially free rent and board, to live on the bottom tier AFLW wage for their first 2-3 years, and needing (most probably) to train close to full-time if they're any hope of getting to Tier 1 or 2 by, say their 3rd or 4th year.

As I said before, I expect we'll see more draft prospects nominating for all states purely to increase their chances of getting drafted, and many of these may be better than those we can get locally. But if they're doing everything they can to increase their chances of being drafted, it's also unlikely they're the cream of the crop. There'd have to be very specific personal reasons, you'd think, for the top rated Vic draftees (top 10–15, at least) to nominate for states other than Vic.