AFLW AFLW Season 6, Mega Thread

[Cursed Cat]

Well here's some cause for optimism.

Irish players in club B&F counts

• Sarah Rowe (Coll): 5th in 2019 (1st season)
• Aileen Gilroy (NM): 5th in 2020 (1st season), 8th in 2021
• Cora Staunton (GWS): 6th in 2018 (1st season), =2nd in 2019, 7th in 2020, 3rd in 2021
• Yvonne Bonner (GWS): 7th in 2019 (1st season)
• Niamh Kelly (WC): =8th in 2020 (1st season), =4th in 2021
• Aisling McCarthy (WB/WC): 11th in 2019 (1st season), 4th in 2020, 2nd in 2021 (missed 2 games)
• Orla O'Dwyer (BL): 2nd in 2021 (2nd season)
• Grace Kelly (WC): =4th in 2021 (2nd season)
• Aishling Sheridan (Coll): 8th in 2021 (2nd season)

Note those players performed well for an even spread of teams in terms of strength--a mix of contenders (including a premiership winner), mid-ladder and cellar dwellers (including a wooden spooner).

And there's also been a few others who have had unlucky runs with injury. The least common outcome has been a player not cracking a regular game (only 2 or 3 instances of that).

Weighing up all of the above, the most likely outcome in 4-5 months from now is Geelong supporters asking 'why the hell didn't we recruit a/multiple Irish player(s) 3 years ago!'.

thanks for that; if I'm being honest I was only really aware of maybe 4 of those players - promising precedents for Kearns to draw upon!

 

[cats_09]

 

[winty]

 

[cats_09]

Congrats to Renee & Tony

Guess that kinda goes part of the way to answering the question that CC & myself were discussing just the other week about if we could play both Garing & Crockett-Grills in the same side going forward

Will Garing's absence open the door for Darby to return after missing last season - we know she's been training with the team, or will they look at a midfield relevant option?

 

[Geminicatz01]

Congrats to Renee but we will miss her experience in the midfield.

 

[cats_09]

 

[cats_09]

 

[Cursed Cat]

Nice piece on Darcy Moloney written by Phoebe McWilliams on the club's site today.

Interesting to read that Moloney credits Georgie Rankin as being a big influence on her positive mindset while tackling pre-season training this year.

Rankin gets a lot of kudos around the club, and was of course one of 4 AFLPA nominated 2021 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award Finallists (which was eventually won by Travis Boak

10

Travis Boak

Age

36

Ht

183cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

12.0

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

4.4

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.4

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

9.0

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.4

4star

) - Georgie Prespakis also mentioned her as a bit of a mentor since she arrived at the club, too.

As a footballer Rankin has been on the fringe throughout her time at the club, yet these intangible leadership qualities seem to be highly regarded by those within the inner sanctum.

On top of that, Rankin's slowly but surely improved during her time at Geelong, reportedly she's one of the fittest women at the club, and despite the team's woeful season last year I couldn't deny that Rankin was one of the few who took a step forward, albeit a small one.

Anyway, I suppose my point is: she might be on the fringe of the team's Best 21, but through the other qualities she brings to the squad she's perhaps a more important component than one might initially think.

As for Moloney, she is noticeably a lot fitter just judging by photos of her and seems to have been another W Cat to have benefited from playing with the VFLW team in the ''off-season''. The team needs every bit of midfield improvement it can muster in order to be more competitive in the upcoming season, a fit and firing Moloney (who already possess solid skills) would be very welcome.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Cursed Cat]

"Buddha Hocking vibes"

 

[Geminicatz01]

Congrats to Renee & Tony

Guess that kinda goes part of the way to answering the question that CC & myself were discussing just the other week about if we could play both Garing & Crockett-Grills in the same side going forward

Will Garing's absence open the door for Darby to return after missing last season - we know she's been training with the team, or will they look at a midfield relevant option?

I hope Darby is back in the team.

 

[cats_09]

 

[cats_09]

 

[Drunkcat]

Has she had 2 years off now after her 2nd knee?

 

[cats_09]

Has she had 2 years off now after her 2nd knee?

Nina's last match was our last match of the 2020 season, which was about March

But reports are she's been in training for the majority of this year, just hasn't played a match - guess it's about giving her extra time and then unleashing her this upcoming season

 

[cats_09]

 

[Drunkcat]

Nina's last match was our last match of the 2020 season, which was about March

But reports are she's been in training for the majority of this year, just hasn't played a match - guess it's about giving her extra time and then unleashing her this upcoming season

Yeah good move give it a lot of time to build the knee up, because not many come back from 3 knee's and if they do are never the same

 

[winty]

 

[cats_09]

How helpful must it be to have a couple of already established Irish players at the club and them helping our newest addition/s adapt to things in Aus & at the club

 

[OzeSparky]

Rach can kick a footy. I think she is going to be a dominant force.

 

[Drunkcat]

That's reg's next job training men and women players from Ireland

 

[dazbroncos]

Rach can kick a footy. I think she is going to be a dominant force.

seems very sound by the looks of it.

Will add to the team IMO

GO Catters

 

[Cursed Cat]

that is really impressive, I doff my cap to her.

 

[goyoucatters]

Rach can kick a footy. I think she is going to be a dominant force.

Amazing proficiency at this point. Like Reg said, she will be one of the club's better players straight away if she can find the footy in some space. We don't have too many currently on the list who use the ball this well.

 

[dazbroncos]

With her size .. and by that I mean her solid build and frame… and her improving skills.. perhaps she could be the version of Rocky we wanted to see but kind of never really did - at least I did t see at GFC anyway.
Go Catters