AFLW Finals, Week 2 - 2024 AFLW season

[PenfoldsFan]

Against Port in a prelim at home?

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No pressure then...

 

[mookieb]

Not many giving Port a chance next week, no doubt Nth are a much more exp team than Hawks and at dealing with footy that isn’t all on their terms. Hawks couldnt seem to deal with it. Or Richmond. Also seeing Rich players start breaking down last week and Hawks this week (stupid condensed fixture)that rest is a big advantage.
However…
Port ran over GWS, Rich, Hawks.
Port’s last quarters over the last four weeks.
11.7
That’s very good, last two weeks 40 I50 for 17 scores against Tiges. That’s good
29 I50 for 15 scores last night.
That’s very good.
Conceded nearly 100 points last two weeks and are still undefeated.
Little bit of the Collingwood mens game about em..how they want the oppo to not play conservative football they want the Oppo taking risks to win.
Cdog prediction:
If they play Kearney and she breaks down.
Port will be right there at the end.

Why would the condensed fixture be an issue? It's done and dusted - if Port is running over teams late it's generally fitness or teams getting a little "tight".

The fact is Hawks should have won reasonably easily. They left the door ajar and Port stormed through. They're playing a very unusual game style - basically hacking it forward - which works if you have a potent forward line. However, they have no advantage basically anywhere on the ground vs NM - experience, HGA, backs, forwards, mids, depth, rest etc. Throw in that it's a potential letdown spot and I expect they'll probably get pumped.

Typically you see less upsets in AFLW than AFLW - generally the best team wins albeit this can be affected by goals through 50's, stupid ruck infringements in the forward half and most likely poor conversion in front of goals (often impacted by wind).

 

[Cdog71]

Why would the condensed fixture be an issue?

I think it was way too much load and there’s an impact with soft tissues happening now.

Yep, if Hawks hadve converted early it would have been a long way to comeback.
I think Port hit the post 3 times? Def twice.
Couldn’t be bothered looking into it now but it would be interesting to see how many games the losing team had more shots and how many games were decided by less than 2 goals (mens game around 25%)
Does seem conversion is alot more in play than the mens game.

 

[Aristarchus]

Top 10 draft pick, had a promising start to her career (7th in club B&F at age 17, Rising Star nom following year).

Suddenly struggled to get a game with the new coach (other young players with less ability seemingly been given greater leeway for poor performances).

Now reportedly has multiple clubs pursuing her, perhaps not unlike the way Hawthorn sniffed an opportunity with Eliza West after she was dropped ahead of finals last year.

You're making stuff up. Who across the season was playing so badly in the Hawks midfield that the solution needed was Baskaran?

Young talent who didnt fit in a good midfield (Fleming started on the bench!), and even on the wing there's the experience of Ashmore/Sheriff with Williamson doing her role in her first season more effectively than Baskaran did when she was put there in first 2 seasons, that's the reality.

Hawks list is a bit imbalanced with lots of small mids/forwards in depth. She very well may ask for a trade, I imagine a lot on the list may be lured away by more important role, that's the cycle of footy.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Summing up the progression of the week 1 & 2 casualties:

Essendon's last three seasons (figures include finals)​

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	%	Finishing position
2022 S7	4	6	0	98.6	10th
2023	6	5	0	101.7	8th
2024	6	5	1	101.8	8th

Richmond's last five seasons (figures include finals)​

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	%	Finishing position
2021	3	6	0	84.6	10th /14
2022 S6	3	7	0	81.3	11th /14
2022 S7	7	4	1	115.5	5th
2023	5	5	0	100.8	10th
2024	6	5	1	119.8	7th

Fremantle's last five seasons (figures include finals)​

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	%	Finishing position
2021	6	3	0	164.0	5th /14
2022 S6	8	4	0	134.6	4th /14
2022 S7	3	6	1	66.8	12th
2023	4	6	0	71.9	13th
2024	9	4	0	121.5	6th

Hawthorn's last three seasons (figures include finals)​

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	%	Finishing position
2022 S7	3	7	0	57.1	15th
2023	3	7	0	67.3	14th
2024	10	3	0	172.3	5th

The good thing for Essendon and Richmond is they couldn't possibly be under any illusions regarding "where they're at", such is the invariability of their middle-of-the-road records in the 18-team era.

Quite to different to Fremantle, whose scope for improvement next year could easily be overstated. Bowers turns 34 next year--was struggling to stay on the park at 31 even before having a baby. Tighe will be 33 coming off another knee reco. Brazill will be 35, has had more injury issues this year.

Unless those players are at full capacity, Freo have no chance to genuinely contend. With the national draft incoming, having the worst assemblage of young talent in the league isn't the death sentence it once was. But having just finished 6th, and with Tassie coming in soon, their chances of bringing in the very high-end youth any time soon is also slim.

To get to the next level, Hawthorn will probably need to somehow bring in a true high-marking beast. But they do have the luxury of time to wait and see how McDonagh and Eardley develop, as long as they keep the rest of the top young talent happy in the process.

 

[Teen Wolf]

You're making stuff up. Who across the season was playing so badly in the Hawks midfield that the solution needed was Baskaran?

Considering I didn't say other midfielders were underperforming, I'll have to play a reverse "you're making stuff up" card on you.

They should be finding a role for a player with her ability, even if it isn't as a mid. You can't look at Dowrick being left alone inside 50 and think "gee, Hawthorn have really got their defence nailed, definitely didn't need somebody (like Baskaran) back there who can actually run out a game".

 

[Air_Chester]

Essendon's last three seasons (figures include finals)​

Season	Won	Lost	Drawn	%	Finishing position
2022 S7	4	6	0	98.6	10th
2023	6	5	0	101.7	8th
2024	6	5	1	101.8	8th

​

The good thing for Essendon and Richmond is they couldn't possibly be under any illusions regarding "where they're at", such is the invariability of their middle-of-the-road records in the 18-team era.

Three seasons in, two elimination finals losses, with a combined record of 16-16-1 and 100.7%

Nice and average, as the EFC is known for.

Still, very positive moving on to next year.

 

[Chief]

 

[cmndstab]

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We never got to see a replay of this on the broadcast. Hatchard is a very tough player, she is not sent off the field easily. It would be nice if we got to see what happened.

 

[Dirty Bird]

We never got to see a replay of this on the broadcast. Hatchard is a very tough player, she is not sent off the field easily. It would be nice if we got to see what happened.

From my vantage behind the goals, it looked like a front on bump.

Definently intentional
I'd argue medium impact (she had to go off Afterall)
And it may have been high, but I'm not sure about that from where I was.

If they're offering her $250, take it and run, much more lenient than I feel it should've been

 

[Aristarchus]

Considering I didn't say other midfielders were underperforming, I'll have to play a reverse "you're making stuff up" card on you.

They should be finding a role for a player with her ability, even if it isn't as a mid. You can't look at Dowrick being left alone inside 50 and think "gee, Hawthorn have really got their defence nailed, definitely didn't need somebody (like Baskaran) back there who can actually run out a game".

I'm still baffled about where you see Baskaran can play and I like her! I thought you watched the games. Yes TLR and Smith are converted mids too, but she'd be a terrible fit down there and doesnt play anything like either of them. Already mentioned Fwds and Mids. Maybe you're suggesting she chop out in the ruck?