AFLW Geelong Cats 2019 AFLW Team Megathread

[Max Milburn]

Duncan threw a chair and everyone had a big laugh about it. Turned into the surprise bonding experience of the summer.

I heard Kent Kingsley has been hired as Head of Team Morale.

 

[goyoucatters]

Great to see Black is so keen to stick around.

Like you, I was genuinely pleased to hear this.

The bloke did absolutely nothing wrong during his time with us (apart from get injured just when he appeared to have found a prospective role within the senior team) and I'm sure he must have plenty of footy nous to share with our women's team and the younger players coming through our VFL line-up.

A real clubman at heart, it seems.

 

[Johnny Cattery]

Who is going to the first game against Collingwood?

Not me, but will get to see them in Bris.

 

[David the Cat]

Like you, I was genuinely pleased to hear this.

The bloke did absolutely nothing wrong during his time with us (apart from get injured just when he appeared to have found a prospective role within the senior team) and I'm sure he must have plenty of footy nous to share with our women's team and the younger players coming through our VFL line-up.

A real clubman at heart, it seems.

Yes...I know he did an ACL late in the season. It was a shame as his game as a defender was starting to look very promising.

I wonder if we are keeping him around for a reason?...

 

[cats_09]

Yes...I know he did an ACL late in the season. It was a shame as his game as a defender was starting to look very promising.

I wonder if we are keeping him around for a reason?...

Rookie list for 2020 -

Players who were previously listed and then cut or who have spent a year out of the AFL since retirement or delisting themselves no longer have to enter the draft to find their way to a new club.
A team cannot re-sign a player in the SPP the same year it delisted him unless he is overlooked in the drafts, such as in the case of Jacob Townsend at Richmond.

 

[Max Milburn]

Yes...I know he did an ACL late in the season. It was a shame as his game as a defender was starting to look very promising.

I wonder if we are keeping him around for a reason?...

I read that he was really happy living in Geelong and wanted to stay around the club.
Amazing, considering he has been cut.
He obviously has a desire to coach, so this would be a good introduction.
Whether there is a longer term rookie plan or not, it's a good place for him to be while he's in rehab.

 

[Max Milburn]

A bit of a season preview for the Cats in the Roar.
Will be interesting to see whether anyone shares this opinion...

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/27/aflw-2019-preview-geelong-cats/

 

[winty]

This is an interesting read....

http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2018-11-23/phoebes-story-week-one-

 

[cats_09]

A bit of a season preview for the Cats in the Roar.
Will be interesting to see whether anyone shares this opinion...

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/27/aflw-2019-preview-geelong-cats/

Hmmm...

Geelong’s VFLW team has done very well, but the VFLW is not as highly rated as the AFLW for a reason.

That's from the article - I'm sure that during the VFLW season someone said internally the VFLW is considered the stronger competition in comparison with the AFLW, with a key reason being the longer season.

Wasn't there a comment that the AFLW is a good chance for pre-season training ahead of the VFLW season?

 

[Max Milburn]

Hmmm...



That's from the article - I'm sure that during the VFLW season someone said internally the VFLW is considered the stronger competition in comparison with the AFLW, with a key reason being the longer season.

Wasn't there a comment that the AFLW is a good chance for pre-season training ahead of the VFLW season?

I found the criticisms, although tempered, were more speculation than insight.
Hopefully the girls blow his theory right out of the water.
I did find it funny that the author is actually a science fiction writer.

 

[winty]

Hmmm...



That's from the article - I'm sure that during the VFLW season someone said internally the VFLW is considered the stronger competition in comparison with the AFLW, with a key reason being the longer season.

Wasn't there a comment that the AFLW is a good chance for pre-season training ahead of the VFLW season?

There sure was. I remember someone saying exactly that pre-game during one of the live YouTube streams earlier in the year.

 

[Max Milburn]

There sure was. I remember someone saying exactly that pre-game during one of the live YouTube streams earlier in the year.

Sounds like Arthur C. Clarke hasn't done his homework.

 

[winty]

Sounds like Arthur C. Clarke hasn't done his homework.

Love how he claims we have a lack of AFLW experience, but doesn't mention the likes of Maddie Boyd (GWS), Mia-Rae Clifford (Melbourne), Jordan Ivey (Carlton), Erin Hoare (Melbourne), Madeleine Keryk (Carlton), Phoebe McWilliams (GWS) and Aasta O'Connor (Western Bulldogs).

 

[winty]

Love how he claims we have a lack of AFLW experience, but doesn't mention the likes of Maddie Boyd (GWS), Mia-Rae Clifford (Melbourne), Jordan Ivey (Carlton), Erin Hoare (Melbourne), Madeleine Keryk (Carlton), Phoebe McWilliams (GWS) and Aasta O'Connor (Western Bulldogs).

Reading through the list of players on the GFC website, can add Kate Darby (Carlton) and Meghan McDonald (Bulldogs) to those with AFLW experience - both having played in the inaugural season in 2017.

 

[Cursed Cat]

A bit of a season preview for the Cats in the Roar.
Will be interesting to see whether anyone shares this opinion...

https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/11/27/aflw-2019-preview-geelong-cats/

I think the author of the article is a bit wide of the mark in some respects. However he also makes one or two good points.
He's had a crack at poor ol' Cassie Blakeway for being an ineffective forward when I'm not sure that I've ever seen her play up there!

I was about to write a lengthy reply, then remembered I'd already half-written a list analysis post-draft which I hadn't posted, as I suspected I'd come across as too much of an insufferable know-it-all.

I couldn't honestly claim to be fully across the women's comp or Geelong's transition from a VFLW to AFLW club, but I've watched as much as I've been able to and I'm genuinely excited about the 2019 season.

Anyway, here are my lengthy thoughts:



With Geelong and the Kangaroos fielding teams for the first time in 2019, the two clubs have kept their own council on the best way to assemble their respective lists.
North undertook a bold raid on established talent from the existing AFLW clubs - we're talking some of the competition's best players.
For old Shinboners it evoked memories of Allen Aylett and Ron Joseph exploiting the 10-year rule to the tune of two flags in the 70s. Exciting stuff.
I'm not completely across North's list, so I won't speculate as to their prospects for their inaugural season, suffice to say they've taken an early swing.

Geelong's list-building approach has been more focused on our commitment to providing pathways for women from the Geelong and 'regional' areas.

The backbone of Geelong's 2019 team will be comprised of players who have played together in the VFLW competition, many of whom have had previous AFLW experience.

Although we are a new side, experience is not an issue, with 9 of our 30 listed players over the age of 30.

This is somewhat balanced by Geelong's access to this year's draftees...
... which was in turn somewhat compromised by the AFL's late-season decision to allow the likes of Hanks and Prespakis to nominate Vic Metro only, excluding Geelong from drafting them. I'd love to have had either, but not at the expense of Morrison, who is a jet.

Anyway, to the list:


Rucks:
Erin Hoare
Aasta O’Connor
Rene Caris

The list has adequate ruck coverage in terms of numbers, if not quite talent.
Erin Hoare and her understudy Rene Caris are both tall, yet slight of frame, with neither being particularly vigorous.
Hoare will head into the 2019 season as a 30yo who has spent time playing for netball's Sydney Swifts. She's also a doctor. She's been busy. Has previous AFLW experience.
Caris still has plenty of time to develop her game further... however, the strictures of the AFLW’s draft nomination process meant that we took Caris with #35, while Brisbane were able to sit back and take Lauren Bella - a superior ruck at this stage of their careers, with potential to widen the gap still further - at #45, secure in the knowledge no other club could draft her after she’d nominated Qld as her preferred state.

Veteran Aasta O’Connor, acquired from the Bulldogs, is a more physical type of player, however she’s not quite as tall as the aforementioned two. She is more of a 2nd ruck type to my mind, but I may be wrong.

Kate Darby and Maddy McMahon are also capable of subbing in for ruck duties if required but would be better deployed up forward and down back respectively.

Defenders:
Rebecca Goring
Anna Teague
Elise Coventry
Meghan McDonald
Mel Hickey
Georgia Clarke
Denby Taylor
Maddy McMahon

For mine there’s a question mark hanging over the balance of this particular defensive mix, with no obvious candidates to lock down on opposition small forwards - the likes of Darcy Vescio and Brooke Lochland; match-winners for their respective clubs.
Elise Coventry will commence her AFLW career at a mature 34 years of age, and she may well have some big jobs ahead of her, as she’s basically the only player on our list who plays on smaller forwards with any regularity. Good luck Elise!

At VFLW level, the key defensive post pairing of Rebecca Goring and Anna Teague has been a 2-season success story.
However in building the AFLW list, the club apparently saw value in recruiting key defenders Mel Hickey (Darebin/Melbourne) and Meghan McDonald (Darebin/Bulldogs/Hawthorn) as coverage: two seasoned women’s footballers; Hickey a wounded veteran and McDonald a late bloomer playing well with the Hawks VFLW side.

It will be interesting who wins out in the battle for those key defensive posts, because Hickey and McDonald were actively pursued and ultimately recruited by the club, and yet I’d argue that neither are a walk-up start to our best 22 and are quite possibly surplus to requirements.
In saying that, I have no insight into the intangibles which they may bring to the group.
For her part, Bec Goring made the VFLW team of the year and I think she is the best of the quartet; Goring also captains the VFLW side.

Rookie-listed former basketballer Maddy McMahon is a very natural footballer from what I’ve seen; she was one of our VFLW squad who I really hoped we would list.
She did some rucking in the 2018 VFLW finals series after #1 ruck Erin Hoare sustained a foot injury, and acquitted herself pretty well.
But its across half-back that McMahon looks her most comfortable imo; she reads the play really well, is very strong in the air and executes her disposals to advantage, even under pressure. She might surprise in our first season.

Denby Taylor and Georgia Clarke were both taken in the top 25 at the 2018 draft and both can play at either end of the ground.
Taylor could go into the middle too, she is very well-rounded.
I reckon both will be eased in to the side with defensive roles in 2019, but they could bob up anywhere.

Forwards:
Maddie Boyd
Phoebe McWilliams
Kate Darby
Mia-Rae Clifford
Danielle Orr
Jordan Ivey
Sophie Van De Heuval
Georgie Rankin

A pretty good balance of players up forward, but again maybe a bit of a question mark hanging over the smalls.
Maddie Boyd and Kate Darby are a really solid key forward pairing, and the addition of classy marking forward Phoebe McWilliams from GWS gives us a great mix - I reckon all three tall forwards can easily play together.
The mid-and-smaller forwards are more of a mixed bag; Danielle Orr and Mia-Rae Clifford both had great moments in 2018 but faded as the season wore on and the pressure of Finals rose.
Jordan Ivey may or may not be a small forward depending whether you ask me or Winty ..but either way she struggled a bit in 2018, returning from a knee injury. She showed a ton of talent against Hawthorn in 2017 kicking goals and racking up disposals before doing the knee that very day.

Unknown (well, to me) Georgie Rankin, like veteran Mel Hickey, is distantly related to a club legend, and apparently had a decent season up here in QLD at some level or other - I really have no idea what she’ll bring, but her photo suggests she is a whippet. Lets say a smokey.

Sophie Van De Heuval may or may not play predominantly up forward, but her play at the U18 girls champs showed that she is very capable of generating shots on goal. I like her on a wing with a license to attack. Haven't seen much of her but she is quite cavalier, plays with a certain freedom. Bit wasteful.

Hopefully Lucy McEvoy will join the Cats in 2020; she will be a laconic Brendan Fevola type; genuine talent and forward nous.

Mids:
Richelle Cranston
Renee Garing
Hannah Burchell
Hayley Trevean
Julia Crockett-Mills
Madeline Keryk
Maighan Fogas
Nina Morrison
Olivia Purcell
Cassie Blakeway
Becky Webster

The addition of Nina Morrison and Olivia Purcell couldn’t be any more fortuitous - the midfield desperately needed bolstering for the club to be competitive in 2019. Morrison's classy outside run and Purcell's tenacious inside grunt provide a great midfield foundation for the next 5+ years.
They will help ease the huge load that had previously been carried by veteran Rocky Cranston, who bulldozed her way to Geelong's VFLW B&F in 2018.
She's been a regular for Melbourne at AFLW level over the past two years, but has shown far better form at the Cats, playing a more central role that perhaps the likes of Daisy Pearce prevented her from playing at the Demons.

Keryk gets another chance at AFLW level but for mine she looks pretty limited; Maighan Fogas perhaps falls into this category too but is younger I think and may improve.
Trevean is a good kick, but doesn’t get much of the ball and is 30+ ..

The two VFLW midfield success stories over the past 2 seasons have probably been Cassie Blakeway and Hannah Burchell, I’m hopeful that both will continue to develop their games at AFLW level.
I thought they were our best two players in the VFLW Grand Final which we recently lost to the Hawks (sigh), ahead of even Morrison and Purcell.
Blakeway plateaued a bit in 2018 after a great debut season, but her GF performance was a reminder of her grit.
Burchell is clever and knows how to find space; good enough to use it well when she does.

Last of all, Rebecca Webster, our #7 selection at the draft - she can play basically anywhere and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her excel in 2019, she has a very no-nonsense style; clean hands and uses the ball confidently. Might as well play her in the middle I reckon.


B: E. Coventry R. Goring
HB: D. Taylor A. Teague M. McMahon

R: E. Hoare R. Cranston O. Purcell
C: N. Morrison R. Webster S. Van De Heuval

HF: D. Orr P. McWilliams H. Burchell
F: M. Boyd K. Darby

I/C: C. Blakeway R. Garing G. Clarke J. Ivey

 

[Max Milburn]

I think the author of the article is a bit wide of the mark in some respects. However he also make one or two good points.
He's had a crack at poor ol' Cassie Blakeway for being an ineffective forward when I'm not sure that I've ever seen her play up there.

I was about to write a lengthy reply, then remembered I'd already half-written a list analysis post-draft which I hadn't posted, as I suspected I'd come across as too much of an insufferable know-it-all.

I couldn't honestly claim to be fully across the women's comp or Geelong's transition from a VFLW to AFLW club, but I've watched as much as I've been able to and I'm genuinely excited about the 2019 season.

Anyway, here are my lengthy thoughts:





With Geelong and the Kangaroos fielding teams for the first time in 2019, the two clubs have kept their own council on the best way to assemble their respective lists.
North undertook a bold raid on established talent from the existing AFLW clubs - we're talking some of the competition's best players.
For old Shinboners it evoked memories of Allen Aylett and Ron Joseph exploiting the 10-year rule to the tune of two flags in the 70s. Exciting stuff.
I'm not completely across North's list, so I won't speculate as to their prospects for their inaugural season, suffice to say they've taken an early swing.

Geelong's list-building approach has been more focused on our commitment to providing pathways for women from the Geelong and 'regional' areas.

The backbone of Geelong's 2019 team will be players who have played together in the VFLW competition, many of whom have had previous AFLW experience.

Although we are a new side, experience is not an issue, with 9 of our 30 listed players over the age of 30.

This is somewhat balanced by Geelong's access to this year's draftees...
... which was in turn somewhat compromised by the AFL's late-season decision to allow the likes of Hanks and Prespakis to nominate Vic Metro only, excluding Geelong from drafting them. I'd love to have had either, but not at the expense of Morrison, who is a jet.

Anyway, to the list:


Rucks:

Erin Hoare
Aasta O’Connor
Rene Caris

The list has adequate ruck coverage in terms of numbers, if not quite of talent.
Erin Hoare and her understudy Rene Caris are both tall, yet slight of frame, with neither being particularly vigorous.
Hoare will head into the 2019 season as a 30yo who has spent time playing for netball's Sydney Swifts. She's also a doctor. She's been busy. Has previous AFLW experience.
Caris still has plenty of time to develop her game further... however, the strictures of the AFLW’s draft nomination process means we opted to take Caris with #35, while Brisbane were able to sit back and take Lauren Bella - a superior ruck at this stage of their careers, with potential to widen the gap still further - at #45, secure in the knowledge no other club could draft her after she’d nominated Qld as her preferred state.

Veteran Aasta O’Connor, acquired from the Bulldogs, is a more physical type of player, however she’s not quite as tall as the aforementioned two. She is more of a 2nd ruck type to my mind, but I may be wrong.

Kate Darby and Maddy McMahon are also capable of subbing in for ruck duties if required but would be better deployed up forward and down back respectively.

Defenders:
Rebecca Goring
Anna Teague
Elise Coventry
Meghan McDonald
Mel Hickey
Georgia Clarke
Denby Taylor
Maddy McMahon

For mine there’s a question mark hanging over the balance of this particular defensive mix, with no obvious candidates to lock down on opposition small forwards - the likes of Darcy Vescio and Brooke Lochland; match-winners for their respective clubs.
Elise Coventry will commence her AFLW career at a mature 34 years of age, and she may well have some big jobs ahead of her, as she’s basically the only player on our list who plays on smaller forwards with any regularity. Good luck Elise!

At VFLW level, the key defensive post pairing of Rebecca Goring and Anna Teague has been a 2-season success story.
However in building the AFLW list, the club apparently saw value in recruiting key defenders Mel Hickey (Darebin/Melbourne) and Meghan McDonald (Darebin/Bulldogs/Hawthorn) as coverage: two seasoned women’s footballers; Hickey a wounded veteran and McDonald a late bloomer playing well with the Hawks VFLW side.

It will be interesting who wins out in the battle for those key defensive posts, because Hickey and McDonald were actively pursued and ultimately recruited by the club, and yet I’d argue that neither are a walk-up start to our best 22 and are quite possibly surplus to requirements.
In saying that, I have no insight into the intangibles which they may bring to the group.
For her part, Bec Goring made the VFLW team of the year and I think she is the best of the quartet; also captains the VFLW side.

Rookie-listed former basketballer Maddy McMahon is a very natural footballer from what I’ve seen; she was one of our VFLW squad who I really hoped we would list.
She did some rucking in the 2018 VFLW finals series after #1 ruck Erin Hoare sustained a foot injury, and acquitted herself pretty well.
But its across half-back that McMahon looks her most comfortable imo; she reads the play really well, is very strong in the air and executes her disposals to advantage, even under pressure. She might surprise in our first season.

Denby Taylor and Georgia Clarke were both taken in the top 25 at the 2018 draft and both can play at either end of the ground.
Taylor could go into the middle too, she is very well-rounded.
I reckon both will be eased in to the side with defensive roles in 2019, but they could bob up anywhere.

Forwards:
Maddie Boyd
Phoebe McWilliams
Kate Darby
Mia-Rae Clifford
Danielle Orr
Jordan Ivey
Sophie Van De Heuval
Georgie Rankin

A pretty good balance of players up forward, but again maybe a bit of a question mark hanging over the smalls.
Maddie Boyd and Kate Darby are a really solid key forward pairing, and the addition of classy marking forward Phoebe McWilliams from GWS gives us a great mix - I reckon all three tall forwards can easily play together.
The mid-and-smaller forwards are more of a mixed bag; Danielle Orr and Mia-Rae Clifford both had great moments in 2018 but faded as the season wore on and the pressure of Finals rose.
Jordan Ivey may or may not be a small forward depending whether you ask me or Winty ..but either way she struggled a bit in 2018, returning from a knee injury. She showed a ton of talent against Hawthorn in 2017 kicking goals and racking up disposals before doing the knee that very day.

Unknown (well, to me) Georgie Rankin, like veteran Mel Hickey, is distantly related to a club legend, and apparently had a decent season up here in QLD at some level or other - I really have no idea what she’ll bring, but her photo suggests she is a whippet. Lets say a smokey.

Sophie Van De Heuval may or may not play predominantly up forward, but her play at the U18 girls champs showed that she is very capable of generating shots on goal. I like her on a wing with a license to attack. Haven't seen much of her but she is quite cavalier, plays with a certain freedom. Bit wasteful.

Hopefully Lucy McEvoy will join the Cats in 2020; she will be a laconic Brendan Fevola type; genuine talent and forward nous.

Mids:
Richelle Cranston
Renee Garing
Hannah Burchell
Hayley Trevean
Julia Crockett-Mills
Madeline Keryk
Maighan Fogas
Nina Morrison
Olivia Purcell
Cassie Blakeway
Becky Webster

The addition of Nina Morrison and Olivia Purcell couldn’t be any more fortuitous - the midfield desperately needed bolstering for the club to be competitive in 2019. Morrison's classy outside run and Purcell's tenacious inside grunt are great building blocks for the next 5+ years.
They ease the huge load that had previously been carried by veteran Rocky Cranston, who bulldozed her way to Geelong's VFLW B&F in 2018.
She's been a regular for Melbourne at AFLW level over the past two years, but has shown far better form at the Cats, playing a more central role that perhaps the likes of Daisy Pearce prevented her from playing at the Demons.

Keryk gets another chance at AFLW level but for mine looks very limited; Maighan Fogas perhaps falls into this category too but is younger I think and may improve. Trevean is a good kick, but doesn’t get much of the ball and is 30+ ..

The two VFLW midfield success stories over the past 2 seasons have probably been Cassie Blakeway and Hannah Burchell, I’m hopeful that both will continue to develop their games at AFLW level.
I thought they were our best two players in the VFLW Grand Final which we recently lost to the Hawks (sigh), ahead of even Morrison and Purcell.
Blakeway plateaued a bit in 2018 after a great debut season, but her GF performance was a reminder of her grit.
Burchell is clever and knows how to find space; good enough to use it well when she does.

Last of all, Rebecca Webster, our #7 selection at the draft - she can play basically anywhere and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her excel in 2019, she has a very no-nonsense style; clean hands and uses the ball confidently. Might as well play her in the middle I reckon.


B: E. Coventry R. Goring
HB: D. Taylor A. Teague M. McMahon

R: E. Hoare R. Cranston O. Purcell
C: N. Morrison R. Webster S. Van De Heuval

HF: D. Orr P. McWilliams H. Burchell
F: M. Boyd K. Darby

I/C: C. Blakeway R. Garing G. Clarke J. Ivey

Now that's a write-up!
While I enjoy science fiction, your analysis leaves the Roar's for dead.

 

[winty]

I think the author of the article is a bit wide of the mark in some respects. However he also make one or two good points.
He's had a crack at poor ol' Cassie Blakeway for being an ineffective forward when I'm not sure that I've ever seen her play up there.

I was about to write a lengthy reply, then remembered I'd already half-written a list analysis post-draft which I hadn't posted, as I suspected I'd come across as too much of an insufferable know-it-all.

I couldn't honestly claim to be fully across the women's comp or Geelong's transition from a VFLW to AFLW club, but I've watched as much as I've been able to and I'm genuinely excited about the 2019 season.

Anyway, here are my lengthy thoughts:





With Geelong and the Kangaroos fielding teams for the first time in 2019, the two clubs have kept their own council on the best way to assemble their respective lists.
North undertook a bold raid on established talent from the existing AFLW clubs - we're talking some of the competition's best players.
For old Shinboners it evoked memories of Allen Aylett and Ron Joseph exploiting the 10-year rule to the tune of two flags in the 70s. Exciting stuff.
I'm not completely across North's list, so I won't speculate as to their prospects for their inaugural season, suffice to say they've taken an early swing.

Geelong's list-building approach has been more focused on our commitment to providing pathways for women from the Geelong and 'regional' areas.

The backbone of Geelong's 2019 team will be players who have played together in the VFLW competition, many of whom have had previous AFLW experience.

Although we are a new side, experience is not an issue, with 9 of our 30 listed players over the age of 30.

This is somewhat balanced by Geelong's access to this year's draftees...
... which was in turn somewhat compromised by the AFL's late-season decision to allow the likes of Hanks and Prespakis to nominate Vic Metro only, excluding Geelong from drafting them. I'd love to have had either, but not at the expense of Morrison, who is a jet.

Anyway, to the list:


Rucks:

Erin Hoare
Aasta O’Connor
Rene Caris

The list has adequate ruck coverage in terms of numbers, if not quite of talent.
Erin Hoare and her understudy Rene Caris are both tall, yet slight of frame, with neither being particularly vigorous.
Hoare will head into the 2019 season as a 30yo who has spent time playing for netball's Sydney Swifts. She's also a doctor. She's been busy. Has previous AFLW experience.
Caris still has plenty of time to develop her game further... however, the strictures of the AFLW’s draft nomination process means we opted to take Caris with #35, while Brisbane were able to sit back and take Lauren Bella - a superior ruck at this stage of their careers, with potential to widen the gap still further - at #45, secure in the knowledge no other club could draft her after she’d nominated Qld as her preferred state.

Veteran Aasta O’Connor, acquired from the Bulldogs, is a more physical type of player, however she’s not quite as tall as the aforementioned two. She is more of a 2nd ruck type to my mind, but I may be wrong.

Kate Darby and Maddy McMahon are also capable of subbing in for ruck duties if required but would be better deployed up forward and down back respectively.

Defenders:
Rebecca Goring
Anna Teague
Elise Coventry
Meghan McDonald
Mel Hickey
Georgia Clarke
Denby Taylor
Maddy McMahon

For mine there’s a question mark hanging over the balance of this particular defensive mix, with no obvious candidates to lock down on opposition small forwards - the likes of Darcy Vescio and Brooke Lochland; match-winners for their respective clubs.
Elise Coventry will commence her AFLW career at a mature 34 years of age, and she may well have some big jobs ahead of her, as she’s basically the only player on our list who plays on smaller forwards with any regularity. Good luck Elise!

At VFLW level, the key defensive post pairing of Rebecca Goring and Anna Teague has been a 2-season success story.
However in building the AFLW list, the club apparently saw value in recruiting key defenders Mel Hickey (Darebin/Melbourne) and Meghan McDonald (Darebin/Bulldogs/Hawthorn) as coverage: two seasoned women’s footballers; Hickey a wounded veteran and McDonald a late bloomer playing well with the Hawks VFLW side.

It will be interesting who wins out in the battle for those key defensive posts, because Hickey and McDonald were actively pursued and ultimately recruited by the club, and yet I’d argue that neither are a walk-up start to our best 22 and are quite possibly surplus to requirements.
In saying that, I have no insight into the intangibles which they may bring to the group.
For her part, Bec Goring made the VFLW team of the year and I think she is the best of the quartet; also captains the VFLW side.

Rookie-listed former basketballer Maddy McMahon is a very natural footballer from what I’ve seen; she was one of our VFLW squad who I really hoped we would list.
She did some rucking in the 2018 VFLW finals series after #1 ruck Erin Hoare sustained a foot injury, and acquitted herself pretty well.
But its across half-back that McMahon looks her most comfortable imo; she reads the play really well, is very strong in the air and executes her disposals to advantage, even under pressure. She might surprise in our first season.

Denby Taylor and Georgia Clarke were both taken in the top 25 at the 2018 draft and both can play at either end of the ground.
Taylor could go into the middle too, she is very well-rounded.
I reckon both will be eased in to the side with defensive roles in 2019, but they could bob up anywhere.

Forwards:
Maddie Boyd
Phoebe McWilliams
Kate Darby
Mia-Rae Clifford
Danielle Orr
Jordan Ivey
Sophie Van De Heuval
Georgie Rankin

A pretty good balance of players up forward, but again maybe a bit of a question mark hanging over the smalls.
Maddie Boyd and Kate Darby are a really solid key forward pairing, and the addition of classy marking forward Phoebe McWilliams from GWS gives us a great mix - I reckon all three tall forwards can easily play together.
The mid-and-smaller forwards are more of a mixed bag; Danielle Orr and Mia-Rae Clifford both had great moments in 2018 but faded as the season wore on and the pressure of Finals rose.
Jordan Ivey may or may not be a small forward depending whether you ask me or Winty ..but either way she struggled a bit in 2018, returning from a knee injury. She showed a ton of talent against Hawthorn in 2017 kicking goals and racking up disposals before doing the knee that very day.

Unknown (well, to me) Georgie Rankin, like veteran Mel Hickey, is distantly related to a club legend, and apparently had a decent season up here in QLD at some level or other - I really have no idea what she’ll bring, but her photo suggests she is a whippet. Lets say a smokey.

Sophie Van De Heuval may or may not play predominantly up forward, but her play at the U18 girls champs showed that she is very capable of generating shots on goal. I like her on a wing with a license to attack. Haven't seen much of her but she is quite cavalier, plays with a certain freedom. Bit wasteful.

Hopefully Lucy McEvoy will join the Cats in 2020; she will be a laconic Brendan Fevola type; genuine talent and forward nous.

Mids:
Richelle Cranston
Renee Garing
Hannah Burchell
Hayley Trevean
Julia Crockett-Mills
Madeline Keryk
Maighan Fogas
Nina Morrison
Olivia Purcell
Cassie Blakeway
Becky Webster

The addition of Nina Morrison and Olivia Purcell couldn’t be any more fortuitous - the midfield desperately needed bolstering for the club to be competitive in 2019. Morrison's classy outside run and Purcell's tenacious inside grunt are great building blocks for the next 5+ years.
They ease the huge load that had previously been carried by veteran Rocky Cranston, who bulldozed her way to Geelong's VFLW B&F in 2018.
She's been a regular for Melbourne at AFLW level over the past two years, but has shown far better form at the Cats, playing a more central role that perhaps the likes of Daisy Pearce prevented her from playing at the Demons.

Keryk gets another chance at AFLW level but for mine looks very limited; Maighan Fogas perhaps falls into this category too but is younger I think and may improve. Trevean is a good kick, but doesn’t get much of the ball and is 30+ ..

The two VFLW midfield success stories over the past 2 seasons have probably been Cassie Blakeway and Hannah Burchell, I’m hopeful that both will continue to develop their games at AFLW level.
I thought they were our best two players in the VFLW Grand Final which we recently lost to the Hawks (sigh), ahead of even Morrison and Purcell.
Blakeway plateaued a bit in 2018 after a great debut season, but her GF performance was a reminder of her grit.
Burchell is clever and knows how to find space; good enough to use it well when she does.

Last of all, Rebecca Webster, our #7 selection at the draft - she can play basically anywhere and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her excel in 2019, she has a very no-nonsense style; clean hands and uses the ball confidently. Might as well play her in the middle I reckon.


B: E. Coventry R. Goring
HB: D. Taylor A. Teague M. McMahon

R: E. Hoare R. Cranston O. Purcell
C: N. Morrison R. Webster S. Van De Heuval

HF: D. Orr P. McWilliams H. Burchell
F: M. Boyd K. Darby

I/C: C. Blakeway R. Garing G. Clarke J. Ivey

TL,DR.

Just kidding. Ripping write up there mate. Agree with Max Milburn in that your analysis leaves the so-called expert's analysis for dead.

As for Jordan Ivey, this may sound strange, but I consider her our VFLW/AFLW equivalent of Stevie J. While SJ wasn't the shortest bloke going around, he was adept at converting once the ball hit the deck with uncanny goal sense, and I see Jordan in the same vein. So, while she mightn't be a small forward in a physical sense, I feel she is in the way she plays.

 

[Max Milburn]

TL,DR.

Just kidding. Ripping write up there mate. Agree with Max Milburn in that your analysis leaves the so-called expert's analysis for dead.

As for Jordan Ivey, this may sound strange, but I consider her our VFLW/AFLW equivalent of Stevie J. While SJ wasn't the shortest bloke going around, he was adept at converting once the ball hit the deck with uncanny goal sense, and I see Jordan in the same vein. So, while she mightn't be a small forward in a physical sense, I feel she is in the way she plays.

I just wish I could watch the games live.
Hopefully there will be adequate tv coverage.
The good news is my daughter will be playing for North Hobart again next year after a year's sabbatical in NY.
Like her old man, she is a dour defender.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Now that's a write-up!
While I enjoy science fiction, your analysis leaves the Roar's for dead.

TL,DR.

Just kidding. Ripping write up there mate. Agree with Max Milburn in that your analysis leaves the so-called expert's analysis for dead.

As for Jordan Ivey, this may sound strange, but I consider her our VFLW/AFLW equivalent of Stevie J. While SJ wasn't the shortest bloke going around, he was adept at converting once the ball hit the deck with uncanny goal sense, and I see Jordan in the same vein. So, while she mightn't be a small forward in a physical sense, I feel she is in the way she plays.

Thanks for taking the time to read, the word count got a bit out of hand!

winty I just hope Jordan Ivey can return to her better form; she was ok at times in 2018 but I reckon she struggled a bit post-knee surgery, which is understandable. The Stevie J comparison is an interesting one, at her best she has every trick in the book.

 

[winty]

Thanks for taking the time to read, the word count got a bit out of hand!

winty I just hope Jordan Ivey can return to her better form; she was ok at times in 2018 but I reckon she struggled a bit post-knee surgery, which is understandable. The Stevie J comparison is an interesting one, at her best she has every trick in the book.

You and me both. Still enjoy watching the first VFLW game we played in May last year where she dominated, which was the game before she did her knee IIRC. That goal from deep in the pocket in front of the Ablett Terrace was brilliant.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I just wish I could watch the games live.
Hopefully there will be adequate tv coverage.
The good news is my daughter will be playing for North Hobart again next year after a year's sabbatical in NY.
Like her old man, she is a dour defender.

The family and I moved North at the start of this year, so unfortunately I will be in your boat and unable to get to any live games.

 

[Max Milburn]

The family and I moved North at the start of this year, so unfortunately I will be in your boat and unable to get to any live games.

That's a shame. Wonder if I will be able to use my Cats digital membership to watch the games?

 

[Cursed Cat]

You and me both. Still enjoy watching the first VFLW game we played in May last year where she dominated, which was the game before she did her knee IIRC. That goal from deep in the pocket in front of the Ablett Terrace was brilliant.

Yes.
I watched that whole game too and she was excellent, all class.

 

[Cursed Cat]

That's a shame. Wonder if I will be able to use my Cats digital membership to watch the games?

good question; if so I will pony up ..

 

[Max Milburn]

good question; if so I will pony up ..

I will be renewing soon. I'll find out and let you know.