News Non-Crows AFLW 2024

[radiojake]

Anyone with any idea what day and time we are likely to play North Melbourne next week?

If it's Saturday hopefully it's at night so I can go after work... But Arden St probably doesn't have the lights??

 

[Firewalker]

We should seriously be targeting some quality forwards from around the league, and all the better if they're SA women.

Could not believe the Crows were never interested (or Port for that matter) when she left Collingwood, I have been a fan since she played for Norwood and then their coach Steve Symonds took her across to Collingwood with him.

Have never bought that there hasn’t been talent available league wide that would come to the Crows and would fix up problem areas, especially those at the more unsuccessful teams. It’s just other than Niamh Kelly literally seeking out the club the club has held very insular and bullish views over keeping the squad together and not acknowledging that there’s any on-field issues or that they need players outside of the required list turnover and drafting a couple of players to fill the bottom end of the list.

Even look at who was available to move interstate last year; Gabby Newton who moved to the Dockers from the Dogs would’ve been more than handy and has been great for the Dockers, Eleanor Hartill was picked up by Brisbane as a West Coast discard & has been an excellent forward/back-up ruck option that has freed up Taylor Smith to dominate up forward this year - she would’ve been a great replacement for McKinnon, I was even keen on Katie Lynch who moved from the Dogs to the Gold Coast if they wanted someone that would’ve freed up Biddell to play forward.

As well as Smith I would be looking for those money ball type moves for forwards like prying one of Teakle or Levicki form Port or if they were really proactive they’d even see if Tara Bohanna the Gold Coast captain would leave what has become a bit of a mess up there this season.

 

[cmndstab]

Anyone with any idea what day and time we are likely to play North Melbourne next week?

If it's Saturday hopefully it's at night so I can go after work... But Arden St probably doesn't have the lights??

Hard to say. Last year they played the 1v4 matchup on Saturday and 2v3 matchup on Sunday, but the year before that they played the 1v4 matchup on Friday and the 2v3 matchup on Saturday.

Interestingly, the long-term forecast has it raining this coming Friday. Could play a part in the match?

I think Arden Street does have some lights, but I don't know if they're suitable for a proper night game. North played a match there at 5:10PM on a Saturday once before, but it probably ended before sunset.

My guess is it will be a Saturday afternoon.


Anyway, now it's time to see if Essendon can spoil Melbourne's finals chances! They're off to a good start so far.

 

[cmndstab]

Could not believe the Crows were never interested (or Port for that matter) when she left Collingwood, I have been a fan since she played for Norwood and then their coach Steve Symonds took her across to Collingwood with him.

Have never bought that there hasn’t been talent available league wide that would come to the Crows and would fix up problem areas, especially those at the more unsuccessful teams. It’s just other than Niamh Kelly literally seeking out the club the club has held very insular and bullish views over keeping the squad together and not acknowledging that there’s any on-field issues or that they need players outside of the required list turnover and drafting a couple of players to fill the bottom end of the list.

Even look at who was available to move interstate last year; Gabby Newton who moved to the Dockers from the Dogs would’ve been more than handy and has been great for the Dockers, Eleanor Hartill was picked up by Brisbane as a West Coast discard & has been an excellent forward/back-up ruck option that has freed up Taylor Smith to dominate up forward this year - she would’ve been a great replacement for McKinnon, I was even keen on Katie Lynch who moved from the Dogs to the Gold Coast if they wanted someone that would’ve freed up Biddell to play forward.

As well as Smith I would be looking for those money ball type moves for forwards like prying one of Teakle or Levicki form Port or if they were really proactive they’d even see if Tara Bohanna the Gold Coast captain would leave what has become a bit of a mess up there this season.

Definitely something we should be looking into. I can see the argument from the club that keeping the squad together was paramount, given that we were in grand finals every other season, but assuming we don't make it this year, it will be three seasons straight without a grand final appearance. Time to make some proactive moves.

I wonder if the likes of Marinoff/Allan and even Randall would be comfortable with moving down a payment category (they still have those, right?) to enable us to target some players with money? They all seem primarily motivated by success to me.

 

[Scorpus]

I think a lot of players would absolutely love to play for the Crows. We'd have little issue trying to attract even players not from SA I reckon.

But we just don't seem to bother

 

[cmndstab]

I think a lot of players would absolutely love to play for the Crows. We'd have little issue trying to attract even players not from SA I reckon.

But we just don't seem to bother

A lot of players, yes. But the top players established in other states? Probably not. I can't see us dislodging a Rowbottom, or a Prespakis, or an Anderson.

But there is a chance we could find a decent forward with a nice kick, who is perhaps being starved for opportunities in a forward line that doesn't see much of the ball. Come to the Crows, perhaps get a pay rise, enjoy some repeat entries, and play some finals footy. It should be an easy sell, right?

 

[Scorpus]

A lot of players, yes. But the top players established in other states? Probably not. I can't see us dislodging a Rowbottom, or a Prespakis, or an Anderson.

But there is a chance we could find a decent forward with a nice kick, who is perhaps being starved for opportunities in a forward line that doesn't see much of the ball. Come to the Crows, perhaps get a pay rise, enjoy some repeat entries, and play some finals footy. It should be an easy sell, right?

I reckon we could get Rowbottom. Gold Coast are crap and she might want to play finals.

But also she could love living on the GC

 

[dplggr47]

A lot of players, yes. But the top players established in other states? Probably not. I can't see us dislodging a Rowbottom, or a Prespakis, or an Anderson.

But there is a chance we could find a decent forward with a nice kick, who is perhaps being starved for opportunities in a forward line that doesn't see much of the ball. Come to the Crows, perhaps get a pay rise, enjoy some repeat entries, and play some finals footy. It should be an easy sell, right?

Only money will bring in one of these girls. They'd be the highest paid players in their respective teams.

 

[cmndstab]

Going to be a photo finish in the Richmond vs Hawthorn match, with Richmond currently up 22-19 in the 4th quarter.

If Hawthorn lose they drop the $1M purse, and if they lose by enough they can also lose 2nd spot. The live ladder has them already having dropped several percentage points, now only a smidgen ahead of Brisbane.

Edit: Hawthorn back in front!

Hawks get three in a row to win themselves a million bucks. Lucky for some! Basically win it based on receiving an easy fixture in both comps, haha. It's a shame that our men's team has been so rubbish during our period of AFLW dominance.

That puts Port in the box seat to take 6th spot, or possibly even 5th if they can win by a large enough margin and Fremantle go down to the Bulldogs.

 

[treeman]

Going to be a photo finish in the Richmond vs Hawthorn match, with Richmond currently up 22-19 in the 4th quarter.

If Hawthorn lose they drop the $1M purse, and if they lose by enough they can also lose 2nd spot. The live ladder has them already having dropped several percentage points, now only a smidgen ahead of Brisbane.

Edit: Hawthorn back in front!

Hawks get three in a row to win themselves a million bucks. Lucky for some! It's a shame that our men's team has been so rubbish during our period of AFLW dominance.

That puts Port in the box seat to take 6th spot, or possibly even 5th if they can win by a large enough margin.

Bit annoyed, Hawthorn don't deserve the million with their easy draw.

 

[cmndstab]

Bit annoyed, Hawthorn don't deserve the million with their easy draw.

Definitely agreed, although knowing that it cost Brisbane $1M does make it easier to take

I can hear Starcevich whinging from here

 

[cmndstab]

Port currently shitting the bed against GWS, 15 points down late in Q2 despite having a home final on the line.

Although they just kicked a goal with a minute to go to bring it back to 9.

 

[dplggr47]

I think the whole $1million prize is unnecessary and not fair considering the AFLW fixturing and all the bottom teams having soft draws. With such short seasons, all the bottom sides manage to avoid playing majority of the top teams. Either they have a full 17 week fixture of every team playing every team or just get rid of this silly trophy. I'm sure that $1mil can go into something else.

 

[treeman]

Port currently shitting the bed against GWS, 15 points down late in Q2 despite having a home final on the line.

Although they just kicked a goal with a minute to go to bring it back to 9.

Damn 1 point the lucky buggers!

 

[cmndstab]

Damn 1 point the lucky buggers!

Quality comeback from them in the end!

 

[Cromulant]

Quality comeback from them in the end!

And a quality kick for goal at the end

I think Richmond will fancy their chances though

 

[DJ75]

Quality comeback from them in the end!

GWS absolutely blew it.
They did the exact same thing we do in close games. They got to 5-6 minutes left and thought they could stop playing and wind the clock down. You see the same tactic across both mens and women's leagues and it almost never works.
Sure drop an extra behind the ball if you want, but to stop all movement and any sense of attacking, and instead try and wind down the clock, is just stupid. It doesn't work, yet we see it over and over again.

 

[cmndstab]

GWS absolutely blew it.
They did the exact same thing we do in close games. They got to 5-6 minutes left and thought they could stop playing and wind the clock down. You see the same tactic across both mens and women's leagues and it almost never works.
Sure drop an extra behind the ball if you want, but to stop all movement and any sense of attacking, and instead try and wind down the clock, is just stupid. It doesn't work, yet we see it over and over again.

Giving away a free kick for not being in position when you're 1 point down with a minute to go is pretty unforgivable too. Just gifting possession to Port.

 

[El Doederino]

Is it right that port finished 6th when the best team they beat all season finished 11th?

 

[cmndstab]

Is it right that port finished 6th when the best team they beat all season finished 11th?

One of the benefits of finishing near-bottom the year before, I guess! Hawthorn managed to finish 2nd and win a million bucks despite only playing 3 teams in the top 8, and only one of the top 4 (which they comfortably lost).

 

[cmndstab]

The Freo-WB margin is pretty close at 3QT, which all but solidifies the final top 8:

1 North
2 Hawks
3 Lions
4 Crows
5 Freo
6 Port
7 Tigers
8 Dons

That means if we do end up losing to North in week 1, we'll play the winner of Fremantle and Essendon. We won both of those matches by 33 points in the minor rounds. If we get through that, we travel to face the winner of Hawks vs Lions.

Port vs Tigers at home in round 1 will be interesting. You'd think that Tigers are a considerably better side than Port, but having to travel to Alberton is nontrivial, and Port are on a six-match winning streak (admittedly against the 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th sides on the ladder). The winner of that match will play the loser of Hawks vs Lions. You'd have to think that the most likely outcome there is a Hawthorn vs Richmond rematch.

 

[Firewalker]

The Freo-WB margin is pretty close at 3QT, which all but solidifies the final top 8:

1 North
2 Hawks
3 Lions
4 Crows
5 Freo
6 Port
7 Tigers
8 Dons

That means if we do end up losing to North in week 1, we'll play the winner of Fremantle and Essendon. We won both of those matches by 33 points in the minor rounds. If we get through that, we travel to face the winner of Hawks vs Lions.

Port vs Tigers at home in round 1 will be interesting. You'd think that Tigers are a considerably better side than Port, but having to travel to Alberton is nontrivial, and Port are on a six-match winning streak (admittedly against the 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th sides on the ladder). The winner of that match will play the loser of Hawks vs Lions. You'd have to think that the most likely outcome there is a Hawthorn vs Richmond rematch.

Looking at my pre-season predictions I picked 6 of the 8 (Melbourne would’ve made it if they didn’t have that injury-plagued start, but have nothing good to say about that Gold Coast’s prediction - putrid).

Have them (North, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Essendon, Melbourne and Port) in no particular order as probably my top 8.

I had Freo & Richmond as my next chances to make finals due to their fixture, so the season did play out effectively how I thought it would, in hindsight should’ve taken into account Gold Coast loosing all that experience but still they were the massive shock for me given that midfield power & home advantage they had last year. I had Collingwood & the Bulldogs fighting it out for the spoon so that absolutely horrible Dogs team somehow managing to win 4 games my only other surprise for the season.

 

[DJ75]

One of the benefits of finishing near-bottom the year before, I guess! Hawthorn managed to finish 2nd and win a million bucks despite only playing 3 teams in the top 8, and only one of the top 4 (which they comfortably lost).

Brisbane won the flag last year and had the easiest draw.
We of course had the toughest draw. For the second year in a row. It's almost like they don't want us winning any more premierships...

 

[DJ75]

Giving away a free kick for not being in position when you're 1 point down with a minute to go is pretty unforgivable too. Just gifting possession to Port.

Was a free kick paid for a sling tackle at CHF for Port when it was clearly holding the ball? It was an awful decision.
Mind you they pinged a Port player for holding the ball earlier that was the worst decision I've seen this year.

 

[cmndstab]

Brisbane won the flag last year and had the easiest draw.
We of course had the toughest draw. For the second year in a row. It's almost like they don't want us winning any more premierships...

We should have one of the toughest draws, as one of the perennial top 4 sides. We finished minor premiers last year despite the tough draw, and top 4 again this season.

But Brisbane only playing two top eight teams is inexcusable, especially given that, as Firewalker demonstrated, the top 8 was mostly predictable again this year.