AFLW West Coast Womens Discussion

[Biggie]

Molly's great, be happy to have her. But Zippy's on a different level.

The hype is massive for Zippy. And understandably so. Kids a gun, line breaker, fast. Efficient.

However Molly is the more complete player.

To me, as it stands right now, Molly would offer more to our club than Fish. If I trusted our onball division more I’d probably lean to Fish, but I don’t trust them at the moment.

Looking forward to watching them going against the might of Sth Australia tomorrow in the SOO.

 

[jatz14]

The hype is massive for Zippy. And understandably so. Kids a gun, line breaker, fast. Efficient.

However Molly is the more complete player.

To me, as it stands right now, Molly would offer more to our club than Fish. If I trusted our onball division more I’d probably lean to Fish, but I don’t trust them at the moment.

Looking forward to watching them going against the might of Sth Australia tomorrow in the SOO.

Highlights a big problem if the draft remains not fully national.

I think last year, non Vic based players were more likely to nominate national than Vic based players, presumably because there are more clubs and opportunities in Vic.

Gives Vic club the opportunity to target national nominated players early, knowing there is a big pool of Vic players to select from later that half the clubs cannot select.

So, could we lose both of them to Vic clubs, while not being able to get top Vic players in return?

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[AlphaSheep]

The hype is massive for Zippy. And understandably so. Kids a gun, line breaker, fast. Efficient.

However Molly is the more complete player.

To me, as it stands right now, Molly would offer more to our club than Fish. If I trusted our onball division more I’d probably lean to Fish, but I don’t trust them at the moment.

Looking forward to watching them going against the might of Sth Australia tomorrow in the SOO.

For me, it's precisely because our onballers are weak and we lack good distributors and decision makers that Zippy would be the best fit. In her 39 possession game a few weeks ago, she sat at half-back and dictated every thrust forward, she sees opportunities and gets players the ball when and how they need it. Molly's a great athlete and does a lot, but you can't build your team's ball movement around her like you can Zippy.

 

[AlphaSheep]

Highlights a big problem if the draft remains not fully national.

I think last year, non Vic based players were more likely to nominate national than Vic based players, presumably because there are more clubs and opportunities in Vic.

Gives Vic club the opportunity to target national nominated players early, knowing there is a big pool of Vic players to select from later that half the clubs cannot select.

So, could we lose both of them to Vic clubs, while not being able to get top Vic players in return?

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I think the AFLW are looking to make national nominations compulsory, exactly so this kind of thing won't happen.

 

[Monocle]

For me, it's precisely because our onballers are weak and we lack good distributors and decision makers that Zippy would be the best fit. In her 39 possession game a few weeks ago, she sat at half-back and dictated every thrust forward, she sees opportunities and gets players the ball when and how they need it. Molly's a great athlete and does a lot, but you can't build your team's ball movement around her like you can Zippy.

I like everything about Zippy apart from her disposal, its inconsistent and often erratic.

Probably marking her harshly but there have been a few games where her radar has been off badly.

That said, she does have a lot of redeeming feature to her skill set.

 

[Biggie]

In her 39 possession game a few weeks ago, she sat at half-back

This is exactly why I’d take Molly over Fish. In my mind she’ll play HB at the next level, excellent distribution and vision but not contested enough for the midfield.

Molly is all of this and her versatility is unmatched. She’s not just an athlete, she has excellent footy IQ

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll not crack the shits if we took Zippy 1st, I’d just prefer a more versatile inside/outside player than a outside silky receiver, with how our current list is.

 

[Keys]

Have to admire the girls. They don’t get particularly well paid and all this training time is voluntary so that they can improve

Shame that we’ve already lost two girls to ACL injuries particularly young Kavanagh

West Coast star Ella Roberts is set to make her mark in the midfield under new coach Daisy Pearce as the Eagles gear up to play a pre-season practice match against Fremantle on Saturday.
The prodigal teenager started her career up forward before moving onball last season.

Roberts has previously expressed her desire to play in the midfield long-term. But after a breakout 2023 season, finishing third in the AFLW Rising Star, Pearce expects Roberts to have her biggest impact around the ball this year

“The great thing about Ella is she can do both,” Pearce told CODE Sports. “She can go anywhere.

“I’d love to see her continue to develop as a midfielder. Her speed, power and attack on the ball and opponents who have the ball are awesome to see.

“I’ve played alongside some great footballers but to stand back and not have to worry about getting tackled by her but be close enough to see her in full flight is awesome.

“I’d love to see her develop in the midfield but she’s always going to have the ability to go forward and impact as well. Where she’s at already is impressive but I think there’s heaps of scope for improvement too.”

The Eagles have taken the opportunity to get a head start on season 2024, organising a series of scrimmages to keep their squad together across the off-season, giving Pearce the chance to cast an early eye over her playing list.

West Coast travelled to the Gold Coast last weekend and will play the Dockers at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday morning.

Given that pre-season doesn’t officially kick off until June, participation in training and games is currently optional. But the Eagles expect 14 players to suit up in tomorrow’s clash, the same number that headed to the Gold Coast.

New recruits Jess Hosking and Alison Drennan both featured against the Suns. Hosking played in the midfield and up forward after being delisted by Richmond but is also an option down back. While Drennan has given the Eagles extra run and size in the midfield.

“The great thing about both of them is that I can see them improving,” Pearce said. “I think their best footy is still ahead of them which is really exciting.”
Third-year ruck Lauren Wakfer also impressed against Lauren Bella. Mikayla Western had an impact up forward. And Charlie Thomas continues to improve down back despite winning the club’s best and fairest last season.

Pearce said the practice matches were a balance of keeping the playing group together and maintaining match fitness as well as implementing elements of her new game plan.

“We’ve been able to go to work on the fundamentals of the game since January but also drip feed some of the big ticket items that we’re working towards as a group with our game style,” she said. “They go hand-in-hand.

“It was a great opportunity to see them in the context of a game. Their competitiveness and will to win were impressive despite it being a practice match. It’s such a great ingredient and quality and we want to become unconditional with that.

“The beauty of these games is you can train and explain as much as you’d like but to actually point out situations from games when you can say ‘that is why we do that drill’ is invaluable.

“There’s going to be a big focus on improving our work around the contest and also being able to sustain ourselves in games for longer in that area. We’ve only started scratching the surface with that.

“We’ve got some catching up to do. If other clubs are using this time well, we have to use it really well ourselves.”

The Dockers are expected to field a similar number of players. Both teams will be topped up by non-selected WAFLW State game stars.

The Eagles currently have one vacant list spot to fill after first-round draft pick Kayley Kavanagh suffered a season-ending ACL tear playing in the WAFLW.

There is optimism that Courtney Rowley and Sasha Goranova will both be fit to play this season after suffering ACL tears last year but the Eagles have until the end of pre-season to make a decision on their fitness.

 

[Biggie]

If anyone is interested before the WCE Essendon game is the SOO

This drafts prospect - Zippy Fish, Molly O'Hehir & Claudia Wright playing today

Scoll across the instagram page and link below

Live Stream: WAFLW Event - WAFLW v SANFLW

Watch all the action from the WAFLW event on 4 May 2024 at 3:15 pm AWST.

streamer.com.au

Of course if you’re going to the Eags game, head there early to get behind the black ducks

 

[Livin1989]

https://www.instagram.com/stories/eaglesaflw/3360210666240401731?igsh=dHE2amNtZmVxMW95

Insta stories of the praccy match have begun, warm ups ATM.

 

[UseR2006]

WAFL lads getting out to support the girls

 

[AlphaSheep]

Remarkable work from the people televising women's state-level footy. The last two U18 games have been lost because the entire first half and more of the match went missing. And this SA-vs-WA match on Streamer freezes every five seconds, making it unwatchable.

Anyhow, box score below, SA won, Zippy got 28 and a goal, Molly O'Hehir got 15.

WAFL | Western Australian Football League

wafl.com.au

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Remarkable work from the people televising women's state-level footy. The last two U18 games have been lost because the entire first half and more of the match went missing. And this SA-vs-WA match on Streamer freezes every five seconds, making it unwatchable.

Anyhow, box score below, SA won, Zippy got 28 and a goal, Molly O'Hehir got 15.

WAFL | Western Australian Football League

wafl.com.au

Zippy got the medal as best on for WA.

 

[AlphaSheep]

Zippy got the medal as best on for WA.

Comfortably the best player in the WAFLW right now. And she's just getting started.

 

[jatz14]

Comfortably the best player in the WAFLW right now. And she's just getting started.

The next Mon Conti, who I think is still currently AFLWs best player.

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[Miguel Sanchez]

Numbers update, based on Instagram stalking

7 Rentsch
9
10 Drennan
11
12
20 Bakker
22 Cleaver
24
25
27
28
32
33
34

Unknown: Roux, Hosking, Johnson, Simmons, Kavanagh, Sergeant

 

[AlphaSheep]

Doesn't tell us much, but it's better than losing.

AFLW: Eagles shine in training simulation

West Coast and Fremantle took part in a training simulation on Saturday morning

www.westcoasteagles.com.au

 

[Byron_Clanger]

A very over simplified, uneducated opinion on the matter, but the fact Bakker wasn't even on the list two weeks ago but was listed in the bests today is a pretty fair effort from her.

 

[Livin1989]

A very over simplified, uneducated opinion on the matter, but the fact Bakker wasn't even on the list two weeks ago but was listed in the bests today is a pretty fair effort from her.

Western is looking good in front of goals, she's managed 3 goals from 2 of the last 3 outings which is great. From IG stalking her kicking action looks on point bring on season proper

 

[AlphaSheep]

Saw a bit of South Fremantle versus Claremont, Alira Fotu's second senior's game. 12 disposals, 5 marks, some of them big, set up at least one goal, and probably about as fast as O'Hehir and a similar size. If her teammates could kick straight, she could have had far more. I've had my eye on her for ages, could become one of the better forwards going around.

 

[Livin1989]

Saw a bit of South Fremantle versus Claremont, Alira Fotu's second senior's game. 12 disposals, 5 marks, some of them big, set up at least one goal, and probably about as fast as O'Hehir and a similar size. If her teammates could kick straight, she could have had far more. I've had my eye on her for ages, could become one of the better forwards going around.

It was my understanding that she has chosen to pursue Basketball as her career path as opposed to football which is a shame

 

[AlphaSheep]

It was my understanding that she has chosen to pursue Basketball as her career path as opposed to football which is a shame

Then why is she still playing WAFLW?

 

[Biggie]

Then why is she still playing WAFLW?

Cause she can.

Only her 2nd game.

I've also heard the same story, b'ball is her passion, footy is neither here nor there. I'll try and corroborate this info however.

 

[AlphaSheep]

Will be interesting to see what happens. My understanding is that Mon Conti was never 'basketball first', but she loved it equally. Then she realised she'd never be as successful with basketball as at footy, and that changed.

Also in bball, to make it worthwhile you need to get in the Opals, make the Olympics, World Champs, etc, to get the big opportunities. So that's 12 chances. In footy there's far more chances than that, the whole industry is far bigger for coaching, admin/etc for retired players, not to mention media.

Alira's smartest move would be to keep her options open, and if she can't make the Opals regularly, her attitude may change, like Conti's did. But then, she's such a great athlete, I'd imagine she's pretty good.

 

[Chris_6678]

Eliza Reilly

@ByElizaReilly
·
2m

Few new additions to
@eaglesaflw
alongside Daisy Pearce. Premiership West Perth coach Darren Harris is set to join the club in a director of coaching style role. Subiaco WAFLW coach Baker Denneman in as assistant coach after Lions season wraps. Rob Wiley to help with skills.

 

[Livin1989]

CODE Sports

CODE Sports

www.codesports.com.au

West Coast secured a 6.4 (40) to 1.2 (8) pre-season win against cross-town rivals Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.
After going down by 14 points last week at the same venue, the Eagles flipped the script across eight, eight-minute periods of match simulation.

And while the hitout was less structured, there was plenty to like from a West Coast perspective.

Here are the five things we learnt.

1. WILD WESTERN

Mikayla Western is looking like she’ll cause havoc up forward for the Eagles this season. For a few years now, West Coast has lacked an electric small forward. Kellie Gibson produced a career-best season up forward last year. The now-delisted Imahra Cameron showed occasional glimpses. But Western gives the Eagles genuine X-factor. The 25-year-old kicked three goals on Saturday, including a sensational snap from the pocket late in the game. After starting her career on the wing, her ability to drive her legs through congestion and worry defenders is a big asset.

2. INJURY WOES

Fremantle players were rocked by the news that vice-captain Ange Stannett had suffered a season-ending ACL injury on the eve of the match. The injury occurred during a training session on Thursday night to prepare for the hitout. The Dockers lost key position utility Serena Gibbs in the same session to a PCL and MCL injury. But Stannett, Fremantle’s best and fairest last season, will be difficult to replace. The news came just days after Kiara Bowers announced that she was pregnant, leaving the Dockers without two of their best players for the 2024 season. It’s impossible to know what impact the news had on the players, but the Dockers certainly weren’t at their best on Saturday. The injury capped off a horrible few weeks on the injury front for both clubs. West Coast has already lost Tildi Sergeant and Kayley Kavanagh for the season with ACL injuries. While both clubs are also managing a number of other niggles in the lead-up to pre-season.

3. WEST COAST’S FLEXIBILITY

In Daisy Pearce’s quest to find out as much about her list as possible in the lead-up to round one, the Eagles are experimenting with versatility this pre-season. Also serving the purpose of managing players given only around half of West Coast’s list took part in the hitout, several Eagles played in a variety of positions as the contest wore on. First round draft pick Jessica Rentsch started on the wing but spent some time at half-back as a tall defender on Aine Tighe. Bella Lewis went through the midfield and forward line. As did Ella Roberts, who kicked a goal from a contested mark in the opening term. Jess Hosking can play anywhere but was particularly vocal up forward, starting in the square and setting up West Coast’s structure. It’s a nice spot for the Eagles to be in.

4. FREO'S MIDFIELD MIX

Dockers used Saturday’s hitout as an opportunity to experiment with their midfield mix with news that Kiara Bowers will miss the season. At the starting centre bounce, Fremantle deployed Megan Kauffman, Aisling McCarthy and Hayley Miller in the middle. Kauffman has been in excellent form for West Perth as an onballer but spent most of the last AFLW season in attack. McCarthy couldn’t have timed her arrival better after requesting a trade from West Coast, giving the Dockers another contested ball-winner. Miller was sent forward at stages last season but was an All-Australian midfielder in 2022. Fresh off a flight from Tasmania, utility Tunisha Kikoak started in the ruck for Fremantle and kicked her first goal in purple during the first term.

5. EAGLES’ IDENTITY

West Coast is only a few months into the Daisy Pearce era and pre-season hasn’t even started yet. But you can already see some of the trademarks that the new coach has been drilling into her side since unofficial training sessions started in January. With skills and fundamentals a starting point, the Eagles were noticeably clean when in possession of the ball and managed to open up Fremantle several times switching the ball across the width of the ground. There was more space than usual up forward given that both sides fielded one less attacker than usual due to numbers. West Coast was also composed and showed good intent across the course of the eight terms.