AFLW 2022 Rd 4: Carlton vs North Melbourne

[crashlander]

It really is a rubbish competition.

No, it isn't. But it isn't a fair competition. The competition has expanded far too far too fast and the depth of talent isn't there. And the Adelaide gerrymander means that Adelaide is massively advantaged over everyone else.
To be honest, we probably should have re-created the various state leagues with the aim to turn professional down the track. It would have been a lot fairer in the short to medium term. However, the AFL didn't want to appear unfriendly to women. The AFLW came along before it was ready and with a huge number of internal issues that bias things in the favour of a few.
It will be worse next year with more teams trying to get the available talent. But at least the existence of Port Adelaide will move the bias a little away from Adelaide.

I've been to quite a few AFLW games and have generally enjoyed them. It is a different product, but it is going to be a long time before the depth is there, even with the increasing number of players coming through.

As for our team, we are struggling at the moment. We don't have the depth and our skills aren't good. Two seasons back and we really were a top team. But since then we've lost talent and not replaced it and our coaching has not kept up with the changes. Our game style doesn't suit the players we presently have. I can't see us improving much in the short term: the fanatic pressure isn't there, the pace doesn't appear to be there and we don't win contested ball enough. That really hurts.

We are not going to play finals this year. Gold Coast have a better chance/ But, with the new clubs coming in, we aren't going to get a talent boost. The better kids will be gone before we get a selection. Nor are the code-changers coming into the competition much any longer.

I'm really frustrated that the AFL doesn't even produce football records for the games. The ground is not set up for playing at the moment, with the southern side of the ground out of action. We don't get the people to the games because we're not playing well.