AFLW 2019 GF: Carlton vs Adelaide

[LP]

They have a massive advantage being the only SA club, given the way the AFLW draft works. It will get worse next year as other teams get diluted further through expansion, but they will still be the only SA club so will get all the best young SA players

And they get the pick of the crop from the NT!

[flyboy77]

End of the day, we must applaud the women's achievement and effort.

They rediscovered how to win (the men are yet to do that).

Not that it's a competition between the two!

[kruddler]

And they get the pick of the crop from the NT!

...and North get Tassie.

Which are the 2 strongest teams in the comp? (Besides potentially us).

[Baggers]

From wooden spoon to grand finalists, bravo all concerned. 2020.

[LP]

Yes, a well done, but under the AFLW rules it'll be hard to keep most of that group together. There are already rumors of big names being approached to move.

[RiverRat]

Not the only issue but so many of our victories in the run to the GF revolved around Al Downie's ruckwork and the clearances that followed.

She was well beaten against Nth Melb and again today and we were well beaten as well.

[crashlander]

They have a massive advantage being the only SA club, given the way the AFLW draft works. It will get worse next year as other teams get diluted further through expansion, but they will still be the only SA club so will get all the best young SA players

Yes. Things are set up for a multi year Crow Dynasty. Thanks a lot, AFL. (Wish there was a sarcasm emoji!)

[crashlander]

Yes, a well done, but under the AFLW rules it'll be hard to keep most of that group together. There are already rumors of big names being approached to move.

That does not surprise me. The new clubs can steal from us a lot more easily than they can steal from Adelaide.

[DJC]

It was a great effort by the girls (and Harf) but Adelaide was far too good.  I reckon they are 12 months ahead of us in terms of fitness, strength and skills.

It was sad to see the two girls go down with ACLs.  I wonder if it will mean the end of Erin Phillips’ AFLW career.  Apparently she’s off to the USA to continue her basketball coaching career but that shouldn’t hinder her rehab if she has the desire to play again.

It was a good decision to play the game in Adelaide; great stadium and plenty of fanatical fans, including the significant number of Carlton fans who made the trip.

[crashlander]

Not the only issue but so many of our victories in the run to the GF revolved around Al Downie's ruckwork and the clearances that followed.

She was well beaten against Nth Melb and again today and we were well beaten as well.

A lot of our turn-around can be placed on Alison Downie's shoulders. She was good in the 1st season, but terrible last year. We so missed her influence and her smarts in 2018, Breann Moody did her best, but she is not a smart ruck yet. Downie really is.
I might have given Moody more time in the middle this time, as she jumps in hard and would not be as expected. But hindsight is ...

If Alison Downie can play like that again and Moody can develop, then our ruck options look good, even though Downie is well into her 30's.
The Adelaide ruck was a revelation this year and was a major reason in their victory. They have 3 good rucks on their list when some clubs don't have one. The luck of being South Australian.