AFLW 2021 Rd 1: Carlton vs Collingwood at Ikon on Thursday

[kruddler]

Good to see that crapness is not limited to the men's team. It's a club wide affliction... Jesus I'm sick of seeing this club roll over at every opportunity...

Did Maddy Prespakis roll over when hit by Bri Davey?

The girls are hurting. The girls are still fighting. The girls will not roll over like the men do.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Dont normally watch the AFLW but with the Blues hyped up I thought I might have another look and its been disappointing.
Pies girls seem bigger, better skilled and generally have more composure with ball in hand, Maddy P playing a lone hand in the middle and the girls down back look undersized and lacking much nous unlike the Collingwood defense who are very solid.

[kruddler]

Dont normally watch the AFLW but with the Blues hyped up I thought I might have another look and its been disappointing.
Pies girls seem bigger, better skilled and generally have more composure with ball in hand, Maddy P playing a lone hand in the middle and the girls down back look undersized and lacking much nous unlike the Collingwood defense who are very solid.

I'm pretty sure the pies are at full strength.
We are missing 3 starters. (Not including Dalton who is sitting out the year)
When you have 16 on the ground, and only 30 to choose from, it hurts.

When i did my mock team, i left out a couple of players, notably Brazzale, simply because kicking skills are not up to scratch. It is showing tonight.
Could've played a couple other, better skilled players, and it'd make a difference.

Our girls have heart and won't throw in the towel. Half is a good motivator and should give us a good start. Hopefully we can use it.

[kruddler]

Umpire must be a pies supporter. He will not pay us a free for holding the ball.

[spf]

Credit where credit is due; Carlton have strived for consistency across both the Men's and Women's teams and it really does appear they have this now.

[kruddler]

Credit where credit is due; Carlton have strived for consistency across both the Men's and Women's teams and it really does appear they have this now.

Funny, i haven't heard the final siren yet.

8 points in it....

Our girls don't give up. Have faith.

[Gointocarlton]

Scoreless first two quarters hurt.

[kruddler]

Good fight back, but not good enough.

1 goal loss.

This will be an eye opener and remind the girls that being favourites does not mean you get a win. They'll dig deep and not give up a 4 goal (half a game) headstart.

[northernblue]

Great to see Spanner is having a ripper preseason, I’m tipping him to have a big 2021...

[LP]

Good effort to get back into it, final siren is a bit controversial, the last quarter is about 3 minutes shorter than the other quarters.

I fear a clear problem with AFLW is the coaches, they are making the game a piss-weak version of the men's game. The tagging tactics tonight degraded what could have been a much better spectacle. I stated in the first season the girls game needed to evolve in the different direction, that hasn't happened, and the girls do not have the power or speed to break tags, tonight Prespakis had two opponents hanging off her before she even got near the footy and not a free kick in sight. Ditto for Harris.

It's mental midgets bringing the copycat men's tactics to AFLW that will destroy the multi-million dollar investment, the competition will be broke within  decade because people won't pay to watch a lesser version of the men's game which is where the coaches have it heading. If I was the government I wouldn't spend a cent more until I see a change in attitude and direction, the problem isn't the players or skills, it's an administrative and officiation issue.

The girls game needs to be far more open, it needs some progressive coaches, administration and umpiring if it is to survive and profit.

FWIW, I thought the umpires came good in the second half after a pretty ordinary start, early on there were some Barry Crockers, outright guessing. But by the second half they had settled down, I was pleased to hear the senior umpire interjecting more frequently in the second half. I suspect that is the structure we need in AFL with a senior central umpire having the ability to over-rule and interject.