AFLW 2024 Rd 6: Carlton vs Port Adelaide in Adelaide

[crashlander]

After 2 shockers in a row, the girls are on a hiding to nothing with another short break. We play Port this Sunday in Adelaide. Not ideal, but ...
Sunday 29th Sep at Alberton Oval at 17:05.


B:  20 Lily Goss  21 Harriet Cordner
HB:  6 Gab Pound  11  Yasmin Duursma  10  Mimi Hill
C:  2 Jessica Dal Pos  3 Darcy Vescio  4 Keeley Skepper
HF:  25 Keeley Sherar  22 Mia Austin  26 Tarni Brown
F:  49 Madeline Hendrie  12 Jessica Good 
R:  16 Breann Moody  18 Madeleine Guerin  15 Meg Robertson
Int:  36 Ciara Fitzgerald  23 Lila Keck  14 Marianna Anthony  8 Celine Moody  13 Lulu Beatty  27 Gen Lawson-Tavan  29 Jade Halfpenny  17 Dayna Finn

Now we have a couple of girls who used to play for Port, so that will be an interesting aspect of this one.

[kruddler]

McKay out.
Kez, still out.

If you are fit, you are in the squad.

The last 2 weeks is actually what i expected from the girls this year. The previous 2 weeks was a pleasant surprise.

Port are not great, but on their home deck, i don't expect too much.

[Blue Moon]

Four day break,  played three top sides in the first five games and we have had a five day break. Not sure how our AFLW players can achieve the standards they are after with this sort of fixturing. Despite being smashed last match I thought they kept fighting. They need to stick at it.

[crashlander]

With so many clubs having injury issues this year, it is clear the AFLW need to increase list sizes. I don't know if they like it, but there are already top-ups playing this week.
Our list misses the few class players we have. Kerryn Peterson has been out more than in over the last couple of seasons, and she isn't just our captain, she is a real leader. We miss her badly when she doesn't play.
We'll miss Abbie McKay also, as she is one of our best mids.

Our defence is not good and turns the ball over too much. Our forwards don't get a lot of possessions, don't take many marks and don't kick a lot of goals. Nor have I been convinced that it is the fault of our game style or mids. We've got a long way to go before we can challenge.

[kruddler]

I read earlier in the week that there are potentially 3 AFLW teams that require top up players due to injuries.

If that doesn't send out alarm bells, then i don't know what does.

Problem is, the AFL can't afford to keep fitting the bill for the moneypit that is AFLW. I
f they changed the list size to 40, it would solve most of their problems with list sizes.
But surely couldn't afford to pay for another 180 players.
The 2025 minimum wage is set to be 67k.
Thats an extra 12mil across the competition!

[crashlander]

I read earlier in the week that there are potentially 3 AFLW teams that require top up players due to injuries.

If that doesn't send out alarm bells, then i don't know what does.

Problem is, the AFL can't afford to keep fitting the bill for the moneypit that is AFLW. I
f they changed the list size to 40, it would solve most of their problems with list sizes.
But surely couldn't afford to pay for another 180 players.
The 2025 minimum wage is set to be 67k.
Thats an extra 12mil across the competition!

A rod they've designed for their own back, no doubt. But the issue is not going to go away in a season with so many short breaks designed into it.

[Lods]

It's not a good situation given that many folk believe the competition has grown too quidckly and the 'talent pool' is stretched already.

[DJC]

It's not a good situation given that many folk believe the competition has grown too quidckly and the 'talent pool' is stretched already.

It’s stretched a little further at some clubs, and particularly one that’s close to my heart ?

[crashlander]

It's not a good situation given that many folk believe the competition has grown too quickly and the 'talent pool' is stretched already.

I can't help but think it is obvious. And every time we've been raped, we've got nothing for it. The Women's comp is not going to be what it should be until the recruiting issues are addressed. It is bad enough competing against the gerrymanders in the men's without trying to break the greater gerrymander in the women's.

[kruddler]

At least now its a national draft.

I've got a photo of our AFLW girls from a few years ago. It only has 1 hosking in it, so whichever year that was - 2021 team i think.
30 girls in the photo, half of them are wearing a different jumper now, or did and have now retired.
Obviously we've sacked a few along the way as well.
The turnover is crazy.

FWIW....
Prespakis and Gee to the bombers.
Stevens and Plane to the Saints
Egan and Hosking to the tigers
Brazalle and Downie to the Pies
Harris and Wilson to the dees
McEvoy to Swans
Laloifi to Dogs
Jones to the suns, then tigers
Wilson to Melbourne
Brooke Walker and Daisy Walker to gws
Arnell to the Lions
Gibbs to Dockers

Thats 18 names from our 2021 team 3 years ago that left for other clubs, with 13 of them still playing!
....how are we supposed to be competitive??