No Oppo Supporters 2024 General AFLW Discussion

[Mister B]

I just had a flick through the crowd sizes at the other games. Not great. Only one other game drew more than 5,000 and that was the Showdown. But I think last year’s Showdown, also in round 1, drew around 10,000 so barely over 5,000 is disappointing.

A couple of games drew between 3 and 4 thousand, while fewer than 3,000 turned up to watch the Suns St Kilda game. If they can’t get biggish crowds in for round one, while footy fever from the AFLM is still high and we should be looking to fill the void, it doesn’t look promising for the rest of the season.

If our women perform ok (and maybe even if they don’t), we could well land up with the five biggest home crowds of the H&A. (It’s hard to know how the people of Coffs will turnout.)

As an aside, I saw Andrew Dillon at NSO on Friday night. He was mingling with the people pushing their way along the walkway between the stands and the pitch at halftime.

Did you spot on him and tell him he should be looking after his marque club not screwing it over at every turn?

 

[Mister B]

I reckon the club has done a good job launching and promoting our team and our crowds are very enthusiastic but I wonder what the next step is to grow crowds further. The overall standard has improved significantly year on year, Gowans is working on getting us to play an exciting brand, the men are supporting it, our choice of grounds works well to create atmosphere. There were a fair few kids there on Friday but I wonder if night games are that good an idea. In a year when we broke all records maybe I expected a bit more.

Despite the criticism of a few, the club was right to hold off entering the comp and making sure they did things right.

 

[Ticky009]

Fox footy copping fair criticism for their blatant misogyny during their AFLW call today.

1) Constantly referring to the upcoming Prelim Final when they should be calling the game
2) Post Game AFLW talk...just didn't exist. Went straight into PF talk.

And worst yet the callers probs didn't even think about it at the time that they'd done anything disrespectful

 

[Day_night_honourer]

I know betting odds aren't the be all and end all, but this weekend (and after that shocker last night) the below just goes to show how vast the gap is between teams and how far there is to go to even up the comp:

 

[Ticky009]

The 'condensed' AFLW experiment by AFL House is a disaster and I hope they've learned their lesson.

 

[Voula]

The 'condensed' AFLW experiment by AFL House is a disaster and I hope they've learned their lesson.

It has not worked at all. I don't know how they thought it was a good idea. They just wanted to get 11 games in without playing 11 "rounds".

Can't believe the Bulldogs haven't scored a goal the past 2 games. How did we lose to them??

 

[Voula]

It has not worked at all. I don't know how they thought it was a good idea. They just wanted to get 11 games in without playing 11 "rounds".

Can't believe the Bulldogs haven't scored a goal the past 2 games. How did we lose to them??

Article about the failure of the condensed fixture.

How the AFL’s poor decision-making is dragging AFLW down

The impact of the condensed fixture can be reeled off like movie credits and points to administrators taking their eyes off the ball.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Callipygian]

Article about the failure of the condensed fixture.

How the AFL’s poor decision-making is dragging AFLW down

The impact of the condensed fixture can be reeled off like movie credits and points to administrators taking their eyes off the ball.

www.theage.com.au

Can you summarise?

 

[SwansProudly]

Can you summarise?

• Players unable to train properly between games
• Heightened risk of injury,
• Concussion protocols,
• Fatigue
• Coaches working around the clock to review, edit vision and prepare
• A low football department cap forcing clubs to appoint part-time assistant coaches who need time off their day jobs
• Fans forced to follow a schedule with all the rhythm of an uncle on the dance floor at far-flung, second-tier venues
• A decline in the standard of umpiring after the men’s season as inexperienced officials adjudicate matches.

 

[Callipygian]

Great article about female athletes and fertility: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-21/gws-chloe-dalton-ivf-fertility-aflw/104496432.

I think it's really important that female athletes get education around this issue and bring it out from behind closed doors. It's so much easier for male athletes who don't carry babies to plan families with much less disruption to their athletic careers. That said I think it's worth offering male athletes education around options and things to consider when they're trying to plan families too.

There is a dimension that remains tricky for female athletes though, especially at this point in time. It would be desirable for both club and athlete if players could discuss their family planning with their club-employer. However, it is really understandable that players would be hesitant to do so if they think it might affect their career which is a relatable concern.
I think the best way to address this is via collective bargaining agreements with the AFLPA so that both players and clubs can get better protection. For example, there could be provisions for players choosing to take extended parental leave to be replaced on the list (as with the long term injury list) if their season will be effectively ended and for their salary to be outside the salary cap. This makes the prospect of players taking extended leave to have children less worrisome to the club. At the same time hopefully there could be measures to improve the job security of the players who are worried about whether they will be able to return to their career after having children. Ultimately, in a high performance industry it will come down to performance, but there may be some measures that can give a greater degree of comfort and security to players wanting to combine their careers with having a family.

 

[Ticky009]

• Players unable to train properly between games
• Heightened risk of injury,
• Concussion protocols,
• Fatigue
• Coaches working around the clock to review, edit vision and prepare
• A low football department cap forcing clubs to appoint part-time assistant coaches who need time off their day jobs
• Fans forced to follow a schedule with all the rhythm of an uncle on the dance floor at far-flung, second-tier venues
• A decline in the standard of umpiring after the men’s season as inexperienced officials adjudicate matches.

This year's schedule has been a disaster and its impacting the season heavily. AFL need to pull their head out of their arses and get serious about a determined AFLW season and top fracking around.

 

[Kbroome]

Hearing some whispers that Charlie Rowbottom could be available. Would be near on impossible to do with the cap constraints but could be something to look at as she would be the type of midfielder we need

 

[Arwib]

If that's on the table then I imagine it's because she's unhappy at GC and if she's interested in Sydney specifically they'd make it happen in the wild west of AFLW player recruitment. I would assume they'll find ways to get ASA money, employment, etc, for either her or others in the upper pay tiers of current Swans players.

 

[Kbroome]

If that's on the table then I imagine it's because she's unhappy at GC and if she's interested in Sydney specifically they'd make it happen in the wild west of AFLW player recruitment. I would assume they'll find ways to get ASA money, employment, etc, for either her or others in the upper pay tiers of current Swans players.

Yep just a problem with the contract system in place that she would demand i would guess a A-tier contract rather than the B-tier that we could offer

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Yep just a problem with the contract system in place that she would demand i would guess a A-tier contract rather than the B-tier that we could offer

Surely we would try and move on an A tier contracted player for her? Charlie would be only bettered by Molloy, possibly Gardiner so would instantly improve the side. We desperately need an elite contested player.

 

[Kbroome]

Surely we would try and move on an A tier contracted player for her? Charlie would be only bettered by Molloy, possibly Gardiner so would instantly improve the side. We desperately need an elite contested player.

I'd guess our A-tier players are Gardiner Molloy and Morphett. Given that we warded off WB last year for Morphett i suspect she was given a good tier contract.

 

[Callipygian]

I'd guess our A-tier players are Gardiner Molloy and Morphett. Given that we warded off WB last year for Morphett i suspect she was given a good tier contract.

I partly agree. McEvoy is club captain, former #2 draft pick and was lured to the club with a big deal so pretty sure she will be occupying one of the primo contracts. Conversely Gardiner probably didn't get such a great contract because she was a VFLW player - so no doubt she'll be due for a big upgrade. Ham is #1 draft pick who has shown loyalty and we wouldn't want to lose her. Players like Hurley and Cynthia and Kennedy will also be expecting some progression, as will players like Tarrant and Heads. It's gonna be tricky!

Another challenge will be the trade currency. I guess our first rounder is going to be high so maybe that will do it. We could possibly throw in a mid-tier player too, if we can find one that wants to go to the GC. Would they want Davies back? Probably not very much, else they wouldn't have let her go. Would they want someone like Brooke Lochland who is an old, wise influence and would be great with a young team?

It's also tough because we have reasonable strength in our midfield - it's our KPP stocks that are thinner, I'd say, and where we have more need.

However, when an A grade player wants to come to your club generally the club finds a way to make it happen - best example of this is with Buddy when it wasn't easy at all but we did make it happen.

Here's an interesting question: if we could do a straight swap for Gardiner (is she going to be out of contract?) would we want to? Gardiner has been a beast. Came within a whisker of coaches MVP last season and was AA and our B&F. Then again Charlie was AA and won their B&F last year too. How do the players compare? I don't watch oppo games except when they play us (and even then I'm much more focused on our players). I gather Charlie is a big bodied ball-winning bull whereas Gardiner is also a ball magnet but more of an endurance machine. Is that accurate? And, if so, does it work better for our team balance to prefer one player or the other? Kennedy and Ham are both big bodied ball winners that we have already.

It might make more sense for Charlie to return to Victoria. She can probably go wherever she likes, although we can't be the club with the tightest salary cap, can we?

 

[Kiama Chris]

I partly agree. McEvoy is club captain, former #2 draft pick and was lured to the club with a big deal so pretty sure she will be occupying one of the primo contracts. Conversely Gardiner probably didn't get such a great contract because she was a VFLW player - so no doubt she'll be due for a big upgrade. Ham is #1 draft pick who has shown loyalty and we wouldn't want to lose her. Players like Hurley and Cynthia and Kennedy will also be expecting some progression, as will players like Tarrant and Heads. It's gonna be tricky!

Another challenge will be the trade currency. I guess our first rounder is going to be high so maybe that will do it. We could possibly throw in a mid-tier player too, if we can find one that wants to go to the GC. Would they want Davies back? Probably not very much, else they wouldn't have let her go. Would they want someone like Brooke Lochland who is an old, wise influence and would be great with a young team?

It's also tough because we have reasonable strength in our midfield - it's our KPP stocks that are thinner, I'd say, and where we have more need.

However, when an A grade player wants to come to your club generally the club finds a way to make it happen - best example of this is with Buddy when it wasn't easy at all but we did make it happen.

Here's an interesting question: if we could do a straight swap for Gardiner (is she going to be out of contract?) would we want to? Gardiner has been a beast. Came within a whisker of coaches MVP last season and was AA and our B&F. Then again Charlie was AA and won their B&F last year too. How do the players compare? I don't watch oppo games except when they play us (and even then I'm much more focused on our players). I gather Charlie is a big bodied ball-winning bull whereas Gardiner is also a ball magnet but more of an endurance machine. Is that accurate? And, if so, does it work better for our team balance to prefer one player or the other? Kennedy and Ham are both big bodied ball winners that we have already.

It might make more sense for Charlie to return to Victoria. She can probably go wherever she likes, although we can't be the club with the tightest salary cap, can we?

Rowbottom is 180cm and solidly built. Gardiner is tiny and absolutely non-stop. Kennedy is in-between but is quite a bit older than either, not so much a ball winner as a defensive mid/tagger. Due to her injury Ham has been playing more as a key than in the middle.

 

[Callipygian]

Having just thought a bit more about our draft hand and the pool of players (see my post in 2024 AFLW Trade and Draft) I would now be reluctant to trade away our first round pick, even for Charlie Rowbottom. That also won't strain our salary cap. I would however trade away our future first for Rowbottom or second rounder plus future 2nd.

I don't know that I would call Gardiner "tiny". She's average height (165 cm) and really strong and tough. But I take your points about Kennedy being older and just overall that it would really help to have another quality mid. Also frees up Molloy and McEvoy to do their thing elsewhere. But anyway Kiama Chris , what are your thoughts about getting Rowbottom and how much would you be prepared to give up to get her?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Having just thought a bit more about our draft hand and the pool of players (see my post in 2024 AFLW Trade and Draft) I would now be reluctant to trade away our first round pick, even for Charlie Rowbottom. That also won't strain our salary cap. I would however trade away our future first for Rowbottom or second rounder plus future 2nd.

I don't know that I would call Gardiner "tiny". She's average height (165 cm) and really strong and tough. But I take your points about Kennedy being older and just overall that it would really help to have another quality mid. Also frees up Molloy and McEvoy to do their thing elsewhere. But anyway Kiama Chris , what are your thoughts about getting Rowbottom and how much would you be prepared to give up to get her?

Getting Rowbottom would be great but I have no idea how we could make it happen.
IIRC She went to GC to attend Bond Uni so I assume she graduates this year. I don't know if our links to UNSW through the Elite Athletes program would be attractive as they were for Ham.
Any player swap (if such a thing is even possible) would be robbing Peter to pay Paul so I can't see a lot of value to either club in such an arrangement. I think it would have to be a pick or picks, but again, I don't know the rules around such things.