AFLW Rd 7 GWS vs Geelong, Fri. 15th March @ UNSW Canberra Oval, 7:15pm

[cats_09]

Let's get things rolling ahead of the last round of the h&a season - a match which I'm super pumped for because I'm actually heading up to Canberra on Friday

Win and we play finals (something that I'm not sure many predicted before the start of the season), lose and we rely on results to go our way to hold onto second spot.

Our second half against Freo was shocking - as much as a win this week sees us through to finals, to me what is more important than just the result is actually how we respond to what happened Saturday. If we come out with a positive frame of mind, play our game & don't get pushed off our game, then that will go a long way to seeing a positive result, the biggest thing is that we can't get caught chasing tail & suckered into the ball away from our direct opponents, because that is where we lost on Saturday.

One of the interesting things about this weekend is reading the following from the AFL Women's snap shots of the past weekend:

The Giants have struggled to connect up forward this year, often getting the ball inside 50 in a rushed manner rather than through clean possession.

I feel like 'Giants' could be substitued with 'Cats' as it seems to describe us quite well also. If both teams are scrappy going forward this match will come down to which team makes the most of their opportunities, because to date both teams have struggled to score freely & frequently - the Giants have only scored 23 points more than us this season (167 vs 144), but our defence has actually held up a hell of a lot better (194 vs 285), so that is one area we have a clear advantage over them.

I'm not too sure on who are the key players in the Giants side, but I did read they had the following injuries from the weekend:

• Jacinda Barclay (Greater Western Sydney), collarbone
• Nicola Barr (Greater Western Sydney), hamstring
• Alyce Parker (Greater Western Sydney), whiplash

Not sure what impact that will have on their team.

But we obviously had our own injury concerns losing Teague & Va De Heuvel before last weeks match, so hopefully they are both ok for this week. While Teague hasn't necessarily had the best of seasons nor the most experienced footballer, I think her sporting experience & nouce was missed last week & will be vaulable addition this week if she is right to go

 

[Cursed Cat]

Let's get things rolling ahead of the last round of the h&a season - a match which I'm super pumped for because I'm actually heading up to Canberra on Friday

Win and we play finals (something that I'm not sure many predicted before the start of the season), lose and we rely on results to go our way to hold onto second spot.

Our second half against Freo was shocking - as much as a win this week sees us through to finals, to me what is more important than just the result is actually how we respond to what happened Saturday. If we come out with a positive frame of mind, play our game & don't get pushed off our game, then that will go a long way to seeing a positive result, the biggest thing is that we can't get caught chasing tail & suckered into the ball away from our direct opponents, because that is where we lost on Saturday.

One of the interesting things about this weekend is reading the following from the AFL Women's snap shots of the past weekend:

I feel like 'Giants' could be substitued with 'Cats' as it seems to describe us quite well also. If both teams are scrappy going forward this match will come down to which team makes the most of their opportunities, because to date both teams have struggled to score freely & frequently - the Giants have only scored 23 points more than us this season (167 vs 144), but our defence has actually held up a hell of a lot better (194 vs 285), so that is one area we have a clear advantage over them.

I'm not too sure on who are the key players in the Giants side, but I did read they had the following injuries from the weekend:

• Jacinda Barclay (Greater Western Sydney), collarbone
• Nicola Barr (Greater Western Sydney), hamstring
• Alyce Parker (Greater Western Sydney), whiplash

Not sure what impact that will have on their team.

But we obviously had our own injury concerns losing Teague & Va De Heuvel before last weeks match, so hopefully they are both ok for this week. While Teague hasn't necessarily had the best of seasons nor the most experienced footballer, I think her sporting experience & nouce was missed last week & will be vaulable addition this week if she is right to go

Awesome preview C09 - half your luck going up to Canberra to watch this game, hopefully the women put in a good showing for you.

I'm with you; I'd love to see the girls win and hopefully play a final the following week, but of equal importance to me is seeing them play at close to their peak potential to close out the year.

I don't know much of the Giants; I do like their captain Amanda Farrugia though - Alyce Parker shared a rising star nom with Nina Morrison in Rd 1; she is a gun, glad we don't have to deal with her (but wish her speedy recovery; great player, left-footer with a serious don't argue fend).

As you said, hopefully we get Anna Teague and Sophie Van De Heuvel back. Would love one more look at Webster for 2019; she was looking very promising before injury.

Aasta O'Connor also available, and perhaps Burchell and Fogas (emergencies last week) in the frame also.

Meat Tray Hail Mary:


B: A. Teague M. McDonald
HB: M. Hickey R. Goring M. McMahon

C: D. Taylor R. Garing M. Fogas

HF: J. Ivey P. McWilliams K. Darby
F: M. Boyd M. Clifford

Foll: E. Hoare R. Cranston O. Purcell

I/C: M. Keryk H. Burchell D. Orr A. O'Connor R. Webster


In: A. O' Connor, H. Burchell, M. Fogas, R. Webster, A. Teague
Out: C. Blakeway , G. Rankin, R. Caris, J. Crockett-Mills, G. Clarke

making some big assumptions that Webster will be fit and the Sophie VDH will not; we'll see in a couple of days.

 

[Landgraft]

Super keen for some Friday night Geelong footy - not an easy ask when you work in Canberra

I haven't really been following either team (or the womens comp in general) closely enough to do it justice with any analysis, so I'll just be there to blindly support like some kind of football pleb.

 

[Drunkcat]

Still watching but not as much into it once JLT started Garing is my favourite cat player love the way she goes about it...could be wrong but against top sides I see a few not up to it more the older one's

 

[Shai]

I'm looking forward to more from Maddie Boyd, she looked a little bit underdone against Freo.

Would like Aasta back in the team, Giants went with 2 rucks against the Crows.

Giants have a nice Irish double with Staunton & Bonner. Farrugia can play taller, Eva is good, as is Bernardi.

Others that have caught the eye, Beeson, Brush, Hicks; if Parker comes up, she is definitely 1 to watch. Only up to the 2nd 1/4 Giants v Crows, so may add players here.

I think we can exploit weaknesses both fwd and back & win this game.

That would mean we don't have to travel to ADE in week 1 of the finals.

Edit - The players I didn't name from GWS - Bennetts, Nielson, Stephenson.

 

[cats_09]

Team announcement - Cursed_Cat i expect handstands and cartwheels from you

 

[cats_09]

Team sheet:

Round seven team

B: 4. Cassie Blakeway, 44. Rebecca Goring, 24, Maddy McMahon
HB: 18. Melissa Hickey (c), 11. Meghan McDonald, 28. Denby Taylor
C: Richelle Cranston
HF: 5. Jordan Ivey, 26. Maddie Boyd, 27. Sophie Van De Heuvel
F: 8. Kate Darby, 23. Phoebe McWilliams, 2. Danielle Orr
R: 46. Erin Hoare, 12. Renee Garing, 16. Olivia Purcell
I/C: 14. Aasta O’Connor, 7. Mia-Rae Clifford, 3, Hannah Burchell, 6. Julia Crockett-Grills, 45. Maddy Keryk
Emergencies: 17. Georgia Clarke, 13. Maighan Fogas

In: 14. Aasta O’Connor, 27. Sophie Van De Heuvel, 3. Hannah Burchell
Out: 17. Georgia Clarke, 1. Rene Caris, 10. Georgie Rankin

 

[cats_09]

The GWS team:

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: P.Randall 21 E.Brush 10 A.Farrugia 18
HB: P.Monahan 28 T.Hetherington 9 N.Barr 8
C: R.Beeson 6
HF: Y.Bonner 27 J.Dal Pos 7 E.Bennetts 22
F: D.Gisu 30 C.Staunton 13 C.Bernardi 4
Foll: E.McKinnon 23 A.Parker 3 A.Eva 2
I/C: L.Stephenson 12 H.Zreika 24 L.Whiteley 15 C.Gum 26 B.Perry 19
Emerg: T.Mackrill 32 M.Collier 14
In: P.Monahan, D.Gisu, H.Zreika
Out: J.Hicks (injured), J.Barclay (injured), I.Nielsen

 

[Shai]

Team announcement - Cursed_Cat i expect handstands and cartwheels from you

View attachment 634990

Love those ins! Do not ever wish any of our girls to miss a game unless it's an injury but team first.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Team announcement - Cursed_Cat i expect handstands and cartwheels from you

View attachment 634990

Finally!!

Nice to see Sophie Van De Heuvel back too; shame that Becky Webster misses again, must've been a pretty bad ankle injury.

 

[cats_09]

Over recent years I've flown maybe way too much so I currently have free lounge access at the airport.

When I arrived here earlier I saw a couple of players & officials in North gear - now spotted the whole North team; maybe some took a team bus to the airport while others made their own way here.

I just went for a walk and spotted more than a few GFC polos - seems I may well be on the same flight as the team (or at least some of them) to Canberra

 

[cats_09]

Looks to be more just the assistant coaches & support staff - there's about a dozen GFC polos and I recognised Black (he is very tall)

 

[cats_09]

Is it safe to suggest this is double standards:

Just saw that Nicole Livingstone (head of the AFLW) is on the same flight heading to Canberra - she is in the first row of the premium economy area; so slightly better leg room then the rest of us in the general economy area.

BUT

Does anyone believe that Gil & his mates would be flying in any class of economy or is it more likely the they'd be sitting in business class at the front of the plane?

And yes there are still seats in business class

 

[goyoucatters]

Is it safe to suggest this is double standards:

Just saw that Nicole Livingstone (head of the AFLW) is on the same flight on heading to Canberra - she is in the first row of the premium economy area; so slightly better leg room then the rest of us in the general economy area.

BUT

Does anyone believe that Gil & his mates would be flying in any class of economy or is it more likely the they'd be sitting in business class at the front of the plane?

And yes there are still seats in business class

Nobody in the entire world.

Not even Gil's fairy godmother would believe that.

 

[cats_09]

I know we are coming off a 6-day break, but we probably should be the fresher of the two teams

GWS played in Adelaide on Friday, so not only are they coming off a 5-day break but they also have 2 interstate trips when you count the flight home after Sundays game and then having to come to Canberra for tonight's match

Apparently GWS made their frustration known when the fixture was announced, and concerns about the scheduling of tonight's match and I don't blame them - really does seem a pretty shit thing to do, especially when you consider what the players would have been dealing with in terms of life outside of football this week

 

[Max Milburn]

I know we are coming off a 6-day break, but we probably should be the fresher of the two teams

GWS played in Adelaide on Friday, so not only are they coming off a 5-day break but they also have 2 interstate trips when you count the flight home after Sundays game and then having to come to Canberra for tonight's match

Apparently GWS made their frustration known when the fixture was announced, and concerns about the scheduling of tonight's match and I don't blame them - really does seem a pretty shit thing to do, especially when you consider what the players would have been dealing with in terms of life outside of football this week

I really feel for them.
On the other hand, if it helps our girls get into the finals...

 

[goyoucatters]

I know we are coming off a 6-day break, but we probably should be the fresher of the two teams

GWS played in Adelaide on Friday, so not only are they coming off a 5-day break but they also have 2 interstate trips when you count the flight home after Sundays game and then having to come to Canberra for tonight's match

Apparently GWS made their frustration known when the fixture was announced, and concerns about the scheduling of tonight's match and I don't blame them - really does seem a pretty shit thing to do, especially when you consider what the players would have been dealing with in terms of life outside of football this week

You can guarantee this is being spoken about ad infinitum in the Giants inner sanctum in the lead-up to the game.

But I seriously hope it is not even mentioned in our preparations. If our team is factoring in any advantage based on these circumstances, we are headed for trouble.

 

[cats_09]

You can guarantee this is being spoken about ad infinitum in the Giants inner sanctum in the lead-up to the game.

But I seriously hope it is not even mentioned in our preparations. If our team is factoring in any advantage based on these circumstances, we are headed for trouble.

i never even thought about it until listening to the podcast I posted above - on that they spoke about GWS being very vocal about it.

I totally agree with you - I hope that it's not discussed within our team, I also hope that the team isn't focused on "win & we play finals". The team needs to be focused on their game, on what has been working and take it from there

 

[cats_09]

I posted this in the mega thread but will post it here also as it does relate to this week's match.

The podcast is a great listen, especially the interview with Meg. She'd only taken up football a couple of years before the inaugural AFLW season (didn't play when she was younger), so you look at where she is now and that's fantastic progression.

All hosts agreed that Maddy Prespakis will win the rising star award, but one nominated Purcell to finish as runner up; that'd be great recognition for her season.

I found it really enjoyable to listen to - can easily fast forward through the non-Geelong bits if needed

 

[Play it Sam]

You can guarantee this is being spoken about ad infinitum in the Giants inner sanctum in the lead-up to the game.

But I seriously hope it is not even mentioned in our preparations. If our team is factoring in any advantage based on these circumstances, we are headed for trouble.

Nope, not an issue. Paul is too smart for that. All systems go-you good things. Enjoy the night!

 

[cats_09]

Not sure the ground announcer is familiar with the AFLW - if you leave the ground, you will need your ticket & passout to be allowed to return.

Entry is free to AFLW games, there are no tickets

 

[cats_09]

Couple of good photos here

Congrats Hannah:


The birds claw is gone:

 

[Turbocat]

Couple of good photos here

Congrats Hannah:


The birds claw is gone:

Good luck Hannah ... and Cursed_Cat

 

[winty]

Nice touch that all the girls from both sides are wearing black arm-bands in respect of the utterly senseless tragedy in Christchurch and had the minute's silence then.

 

[winty]

That would have to be the quickest holding the ball call I've seen in the AFLW this season.