Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Only the AFL could manage to end up with a situation like this, where the team that is clearly the best in the comp and has only lost one match so far potentially stands to miss finals depending on results in the final round.
Now, hopefully we just win and none of that matters, but seriously what a typical farce.
Poor North and Freo
Both clearly deserve a prelim at worst but only one will
The third one was also won in tandem with the Dutschke (Division 1) medal, at that stage (and probably still) the highest award for Women's football in the state.Scheer won 3 (THREE!!) Under 18 League B&F's. She's not out of nowhere.
Being essentially zoned the entire NT and SA to ourselves is a massive win, as was having the ability to sign Erin Phillips as a rookie. We’re sitting in a pretty good space, at least till Port get a side.
There's a part of me that feels really sad that, beneath all the positivity in the group at the moment, Sarah Perkins has to be feeling down about things.
All the same build and excitement of the 2017 season, except this time she's not a part of it. She's there and part of the group, but not on the field. It's one thing for the SA girls who can't make the side, but she's come over from interstate. I wonder if things don't turn around in the next few weeks, if she'll opt to head home. Or, if the decision will be made for her.
It's easy to forget just how inspirational, and how dominant, she was in her first season. We're celebrating Stevie-Lee Thompson kicking ten goals in six games, Perkins did the same in seven, and she didn't have the luxury of scoring most of hers from the goal square. They were primarily marks and 30+ metre kicks. She was as big a part of that 2017 premiership as anyone else, and it's sad to have seen it move away from her so quickly.
There's a tiny part of me that thinks, maybe she'll be able to work with someone to improve whatever it is she needs to become a dominant force for us again. But I don't see it.
Definitely feel for Perkins. She was without a doubt a key member in our inaugural premiership year.There's a part of me that feels really sad that, beneath all the positivity in the group at the moment, Sarah Perkins has to be feeling down about things.
All the same build and excitement of the 2017 season, except this time she's not a part of it. She's there and part of the group, but not on the field. It's one thing for the SA girls who can't make the side, but she's come over from interstate. I wonder if things don't turn around in the next few weeks, if she'll opt to head home. Or, if the decision will be made for her.
It's easy to forget just how inspirational, and how dominant, she was in her first season. We're celebrating Stevie-Lee Thompson kicking ten goals in six games, Perkins did the same in seven, and she didn't have the luxury of scoring most of hers from the goal square. They were primarily marks and 30+ metre kicks. She was as big a part of that 2017 premiership as anyone else, and it's sad to have seen it move away from her so quickly.
There's a tiny part of me that thinks, maybe she'll be able to work with someone to improve whatever it is she needs to become a dominant force for us again. But I don't see it.
I'm pretty scared that Port is going to come into the comp in a few years time and be effectively permitted to take half of our side. Especially if we have a period of dominance, which is at least possible given our performance this season and the age profile of our list.
Hopefully the AFL forces them to stick to their guns. They claimed they wanted to focus on developing the grass roots, let them do a Geelong and start from scratch with home-grown stars. Hell, I don't even mind if they play their usual trick of convincing their young talent not to enter the draft a few years beforehand so they can scoop them all up upon entry.
Alternatively, hopefully we do have a period of dominance, and our players form a pact to stick together.
But a bit like the AFLW concept (as driven by AFL House) wont getting a team force them to lift their game or get the assistance to lift?They have had issues with the team in the SAWFL. Previously they have struggled to get players, pay the registration fee for the league and, as such, have been on very thin ice with the SAWFL. I heard they had to step out of the competition one year until they paid all their outstanding fees. Last year Port women's team were still called Port but over this off season they merged with another club (North Haven) as they were still having similar issues to in the past. They don't have a women's team this season, and I think it will be a very long time before they are in a position to get a team together for the AFLW.
Also, on Eloise Jones, she was playing State Under 18s and winning best player awards and was training with the Crows the year prior to being draft eligible, so the club would have been all over her before drafting.I sort of feel like we have our recruiters to thank for this year so far. Just about any half decent coach would be riding high with this lot.
Ponter, Scheer, Jones wowee, out of nowhere!
I'm pretty scared that Port is going to come into the comp in a few years time and be effectively permitted to take half of our side. Especially if we have a period of dominance, which is at least possible given our performance this season and the age profile of our list.
Hopefully the AFL forces them to stick to their guns. They claimed they wanted to focus on developing the grass roots, let them do a Geelong and start from scratch with home-grown stars. Hell, I don't even mind if they play their usual trick of convincing their young talent not to enter the draft a few years beforehand so they can scoop them all up upon entry.
Alternatively, hopefully we do have a period of dominance, and our players form a pact to stick together.
They have had issues with the team in the SAWFL. Previously they have struggled to get players, pay the registration fee for the league and, as such, have been on very thin ice with the SAWFL. I heard they had to step out of the competition one year until they paid all their outstanding fees. Last year Port women's team were still called Port but over this off season they merged with another club (North Haven) as they were still having similar issues to in the past. They don't have a women's team this season, and I think it will be a very long time before they are in a position to get a team together for the AFLW.
Does she just need to work on running and general fitness? She's only 25 turning 26 mid year, so technically should have a few seasons left in her. Did she have a back injury and miss this pre-season? The pace and skill of the game seems to have picked up since 2017, so Perko can ill afford to drop off in the fitness stakes.
Gee, didn't realise things had gone so far south for them.
Still, next year fourteen of the eighteen AFL teams have a women's side as well. I'd be shocked if that didn't turn into all eighteen sometime soon. It looks strange if almost but not quite everyone has a team.
It's going to be an issue if/when Sydney enter the league. GWS is struggling enough as it is, let alone when Sydney comes in and further dilutes their draft pool. Maybe they'll need to wait until the competition advances to the point where the girls are paid a serious wage.
Still, as of next year, us and GWS will be the only teams who have sole access to their given draft pool. Freo and Brisbane are about to have their pools cut in half and their lists raided, and another two teams are about to enter the Victorian market and will presumably model their entrance on North Melbourne, taking the eyes out of the other Melbourne-based teams.
I don't believe there's an issue with her fitness. She's obviously a bigger girl but I doubt that's due to a lack of work on her behalf. That's just her body shape. That said, she did have injury issues this past preseason which may have hurt her fitness a bit.
I think her main issue is simply her speed. With AFLW teams now using zones and switches effectively, she struggles to get to the contest if it's not kicked to her, and then her opponent can work off her. Meanwhile, her excellent ball-handling skills are stifled because she has just a bit less time to gather a loose ball and kick it than she used to, with players able to close her down faster than before.
I'd hate to see her lost to the game so soon, but obviously something is going to need to change in her game. She's a smart footballer so hopefully she's able to do it. Just not sure if it will be with us.
Sydney is not interested at all about having a Women's team from what I've seen. They were offered the NSW team but declined straight away so it went to the Giants. Port are only interested if it costs them nothing and they don't really have to support it (it's what they have done with their SAWFL team and the Magpies).
On Perkins - when you have a back injury like she did - that seriously impacts all parts of your fitness including your speed.
I think both she and Rajic are pretty good as talls off half back. Another two that have stepped up this year.I was at Unley on Sunday and I was surprised with the ctiticism of Deni Varnhagen. One of my mates couldn’t get to the match until half-time and he asked me who was playing well. In addition to the usual suspects, I said thar I was impressed with Deni’s game.
I think both she and Rajic are pretty good as talls off half back. Another two that have stepped up this year.