AFLW General AFLW Talk Thread

[Ford Fairlane]

Can get a bit wild west in the AFLW

 

[Grave Danger]

'Never have a fixture like this again': AFLW schedule under fire after Essendon's 'scrappy' win over Bulldogs

There are calls for the AFLW to admit it was wrong and scrap the condensed fixture that has seen Essendon win four games in 15 days.

www.abc.net.au

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Watched the 2nd half of crows v norf QF.

North have a lot of good players. I reckon Jasmine Garner might be a better player than Erin was. Like Erin she is a natural at playing footy. Is such a smooth mover and is very clean with her hands.

Its the 4th time I have seen her play this year and she is a better player than Marinoff who is a star in her own right.

 

[68vette]

List sizes to remain steady despite record use of top-ups

The possibility of extending squad numbers has been raised, but the AFL has opted to keep list sizes at 30

www.afl.com.au

List sizes to remain steady despite record use of top-ups​

The possibility of extending squad numbers has been raised, but the AFL has opted to keep list sizes at 30.
By Sarah Black

INS AND OUTS: Blues cut four more, Pies add Irish rookie

See all your club's list changes ahead of the 2025 AFLW season

www.afl.com.au

INS AND OUTS: Eagles delist eight, inaugural Pie departs​

See all your club's list changes ahead of the 2025 AFLW season

 

[Grave Danger]

Sad update 22/11/24 - Holly Bowles has now passed away too.

Melbourne teen Bianca Jones dies, Holly Bowles still fighting for life after methanol poisoning in Laos

Thai police have confirmed the death of Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones, who became ill after drinking tainted alcohol during a backpacking holiday in Laos.

www.abc.net.au

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

This is the 9th season of AFLW.

2020 Covid hit but they played 1 week of finals. They had 2 conferences of 7 and the first week of finals was called the SF and Collingwood, Brisbane, GC and GWS lost their semis and progressing to PFs that were never played were North, Carlton, Freo and Melbourne.

Brisbane and Adelaide are the only 2 sides that have been dominate across all 9 seasons of the original teams and North of the expansion teams.

Brisbane have made 6 GFs (currently now 2-3 4), 1 PF (2022 season 6), 1 SF (2020) and 1 year didn't make finals, in 2019

Adelaide have made 4 GFs (3-1), 3 PFs, 0 SF/week1 and 2 years didn't play finals (2018, 2020)

Next best of Original 8 are;

Melbourne have made 2 GFs (1-1), 2 PF (2020 covid, 2021) and 1 SF (2023) and 4 times haven't made finals

Fremantle have made 5 finals like Melbourne 1 PFs (2020), 1 SF (2024), 3 Week 1 finals (2019, 2021, 2022(6))

Of the expansion teams North has made the last 6 seasons. This is their 7th season in the comp,

2 GFs (currently 0-1 now 1-1), 2 PF (2020, 2022 (7)), 2 Week 1 finals (2021, 2022 (6))

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Finals formats

2017-18, 8 teams and top 2 teams play off in the grand final. 7 game minor round.

2019, 2 teams added Geelong and North, 2 x 5 team conferences. Top 2 teams in each group play finals 1Av2B and 1Bv2A and these games are called Preliminary finals. 7 game minor round played, across conferences.

2020, 4 teams added, Rich, StK, WCE and GC and 2 x 7 team conferences. Top 4 from each conferences play, first week of finals called SF, then PF and then GF. 6 game minor round, played across conferences. Covid stops season after week 1 finals.

2021 - 2022(6) 9 then 10 games season, no conferences. Week 1 = QF 4v5 and 3v6 winners play 1 and 2 in PF

2022 (7) 4 teams added Port, Syd, Ess, Haw. 10 games, traditional top 8, 4 week finals.
2023 10 games, traditional top 8, 4 week finals.

2024 11 games, traditional top 8, 4 week finals.

 

[StrappingTape]

An extra game next year and starting it during mens season is peak insanity unless they want kill off what interest is left of this comp.

 

[Amarula]

An extra game next year and starting it during mens season is peak insanity unless they want kill off what interest is left of this comp.

Nah, there’ll be a lot more interest next year, seeing as some of the “big Vic” clubs were hit hard by injuries and finished low down. They’ll come roaring back next year with favourable draws and high draft picks. So there will be some big bandwagons being jumped on. They will need to book Marvel Stadium now for the GF.

The problem with starting their season any earlier is that it cuts into the end of the Irish domestic season for the 36(?) Irishwomen who played in AFLW this season. Don’t know the exact dates, but starting the season earlier here would make these women have to choose between missing finals in Ireland or missing the start of the season here.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The problem with starting their season any earlier is that it cuts into the end of the Irish domestic season for the 36(?) Irishwomen who played in AFLW this season. Don’t know the exact dates, but starting the season earlier here would make these women have to choose between missing finals in Ireland or missing the start of the season here.

In last night's GF I did ask myself how many Irish women are playing in the W comp, given Brisbane and North had 2 each. My guess was 25, but you are spot with 36.

That's pretty amazing number and given most sides have a couple of inactive plays so 18 x 32 = 576 or approx 5.6% of the comp. Before Covid hit the AFL were making a concerted effort to get women from USA and Canada to try out for the game. But doesn't look like they have worried about funding this development market anymore.

They really could have an international Oz v Ireland game as a promo, especially if they ever get around to playing a national state of Origin carnival every 2 or 3 years. Then pick a national side as a way to expand the game, but not the W comp season.

The pluck of the Irish: Why cross-coders are flocking to AFLW

Irish players kicked 21 goals between them during AFLW week one, and as North Melbourne's Vikki Wall explains, there's a big reason why

www.afl.com.au

THE STANDARD of AFLW has never been better, and right at the forefront of that is a strong flavour of Irish talent.

There are currently 33 Irish players listed in the AFLW (with another three inactive), ranging from long-time veterans to absolute newcomers.

 

[68vette]

Article mentions Ella Heads is expected to join Port Adelaide from Sydney.

Ella is a Key Defender at 175cm. Debut 2022 and has played 33 games. 21 years. Might be the replacement for Ange.

Suns skipper in Blues' sights, uncontracted Hawk weighs up options

Tara Bohanna meet with a number of rival clubs amid trade interest, with Carlton the clear frontrunners for her services

www.afl.com.au

 

[68vette]

Six-club mega deal floated as stars eye new homes​

A deal has been floated that would see four players get their trade wishes

Proposed mega deal unlikely as stars eye new homes

A mega deal that would have seen four players get their trade wishes is now considered unlikely

www.afl.com.au

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Six clubs? Pfft, thats needs more work. Have to get up there to match last years 11 club trade.

 

[Amarula]

Six clubs? Pfft, thats needs more work. Have to get up there to match last years 11 club trade.

As long as we get both India Rasheed AND Poppy Schulz, it doesn’t matter how many clubs it takes

 

[TazD]

As long as we get both India Rasheed AND Poppy Schulz, it doesn’t matter how many clubs it takes

We'll get neither

 

[Amarula]

We'll get neither

Yeah I know.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Turn on the QF with 25 seconds to go and score is Norf 5.12 v Hawks 0.3.

Norf are just too dominate. The commentator said in 25 straight wins and 100 quarters they have kept the oppo goalless in 53 of them.

Can see the AFL pissing its pants and making heaps of rule changes that affect Norf if they dominate 2026 the same way they have dominated 2024 and 2025.

Saw a Norf Irish player being interviewed. She won a flag last year. Missed her name.

Why aren't we looking for players in Ireland - both men and women??? As far as I know there is no soft cap tax /limit on AFLW football operations expenditure.

 

[Amarula]

Turn on the QF with 25 seconds to go and score is Norf 5.12 v Hawks 0.3.

Norf are just too dominate. The commentator said in 25 straight wins and 100 quarters they have kept the oppo goalless in 53 of them.

Can see the AFL pissing its pants and making heaps of rule changes that affect Norf if they dominate 2026 the same way they have dominated 2024 and 2025.

Saw a Norf Irish player being interviewed. She won a flag last year. Missed her name.

Why aren't we looking for players in Ireland - both men and women??? As far as I know there is no soft cap tax /limit on AFLW football operations expenditure.

Erika O’Shea

 

[Amarula]

…

Saw a Norf Irish player being interviewed. She won a flag last year. Missed her name.

Why aren't we looking for players in Ireland - both men and women??? As far as I know there is no soft cap tax /limit on AFLW football operations expenditure.

It’s just a hunch, but perhaps recruiting from Ireland and recruiting via NGA are inversely related, at least for AFLW.
The clubs that recruit from Ireland don’t put a lot of time and effort into their NGA, and the much smaller number of clubs (including us and the Bulldogs) who put a lot of time and energy into their NGA don’t recruit from Ireland.

I think if you’re going to get into Ireland, it’s no good to just bring one or two young Irishwomen over. They seem to prefer to have, say, 4 to 6 in the team, and when the Bulldogs a few years ago brought one woman over, she transferred to another club that had several others.

As I said, it’s just a guess; it may just be that we’re lazy. But we also seem to have a steady supply of freally good young women locally. A number of whom, of course, end up at other clubs.

Maybe we should get a reputation that, whenever another club picks one of the girls who has links to Port or has been in our Academy or whatever, we will be in her ear from Day 1 and sooner or later we will get her back.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The Academies for women aren't the production line they are for the men.

And it's not about just getting kids and waiting for them to develop. You can get 23-26 year old women with good skills from Ireland.

 

[Schulzenfest]

Can see the AFL pissing its pants and making heaps of rule changes that affect Norf if they dominate 2026 the same way they have dominated 2024 and 2025.

They probably should. The AFLW holds little interest for supporters of 17 clubs right now, and the one who it does have some interest for is one of the smallest clubs in the country. For a league which is already having its struggles attracting viewers and attendees, North being what they currently are is terrible for the growth of the game.

 

[radiojake]

Hawthorn failing to kick a goal in the QF is a direct result of them finishing 4th because the teams don't even get to play every other team during the season

Not that anyone would get close to North either way, but the AFL really are trying their best to ruin the product

 

[Byrons Firen]

Why aren't we looking for players in Ireland - both men and women???

Erika O’Shea

Her brother Ric might be worth a shot



I'll get my coat

 

[Grave Danger]

I see that Pav has been 'blooded' as the Swans new CEO with some low hanging fruit - he's sacked their AFLW coach after they missed finals this year.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

At least the draft will give teams a chance to catch up to North

NORTH MELBOURNE has emerged as a shock contender to land the AFLW's former No.1 pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, just two seasons after she arrived at the Western Bulldogs as the draft's top selection.

North looms among potential new homes for former AFLW No.1 pick

Raging NAB AFL premiership favourite North Melbourne is one of several clubs in the market for a young Western Bulldogs star if she chooses to leave

www.afl.com.au