AFLW Training the house down - AFLW style - Preseason 2020

Feb 14, 2018
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4,354
AFL Club
Richmond

As Richmond embarks on its inaugural AFLW season, the players will be taking Tiger fans on the journey with them as they share their experiences. First up is utility Laura Bailey, to detail the opening week of pre-season...

What a week! Our first week of pre-season as AFLW Tigers certainly didn’t disappoint.
It all kicked off at our inaugural training session last Monday night. It was an incredible opportunity to have all our family and friends there and one of the highlights of my football career so far.
As Richmond’s inaugural AFLW team, we didn’t know what to expect when we ran out onto Punt Road Oval for the first time as a group.
But to have the wider Richmond community there cheering us on, including the members, cheer squad, club staff and young, aspiring AFLW players was amazing. Having them all there to be a part of our journey made it so special.

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There was such a loud cheer as we took to the track and it was great to see the smiles on everyone's faces, particularly the younger players who are new to the program and have never experienced that type of support before.
Our first session focused mainly on fundamentals and our structures. We worked on our skills, showcasing the brand of football we want to be playing to our family and friends.
It was awesome to see the group gelling so well from the get-go. The connection we have within in our group is going from strength to strength. We have a lot of great leaders within our squad and all the girls really do make you feel like a family.
We have a really diverse group of girls and we all bring different qualities that we’ve learnt from being in different environments. Personally, I bring my experiences from being a police officer.
In our short amount of time together, we have focused a lot on the strong culture within our team, and I know that we will proudly represent the Richmond Football Club.
As an older player and one who has played AFLW before, my main focus during the week was to make sure the younger girls felt comfortable in their new environment, especially the ones who have moved down to Melbourne from the country. They’ve all settled in really well and I’m excited to see the impact they have on the league.
Over the next couple of weeks pre-Christmas, we’ll be focusing on our skills and conditioning, to make sure that coming into games we are fit and showcase a great brand of footy.
On Friday night, we excitedly boarded the bus for our inaugural AFLW camp with absolutely no idea what was in store.
Over an hour later we arrived at our surprise destination, HMAS Cerberus, a Navy training base.
Once we arrived at the Navy base, we started to get a bit nervous about what we were going to be put through.
We know that service men and women are resilient and have such a strong work ethic, so we knew we’d be put through our paces physically and mentally.
Discipline. Respect. Teamwork. Many of the qualities that exist in our team also mirror what is valued in the Army and Defence Force.
Throughout the weekend, we took part in many team building and obstacle exercises. The main focus for us was working as a team throughout the shared challenges we faced.

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My favourite activity was called the 'Mud Run', requiring us to carry each other through the mud.
It was a really special moment to see the girls get through it all together, just like how we want 2020 to look like from a team perspective.


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On camp, we got to know everyone on a more personal level and we built on those relationships when we were tested. After getting through the weekend together, we feel so ready to tackle the rest of the pre-season. I know we’ll bring the discipline we learnt on camp to each and every session.
It’s incredible to see how much we’ve grown just in the first week. I’m so happy with where the team is at the moment and the direction we’re heading in.

The group photo has no Conti!
I want my Conti
 
The group photo has no Conti!
I want my Conti
.......and there's the problem with a sportswomen who plays 2 sports. Melbourne Boomers have first dibs on here during this part of the season
 
Feb 14, 2018
2,396
4,354
AFL Club
Richmond
.......and there's the problem with a sportswomen who plays 2 sports. Melbourne Boomers have first dibs on here during this part of the season

Yeah thought as much, hopefully the other players forgive her:mad:
This basketball thing has to come 2nd, someone will have to talk to the Melbourne Boomers, I'll get right on to it :)
 
Pretty spectacular new ink on Tayla’s right arm.
Unbelievable how good tattoos are now. They are truly artists.
I was never a fan and wouldn’t get one but I do now appreciate the work.
 
Yeah thought as much, hopefully the other players forgive her:mad:
This basketball thing has to come 2nd, someone will have to talk to the Melbourne Boomers, I'll get right on to it :)

Think the other players are just stoked Monique is a Tiger. Absolute jet.
I think it may become more problematic for us if she gets closer to the Australian side. There will be pressure to play basketball all year round in overseas comps if that’s the case. Very hard to turn your back on Olympics. 2024 is the one.
 
Feb 14, 2018
2,396
4,354
AFL Club
Richmond
Think the other players are just stoked Monique is a Tiger. Absolute jet.
I think it may become more problematic for us if she gets closer to the Australian side. There will be pressure to play basketball all year round in overseas comps if that’s the case. Very hard to turn your back on Olympics. 2024 is the one.

But really TigermanM2, the only question I ask is, how long have you known Monique and Sydney Stack are a couple
And is that the real reason she couldn't attend the camp
Last question are there any other AFL, AFLW romances in play at Tigerland :) ;)
 
Feb 14, 2018
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AFL Club
Richmond
Star Tigers recruit could miss up to three games due to WNBL
STAR Richmond recruit Monique Conti is a chance to miss up to three games in the club's first NAB AFLW season due to the WNBL finals.
Conti, 20, juggles her AFLW commitments alongside her basketball with Melbourne Boomers.
The top four sides qualify for finals, and the Boomers are currently in third place, four wins clear of Perth in fifth with seven rounds remaining.
Depending on what position the Boomers finish in, Richmond's round two (1v4 for basketball) and round three (2v3 for basketball) matches are on the same days as the WNBL semi-finals series.
Richmond's season opener against Carlton is unaffected, with a week's break between the final round of the WNBL and the finals.
The WNBL Grand Final series runs across rounds four and five of the AFLW season. While the matches do not directly clash with Richmond's games over that period, the Tigers are playing in Bendigo and Wagga Wagga the day before the basketball games, meaning travel could be an issue.
The silky midfielder is supremely talented, winning the best on ground medal in the 2018 Grand Final at just 18 years old, while playing for the Western Bulldogs.
After crossing from the Dogs to Richmond in May, Conti lined up for the club's VFLW side, winning the Tigers' best and fairest from just seven matches
"There could be [a clash with] finals, and then it just depends on how the Boomers go," Richmond coach Tom Hunter told womens.afl.
"We're really supportive with Mon's basketball, because we know she's a dual-sport athlete and we want her to do really well.
"When her Boomers commitments finish up, we'll be able to get her full-time. She's able to balance it, as she has for the past two years with the Dogs. We're just trying to make her the best athlete possible."
Richmond have a balancing act of its own at this stage of pre-season, with "seven or eight" players – including fellow big-name recruit Christina Bernardi (foot) – on limited duties.
AFLW clubs have a list of 30 players, with 21 named for a match (16 on the ground, five on the bench).
"We're not in a dire position, I don't want to say that, but we've got a few girls in the modified group at the moment. We're starting to get them back," Hunter said.
"We've found with the jump from the NAB League (under-18) girls going into a semi full-time environment probably put a bit of stress on them and some of them we've had to modify.
"I think we've got seven to eight girls we're modifying, but we're looking to have most of them back after the Christmas break."
Hunter has led Richmond's VFLW side for the past two seasons, with the team qualifying for (and losing) an elimination final this year and is enjoying the step up to AFLW level.
"I'm certainly enjoying having more sessions with the players. We've got more time to educate them, and I'm not feeling rushed in our training, I don't feel we have to get everything in," he said.
"The standard of our girls has been pretty awesome so far, it's improved a long way and the players are getting the concepts more quickly. We don't have to spend so much time around the education.
"They get it, they can do it and we can add more layers to the plan. That's been a nice surprise."
 
Feb 14, 2018
2,396
4,354
AFL Club
Richmond
2019/20 AFLW off-season review: Richmond
December 17, 2019 by Taylah Melki
THE Richmond Tigers are one of the four expansion teams set to join the AFLW in 2020 and will be looking to make a splash after recruiting some key players who they can build an exciting framework around for years to come.
They boast a mix of experience and youth but most importantly have that unpredictable edge that many teams will be looking to combat.
With the likes of marquee forwards Sabrina Frederick and Katie Brennan both set to pull on the yellow and black in 2020 expect plenty of excitement with the two able to hit the scoreboard and lead up at the footy time and time again.
Frederick can switch into the ruck when needed, while Brennan is known for her silky movement and conversion rate in front of goal.
Youngster Monique Conti also made the switch from the Western Bulldogs over the off-season and will be hoping to bring her signature game play to her new club.
Christina Bernardi will suit up for her third club having played with Collingwood and GWS making her a handy inclusion in the side.
Bernardi adds a touch of class across the ground and paired with a host of ‘A’ listers Richmond could be in good stead for a 2020 grand final push. Iilish Ross defected from Collingwood to Richmond with the 20-year-old set to have an impact in her new colours after building throughout the 2019 season, meanwhile Maddy Brancatisano also switched jumpers.

2020 AFLW Team List:
Laura Bailey
Christina Bernardi
Maddy Brancatisano
Katie Brennan
Hannah Burchell
Nekaela Butler
Grace Campbell
Monique Conti
Kate Dempsey
Alice Edmonds
Ciara Fitzgerald
Sabrina Frederick
Emily Harley
Emma Horne
Kodi Jacques
Akec Makur Chuot
Laura McClelland
Rebecca Miller
Sophie Molan
Phoebe Monahan
Iilish Ross
Sarah Sansonetti
Cleo Saxon-Jones
Tayla Stahl
Lauren Tesoriero
Courtney Wakefield
Holly Whitford
Ella Wood
Alana Woodward
Rookie: Gabby Seymour

Potential 2020 side:
B: Laura McClelland – Laura Bailey – Rebecca Miller
HB: Phoebe Monahan – Iilish Ross – Akec Makur Chuot
C: Monique Conti
HF: Christina Bernardi – Katie Brennan – Maddy Brancatisano
F: Holly Whitford – Sabrina Frederick – Tayla Stahl
R: Gabby Seymour* – Hannah Burchell – Kate Dempsey
INT: Courtney Wakefield – Sophie Molan – Alice Edmonds – Grace Campbell – Kodi Jacques
EMG: Ella Wood – Cleo-Saxon-Jones – Sarah Sansonetti
DEPTH: Nekaela Butler, Ciara Fitzgerald, Emily Harley, Emma Horne, Lauren Tesoriero, Alana Woodward

The Tigers pre-listed Laura Bailey and Kate Dempsey who already had strong connections to the club thanks to playing with them in their VFLW side. Dempsey was a standout for Richmond throughout her time in the VFLW consistently displaying her elite foot-skills and will be a handy inclusion looking ahead to next year.
They were not the only ones pre-listed to Richmond with Alana Woodward snatched up and Grace Egan making her way onto the list making for a pretty stacked line-up.
The Tigers also picked up some young draftees in the likes of Sophie Molan who became the clubs first AFLW draftee.
Expect the talented midfielder to push for selection come Round 1 renowned for her classy on-field work and strong leadership.
She has experience against the bigger bodies having played with the Dogs in the VFLW so knows what it takes to combat the more elite players.
Other draftees such as GWV Rebels teammate Ella Wood will also pull on the yellow and black in 2020.
Hailing from the Eastern Ranges, Laura McClelland will be another star of the future for Richmond and will give the side something to build upon such is her talent.
Northern Knights product Sarah Sansonetti will be a valued addition to the side in the back half with the dashing defender not afraid to take the game on and go for a bounce while NAB League teammate Ciara Fitzgerald was also drafted to Richmond.
Although she may not be ready for Round 1 given the Tigers’ strength in attack, Cleo Saxon-Jones is definitely a player with plenty of potential and raw talent who can take a strong mark when needed and will feature at some stage during the season.
 
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Question may have already been asked , haven’t seen the answer , has the captain been announced ? You’d think KB would be a moral with Sabrina VC

Not sure whether they will go with a leadership group or follow the more traditional 3 leaders like our mens team have reverted back to in recent years.
I think KB will be captain but I'd like to see the other leadership positions go to players who have been part of the program from the start. Phoebe Monahan immediately springs to mind.
 
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