One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on February 07, 2020, 01:47:38 AM
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AFLW Round 1
Richmond vs Carlton
Friday, 7th February @ Ikon Park (Princes Park)
Start time: 7:40 pm
Gates open: 6pm
Entry: FREE
TV: Live on Fox Footy and Channel 7 from 7.30pm
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GETTING THERE
Car: There is limited on street car parking available around Princes Park. Free 2-hour and meter parking in surrounding areas, please check street signage. Melbourne Zoo Parking: $2 for 5 hours. Managed by Zoo staff, monitored by city of Melbourne parking officers.
Tram: No. 19 tram (City-North Coburg) runs from the city to Royal Parade Walker St / Stop 16, a three-minute walk to Ikon Park.
Train: Take the Upfield Line to Royal Park Station. It's a 13-minutes walk from there to Ikon Park.
Bus: Route 123 Bus to Walker St / Stop 16, then three minutes' walk to Ikon Park
Source: Herald-Sun.
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Richmond’s Round 1 team:
B: 18. Sarah Sansonetti, 2. Phoebe Monahan, 34. Akec Makur Chuot
HB: 15. Rebecca Miller, 28. Gabrielle Seymour, 1. Sophie Molan
C: 13. Alana Woodward
HF: 14. Sabrina Frederick, 6. Christina Bernardi, 9. Hannah Burchell
F: 8. Courtney Wakefield, 24. Tayla Stahl, 16. Laura McClelland
R: 11. Alice Edmonds, 3. Katie Brennan, 4. Monique Conti
I/C: 12. Laura Bailey, 20. Holly Whitford, 7. Lauren Tesorerio, 5. Maddy Brancatisano, 10. Kodi Jacques
Emg: 17. Ella Wood, 26. Ciara Fitzgerald
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/560860/tigers-name-inaugural-aflw-team
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Time to paint Carlton yellow and black: The Tiger army is coming
Sarah Black
womens.afl
6 Feb 2020
RICHMOND key forward Sabrina Frederick is hoping the Tiger army makes Ikon Park its own in Friday night's blockbuster AFLW season-opener against Carlton.
It will be the first time a Richmond AFLW team takes to the field, and despite the Tigers having hosting rights, the match will be held at Carlton's home ground to allow as many fans as possible to attend.
"I think the girls are just really excited to start the season. It's something I watched on quite enviously over the three years of playing at Brisbane, but it's nice to now be a part of that and it's such a special time," Frederick said.
"We personally want to paint Ikon Park yellow and black on Friday night, definitely just want as many fans as we possibly can out here.
"It's going to be great weather, thank god, which has been great for us, but can't wait and just want to get as many people here as we can."
Carlton midfielder Sarah Hosking is coming into her third season-opening match and believes the home ground advantage may give her side a bit of an edge.
"If anything, the girls are prepared. The season opener comes with nerves and especially being around these first four years, it's an understanding of what to expect from a game like this," Hosking said.
"Especially given it's Richmond's home game, but here at Ikon Park, we're lucky enough to train every day.
"We've sort of got an upper hand there, but we're really looking forward to starting the season opener, the girls know what to expect from a big game like that."
Richmond has been a powerhouse club in the AFL competition over the past few years, winning flags in 2017 and 2019, but Frederick is eager for her side to stand on its own two feet.
"Obviously there's a lot of history there and there's a lot of great resources in the people that's around [the club]," she said.
"But at the end of the day, we're a new team, we're not the exact same team as the boys and we want to create our own history as well.
"So, come Friday, they'll be here supporting us and the whole club will be, but we're about to write a new chapter of the book."
https://womens.afl/news/42463/time-to-paint-carlton-yellow-and-black-the-tiger-army-is-coming
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Cotchin's rousing message for Tiger Army
Al Paton
Herald Sun
7 February 2020
RICHMOND is urging its fans to paint Ikon Park "yellow and black" as AFL braces for a near-capacity crowd for the opening game of AFL Women’s tomorrow.
Richmond will play its first-ever AFLW game on Friday night against the Blues, and league women’s football boss Nicole Livingstone said plans were in place for crowd numbers that could mirror those seen at the competition opener in 2017.
Tigers AFLW captain Katie Brennan said she couldn't wait.
"There’s anticipation of what it will be like and how many people will be in the crowd,” Brennan said.
“We really hope that the Tiger Army get down and pack out the stadium. But also just the significance of such a massive day for the club. I’m so excited for all the girls that haven’t played AFL Women’s, but then you go into people like our president Peggy O’Neal … and all the others at the club who put in all the work and got us here today.”
Among the crowd will be a swag of Richmond premiership stars, with men’s skipper Trent Cotchin lauding the presence of the team at Tigerland.
“It’s incredible for the footy club,” he said.
“It’s another part of our history, which to be around for so long and now have another significant part etched in what I think is a pretty special football club is very cool and I appreciate all the work that has gone into it as well.”
Livingstone said the league was ready for a big turnout.
“We are preparing for capacity and everything’s in place for that. We’ll have a screen on the northern lawn, in case the overflow needs to go out there.
“What we hope is that the Tiger Army does march down Royal Parade and really gets behind them.
“They had a win against West Coast in their practice match, and they looked good. To see Katie (Brennan) flying and Sabs (Sabrina Frederick) was great … it looks good for the Tigers.
“Hopefully with Carlton’s huge support network, we get a lot of people coming to Ikon Park.”
Tigers skipper Brennan said she had watched on as the first-ever game of AFLW in 2017 - contested between Carlton and Collingwood and was "locked out" with a capacity crowd - with "envy" as she anticipates tomorrow night's huge clash.
"It's been something that I've looked on in a bit of envy in a sense," she said.
"The first game I just remember being in tears of pride and just being so excited for all the girls running out there, that it was finally possible - we were playing for premiership points in AFLW gear.
"It's something that I've really aspired towards but I've loved watching along the way.
"I'm genuinely so excited and all you want to do is just play footy at this time of year."
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/richmond-urges-tiger-army-to-pack-ikon-park-for-first-afl-game-v-carlton/news-story/eb5667e864ab6c70ff4c930d0f1fd207
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Razor Ray is umpiring the game tonight :-\.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/league-hq-agrees-to-have-afl-umpires-officiate-aflw-matches/news-story/afd58b52e39fe873d139515b53be9a09
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Gasme day is here! :woohoo :dogdance :spudnikbackflip
Special day for our Very Special club :thumbsup
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Gasme day is here! :woohoo :dogdance :spudnikbackflip
Special day for our Very Special club :thumbsup
Common WP, i know you support the concept but its not a special day. Its just a bunch of girls trying to play footy out at Carlton .
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Common WP, i know you support the concept but its not a special day. Its just a bunch of girls trying to play footy out at Carlton .
Your views are duly noted again
But it is special day
Anytime any team steps out on a field in a Richmond jumper for the first is a special milestone for our Club
Suppose you feel the same way the Wheelchair side too ::)
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Can't wait to tune in! Go Tiges! :gotigers
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So what is the capacity of the ground tonight?
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So what is the capacity of the ground tonight?
22,000 according to Ch 7 tonight.
They talked about there might be a lock-out.
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(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731380.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731383.jpg)
KB and Jack spoke to the players before the game. Jack presenting the jumpers.
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731389.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731393.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731394.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/02/07/731395.jpg)
https://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=collection:AFLW%202020%20Round%2001%20-%20Richmond%20v%20Carlton
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQKQEhRU4AEtcEo?format=jpg&name=900x900)
https://twitter.com/CherylCritchley/status/1225700562970087424
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQKQLRoVUAALxz1?format=jpg&name=900x900)
https://twitter.com/Ancible/status/1225700992508821511
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Some bad drops so far early. Hopefully the nerves settle.
Conti looks a class above.
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Completely embarrassing so far. Cant even get a point.
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First goal to Carlton.
0 - 11
Inside 50s: 2 - 9
Umps so far ::)
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See the umpires still hate us.
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Quarter time
Richmond 0.0-0
Carlton 1.5-11
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Season over!!
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Season over!!
Jokes
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No midfield. No forwards. What was kate sheahan doing all this time?
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Completely embarrassing so far. Cant even get a point.
Is it time to start a sack the coach thread yet?
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Next week we start looking to sack hunter. This week sheahan should go.
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Brennan kicks a point.
1 - 11
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Brennan gets our first point
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Weve got a 2nd point. Well done girls. Half time.
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McClellan point.
Half-time
Richmond 0.0 0.2-2
Carlton 1.5 1.8-14
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Great to see so many of our AFL guys here.
One club
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Federicks needs to lift. Be nice if the fing umpires protected our players a bit also. The dark head flog is blind
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I like tesserairo she pkays like a richmond player. Is it wakefield she also has some talent.
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aflw= sh@t
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Yes but the premiership cup looks nice.
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Defensively doing very well. Tackling strong. Really should be further behind with a 4-20 inside 50 count. Need more polish with ball in hand and we're playing too safe holding onto the ball too long after a mark. Need to also take a leaf out of the men's gameplan with the forward knock-ons so teammates can run forward onto the ball and put the opposition on the back foot. We're not scoring because we can't gain territory. When we've actually got it inside F50 we look like scoring.
As for the umpiring ::). Our girls are getting frustrated by it.
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I like tesserairo she pkays like a richmond player. Is it wakefield she also has some talent.
Wakefield has been our best by a mile. Strong hands.
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We needed to recruit better midfielders.
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This is looking bad. We cant get the ball forward.
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Umps wearing navy blue tonight. Two different rule books out there.
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OMG we actually got a free forward of centre.
Wakefield marks 15 out. Sprays it OOTF :P.
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Why was Frederick recruited?
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We're looking at the wooden spoon.
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Well done to Kate Sheahan. Great job recruiting the list.
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Crowd: 15,337.
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Disappointing start. List is ordinary. Its embarrassing at the moment.
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Ray Chamberlain ruins the game. Tosser
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Not one Richmond goal to 3/4 time. Its terrible.
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Why was Frederick recruited?
For her run and carry because she can’t mark
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This list is embarrassing. Our top draft pick looks scared. #sacksheehan
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We're looking at the wooden spoon.
We're playing the runners-up of last year at their home ground. Being beaten by Carlton's extra class, cohesion and especially their speed. We look tired and fatigue only increases the errors. We'll do better against the (other) mediocre teams in our group especially at Punt Rd.
Well done to Kate Sheahan. Great job recruiting the list.
It's harder coming in against sides that have had the pick of the best players from the start of the comp. and played together for 4 years at AFLW level. Most of ours girls have only played VFLW before. The gap in class shows. Remember Peggy was ticked off that we missed out on being one of the original teams. I bet that's one of the reasons so was.
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We had plenty of time to raid other clubs for the best players. We needed 12 to 15 quality players I can only see about 4 decent standard players.
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Brennan to Frederick who marks 30 out.
Hooray! Our first goal in AFLW :gotigers.
Rich 1.2-8
Carl 5.9-39
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Frederick finally does something.
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Wakefields been terrific tonight. Well done to her.
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Wakefield marks on F50 and plays on. Goal on the run from 40 out :gotigers.
Rich 2.2-14
Carl 6.9-45
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We had plenty of time to raid other clubs for the best players. We needed 12 to 15 quality players I can only see about 4 decent standard players.
You can't raid other clubs a la North 70s style. Might get a couple but the rest of the list comes via the VFLW and the draft. Agree we'll need to turnover the list to find 12-15 better players in coming years before we become a contender.
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How did we recruit brennan and fredericks and conti... how come we couldnt get another 10?
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Federicks needs to give it away. Fing useless
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Agree not up to it. Too slow.
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Sheehan has given all our money to her mates who are well past their used by date.
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Final Score
Richmond 0.0 0.2 0.2 2.2-14
Carlton 1.5 1.8 5.9 6.12-48
Goals: Frederick, Wakefield
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Need a rebuild
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How did we recruit brennan and fredericks and conti... how come we couldnt get another 10?
Brennan - expansion club signing period. Brancatisano, Monahan, Ross & Bernardi were others.
Frederick and Conti were traded in. Pick 1 for Conti and pick 12 for Frederick.
Burchell was a delisted free agent.
Seymour is effectively a men's category B-like rookie pick (Volleyballer who hadn't played footy for 3 years).
Most of our list comes from VFLW and the draft.
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BEST
Richmond: Conti, Makur Chuot, Bernardi, Monahan, Wakefield
Carlton: Prespakis, McEvoy, Moody, Plane, Harris, Loynes, Gee
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Carlton: Nil ........... Andy Maher did his calf as their runner.
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 15,337 at Ikon Park
https://womens.afl/news/42620/match-report-blues-batter-tigers-in-blockbuster-opener
Stats:
Disposals: 154 - 227
Contested footy: 71 - 123
Uncontested: 83 - 104
Inside 50s: 11 - 44
Marks F50: 5 - 11
Hball receives: 33 - 63
Clearances: 12 - 27
Tackles: 72 - 69
Hitouts: 12 - 37
Frees: 18 - 28
Individual stats:
Monahan 14
Conti 13
Bernardi 12
Brennan 10
Makur Chuot 9
Bailey 9
Seymour 9
Miller 8
Wakefield 8 ...... 7 marks
Frederick 7
Jacques 7
Stahl 7
Burchell 7
Brancatisano 6
Edmonds 5
McClelland 5
Sansonetti 5
Whitford 5
Molan 3
Tesoriero 3
Woodward 2
https://womens.afl/match-centre/2020/97/rich-v-carl#teamstats
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Keep to the topic, ppl.
Anyway, a different view of our first goal and the Tiger crowd reaction.
https://twitter.com/CherylCritchley/status/1225724194492575744
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Tigers fall in AFLW opener
By Riley Beveridge
AFL Media
7 Feb 2020
Richmond has been defeated by Carlton in their inaugural AFLW match, losing by 34 points in the 2020 season opener at Ikon Park on Friday night.
Having kept the Blues at bay in the early stages of the contest, last year’s grand finallists eventually kicked away to claim victory 6.12 (48) to 2.2 (14).
The Blues had nine scoring shots yet converted just one goal as the Tigers held on desperately. All the while, they kept their opponents goalless at the other end.
Carlton's co-captain, Katie Loynes, eventually slotted the season's opening goal late in the first quarter, but it didn't bring about a scoring spree. In fact, it created more tension as both teams searched for quality in front of goal.
Neither side could convert in a scrappy second term, with the Blues only managing to stretch their lead to 12 points by the main break.
Eventually, the floodgates opened. Four unanswered Carlton goals in the third quarter created the type of buffer its control over the match warranted.
Richmond finally kicked its maiden AFLW goal through marquee recruit Sabrina Frederick midway through the final term, while Courtney Wakefield added another for the hosts, but by that point the scoreboard damage had been done.
RICHMOND 0.0 0.2 0.2 2.2 (14)
CARLTON 1.5 1.8 5.9 6.12 (48)
GOALS
Richmond: Frederick, Wakefield
Carlton: Loynes, Vescio, Walker, Harris, Prespakis, Downie
BEST
Richmond: Conti, Makur Chuot, Bernardi, Monahan, Wakefield
Carlton: Prespakis, McEvoy, Moody, Plane, Harris, Loynes, Gee
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 15,337 at Ikon Park
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/561321/tigers-fall-in-aflw-opener
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Tigers suffer a case of the debut blues in AFLW opener
Jon Pierik
The Age
8th February 2020
CARLTON 1.5 1.8 5.9 6.12 (48)
RICHMOND 0.0 0.2 0.2 2.2 (14)
GOALS - Carlton: Downie, Walker, Vescio, Loynes, Prespakis, Harris.
Richmond: Frederick-Traub, Wakefield.
BEST - Carlton: McEvoy, Prespakis, Moody, Plane, Harris, Loynes.
Richmond: Conti, Makur Chuot, Bernardi, Monahan, Wakefield.
CROWD 15,337 at Ikon Park.
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The Tiger army failed to show up in full voice as Richmond’s AFLW coming out party was spoiled by Carlton before a modest turnout at Ikon Park last night.
There was no reprise of the famous lock-out that kick-started the first season, 2017, when 24,568 crammed into the Blues’ spiritual home on a warm evening to watch the home side take on Collingwood.
The AFL had hoped there would be major turnout as this was the debut of powerhouse Richmond, a club with more than 100,000 members, but league officials had to be content with an official attendance of 15,337 in what was a Tigers’ home game.
The Blues posted a 34-point victory – the Tigers with work to do on the field and off it in ensuring there is a strong turn-out come their next home game, in round three against North Melbourne.
While the Tigers were beaten 6.12 (48) to 2.2 (14), this was more than just about chasing the premiership points on offer. This was a historic night, one of four new teams to join the competition this season.
Tigers president Peggy O’Neal said the clash was the realisation of two years of hard work.
‘‘(This) is the culmination of wishing, hoping and hard work. It’s an understatement to say that staff have worked tirelessly to build the women’s program. Everyone in the competition knows it’s no mean feat to build a professional team from scratch,’’ O’Neal said.
Target testing
No one can question the intent of AFLW players, that shown with the ferocious tackling and heavy knocks, but it’s the ability to use the ball well, particularly under pressure, that remains the biggest challenge.
Until that improves, the lack of goal scoring will remain an issue. Courtney Wakefield’s shank from 20 metres out in the third term – having completed another strong mark – highlighted the Tigers’ woes.
Little to roar about
The Tigers needed to make a splash in the first term but they were fortunate to still be in the contest come the first break.
Key movers Katie Brennan, former Western Bulldog and WNBL basketballer Monique Conti and Sabrina Frederick had little impact, the Tigers failing to score. Conti worked her way into the contest but Brennan, no doubt, would have liked to have done more, finishing with 10 touches.
The Blues dominated with the no-nonsense style that was such a success last season when they made the grand final. The Blues had injury issues in the first term – Darcy Vescio had her quad strapped and Madison Prespakis weathered a heavy knock – but they took control by logging 1.5. The lone goal came when co-captain Katie Loynes was awarded a free kick and converted from 25 metres.
Premiership quarter
The Blues’ dominance extended into the second and third terms, at one stage they boasted an 18-3 advantage in inside 50s. For the record books, skipper Brennan, in a new role through the midfield, posted the Tigers’ opening score – but it was a point on the run from about 48 metres. Both teams were goalless in the second term but the Blues’ extended their advantage to 12 points.
For the older Blues’ fans on hand, they would remember how third terms during the glory days of the 1980s were dubbed the ‘‘premiership quarter’’. That was the case last night, for the Blues booted four goals.
It wasn’t until the the final term when Frederick marked and converted from about 35 metres that the Tigers had their first goal – and the relief was palpable.
Dominant
The Blues had winners all over the ground. Tayla Harris, Lucy McEvoy and Sarah Hosking found plenty of the ball while Prespakis, last year’s rising star winner, appears set for another superb season. For the Tigers, Phoebe Monahan made a statement.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-suffer-a-case-of-the-debut-blues-in-aflw-opener-20200207-p53ymx.html
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The more i thought about this last night the more disappointed i become. Richmond is a powerful club and sheahan had maybe 2 years to get this list together and shes done a poor job. Its a terrible list of players. Slow inept no awareness the recruiting of fredericks etc just bad choices. Sheahan should go and new person put in charge of the womens program. Hunter should also be looked at but he should get this opportunity to improve the players if he can.
I reckon theres only maybe 4 players up to the standard thats just bad recruiting. And there should be no excuses.
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The more i thought about this last night the more disappointed i become. Richmond is a powerful club and sheahan had maybe 2 years to get this list together and shes done a poor job. Its a terrible list of players. Slow inept no awareness the recruiting of fredericks etc just bad choices. Sheahan should go and new person put in charge of the womens program. Hunter should also be looked at but he should get this opportunity to improve the players if he can.
I reckon theres only maybe 4 players up to the standard thats just bad recruiting. And there should be no excuses.
Did you just dig up one of your posts from 2016, cut and paste over a few new names and re-post the above?
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Nah i didnt but its apparent that the work put into the list was not to a standard required by our supporters or members. The list development of the girls team was diabolical.
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Nah i didnt but its apparent that the work put into the list was not to a standard required by our supporters or members. The list development of the girls team was diabolical.
April 5th 2014, Our first game in the VFL post Coburg was a 117 point loss
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Nah i didnt but its apparent that the work put into the list was not to a standard required by our supporters or members. The list development of the girls team was diabolical.
It just feels like you and I have been here before....
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Weve all been here before with our AFL team. I just dont understand how you have 2 years and come up with a list like that. Not enough work was done. Scouting must have been poor.
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A lot of girls looked lost for the quarter I saw. I only saw the last and the game was over but a lot of girls were just running past the pack and the forwards weren't coordinating well. The two talls often within 20m of each other giving no space. A lot of learning to go for the team. I thought we would adopt a similar strategy as thee men's team but it didn't look like it. But like I said the game was over so I may have seen tired and shell shocked players.
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Weve all been here before with our AFL team. I just dont understand how you have 2 years and come up with a list like that. Not enough work was done. Scouting must have been poor.
Yep, ridiculous we couldn't get the top 2 or 3 players from every other club then have the top 10 picks on the draft.
Clearly Sheahan & Balme etc have NFI.
You should offer your services Ramps
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Weve all been here before with our AFL team. I just dont understand how you have 2 years and come up with a list like that. Not enough work was done. Scouting must have been poor.
Yep, ridiculous we couldn't get the top 2 or 3 players from every other club then have the top 10 picks on the draft.
Clearly Sheahan & Balme etc have NFI.
You should offer your services Ramps
Sheahan has done a bad job. Including balmey in your comment is a red herring. He probably spends 5% of his time on the womens program. As for offering my services based on what i saw last night i probably would have done a better job than what sheahan has done.
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Weve all been here before with our AFL team. I just dont understand how you have 2 years and come up with a list like that. Not enough work was done. Scouting must have been poor.
Yep, ridiculous we couldn't get the top 2 or 3 players from every other club then have the top 10 picks on the draft.
Clearly Sheahan & Balme etc have NFI.
You should offer your services Ramps
Sheahan has done a bad job. Including balmey in your comment is a red herring. He probably spends 5% of his time on the womens program.
crap, ask Balmey next time you see him
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Weve all been here before with our AFL team. I just dont understand how you have 2 years and come up with a list like that. Not enough work was done. Scouting must have been poor.
Yep, ridiculous we couldn't get the top 2 or 3 players from every other club then have the top 10 picks on the draft.
Clearly Sheahan & Balme etc have NFI.
You should offer your services Ramps
Sheahan has done a bad job. Including balmey in your comment is a red herring. He probably spends 5% of his time on the womens program. As for offering my services based on what i saw last night i probably would have done a better job than what sheahan has done.
Sorry Ramps, you are very wrong about Balmey. He has been heavily involved in the women's program. As the director of footy the last 2 years. It's a given. His passion for the program is fantastic.
As for yours and others comments about the recruiting and list build.
There are 4 new teams this season.
There were very specific rules around who teams could sign from other clubs.
They were specific rules regarding who how many players you could list from your VFLW side.
We have 3 AFLW players who are elite. One those is likely within the next 2 season to be the best player in the comp.
For the first time club's can sign players to multi year deals
This is Carltons 4th season and there core group has been their since the start. If you've been following AFLW since the start you'd know that Carlton only "clicked" as a team last season. Prior to that they were...well...crap
It is our first. We played last years runners up and you know what it showed. I was there last night (just about to watch the replay) but there was alot to like. But what alos stood put to me was how much Carlton has improved since i last watched them live (season 2). Funnily last time I watched them live; they played like Richmond
Yes there were some horrible mistakes by the Tigers but they will disappear as the side gels. There is alot of talent in our squad. And it was obvious being there.
A bit of perspective after 1 game wouldn't go astray.
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It wasn’t pretty but AFLW just needs time
Chris Cavanagh
Sunday Herald Sun
8 February 2020
The growing pains are real for AFLW.
You had to look no further than the first half of Friday night’s season opener between Richmond and Carlton to see that.
One of four new teams entering the competition this year, the Tigers went into the main break with just two behinds to their name from a measly four inside-50s.
The Blues – grand finalists in 2019 – had kicked just 1.8 themselves, despite dominating with 22 entries into their scoring arc.
It was a fierce contest and there were some moments of brilliance – particularly from two young Carlton rising stars in Madison Prespakis and Lucy McEvoy.
But for the most part it was not particularly pretty footy.
And given the AFLW’s rapid expansion – Gold Coast, St Kilda and West Coast are also new teams this year after North Melbourne and Geelong joined last season – there might be a few more halves like it to come.
“I think it does take a bit of getting in and embedding a club into the competition and I know that Geelong and North Melbourne saw that last year,” AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone said.
“We just need to allow Richmond to get themselves into this competition and learn what it’s all about. These are baby steps at the moment as they learn, as a club, what AFLW’s all about.
“They’ll get better from here. It’s the opening night nerves and just experiencing AFLW for the first time.”
As it often does in AFLW, scoring opened up in the second half.
The match ended up producing a combined eight goals, but Livingstone said scoring should not necessarily be the measure of a good match.
“I think we concentrate on the battle that’s taking place on field rather than thinking, ‘How can we get more scoring going’,” she said.
“Because I see the football skills there and the football skills are improving year-on-year.
“We’ve got a big first round and, importantly, we’ve gone from the first couple of years having 28 matches to having 61 matches in total. So there’s more opportunity for girls to learn the craft and hone their skills.”
Sabrina Frederick made history as Richmond’s first goalkicker in AFLW during the final quarter.
The key forward moved to Punt Rd this year after being part of the Brisbane Lions’ first AFLW game in 2017, so she knows what it is like to be part of a brand-new team.
“More than half of the team were playing their first AFLW game and I think people need to realise and respect that Carlton played in the grand final last year, they’ve played together for three years. We’re a new team,” Frederick said.
“We showed great promise in that last quarter and to do that against a team like that when you’re five goals down, I think we definitely have it in us. You know what, it might turn sooner than you think.”
BARTLETT NOT THE ONLY KB AT TIGERLAND
Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett has backed the Tigers to “equal the score” with Carlton in Round 1 of the men’s season next month after the club’s women’s team fell to the Blues in the AFLW season-opener on Friday night.
Bartlett presented jumpers to the Tigers’ AFLW players in the rooms before their first game and watched on from the stands as the “next chapter in the club’s history” was written.
“In the AFL, or VFL as it was, Richmond joined in 1908 so that’s 112 years ago and here we are now with our first women’s team playing the game against traditional rivals Carlton,” Bartlett said.
“What we saw was the start of something that will be very, very successful because the club is very well run and there was some fantastic enthusiasm in the rooms before the game and great camaraderie among the players.
“It’s the first step in a long journey for AFLW and particularly for Richmond.”
Bartlett said he could have “never” imagined during his playing days that the Tigers would have a women’s team in his lifetime, or that he would be replaced by another “KB” at Punt Rd in AFLW captain Katie Brennan.
“I got a letter from the club inviting me to go to the game and be part of the ceremony before the game and it had, ‘Attention: KB (Male)’,” Bartlett said.
“I’ve been replaced by a new KB in Katie Brennan.”
The Tigers fell to the Blues by 34 points but Bartlett said revenge would come on March 19.
“They (Carlton) have got one up on us at the moment but we’ll just have to see what happens in Round 1 of the men’s season,” Bartlett said.
“I’m sure we’ll equal up the score. We can’t have them having bragging rights.”
Bartlett has two granddaughters – Madeline and Lucinda – who both play school and local football in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and said he would love for them to one day be able to pull on the yellow and black.
“I hope we get the grandfather-grandson and grandfather-granddaughter rule comes into the AFL, not just the father-son and father-daughter rule, because I think it would be fantastic to have that,” Bartlett said.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-has-growing-pains-but-patience-is-needed-after-rapid-expansion/news-story/bb9bd364d853c7803f1309f4d4e6f60c
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I don’t follow woman’s footy but geez ramps surely you can’t be serious with this reaction after 1 match. Again I don’t know what draft concessions and access to other teams players they had but it can’t be that different to what the men’s teams got. GWS struggled for years and Gold Coast are still struggling so maybe give them a couple seasons let alone 1 game.
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Our next opponent Gold Coast lost their first ever AFLW game today to GWS by a point. They both could only kick a single goal each in Sydney's torrid weather.
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I think the thing that has been lost in this list build debate is focus on the coach
Was a plan B used or isn’t there one? I think the later .
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Well the politically correct AFL is back on their high horse
Apparently the criticism of the low scoring AFLW is unfair, unjust and sexist according to the AFL
Well FMD the AFL has told me I am racist and now sexist
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Bottom line is it’s a poo spectacle and they can’t tell me it isn’t
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I gave it 3 quarters and that’s it for me.
It is complete and utter garbage to watch imo.
The skill level is under 14 standard and to me it doesn’t look like it’s improved in 4 years.
I’ll give it another go next year but I have serious doubts about it.
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Well the politically correct AFL is back on their high horse
Apparently the criticism of the low scoring AFLW is unfair, unjust and sexist according to the AFL
Well FMD the AFL has told me I am racist and now sexist
What a time to be alive..... :shh
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AFL think they are some form of government
If they are they are socialist one, they voted themselves in
Others administrator managed football and politics was left to politicians
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I think it's great we have a womens team but let's face the facts - we have a group of women running around - several of which have hardly played any real football, most of which definitely didn't play at a junior level/as kids. It shows in their skills, they largely look like American experiments - totally awkward trying to execute the biggest skill of our game (kicking!).
I think the AFL has jumped the gun big time. There clearly isn't enough high end talent to field the amount of teams we have. Some of them look outright unfit to play this game at the 'top level'. There probably should have been more state level development before nation wide competition was introduced. And there should be no new teams for a while. I'm hoping if there is more grassroots the skills will be better in future and they need to be paid enough to get by and focus on the sport (admittedly some of them are very athletic) but to suggest equal pay is downright laughable. At best they should be looking at somewhere in the 25-35% bracket, therefore an average wage of probably $65-90,000 to allow them to focus on their athletic pursuits.
Wish them all the best regardless.
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I think it's great we have a womens team but let's face the facts - we have a group of women running around - several of which have hardly played any real football, most of which definitely didn't play at a junior level/as kids. It shows in their skills, they largely look like American experiments - totally awkward trying to execute the biggest skill of our game (kicking!).
I think the AFL has jumped the gun big time. There clearly isn't enough high end talent to field the amount of teams we have. Some of them look outright unfit to play this game at the 'top level'. There probably should have been more state level development before nation wide competition was introduced. And there should be no new teams for a while. I'm hoping if there is more grassroots the skills will be better in future and they need to be paid enough to get by and focus on the sport (admittedly some of them are very athletic) but to suggest equal pay is downright laughable. At best they should be looking at somewhere in the 25-35% bracket, therefore an average wage of probably $65-90,000 to allow them to focus on their athletic pursuits.
Wish them all the best regardless.
Fair points Andy, get what you are saying. Talent pool was always an issue from season 1 with 8 teams. ,magnified now there is 14.
Just a couple of points / facts
This is not in anyway a professional competition, it simple cannot be.
Under the rules (salary cap etc) the top tier players earn about $35k a season. Season (including pres-season) is 4 months
Most have full time jobs and a large portion need to take leave without pay to commit the mininum hours required.
A number from our squad missed parts or pre-season training due to the bushfire crisis. We have some who are in the military, army reserves and police force ..
I keep going back to Women's Cricket. It is only in the last 5 years that our women cricketers are in a position to be full time professionals. And then the base salary is only around $70-$90k. Prior to that they got an allowance to play for their country but the majority of costs players had to wear themselves.
This comp is going to take time but above all else needs the right funding with the right talent pathways. That is it is a work in progress
For now I accept it for what it is, a competition in its infancy that has been a long time coming and for something that is only 3 years old entering it's 4th is solid, not spectacular but solid.
I embrace it because I like so many people never thought it would happen. Simply I enjoy it for all the reasons so many don't. I don't view and say "it's not like the men" because it can't be. I don't want it to be.
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How do clubs improve there lists. Can we go and recruit players at seasons end.
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LMAO
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We looked like a team of amateurs playing professionals.
Our team was slow and unfit in comparison
None of our big guns fired and our top draft picks looked terrible.
If Balme is involved he needs to get some folks in that draft talent not just their mates