On Saturday, we got our first taste of AFLW Football for the year. Sadly for me, I was unable to go to any of the games, but I was able to tune in to a majority of the games. Now in the men's league, practice matches aren't seen as much, other than just to give players a warm up for the season ahead.
I see practice matches in the AFLW a bit differently. Because of a seven-game home and away season (Please fix this), I think practice games are just that little bit important. It gives a chance for new players to gel with their team mates in a genuine gameday scenario. Whilst this is not an overnight proposition, it still gives them a chance to work on things, with round one drawing ever so near.
So as I listened onto the radio – or in the case of Adelaide vs Fremantle, Youtube – I picked up a few points to take from the practice games and I thought I'd share with you all today on what I took out from all of Saturday's practice games.
GWS – 11.9.75 defeated Brisbane – 4.4.28 Whilst GWS Will Be The Real Deal, Don't Write Brisbane Off.
In a practice match that consisted of five 'quarters', it was the GWS Giants that flexed their muscle against Brisbane in a practice match at Layshon Park. Now, I'll admit, I didn't watch much of this game, as Collingwood and the Bulldogs were also playing simultaneously, but from several reports, this was a game that showed how legit GWS will be this season. They were very close to making the Grand Final last year, ultimately beaten by Brisbane in the final round of the season.
Aimee Schmidt and Cora Staunton each kicked three goals, both will be extremely important in the Giants' premiership aspirations this year. Another player that impressed is another Irish recruit in Yvonne Bonner, who showed a lot of dash and kicked a goal in her first AFLW game. Haneen Zrieka – who was delisted by the club at the end of 2018, only to be re-drafted at the Draft last year, was also a standout for the Giants.
As far as the Lions go, this result – as bad as it was – isn't the be-all, end-all and it won't set their season up for a downfall. Exactly 12 months earlier, the Giants handed down a 50-point thumping to Brisbane as well, and as we know, they made it to the Grand Final. These two sides will play off in round one, and I can guarantee you that it will be a much different game to the one we got Saturday. Kate Lutkins, Sharni Webb, Bella Ayre and Bre Koenen all didn't play on Saturday – all of them are key players in this side. Write off the Brisbane Lions at your own peril.
Geelong – 7.4.46 defeated Carlton 7.2.44
Carlton And Geelong Are Going To Be Fun To Watch In 2019
It was probably the best game of the five to watch on the weekend. Carlton will be a lot better than they were last season and the Cats – after describing them as an unknown entity for numerous months – look like they will be a decent side to play against. Will they play Finals? Probably not, but there are signs from both sides that they will be very good sides in the near future. But for now, I think we just need to sit back and enjoy watching them develop.
Phoebe McWilliams kicked four goals in her first game in the hoops since crossing over from Greater Western Sydney at the end of 2018. At the Giants, she showed her worth as the key forward, and it looks likely that she'll be the focal point up forward for the Cats in 2019. At this stage, she's looking like one of the warm favourites to take home the competition's goal-kicking award. At the other end, it was Carlton captain Bri Davey who announced her return from a season-ending knee injury last season with four goals of her own. Watching her, Tayla Harris and Darcy Vescio work in tandem will be intriguing and exciting to watch this year.
Both sides will have their young guns as well. Nina Morrison, who was the first pick in last year's Draft, looked right at home in the midfield and will be one to watch this year. Likewise to her counterpart at Carlton, Maddie Prespakis played a lot of her gametime in the middle and excelled. I can just sense that these two will forge a comparison in terms of who will be the better player in the years to come.
North Melbourne – 9.2 56 defeated Melbourne – 4.10.34
Kangaroos Confirming How Dangerous They Can Be In 2019
I know this is only a practice match, but this was a result that sends warning signals to rest of the competition – North Melbourne will be up there. After a sluggish opening half, which saw them register only one goal, North put the Dees to the sword after half time, kicking six goals to nothing to turn a seven-point half time deficit into a 27-point three-quarter time lead. It extended in the final quarter before Melbourne plugged a couple of goals back to make it somewhat of a respectable loss – 22 points the final margin.
Mo Hope is the big name in their forward line, slotting in two goals, but she'll get plenty of assistance in the forward 50. Sophie Abbatangelo also jagged two goals in her first game in North Melbourne colours and looked threatening at times. Goals were also kicked by Daisy Bateman, Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner – all three will definitely see a lot of time up forward this season and all three have got a lot of talent to boot.
Take nothing away from Melbourne, I expect them to be a very formidable side in 2019 – even without Daisy Pearce leading from the front – but you cannot hide the fact that they were simply outclassed by a side that should be contending for a spot in the Finals in 2019. Their midfield is strong, their defence is stout and their forward line is going to be exciting to watch. I cannot wait for them to take the field round one.
Western Bulldogs – 5.5.35 defeated Collingwood 4.4.28
Lochland's Injury Will Hurt The Bulldog Forwards/Pies Recruits Impress.
It was a strange old contest at Ballarat's Mars Stadium on Saturday. Quite a few people – myself included – expected that the Bulldogs would make light work of Collingwood. And whilst they did record a win, the margin was only seven points – with just one point separating the two sides with a couple of minutes remaining. There are two big points that come out of this game.
The first is the Brooke Lochland injury. Having won the league's goal-kicking award last year, she went down holding her right leg in the second quarter. What initially sounded like it was going to be a season-ending knee injury, turned into a suspected ankle injury, before scans revealed that she actually fractured the fibula. Astonishingly, she could return at the tail-end of the season, having just had surgery earlier in the week. Still, it is crucial blow to the Bulldogs' forward line, considering Izzy Huntington may not be back playing until a month into the season. However, with Ellyse Gamble and Bailey Hunt converting big goals in the last quarter, perhaps the Dogs can still find a way to make it work.
The second point was how good Collingwood's recruits were on Saturday. Granted it was only a practice match, but when you consider the fact that half a dozen of their best players from last year won't be playing this year, then I think it's a big tick for the Pies. Irish recruit Sarah Rowe bagged two goals in her first game in black and white. Their first two picks in the draft Jordyn Allen and Katie Lynch both were highlighted by coach Wayne Siekman after the game and will be vital to the team this year. Former Lion Nicole Hildebrand kicked a goal and played a large part of that game forward and will be interesting to see if they persist with that, given that she played most of her time at Brisbane in defence.
Adelaide – 9.4.58 defeated Fremantle – 5.8.38
Crows' Recruits Shine, But It Comes At A Cost
Overall, it was a very impressive performance by the Adelaide Crows in their game with Fremantle in Darwin. The Dockers showed plenty of signs and made things difficult for the Crows for large portions of the first half, but after that, the Crows kicked away and secured a comfortable 20-point win. Fremantle will continue to improve as a side, but personally I think this performance confirmed that they might struggle for a quarter or two against better sides like Adelaide.
Unfortunately for the Crows, the win was soured by a knee injury from Rhiannon Metcalfe, who went down in amidst a contest for the ball, twisting her knee. Scans revealed that she tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament in her left knee, meaning she'll miss the year, which could hurt them greatly, considering she's their number one ruck. They also lost promising talent Jasmyn Hewett with an ankle injury during the match, but there is no bone damage, which is good news. But how Adelaide respond to their depth at ruck will be fascinating to watch.
In a more positive spin on things, Adelaide fans should get excited for their recruits. Chloe Scheer kicked two goals up forward and looked a very exciting prospect from the opening minutes of the game. Danielle Ponter showed a strong presence wherever she played on the ground and used the ball well more often than not. Jess Foley looks like she'll be a damn good recruit. She took quite a few intercept marks, kicked a goal and even had a stint in the ruck after Metcalfe went down and I thought former GWS marquee Renee Forth was solid as she continues to return from her knee injury.