AFLW - practice game vs Port Power @ The Hangar, 12noon Sat 13 August 2022

MORCS gotta cover the backline all on her own.

The players with AFLW experience lining up for the Bombers include Bonnie Toogood, Maddy Prespakis, Georgia Gee and Steph Cain.

Seven VFLW premiership players will also play in the practice match, with Danielle Marshall, Alana Barba, Joanne Doonan, Federica Frew, Amelia Radford, Renee Tierney and Alex Morcom named in the squad.

Five Bombers’ draftees will also get their first taste of AFLW football with Amber Clarke, Paige Scott, Stephanie Wales, Mia Busch and Mia van Dyke running out in the red and black.

Bombers fans can catch both teams on Saturday, with the AFL team having an open training at 10am before the AFLW practice match kicks off at 12pm.

With only 16 days until Essendon’s round one clash with Hawthorn, Bombers fans don’t want to miss out on being there when the inaugural AFLW team runs out for the first time so click here to sign up as an AFLW member.

All you need to know for Super Saturday at the NEC Hangar - Click here.

Full team:

1 CAITLIN SARGENT
2 GEORGIA GEE
3 DARIA BANNISTER
4 MADISON PRESPAKIS
6 DANIELLE MARSHALL
8 BONNIE TOOGOOD
9 JORJA BORG
10 JACQUI VOGT
11 ALANA BARBA
12 JOANNE DOONAN
15 OLIVIA BARTON
17 FEDERICA FREW
19 MIA VAN DYKE
20 STEPHANIE CAIN
21 JESS WUETSCHNER
22 AMELIA RADFORD
23 RENEE TIERNEY
24 SOPHIE ALEXANDER
25 ALEX MORCOM
28 MIA BUSCH
30 STEPHANIE WALES
32 PAIGE SCOTT
33 AMBER CLARKE
35 CAT PHILLIPS

Possible arrangement. I see people saying our squad is loaded with tall forwards, but I keep ending up with a small/mid forwardline and a taller backline. Swing Alexander forward if you like.

B Morcom Alexander -
HB Phillips Marshall Vogt
C Gee Barba Cain
HF Wuetschner Tierney Doonan
F Frew Toogood -
FOLL Borg Radford Prespakis

Interchange (kids):
Wales
Sargent
van Dyke
Scott
Clarke
Busch

Interchange (others):
Bannister
Barton

Not named:
van Loon
van de Huevel
Gamble
Ayre
Zanchetta
Williamson

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As a big request, we may need a thread where we can see how AFLW rules are different to the AFLM rules. Quarter lengths, players on field etc…

As can be seen in my layout, 16 on field and (normally) 5 on the bench. No cap on interchanges. Much of the above relates to them being more likely to be playing in extreme heat.

Boundary throw-ins
Boundary throw-ins happen 10m inside the boundary line, with the aim of landing approximately 25m into the field of play. The aim of this is to create more space for players either side of the contest and minimise secondary stoppages.

Last disposal between the arcs
If the ball goes out of bounds between the forward and defensive 50 arcs as a result of a kick or handball, the opposing team will receive a free kick where the ball crossed the line. If it is not clear who touched the ball last, it is thrown in. This rule was introduced to reduce congestion and secondary stoppages.

Centre bounce 5-6-5
Just like the AFL has a 6-6-6 rule, there’s a slightly tweaked version at AFLW level due to having 16 players on the field. At centre bounces (or ball-ups), each team must have five forwards and five defenders inside their respective 50m arcs. Three midfielders plus the ruck will be in the middle of the ground, with a winger somewhere on the long side of the centre square (technically a rectangle). A first infraction will result in a warning, but a second will be a free kick to the opposing side’s ruck.

On the clock
These games are short, sharp and action-packed. The quarters run for 15 minutes apiece, with time on called during stoppages in the last two minutes of each term (about 20 minutes all up). When you add in the breaks between every quarter, the whole match is done and dusted in two hours.

Ball size
It’s a little difficult to tell from the stands, but at size four, the ball is a little smaller than the size five one used in the AFL competition. Analysis has shown the slightly smaller ball is easier for women to mark.

Bye bye, bounce
The traditional bounce has been “bounced” out, with the smaller ball meaning umpires throw up the ball in the centre and around the ground.

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Going to assume that’s their jumper numbers…

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Any live stream for this one? I would have otherwise attended but currently in iso.

Port are streaming it on their site. EFC must have forgot to mention that bit.

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This was my favourite line in the EFC article that didn’t mention any stream:

Please bring along your own chairs and rugs, as no seating will be available.

Maybe they could have already delivered the RUGS that are part of our AFLW memberships?

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Livestream will be at the below address from 11:45 (note the Port page said 11:00 our time, and I doubt they will be independent streams).

(link added to first post of this thread as well)

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Three young Darwin umpires doing the game tomorrow

From @acat493. It’s worth noting that last week’s not-a-practice-match also demonstrated that we can score – at least one team was held to 1 goal last week, but we kicked 6 vs a top team.

With nine AFLW practice matches to come this weekend, every team will get the chance to finalise their game plans and face one final test ahead of Round 1.

Some teams are entering rebuilds, others touching up their lists for a flag tilt, while four enter the competition for the first time.

The Inner Sanctum has taken a look at what’s on your team’s wishlist for the last competitive hit-out before the season starts.

Backline holding up under fire

The Essendon defence had a rough welcome to the AFLW in its match simulation against Melbourne, having to deal with Tayla Harris, Kate Hore and Casey Sherriff piling on the goals.

The grand finalists kicked 12 goals to cruise to a convincing victory. It showed that the Essendon backline still has a way to go before it can hold up against the very best the competition has to offer.

With no Ellyse Gamble named for the match against Port Adelaide, it’ll be up to Dani Marshall, Olivia Barton and possibly Sophie Alexander , who’s been tipped by many for a move inside defensive 50.

Erin Phillips and Gemma Houghton will be no pushovers, with the pair having combined for 90 AFLW goals. It’s another big test for an inexperienced group that will want to iron out their best 21 quickly.

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Boys in background.

Bannister a worse mark than me.

Tierney very slightly bigger than Bannister. Luckily they put their hair in different buns, or you’d struggle to pick them apart.

Lack of any wind means the ground will still be dewy at the start of the game.

They REALLY like running backwards.

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What the Melrose Drive street parking looking like?