Good work, Marnie. I bet she had to leave explicit notes for the editor not to fark the below up. For a joke almost none of the readers will appreciate.
Many of the players in this VFLW squad will be part of the Essendon AFLW team, including co-captain Georgia Nanscawen, Joanna Doonan, Danielle Marshall, Jordan Zanchetta and Federica Frew. It’s hard to watch “Freds” bag goal after goal on the weekend and not daydream about what that is going to look like at AFLW level.
The one big problem I see with the different season is that all the decent grounds are out of action.
Crows for instance would have to host a GF at somewhere like Norwood Oval in front of 12-15k and I’m guessing the same in other states which is a pity if they are trying to grow the game. Maybe in a few years they will align it with the mens season?
And for that reason you’d think the VFLW* would be unlikely to follow them to late in the year, so there is no reserves comp to fall back to. In which case very few NAB Leaguers will get a chance to stretch themselves in the VFLW, because they’re being drafted shortly after their season ends. And then those year 12 kids are full-on training and perhaps playing during their final months of school.
*and “equivalent” in other states
(Essendon is one of the few clubs to have a dedicated ground. We got an extra home game last year because of that, and this year have played a lopsided HH-A-HH-AA-HHH-AAAA-H).
As mentioned by Madam President @Catherine_Lio on Twitter last week, you can make a $50 contribution to the club’s AFLW program and get first access to the club’s AFLW Foundation Membership.
And the club are contacting any current members with the VFLW add on and asking if they want to be foundation members of ESS AFLW. They are offering game day access membership as well as a non access membership.
Everyone should get on board with Essendon AFLW, if only for the reason it is the Club’s probable only hope of winning a final and/or flag in any of our lifetimes!