Lots of sniffing during the flag presentation.
Gil McLachlan must be there.
The Bear girls speak a â â â â â â â lot, for losers 
The full-back line of Birch and Gillard has been awesome.
TWELVE months ago, Tahlia Gillard was a little way into her first AFLW pre-season.
A raw tall selected with pick No.42 in the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft, she had played most of her top-age junior footy with Calder Cannons and Vic Metro as a ruck, but had some local level defensive time behind her.
With a number of keys ahead of her, externally, Gillard wasnât initially expected to feature much this season.
But in Melbourneâs premiership triumph on Sunday, the 18-year-old held the AFLWâs leading goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw scoreless from three disposals, one mark and one score involvement.
Maeve Chaplin (left) and Tahlia Gillard wear hats they borrowed from Daisy Pearceâs twins after winning the 2022 NAB AFLW Season Seven Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos
âI knew going in it was a hard task, I respect her so much, the leading goalkicker,â Gillard told womens.afl post-match.
"But I love a challenge. The girls around me, they push me, and I have so much trust in them and they trust me. They allow me to play my best footy.
"I just went in like any other game of footy, except I had in the back of my mind that I did want to shut her down. I did that, so Iâm proud of myself, but Iâm also proud of everyone, I couldnât have done it without them.â
Gabby Colvinâs ruptured ACL during pre-season opened up a spot in defence, and Gillard took it with both hands, playing 13 games and receiving a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination.
"Last season, I was an emergency (for the Grand Final) and that really pushed me to get into this team. Iâm so proud and privileged, and what an honour it is to play with people like Daisy (Pearce, captain) and Kate (Hore, vice-captain), and even Mick (Stinear), to be coached by him, heâs one of the best. Iâm just so happy at the moment.
"Itâs crazy to think Iâm only 18, so what the future could hold is unimaginable. Iâm only just starting my journey, and Iâm just so grateful itâs at Melbourne, I wouldnât want to be anywhere else. I love it.â
Stinear spoke glowingly about Gillardâs season in his post-match press conference.
âGabby Colvin was injured (in season six) as our key defender, and she came in for two weeks. Then Gabby was fit and available and had done everything right, so Tahlia missed out. And the feedback for Tahlia was she just needed a bit more experience, and then you can prove yourself and squeeze someone else out of that spot,â Stinear said.
"She ended up playing VFLW and VFLW finals, and built on that experience. Sheâs got the right amount of confidence, she doesnât come out (to play) and stay in the shadow. Like she really believes in herself and brings a lot of energy to our group.
"But for what she did today, I mean, sheâs made life hard for Daisy and Tayla (Harris) at training, she loves playing on them. So itâs no surprise to see what she did today because she gets to practice against some of the best on a weekly basis.
"That was a super effort for an 18-year-old, but I donât think she would have stopped to think about it. She was just playing and competing and being herself, but yeah, one of the great stories and a super talent.â
Time and time again, Gillard returned to acknowledging the group outside the first 21, a clear approach of the team this season.
âOn the final siren, I was just speechless, youâve worked all the way up to this moment and you donât know what to predict. I was just going to Daisy, âf***, we did itâ, sorry for swearing,â she said, among the post-match hubbub.
"Itâs everything I could have imagined, the whole back half, we did it for Mick and Daisy and all the girls, all the injured players. You donât do it for yourself, itâs an individual reward but at the end of the day, you do it for the girl next to you. Thatâs been our motto all season, to play for the person next to you, not yourself.
âBefore the game, we shout out the girls who arenât playing, we shout out the staff, we shout out Mick, we shout out Daisy, because realistically, theyâre the reason weâre playing such good footy. Theyâre the reason weâre able to win this cup. Yes, everyone on the field did their job, but itâs the whole club.â
Hayley Bullas cut from the Eagles.
I found this interesting in context of Essendon. First year a successful launch after much planning. Iâm intrigued about how EFC approach next phase of its AFLW life. I know the easy thing to say is of course itâs very focussed on improving and making / winning finals. That goes without saying. However, Iâm interested to see how EFC goes about next 2-3 years. Is it in the words of Grant Thomas âin the premiership business or just playing AFLâ?
Itâs a good question. You would argue EFC (men) have spent last 10 years distracted and âjust playing AFLâ with hindsight. We know this because external review highlighted need for more laser like sharpness, stronger culture and more professionalism in training and fitness.
Is EFC AFLW in the premiership business? Clearly Carlton have elevated itself the last 12-18 months as a Club under Brian Cook. Itâs attention now turning to ramping up its AFLW side. I suspect the likes of Brisbane / Melbourne are operating their AFLW teams at an elevated level of focus, professionalism and sharper culture. Brisbane appear at another level to all clubs.
Is EFC I. Premiership business ir just playing AFLW? How ruthless is it about making and winning finals next two years? Itâs not as obvious an answer as it would seem⌠I hope it isnât genuinely (quietly) overly satisfied with a successful launch. Thatâs not what ruthless success
oriented clubs do.
2 Likes
Sounds like coaching not playing (at a previous club of hers?) is the focus.
At least part of the answer to the above question has been answered:
With Ross Smith continuing his stay at Calder, the region now boasts the longest serving NAB League coach. Smith initially arrived at the club as the boys senior coach, but will take over the girls side moving forward.
âŚ
The Cannons have also announced handy appointments as assistants in the girlâs program, with âŚTanya Hetherington bringing experience from the top level.
Elsewhere, 2018 Bomber Lauren Morecroft has replaced Travis Cloke at Eastern Ranges. Paul Corrigan also remains the Falcons head coach.
In funnier news, I hope Ty Vickery is a âdo as I say, not as I doâ type as he leads the girls at Sandy.
1 Like
Maddy Prespakis celebrates a goal with teammates during the R1 clash between Essendon and Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on August 27, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
WITH the best record of the four expansion sides, Essendon showed off a potency in attack of which even many established sides were envious.
Coach Natalie Wood crafted a list that was dominated by established players while also heavily featured VFLW Bombers who won a flag while in the throes of the AFLW pre-season. Despite time constraints and interruptions, the chemistry across the list was evident.
Paige Scott celebrates a goal during Essendonâs clash against Geelong in round seven, S7, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Head coach: Natalie Wood
Leadership group: Staph Cain, Bonnie Toogood (co-captains), Jacqui Vogt, Georgia Nanscawen
Ladder position: 10th, four wins and six losses, 98.6%
Debutants: Olivia Barton, Mia Busch, Amber Clarke, Federica Frew, Alex Morcom, Amelia Radford, Megan Ryan, Paige Scott, Renee Tierney, Mia Van Dyk, Ashleigh Van Loon, Steph Wales, Lily-Rose Williamson (AFLW debut), Sophie Alexander, Daria Bannister, Alana Barba, Steph Cain, Joanne Doonan, Ellyse Gamble, Georgia Gee, Danielle Marshall, Cat Phillips, Maddy Prespakis, Bonnie Toogood, Sophie Van De Heuvel, Jacqui Vogt, Jess Wuetschner, Jordan Zanchetta (club debut)
Milestones: Steph Cain, Cat Phillips (50 games), Ellyse Gamble, Jacqui Vogt (25 games)
Rising Star nominations: Paige Scott (round one), Steph Wales (round eight)
Retirements: TBC
Steph Wales during Essendonâs clash against West Coast in round three, S7, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Best team performance
In its round three win over West Coast, Essendon kicked the highest score of any team in its first season (84 points) â and the eighth highest in competition history â on its way to a 52-point victory.
In their third AFLW game, Steph Wales and Paige Scott each kicked three goals, while experienced campaigners Daria Bannister, Maddy Prespakis and Jess Wuetschner each kicked two. With such a spread of goalkickers, the Bombers were simply unstoppable in attack.
It was a cohesive performance as a full unit, with that spread of impact not only clear up forward, but around the ground five different players won 15 or more disposals, and the side used the ball at a season-high 67.7 per cent efficiency.
Best individual performance
Sophie Alexanderâs showing against Sydney in round eight was the dominant performance in attack that Essendon needed when it was really challenged.
With 16 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency, five tackles, four inside 50s and two goals â all career-best metrics for the forward who was playing her 39th game â Alexander set her side up brilliantly in the forward half.
It was the strength and intent that Alexander has been threatening over the course of her career, and when it finally broke through it proved to be game changing.
Most improved
Daria Bannister made her claim as one of the best small forwards in the competition this season. With her elite footwork making her tough to defend, Bannister has a knack of kicking goals from tricky positions and has an impact in key moments of games.
Kicking a career-best eight goals, Bannister averaged 10.7 disposals, 2.7 marks and 3.2 score involvements. She is smart and works well at the feet of Essendonâs taller, marking forwards, but can also reliably take strong marks herself.
Star recruit
Itâs hard to go past Maddy Prespakis who not only took out Essendonâs first ever best and fairest award, but was also named in the All-Australian team for the third time. What Prespakis does especially well as a midfielder is impact the contest, then push forward and kick goals.
Improving the defensive side of her game made Prespakis more dangerous than ever, averaging a career-high 4.9 tackles to go with her personal best 23.7 disposals, 4.7 clearances and 3.4 intercepts.
Maddy Prespakis in action during round eight, season seven, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
Unsung hero
Essendonâs first draft pick, Amber Clarke, had a big impact on the side this season, playing every game as an outside midfielder/half forward. In a role that relies heavily on a playerâs discipline and footy smarts, Clarke added a lot to the Bombers in terms of structure and support for the strong onball group.
While she wasnât a super flashy player and didnât necessarily get a lot of the ball, averaging 9.5 disposals, it was what she did with those opportunities that was important. Her classy ball use and attacking mindset resulted in an average 214.1 metres gained, 1.6 inside 50s and two score involvements across the season, and all of that while still just 17 years old.
Amber Clarke in action during Essendonâs clash against Brisbane in round six, S7, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos
What went well
In the attacking half Essendon looked like a dominant side, able to link the strength of the midfield â led by Prespakis â with an overflowing forward line. The Bombers averaged 27.1 inside 50s per game, which lands right in the middle of the competition this season, but once in attack they were the fourth best side at generating shots on goal.
From this, they averaged the third-best goal efficiency of the season, goaling from 18.1 per cent of their inside 50s, behind only grand finalists Melbourne and Brisbane. Their versatile mix of players up forward, including Daria Bannister, co-captain Bonnie Toogood, Paige Scott and Sophie Alexander, makes them dangerous in various ways while also using some of those forwards through other parts of the ground sporadically.
Boonie Toogood celebrates a goal against Port Adelaide in round 10 of S7. Picture: AFL Photos
What needs improvement
At the other end of the ground, Essendon did get exposed at times, particularly when key defender Ellyse Gamble was unavailable through injury. In terms of tall stocks, Meg Ryan was the next option for coach Natalie Wood, but Ryan is raw and focused more on her ruck craft so that move wasnât overly successful.
Dani Marshall and Mia Van Dyk were also used in those key defensive roles, but donât quite have the reach of Gamble and other tall key backs across the competition. Because of these thinner defensive stocks, the Bombers conceded a goal from 17.4 per cent of their inside 50s conceded and allowed the opposition to take 5.5 marks inside 50 per game.
Ellyse Gamble in action during Essendonâs clash against Carlton in round two, S7, 2022. Picture: Getty Images
Off-season focus
From here, continuing to build from the impressive base set up this season is likely Essendonâs biggest priority. Given what the side was able to establish in such a short period of time, the potential for growth from this start is huge, and much of that is about finding that consistency in attacking ball movement against better sides that are adept at taking away their assets.
In terms of player recruitment, bringing in more support for that emerging backline should be the focal point during the off-season.
6 Likes
Very pleasing to me that Amber Clarke gets a nod, like her a lot.
A hard worker in all that she does on field and reliable. Onward and upward for Amber.
3 Likes
Top-listed and Essendon/ex-Essendon.
âŚ
These are the players who hold the highest averages across the entire history of the AFLW, not just one calendar year like last weekâs piece was.
âŚ
Disposals
1 - Ash Riddell 23.3
3 - Madison Prespakis 21.2
Disposal Efficiency
1 - Tanya Hetherington 81.7%
Centre Clearances
1 - Riddell 1.6
5 - Madison Prespakis 1.3
Stoppage Clearances
1 - Kiara Bowers 4.5
4 - Georgie Prespakis 3.3
1 Like
1 Like
Havenât reproduced the text here because itâs all âcouldâ and âas soon asâ crap. But I think you can take it as given that the oldies draft is back on.
1 Like
Damnit. Stay â â â â , Fark Carlton.
2 Likes
I wonder when the stories will start coming out?
1 Like
Harfâs side of the story
I listened to the interview - He questioned elements of the AFLW as opposed to criticising the program - Harford was very nuanced in his comments.
How can Essendon learn from Carltonâs last 12 months as a total club to ensure the focus on the EFCW program is âlaser likeâ? Carlton draws parallels to Essendon being 12 months advanced of their menâs upheaval.
Now Iâm sure everyone will say âyes weâre extremely focussedâŚ.â. However, are they still REALLY focussed?
Or is Mahoney time been diverted away? Is Cloke spending too much time with the men and is planning subsequently being compromised.
Nobody will know for 9 months. Then we will see if Essendon has learned a lesson here.
Watch this space!
Carlton have also booted their GM of Womenâs Footy
2 Likes
Cloke â Wood â but you could swap the names without affecting your point.
1 Like