Geelong has signed former Melbourne AFLW coach Mick Stinear as their AFLW coach.
Two of them seem like no brainers given how poorly we covered the ground in their absence (Walker and Radford), but Dyke Iām a bit more on the fence about.
I donāt see it with any of them. Walker is a shocking user by foot I reckon and Radford seriously lacks pace for mine. Not a fan of Dyke either; slow decision maker with no proper role in the side. I get you canāt delist everyone at once though.
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I think for now they just offer an ability to cover the ground better. A facet of the game we are absolutely awful at.
Over time youād hope we improve on them but for now (as in 2026) they at least help cover one area we got exposed in this season.
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Walker was already having a down year before getting injured.
Radford is not fast, but she is good at transition and actually hitting the target. Both of those help us not be stagnant.
Iām not sure even the coaches know what Dykeās role is (especially with multiple wing options returning). Waiting to see if Murphy gets cutā¦ Dyke gets murdered in the ruck, but at least she is interesting/interested.
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A bit surprising if weāre only clearing up the minimum 2 list spots. Iād have thought weād want to use all 3 of our top 50 picks given where the team is at
We were always going to have to retain one of Dyke or Murphy unless we were going to commit to getting a backup ruck with one of our selections. Iād certainly prefer Dyke given she can plug other gaps
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Port coach stepping down
Essendon must look to the future in 2026, handing some more to its younger brigade and leaning into the shift away from reliance on other, older heads. The addition of Zoe Prowsefrom Adelaide as a key position swing player unfortunately meant Ellyse Gamble was not offered a contract to continue, while the return of Emily Gough, Bess Keaney, and Amelia Radford means some more magnets will be required to shift, but that doesnāt mean all three are sure starters. At her best, Keaney is a calming, balancing head on the wing so will ideally be back in the team if and when she is able, and Gough is a key forward option to support Bonnie Toogood and Sophie Alexander. Given how one-note the midfield started to look in 2025 with both Georgia Nanscawen and Maddy Prespakis in the midfield, switching things up through that line will hopefully be on the cards, with youngsters Amy Gaylor, Grace Belloni, and draftee Maggie Johnstone more than capable of making it their own. A fully-fit Maddi Gay immediately bolsters the half back line, as does the return of Sophie Van De Heuvel. The squeeze leaves Chloe Adams out in the cold despite a strong season throughout 2025, but given the increasing depth across the Bombersā list, there will be some questions asked of senior players should their form dip again.
B: Zoe Prowse, Taya Chambers
HB: Alex Morcom, Maddi Gay, Georgia Clarke
C: Maggie MacLachlan, Grace Belloni, Bess Keaney
HF: Daria Bannister, Sophie Alexander, Georgia Gee
F: Bonnie Toogood, Emily Gough
Foll: Steph Wales, Georgia Nanscawen, Amy Gaylor
I/C: Maddy Prespakis, Steph Cain, Sophie Van De Heuvel, Holly Ridewood, Maggie Johnstone
Depth: Courtney Murphy, Brooke Brown, Sophie Strong, Amelia Radford, Chloe Adams, Brooke Walker, Mia Busch, Matilda Dyke, Nalu Brothwell
Yeah, I ignored that article when they left Adams out.
Even if you donāt think she is Best 20 (pfft!) sheās the perfect #21: can play fwd/mid/back and is competitive AF.
The exercise above was to identify the best squad.
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A four-tier payment system is currently in play, with two players per team in tier one, six in each of tiers two and three, and 16 in tier four.
The exception to the rule is Brisbane, where it is understood the Lions employ a self-described ācommunistā mentality, with all players in tier three, which is allowed as long as total player payments fit under that yearās cap.
Please, no one tell our Queensland friends about these communists.
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Itās the oneās you least expect that bring about your downfall 
2 posts were merged into an existing topic: AFLW coaches and staff
AFLW teams will have the option of playing up to five match simulation games, as well as the one official practice match, in a shake-up of pre-season preparation in 2026.
If a team finds an opponent for all five match sims, its schedule will be as follows:
Match simulation No.1 weekend of June 26
Match simulation No.2 weekend of July 3
Match simulation No.3 weekend of July 10
Match simulation No.4 weekend of July 17
Match simulation No.5 weekend of July 24
Practice game weekend of July 31
Weekend off August 7
Round one weekend of August 14
AFLW pre-season begins the week of May 11.
Why the fark did you numpties delay the VFLW season till May if this is āthe solutionā?
It reads like the AFL will not subsidise interstate travel for said matches to happen.
P.S. Fark Richmond.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: AFLW #12 - Bess Keaney
Looks like this winter their will be a womenās Australia vs Ireland match.
Despite it saying āInternational Rulesā in the headline, itās suggested in the article it will be a traditional Australian Football match.