theDJR
August 25, 2025, 7:03am
16
We casually drop in 9 AFLW players (we had four legit outs so that’s not as drastic as it might seem). An illegitimate out is Davidge
IN: G. Belloni, C. Bernardi, M. Busch, T. Chambers, M. Dyke, A. Gaylor, E. Gough, A. McDonald, S. StrongOUT: S. Molan (illness), C. Murphy (injured), L. Bateman, L. Thompson (unavailable), G. Azzopardi, T. Davidge, M. Mifsud, M. O’Connell, E. Tassiopoulos (omitted)
Essendon rucks to cop long-term injuries in the past month: Draper, Bryan, Harris, Heymanson, Hibberd, Murphy
EFC and VLFW debutant:
Taya Chambers (has played at State level before, in WA)
Sophie Strong
EFC debutant:
Grace Belloni
Abbey McDonald
The usual customer:
This was when I went FULL GIGGITY:
Chaston kick from the wing is roved by Belloni and perfect in-bound handball kick to Plummer running straight down the spine. Goal!
https://x.com/VFL/status/1915946529229094957
The second commentator’s grunt of awe tells the story.
Some people aren’t impressed by anything if it’s not Princess G:
And then AAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Grudging respect:
Bernardi (5) and Richo (3) get votes from Radio 3DJR, and so do Prince and Robinson, so this is not just AFLW un-fairness (note that all but one of our AFLW players are at most 20yo).
At 3QT time:
Busch then moves herself to full-forward and kicks three goals behinds for the quarter!
Adams also kills Ruby Schleicher.
First EFC goal(s):
Grace Belloni (2) ← new VFLW record holder for goals/game
Brooke Plummer
I barely noticed Strong, so was surprised at her stats.
Chambers perhaps had a too easy day down back, but had the most marks and equal-most intercept possessions (for both teams), and never looked flustered.
Belloni amaze-balls.
Adams quietly racked up game-high disposals, tackles, clearances, and score involvements, and kicked a nice goal herself.
Gaylor a big second half.
MiaVanDyke much better game, but I struggle to see her as AFLW level. Busch OK.
Dyke relatively quiet, but I can see her value on the list.
Ridewood entirely disappeared today.
Gough was looking damaging, then
Bernardi had one hell of a first game, and her combination with Richardson looks to be as good a key forward arrangement as we have had since 2022.
Ditto Albrecht and (for the next few weeks while we can afford it) McDonald best forward smalls since, yes, 2022. And Albrecht is a tad tougher than NatMac was.
Was a very very marked contrast in forward efficiency compared to last week…
Robinson best game for some time.
Layla Prince is not going to be a dominant hit-outs-to-advantage ruck, but I am absolutely not complaining about today’s 30 hit-outs and 8 tackles. Yet to be seen if she can also be a satisfactory KPP.
Chaston is a star. Ava is improved, lots of good leads today. Green Boots is growing in confidence as a regular intercepter.
