Special bonus points for not delaying it by half an hour, to ensure than fans will need to either miss the start of this or the end of the AFLW practice match at Windy Hill.
(Actual bonus points for already updating the online calendar so anyone who subscribes might notice.)
ESSENDON
B: S. McKay (80), W. Hoare (51), J. Nguyen (42)
HB: A. Davey (33), K. Gerreyn (19), X. O’Neill (55)
C: M. Foley (73), R. Unwin (38), D. Uerata (59)
HF: N. Scott (57), J. Eckersley (58), J. Menzie (29)
F: J. Busuttil (68), T. Sellers (75), A. Day-Wicks (44)
R: V. Visentini (39), C. Nyko (65), J. Hately (50)
INT: L. Hogan (66), G. Papal (52), N. Quigg (83), R. Brodie (60), L. Monteath (71)
23rd Player: G. Papal (52)
EMG: D. Akuei (64), K. Gallagher (69), D. Iacovone (76), J. Peris (53), M. Taha (62)
IN: M. Foley, G. Papal, V. Visentini
OUT: S. El-Hawli (AFL), F. Burmeister (GWV Rebels), J. Peris (omitted)
NEW: Gus Papal, 18, 193cm, Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: M. Sellwood (37), L. Jones (19), J. Croft (16)
HB: A. Jones (32), N. Coffield (17), B. Khamis (24)
C: T. Duryea (15), S. Davidson (42), L. Kennedy (35)
HF: L. Jaques (11), J. Dolan (26), Z. Walker (41)
F: A. Scott (28), L. Smith (40), C. Craig-Peters (61)
R: R. Gardner (43), C. Hynes (6), J. Harmes (22)
INT: D. Orgill (50), B. Crofts (54), W. Lewis (64), J. Kellett (57), L. Ramshaw (60)
23rd Player: L. Ramshaw (60)
EMG: E. Macpherson (59), D. Cuningham (51), E. Hunt (56), L. Muratore (68)
IN: S. Davidson, J. Dolan, J. Harmes, A. Jones, L. Jones
OUT: O. Baker, J. Busslinger (AFL), D. Cuningham, E. Macpherson, L. Muratore (omitted)
No Hobbs. No May.
Genuine question as to why this isn’t at Windy Hill?
AFLW Preseason game is at WH
Can we not play two games at one venue in a day?
And not to be rude to the womens game (which I’m literally sat at) but wouldn’t an actual VFL match for points draw a larger audience and take priority over a match sim?
Just seems a bit of a slap in the face to ask supporters to get to a prick of venue with no protection from this crap weather.
I agree but for me it just continues to highlight the utter failure of the AFL to not just go all in on a proper dedicated reserves competition.
I’m not just saying this from a nostalgia perspective it just makes the most sense.
Curtain raisers, younger players travelling with the senior team, get them exposed to that culture early.
Sell the sponsorship rights to the competition to cover some cost, call it something like the Maccas Cup for all I care.
Totally agree.
I try and get to both leagues and love the community connection that’s generated at both.
These sorts of fixture blunders rob the womens game of a chance at exposure and lead to fans going to neither more often than not
AFLW crowd < VFLW crowd.
To be fair, we worked really hard at concealing its existence.
Ok. 19th playing 2nd. This will be fun!!
Gerreyn in the backline again…
At least he’ll see alot of ball. Heaven forbid we let him settle somewhere.
Nyko goal!
I don’t mind it with Ridds going down.
We have Lav and Blaki, that’s it.
That wind is no joke.
They gave Hately an hour to decide what he wanted to do with it in that pocket.
Bit of a lacklustre start all round, looks like they’re going in slowmo half the time.
Nice to take the lead though
Hately goals! Good start against a far superior team.
Edit: Oops, my mistake. Hately coolly passes to O’Neill for the goal.
Bring in Nguyen
I’m a massive fan, so would obviously love to see him get a chance.
But for a bloke with a tank that still needs alot of work, debuting in our backline would be soul destroying.
Vigo’s tackling intent is fantastic.
