AFLW Semi Final

[Dark Beanie]

Pies vs Crows (away)

Saturday 12 November @ 3.10pm (Local) (3.40pm Melb time)
Venue Unley Oval.

Match centre:

https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2022/4781/adel-v-coll

Telecast on Kayo, Ch 7 & 7HD and AFLW website.

Injury list:

Sara Rowe (knee) and Ruby Schleicher (knee) both tests and subject to getting through training yesterday.
Tarni Brown was assessed after the Bulldogs game and no concussion after a hit in the last qtr.

[Dark Beanie]

Team selection:

B: L.Brazzale 24 S.Livingstone 12
HB: S.Casey 22 L.Butler 23 J.Allen 6
C: S.Rowe 7 A.Sheridan 14 S.Chiocci 17
HF: E.James 20 C.Molloy 2 A.Brazill 10
F: S.Frederick 1 A.Moloney 40
Foll: I.Barnett 4 J.Lambert 13 R.Schleicher 18
I/C: E.Fowler 15 J.Lin 35 M.Cann 25 S.Sansonetti 16 C.Taylor 11

Emerg: E.Smith 33 I.Evans 5 A.Porter 9

In: E.Fowler, C.Taylor
Out: T.Brown (illness), A.Downie (omitted)

Match preview:

https://www.womens.afl/news/114406/crows-v-pies-sf-preview-survival-of-the-fittest-for-two-similar-sides

[Dark Beanie]

Big thumbs up to this:

https://www.womens.afl/news/114461/not-done-yet-evergreen-pie-ready-to-go-again-in-star-studded-backline

And this:

https://www.womens.afl/news/114414/it-shows-how-far-we-ve-come-brazill-takes-positives-from-delayed-start?_ga=2.157840382.557465710.1668115551-1477183872.1642138805

[Dark Beanie]

Pies will have to be at there absolute best to get over the line today.

After 2 tough games in the heat, fatigue will be a factor. Against the Bulldogs the girls ran out of legs in the last quarter and almost got overrun.

Need full game contributions from Frederick & Chiocci who I think have had average seasons.

Our backline strength will be tested as the Crows midfield will be getting the ball in quickly, Chelsea Randall is not playing but the Crows have plenty of quality players and scoring options.

Hoping for the best but this may be the end of season for the Pies.

[Dark Beanie]

Lightning has delayed start of the match.

Now scheduled to start @ 3.40pm (SA), 4.10pm (Vic time)

[What'sinaname]

Looks like everyone at the ground died at quarter time

[What'sinaname]

Needed to do more in Q3.

Game is out of reach now.

[Presti35]

Bit of a farce with all the delays and the huge puddles of water in parts of the ground.

The wind was obviously a huge advantage for the team kicking left of screen. We didnt take out opportunities when we had the wind.

I swear the coaches need to tell them you dont have to bomb it every time.

Adelaide wanted it more and their chasing and tackling won the game.

[Presti35]

Also, Chloe taking forever to have a shot at the end of the third. If you can't make the goal, then look for a closer target.

[Presti35]

Also annoyed that we took injured players into the game. That ended up hurting us. Yes it would be hard to replace a player like Ruby, but it would be better having a fit player out there than someone at 50% and missing parts of the game.

[Monco Matt]

Conditions were atrocious and took away from the spectacle immensely. But the simple fact of the matter was that we are and were not good enough. After 7 years in the competition, we are yet to pull a flag calibre team together.

Much like the problem with the men's team for 70 years (with the exception of 2 years), we try to succeed with imbalanced teams. The girls try their best but as a collective they are not equipped to beat the best. Key forwards are either undersized or out of shape and are ineffective against the best. Midfielders do not cover the ground well enough, and the defenders are a bit slow. Again, this is against the best, not against the bottom teams They need bigger bodies in key positions and a few more athletic girls in the midfield, then they could seriously challenge. You have to get the team balance right otherwise it is too hard to go all the way with good honest triers. There is always one or two teams that have the list capable, and they win premierships.

The season achieved what I expected. Another finals appearance but not the ultimate. Recruitment needs a new strategy.