AFLW R6A 2024: Essendon v Sydney Swans, 7.15pm Wed 2 Oct Whitten Oval

[Meg]

SYDNEY

In: Giselle Davies, Brenna Tarrant, Brooke Lochland, Maddy Collier, Bella Smith
Out: Hayley Bullas, Ally Morphett (foot), Paige Sheppard, Eliza Vale, Aimee Whelan

Sadly Ally Morphett confirmed out for the rest of the season with a foot fracture. Montana Ham is also out again this week with ongoing foot soreness.

The team will again wear the red V jumper.

This is the Swans first match in the split round 6. They will play the second in Round 6B at Henson Park next Sunday afternoon.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Thanks Meg.
Back to Whitten Oval. Doesn't rain but it bloody pours. Bombers took the Dees to pieces last round.
Presparkis v Gardner will be interesting.
Bella & Giselle have been added to try to cover for Ally.
Ella Heads names on the wing, typo?
Lochland is playing, let's see if she has much left.
I'm not overflowing with confidence, but hope things go OK. Regardless I'll be at Henson on the 6th - cheering them on. The BOM says it'll be a beautifull day.

[mcs]

Good effort in the end by the ladies - a bit stiff not to find a way to win it. Fight has been there again, but we really struggle for any reliable, consistent route to goal at the moment. But doing okay given all the outs!

[Meg]

Agree with the post above by mcs. So close at the end, and I so badly wanted the win for some good news after the gloom of men gf and today re Parker. But not to be……

Gardiner is a gun though !

[Ruck'n'Roll]

The team did far better than I expected.
Gardner is a gun, but Hurley also got a lot of the ball and uses it extremely well.
Heads was named on the wing and she played there filling in for Ham. It's an experiment that is definitely worth pursuing - especially if the defence can hold together without her.
Giselle and Lexi seemed to be either on the ball or the bench this week, no resting up forward. Which left Bella Smith as the only alternative presence up forward, she didn't add much, we realy need a 2nd target up there.

[Meg]

I agree with all your post RnR. I am really impressed with Gowans’ nous as a coach and his preparedness to try different tactics and players in different positions. And what appears to be his excellent communication with the players. I think he did describe the squad last year as ‘very coachable’ (hungry to learn). I doubt Longmire is saying tne same about the men at the moment …

As a side observation, I am really impressed by the care with which (on the whole) the players tackle their opposition to the ground. It occurs to me that the fact that women don’t have the same strength as men might mean they don’t unwittingly use forceful and dangerous sling tackles.

[Meg]

Well bit of post-game action ….

Tanya Kennedy, Cynthia Hamilton and Lexi Hamilton each fined $100 for that (rather entertaining) melee that broke out after Maddy Prespakis’s very late bump on Sofia Hurley. Prespakis, Scott, Vogt and Walker from Essendon also fined same amount for their part in the scuffle.

Montana Beruldsen was fined $250 for striking Mia Busch and Laura Gardiner fined $100 for making careless contact with an umpire. (Ha, umps keep out of the way of our superstar!)

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Melee fine was money well spent