AFLW agenda: All the hits and misses from week five

From an inconceivable technology failure to what two memorable clashes taught us about the premiership race, Eliza Reilly runs through the week’s hits and misses in AFLW Agenda.

From an inconceivable technology failure to an unrealistic target and what two memorable clashes taught us about the 2024 premiership race, Eliza Reilly runs through the hits and misses from Week 5 n the AFLW Agenda.

MISSES

NOT SO SMART BALL

When the AFL tells you at the start of the season that its new ball tracking technology is “99 per cent accurate,” you’d really hope that the one per cent isn’t consequential. Instead, the only imaginable worse scenario than what unfolded in week five is if it happened in a final or grand final. Gold Coast was robbed of its first win of the season after the ‘smart’ ball overturned Jamie Stanton’s goal against Collingwood. Not only did the technology stuff up but so did the layer of human intervention designed to validate the ball’s conclusion.

#aflwpiessuns In a game that @GoldCoastSUNS lost by just 3, this goal by Jamie Stanton was over-ruled by smart-ball technology which reckons the ball was touched. I can't see a touch & the Pies defender doesn't react as though she touched it. Hey @afl can u please explain this? pic.twitter.com/Br7L8D9Nhq

— David P (@David_Paul_B) September 27, 2024

A Score Assist Officer stationed at the Swinburne Centre viewed just one angle of vision before deciding that the technology had it right. If it was the replay that was broadcast on Fox Footy, the Score Assist Officer should visit an optometrist. Further angles were available at the time of the review but weren’t inspected until halftime and by then it was too late. While it’s plausible that new technology might occasionally get it wrong, it’s inconceivable that both layers of protection could fail so miserably. Another school of thought is that the chip shouldn’t be in action until it’s 100 per cent accurate given that the AFLW is an elite sporting competition and shouldn’t be subjected to experimental technology. Fans might be more forthcoming if we could see graphics that explain how the ball has reached certain conclusions. Until then, ball tracking technology is the AFL’s version of the emperor’s new clothes.

Collingwood players sing the team song after a controversial win over Gold Coast. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

While the AFL Players’ Association has successfully negotiated with the AFL to have a raft of midweek games and ‘inopportune’ timeslots excluded from AFLW growth metrics, the current benchmarks are still unachievable …. some think intentionally so. The 2025 AFLW season will increase from 11 to 12 home and away matches. But the players want more games and they won’t get them unless we see an average of 6000 attendance at games and 100,000 broadcast viewers. The league has not exceeded an average crowd of 6000 since its third season in 2019. The AFL would’ve known this and still set parameters that are destined to fail.

Less than 1000 people attended the game between North Melbourne and Port Adelaide at 5pm on a Friday night in the pouring rain. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

It’s hard to pinpoint why there’s been a more than 60 per cent downturn in crowds in the last five years but the change to the season start date and expansion, spreading the AFLW fan base would have to be considerations. Instead, where is the creativity and attempts to boost attendance? On grand final weekend, four games were fixtures back-to-back across Melbourne on Friday starting in Richmond and ending in Footscray. Why not let the AFLW take over Marvel Stadium, a venue owned by the AFL, on the public holiday? Thousands would’ve flooded through the gates for a triple or even quadruple-header. Instead, Marvel Stadium was moonlighting as a driving range. It’s time to stop setting the competition up for failure and give the metrics a chance to be met.

It's great that some of the more inaccessible games at hard-to-get-to times are being excluded from the metrics, but a lot of AFLW venues being used right now don't even have a capacity of 6,000. How can this realistically be reached? https://t.co/aDoPb9lj1r

— Marnie Vinall (@marnievinall) September 30, 2024

ERA OVER

After a 65-point loss to Essendon last week, I think we can safely say that Melbourne’s premiership window has been slammed shut. The Demons have won just one game so far this season, a two-point thriller against Geelong in week one, and they currently have the third-worst percentage in the league at 47.9. Melbourne has been absolutely slammed by injuries which has handicapped its ability to be competitive. Tayla Harris was ruled out for the season after one game with a shoulder injury. We haven’t seen Olivia Purcell after she suffered a horrific facial fracture in a pre-season game. Blaithin Mackin, Lauren Pearce and Eden Zanker are all still a few weeks away and the Demons injury list currently stands at 12.

The Demons celebrate after winning Season 7 of the AFLW in 2022. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

That’s not to mention an off-season exodus of talent, Melbourne farewelling Libby Birch (North Melbourne), Maddi Gay (Essendon), Casey Sherriff and Eliza West (Hawthorn). But when we reflect back on Melbourne’s era of contention which yielded one premiership back in season seven, it’s hard not to feel as though the Demons underachieved. Melbourne has boasted close to the best list in the AFLW for much of its existence, headlined by pioneer Daisy Pearce. They just missed the grand final in the first two seasons of the competition and copped a difficult conference in 2019. The Demons made finals for the first time in 2020, reaching a preliminary final only for the season to be cancelled. Then in the next four years, they reached a preliminary final (2021), grand final only to lose to Adelaide (2022 S6), a premiership (2022 S7) and a semi-final (2023). When you compare the Demons to the Crows (three premierships) and Brisbane (two) across the same stretch, just one flag seems unders.

Melbourne Demons captain Daisy Pearce speaks after the 2022 premiership. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

HITS

MAGNIFICENT MORRO

In a season where we’ve again lost several stars to season-ending ACL injuries, it was only fair that we got one back. Fremantle forward Mikayla Morrison has spent 973 days on the sidelines after suffering back-to-back ACL ruptures, finally returning against Geelong on Tuesday. The 22-year-old was first sidelined in March 2022 after injuring her left knee at training.

Mikayla Morrison made her return from injury after nearly three years. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It also happened to be her birthday and she missed the Dockers’ finals campaign after playing four games that season. Then during the first fortnight of pre-season last year, Morrison ruptured the ACL in her right knee, also at training, after innocuously pushing back off the mark. It’s been a long wait but it was all worth it to see Morrison drenched in Gatorade post-match by her teammates. Morrison will be better for the run after finishing with three disposals but her first, a long kick inside 50, led to a Tunisha Kikoak goal. The Dockers love Morrison’s silky skills and X-Factor and with continuity, she could play a big role in Fremantle’s bid to return to finals.

Mikayla Morrison makes her AFLW return after 973 days out due to knee injuries 💜#AFLWCatsFreopic.twitter.com/4DgjI5EouS

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 1, 2024

CLASH OF THE TITANS

The big four have become the feared three this season but Adelaide and Brisbane proved on Sunday they’re still worth the price of admission. With Melbourne dropping off the pace in 2024, last year’s runners-up North Melbourne are the other obvious premiership threat. But the aforementioned pair may have given us a grand final preview at Brighton Homes Arena.

The Brisbane Lions sing the team song after their Round 5 win. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It’s the fifth game between the two perennial contenders that’s been decided by less than a kick. This, the 12th chapter in a thrilling rivalry, was a contest forged on equal parts frenetic pressure and skill with Brisbane pair Taylor Smith and Dakota Davidson rising late to extend Brisbane’s premiership party.

A Captain's mark! Breanna Koenen with the game-saver!! 😤#AFLWLionsCrowspic.twitter.com/NC3aunJX23

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 29, 2024

Some fans might be sick of the same teams competing for the flag year after year. But it’s worth stepping back and marvelling at how these powerhouses have continued to thrive when equalisation measures have demanded otherwise. We might not see a trio of teams dominate like this ever again and their footy speaks for itself. We also have a clash between Adelaide and North Melbourne to look forward to in week nine.

CLINIC AT THE CATTERY

For completely different reasons to the Brisbane vs. Adelaide game, Hawthorn’s 18-point victory over Geelong was just as watchable. The Cats have played again since and the Hawks will do battle on Wednesday but it’s hard to forget the freewheeling, end-to-end spectacle the AFLW was treated to last Wednesday.

Jasmine Fleming and the Hawks celebrate their win over the Cats. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

A combined 21 goals were scored by both teams and there were several instances of individual brilliance, headlined by Aishling Moloney’s snap for goal over her shoulder from 35m out. It was one of three goals she kicked on the night. Experts declared the clash one of, if not the best game of AFLW they’ve seen and it’s hard to argue. Both teams are playing an enjoyable brand of footy and it’s a testament to the mammoth amount of work players have done in the off-season to improve their skills and allow for the sort of ball movement we saw at GMHBA Stadium.

HOLY MOLONEY! YOU CAN'T BE DOING THAT 🤯#AFLWCatsHawkspic.twitter.com/YDRh9JyOmQ

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 26, 2024

Originally published as AFLW agenda: All the hits and misses from week five