AFLW ROUND 7 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/2

                          

The Saints pull out another Jeckyll performance to go with some of their Hyde's so far this year with the greatest 3/4 time comeback in AFLW history.

The Power really need to develop a possession game as they were -8% in possession over the course of the game with a mammoth -31% in the 4th quarter when they should have been protecting the lead and slowing game right down.

In their other games this year they've been -9% (medium loss), -17% (big loss), +16% (big win), -4% (medium loss), -1% (close win) and -7% (close loss) so if they stay within 5% then they'll be a chance every week. 

The Tigers were right in this for a half but always seemed a matter of time before the Lions put the foot down and they did, with the Tigers fine when they could get a forward half game but their end to end transition is struggling a fair bit.

Today we look at:

• Bonnici Loses Fitzgerald
• Blackburn Gets Out the Back
• Wilcox Defense
• Port Forward Press Defense
• Saints Defensive Running Feeding Their Offense
• Lambert Block for Wardlaw
• Richmond Not Knowing the Numbers Game

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AFLW ROUND 7 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/2

                                   

Some interesting results again this week, specifically implicating the middle section of the ladder with 4 teams in 4 wins and another 3 teams on 3 wins spanning ladder spots 6th to 12th although I still expect just the single team to come into the 8, of any (Geelong).

The Hawks won once again with relative low scoring but +17% for time in possession and allowing just 20 inside 50's to the Cats which if you've seen my running Twitter thread, isn't not enough to win games in AFLW.

The Geelong/Carlton game is a literal 8 point game this coming Sunday.

Essendon finally showed something resembling their first 3 games against the Roos but total class simply too over but North did give up their highest score against since the 2023 Grand Final, incidentally their last loss as well, but it's not called Windy Hill for no reason, so funny scoring can happen at that ground.

Last week I plead for the Dogs to fee their offense and they did, posting maybe the most surprising score of the year in 10.5.65.

So far this year they've scored 14pts with 1 goal, 42 with 6, 10 with 1, 33 with 4, 29 with 3 and 22 with 3 so to score 3 games worth of goals in a single game was definitely not on the radar.

The Pies on the other hand couldn't maintain their consistency from previous weeks.

In their last 2 games v Sydney (convincing win) and Hawthorn (9pt loss but should have won) they started to develop a team profile with clearances +20 combined in both games, contested possessions +14, uncontested possessions +66, 63/62 marks respectively and 62/61 tackles shoeing they were competing hard inside but also managing to get the ball to the outside and play some possession/tempo footy - not usually associated with the Pies of late.

Against the Dogs that flipped to clearances -17, contested possession -33, uncontested possession -42, marks down to 39 but tackles and a mammoth 95 - shoeing they barley had control of the ball and were chasing tail most of the night.

Can they regain their developing profile v the Eagles next round?

Today we look at:

• Georgie Prespakis is Elite at Ground Balls
• Hawthorn Inside 50's x 2
• Geelong Run from Behind Out of Defensive 50
• North Melbourne at Center Bounce x 2
• Western Bulldogs at Center Bounce
• Collingwood Lacking Patience 

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AFLW ROUND 6 GAME ANALYSIS PART 3/3

At the moment the Demons are the 2nd best side in at the moment although I feel everyone is playing second fiddle to North Melbourne!

Their handball game to get overlap then kicking to their multiple marking targets inside 50 will even the test, if they can break-even at the clearance game.

West Coast are again a touch inconsistent but are probably even younger than last year and there's definite improvement there but they'll probably just kiss finals for mine.

Richmond are all in sorts after really only losing Sheerin from last year but have also missed Grace Egan who returned in this game (both midfielders) and look disconnected all across the ground.

The Dogs again played a style to keep them in games and not necessarily win them where this time last year they had 2 wins at a % of 50.1 and this season they are at 1 win at 61.7 , with scores of 14, 10, 22 and 29 so far this year so let's hope they repeat last season and free the offense in the 2nd half of the season.

Adelaide have reached their traditional level of play after the shock loss in round 1 to the Saints but purely won this game out of talent and a far more mature playing list - the Suns had them for most of the day until a burst of 4 goals in just 5:45mins of playing time!

Suns have a lot of talent up there though and have shown a fair bit the last fortnight to suggest they're on the right track.

Today we look at:

• West Coast Missing Feedback Handball
• Richmond Offense Exposing Their Defense
• Bulldogs Giving Up Corridor 3 Times in a Row
• Ponter Leading Patterns
• Gold Coast at Stoppage
• Gold Coast Play Switch Fail
• Harris Turn of Speed

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AFLW ROUND 6 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/3

The Pies upset the Swans last week but I didn't think they could back it up, especially with Grace Campbell missing who applies a great deal pressure of them and allows them to reset at stoppage.

The Hawks are just going but still winning on talent alone as their system is nothing like last year at this point.

The Pies won disposals, kicks, inside 50's, uncontested possessions and marks - all signs of good ball movement - something usually reserved for the Hawks, not the Pies.

They also had more scoring shots so they'd be kicking themselves they didn't win this one and then be even on points for 8th position. 

Today we look at:

• Collingwood Play On Handball Fail
• Collingwood Kicking to an Empty Forward 50
• Collingwood Forward Half Defense into Offense
• Collingwood Caught Defending Boundary Side
• Bonnici Loses Bates
• Freo Forward Press Defense

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AFLW ROUND 6 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/3

North Melbourne are still North Melbourne but what does what they do look compared to some of the other teams?

That's this focus of part 1 of the round 6 game analysis today.

Their ball movement is the crown of their kit where their ability to position themselves in relation to the ball carrier far and away the best in the comp.

It's not like their picking off corridor kicks with low retention rates either - they're positioning allows them to move the ball via relatively easy kicks over and over again.

Their constant movement around the ball carriers gets opposition defenses in a spin themselves and once that gap opens up, they find it and punish you right through it.

Today we look at:

• Collingwood with good ball movement but poor spacing off the ball
• North Creating and Utilising a 3v2 x 2
• Richmond creating a 3v2 but fail to utilise it or even seeming to recognise it
• Prespakis Overlap = Outnumber
• The last 2 look at North Melbourne on offense which you can compare to the Collingwood clip in the main video
• North Melbourne Offense x 2

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PRELIM FINALS GAME ANALYSIS

We had a couple of cracker Prelim finals on the weekend with what I think are the 2 best teams left to play in the Grand Final.

The Hawks got off to an absolute flyer and had pretty much everything on their terms until ironically, Tom Stewart went down and then it all started to click for the Cats.

It was almost like they then started to increase pressure as they didn't have him to cut everything off if they didn't.

Hawks were just to small around the ball and once the Cats cut off those exits to their high half forwards then too much was left to Newcombe on his own.After a 50/50 1st half from Brisbane and Collingwood it looked like the Pies had all the momentum but went to sleep at half time and the Lions had 1 of those quarters they have when they're best is the best in the league.

So now we're left with Geelong who haven't had a competitive 4 quarter effort against them since the GWS loss back in July and Brisbane who have played teams vying for or in the 8 for every game since July as well.

If Brisbane can pressure the Cats and take advantage of their scoring opportunities then they have a massive chance but the Danger factor is definitely lingering over this one.

This will be the 4th time they've played this year (Brisbane 2-1 up) where they have kept him to 16 and 2.1, 15 and 0.3 and 19 and 0.0 so it does seem they have been able to contain him but this is a different Danger right now.

Heart says Brisbane, Head says Cats!!

From the Prelims we look at:

• Hawks Avoiding Tom Stewart 
• Hawks Scouting Geelong Kick Outs
• Geelong High Half Forwards
• Collingwood Center Bounce Clearance
• Cameron Ruck Run

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THE INDIVIDUAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Earlier this week this clip was part of the game analysis from this week:

In the game analysis video I said I'd revisit this and the decision making process around it so first, the clip unedited:

Let'as break this down action-by-action.

ACTION #1 - GIVING THE INITIAL HANDBALL

ACTION #2 - RECEIVING THE HANDBALL

ACTION #3 - CLARKE'S 1ST DECISION

ACTION #4 - CLARKE'S 2ND DECISION

ACTION #5 - THE RESULT

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FOOTY FINALS SALE - COACHING MODERN FOOTBALL

                                               

NOTE - SALE ENDS SEPTEMBER 29TH!

I made the 3 game analysis posts free this week (1, 2 and 3) to give you all a look at what you can expect from the Coaching Modern Football chapters, but by 100x!

This week we looked at clips covering:

• Kick Out Strategies
• Creating/Utilising Length
• Center Bounce Clearance
• Forward Play'
• Wing Play
• Micro Moments
• Overlap

That's 7 of the 17 chapters that you can choose from to make up your own package at discounted prices.

Each chapter shows exactly what that aspect of play looks like via game vision and images as well as training suggestions for you to implement it yourself - there's simply nothing like this available to community coaches so this will be a real leg-up for those that take this huge opportunity.

And of course you have access to me to clear anything up you need help with.

Don't wait until November to up-skill - that time is now.

Click this link for full details.

AFLW ROUND 5 GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/2

Here's part 2 for AFLW Round 5 Game Analysis.

POOR ESSENDON FORWARD CRAFT

NO RICHMOND HANDOVER

MISSED ADELAIDE HANDBALL

BRISBANE GIVING NORTH MELBOURNE OVERLAP

BRISBANE HIGH HALF FORWARDS

AFLW ROUND 5 GAME ANALYSIS PART 1/2

The 2026 AFLW season has had a temporary surge of life with 6 of 9 games resulting in upset wins.

With only 12 games, a single 8 point swing can be huge and with West Coast/Essendon losing as teams placed 7th and 8th, it has really opened things up for Bris/Gee/PA/St Kilda to scrape into the 8 if they can beat who they need to.

Let's see who can used this round to their advantage and who doesn't.

This week each video will be posted individually so let's get into it.

GOLD COAST CENTER BOUNCE

TARNI EVANS LEADING PATTERNS

HOWLEY FAT SIDE WING RUN

WHY WE NEED 18/TEAM ON THE GROUND

EXCELLENT ESSENDON FORWARD CRAFT

INDIVIDUAL DECISION MAKING

ADELAIDE v HAWTHORN GAME ANALYSIS (FREE)

It was looking for shaky for the Crows after losing the 1st week of finals and it didn't get any better, with the look of being a great system team which stacks up week after week in the regular season but lacking creativity which are the moments that turns and wins finals. 

The Hawks have timed their turn as good as Geelong have, playing the very best football when you want to be. They're also very interesting as they aren't doing at all like last year, focusing on mammoth pressure at the contest then playing a forward half game but they were due to shift their style a bit with 2 key defenders coming into the team.

They are a big chance against Geelong but have a had a huge 6 weeks already playing Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne, Brisbane, GWS and Adelaide again v Collingwood's 1 game since August 22nd!

In this game we look at:

• Hawks Using Numbers from a Kick Out
• Hawks Being Adaptable on the Fly on Kick Out
• Keane's Below Average 1v1 Defense
• Adelaide Lengthening the Ground

NM/COLL + WC/PA AFLW GAME ANALYSIS

North are North.

The Pies on the other hand have been a lot more competitive this season but still lack anything more than average ball movement fluency and scoring power but are blooding young talent so they know where they're at and that's a positive in itself.

The Eagles continue their solid form, beating 2 teams who will probably finish in the middle 6 so that gives them the leg up for a finals berth although my tip is 8th spot will come down to West Coast v Carlton in the last round as the very last game of the regular season in Perth so look out for that.

Port have seen the biggest drop after 7 wins and making a prelim last year to the single win this year so far with losses to Freo and West Coast already, 8-point games in the scheme of a 12 game season and 18 teams.

Don't forget about the Footy Finals Sale for the Coaching Modern Football where you can choose and make up your own package of the 17 chapters yourself - this will end September 29th.

Today we look at:

• North Melbourne Forward Press Defense
• West Coast Forwards x 2
• Port Allergic to Handball

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CAR/WB + HAW/STK + ESS/GEE AFLW GAME ANALYSIS

The Hawks won once again but still haven't produced the offense they did last year but with territory demons like Fleming and Gilroy to still play in 2026, they'll be right there when the whips are cracking.

The Saints have been a disappointment so far this season with established players and all parts of the ground and a club-best win against Adelaide in round 1, but then delivering very little since then and finals are slipping away, already losing to West Coast who is vying for a similar ladder spot then them come finals time.

I could repeat the same about Essendon pretty much verbatim even with a solid win-loss so far, but having played 3 teams in the bottom 6 of the ladder already. The Cats look like they may pulled themselves out of the early-season slump they were in and after losing a close one v the Swans last week, got win #1 with a convincing win in this one. 

Today we look at:

• Marginal Errors by the Bulldogs  
• Hawks at Center Bounce
• Hawthorn Compact to Expansive
• St Kilda Going Inside Forward 50
• Parry Run

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GOLD COAST/GWS + CARLTON/WESTERN BULLDOGS AFLW GAME ANALYSIS

I've had too much faith in GWS's ball movement which was adequate last year in being able to transition from defensive 50 to forward 50, albeit not being great at converting that transition into scoring and after picking them to beat Collingwood and Gold Coast, I'm off them from now on!

I thought the out of Charlie Rowbottom was too big of a hole for them to fill so quickly, but again I was wrong as they dominated this game from the outset as you'll see in the video.

The Blues keep impressing in 2026 with an impressive % of 135 which must be a high for them in their AFLW history and the Dogs are staying in games without winning many of them with a % of 67, showing the difference in game styles between those 2 sides.

Today we look at:

• Gold Coast at the  Opening Center Bounce 
• Whitfort Run
• GWS Forwards x 2
• Carlton Expansive Ball Movement

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10 NEW STREAMLINE TRAINING ACTIVITIES WHITEBOARD EDITION

                                       

After posting 171 streamline activities with just a brief written description, I've now probably got more diagram activities in my files that I haven't posted, then written one's.

Today introduces the first whiteboard edition which are still streamlined but require a visual to get started, with activities #172 - #181 consisting a simple image with a diagram and a quick explanation.

#172 - RISK v REWARD

#173 - 4v3 to SCORE

#174 - 4+2 v 4

#175 - TRANSITION PATIENCE

#176 - SWITCH RONDO

#177 - 5v3 END to END

#178 - USE WINGS

#179 - DEPTH KICKING

#180 - +1 ADVANTAGE

#181 - 2 DIRECTIONS

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ROUND 3 AFLW GAME ANALYSIS PART 3/3

                               

The Hawks are mirroring their men's team for 2025, winning but not convincing anyone and the Dogs are having a crack and making the ground small so teams can't break them on the outside (4th for contested possessions), hence the 10-14 scoreline from this one.

Freo have pulled extraordinary by allowing 100pts 2 weeks in a row with their defense in all sorts, allowing teams easy scoring shots (20.9 in the past 2 games) while allowing 44 scores from 95 forward 50 entries and things get any easier against an offensively-charged Sydney this week either.

North are North.

Now to the Blues who have pulled a 180 from past years with how they play. Some notes I texted to a mate were Harrington playing further up the ground as an exit point, defense staying goal side of the Lions forwards and not allowing out the back transition goals except for a short period in the 2nd quarter, mids/half forwards putting on elite pressure in the middle of the ground allowing intercept marks in defensive 50 and more expansive player positioning and ball movement which allows for players to lead into/find more space meaning kicks across the ground are easier than trying to pinpoint a 30/70 option in a small part of the ground like past year's.

In this final video of the week we look at:

• Bulldogs Allowing Hawks Goal Side
• North Melbourne Numbers
• Carlton Defense to Offense
• Carlton Hunt

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ROUND 3 AFLW GAME ANALYSIS PART 2/3

                                   

The Eagles are overflowing with young talent and with Daisy Pearce at the helm, they aren't that far away with Ella Roberts quickly rising into a top 5 player in the league.

The Saints are inconsistent like always by doubling Adelaide's score for a win in round 1, having their own score 5'ed (that's a real term) in round 2 and then allowing a 35 point swing in this game for a 2nd loss - yet they can still play finals with their draw.

Port were disappointing in round 1 v Freo who have gone on to allow 100pts twice in the next 2 games themselves before finding form v Gold Coast who fought harder than the scoreboard suggested.

In today's video we look at:

• Saints' Homework on West Coast's Ruck Dominance
• West Coast Collapsing in at Contest
• Port Forwards Creating Length
• A Simply Frightening Matilda Scholz Run

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