GREATER Western Sydney forward Nicola Barr wasn't fazed when coach Alan McConnell singled her out in his round three post-match press conference after a poor loss to North Melbourne.

It's part and parcel of the respectful relationship the pair have for each other.

"Nic Barr is another one. Early in the game, she had some half-chances, and fumbled or got pushed off the ball, and in the last quarter, they couldn't keep up [with her]," McConnell said.

"That's symptomatic of our team, the game isn't always on your terms, and when it's not, you have to fight better than we fight in those moments. As a coach, I have to give them techniques and strategies to do that."

Barr responded in style the following week, kicking not just her first AFLW goal, but three in total against the Western Bulldogs in the 21-point win, topping the AFLCA votes for the game.

"In the lead-up to the game this week, he went through the team, and he was going through the forward line, and he said, 'who's the odd one out? Nic is, she's the only one who can't mark'," Barr said with a laugh.

"I was like, thanks for that, Alan. We've obviously got some fantastic talent up forward in terms of contested marking, it's probably not what I'm there to do.

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"I didn't listen to the press conference (of her own accord), I don't normally listen to them. Al and I have a really great relationship, and what he said there wasn't a surprise to me at all. I (later) listened back to it because people had said things, but none of that is a shock to me. 

"He's gone a lot harder to me [privately], and the thing with Alan – and he said this to me – he would never ask any player to do something he didn't think they could do. And I know that. 

"I've probably given myself a narrative of being an outside runner, and not as good in the contest, but I've really tried to change that around and I think it's probably a bit of self-belief."

Barr had an interrupted pre-season to say the least, dislocating her shoulder after slipping over in a wet training session in October (deciding to avoid surgery for now) before contracting COVID just before Christmas.

Having never played forward before this year – even at AFL Sydney level prior to the AFLW – Barr found herself on Friday as a senior member of a side which had been hit by AFL health and safety protocols to a number of experienced players.

Georgie Fowler, Brodee Mowbray and Casidhe Simmons made their debuts while Ally Dallaway, Jess Doyle, Ally Morphett, Brid Stack and Emily Pease had played between one and three matches before facing the Dogs.

"I was really pleased with how we all turned up on Friday night at Henson Park. We obviously had a few last-minute changes, and we'd had a tough week anyway," Barr said.

"The focus for us was to have fun and 'try, try again', that was what we were saying throughout the week. Alan likes a good story, and we were talking about what kids like to do, and they just like to 'try, try again'. So we said it didn't matter if you make a mistake, just keep going for it."

Speaking on Tuesday morning, before the AFL announced GWS' game against St Kilda had been postponed due to a lack of numbers, Barr said things were looking promising.

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"I know what those girls are going through at the moment. It's just one of those things, it's a pandemic, things change really quickly, and the most important thing is that the girls feel OK and rested and fully recovered by the time they go into the next game," Barr said.

"So far, so good, I think most of the girls are feeling a lot better, which is great. I think they're all tracking pretty well."

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