Almanac Women’s Footy: A League of Their Own

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well here we are in “AFLW7” but I suspect I started to write this after the very first AFLW game in 2017, between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park with such a huge crowd the AFL had not expected.

 

There have been highs and lows. That memorable Grand Final at the Adelaide Oval with 50,000 seeing the Crows beat Carlton – only GF we’ve been in for a while!

 

It’s been great to get back to suburban footy – especially at Princes Park!

 

I think the women should play a different style focusing on moving the ball forward rather than necessarily taking possession until you can get someone in the clear.

 

Given my intense loyalty, it has been painful to see so many players changing clubs.

 

I also don’t like the way the competition has been imposed from the top down rather than building on the pre-existing VFLW. This brings us to the heart of the matter – does the AFL really care about women? Might it not be better to build on the existing clubs rather than these startups attached to AFL men’s clubs? I mean I love having another Carlton team to cheer but feel that the hard-won core of women’s football has been disrespected. Surely respect in this area is vital.

 

It would be interesting to see what a league run by women for women would look like.

 

It is a step forward to play in winter/spring rather than summer but just as the AFLM lacks integrity with not all teams playing each other home and away, the AFLW does not see all teams playing each other even once!

 

I wonder when AFLW 8 will be!

 

 

Read more articles on women’s footy HERE.

 

 

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