Is Ellyse Perry good for women’s sport? Of course she is, you say. She is a young, multi-talented, charismatic sportswoman with looks and personality to boot.
Everyone nationwide (and probably worldwide) would love to have the ability to represent their nation in two sports simultaneously.
However, just because she can, should she? Is it a good look for women’s sport in the country, or does it make it look a bit, well, amateurish?
The reason this writer is posing the question is recently, and not for the first time, the 22-year-old Perry had to choose between football and cricket.
On the 19th of January, Perry had to choose between appearing in the W-League football semi with Sydney FC or the T20 Cricket Final with the Sydney Breakers.
Perry chose to stay defender rather than bowler, and played for Sydney FC.
Yet a week later, Perry ditched the Sky Blues to join her Southern Star teammates (including Roar Expert Lisa Sthalekar) in their quest to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup, missing out on playing in the W-League final in the process.
In trying to please everybody, she has pleased nobody. It has shown that the W-League and Sydney FC is more important than Sydney Breakers and domestic cricket, but the most important day of women’s domestic football is cheapened in comparison to international cricket.
Each time Perry had to choose between the two, she inadvertently cheapened the value of the other.
What if Perry had committed to travelling to Cricket World Cup then injured herself in the semi-finals of the soccer? Selectors would have been fuming.
I wonder what Sydney FC think, know that the first thing Perry has done in the off-season is injured herself with the Southern Stars? Surely, if you want to play international cricket, shouldn’t you show yourself to be a good domestic cricketer, not one who might or might not play on a whim?
It reminds me of the days when many footballers played cricket in their off-season, up until the 80s and early 90s. It just seems unprofessional.
It is an antiquated ideal to just be able to turn up and be talented enough to make it, a bit like the early Olympic runners in the 1900s who would have a cigar on the side of the track as they ran.
It’s cute and nice, but doesn’t seem right in the modern day. AFL footballers cannot even play in local grade cricket any more. Surely that is the standard of professionalism that should be shown?
Imagine if Quade Cooper’s boxing debut had fallen on the same week as the opening round of the Super Rugby – the bout simply would not have happened, or Quade might have been a Tri-Colour from Sydney rather than a Red from Queensland.
I don’t agree with the whole Quade and Sonny Bill boxing thing either, why risk injuries and contract value? Did it take away from their proper training?
And how much training is Perry missing out on, given the lack of obvious transferable skills between football and cricket?
There are some obvious counters to this proposed argument. The main one is money. Female domestic cricketers and footballers in Australia are on semi-professional wages at best. The W-League salary cap for each team is less than 20% of the male teams.
I totally agree that it is not fair. Ellyse should absolutely make the most income from her sporting life that she can; if I was in her boat I would do the same if only for the sake of my bank account.
The other argument is that Perry is generating publicity for female sport. It is true, though I would be one pretty annoyed powerbroker if she was talking about her cricket commitments at a Sydney FC press conference.
The thing is, we want to see women’s sport be just as professional, and with as much quality as men, but when you see Perry skipping finals to go play other sports, it is just not a good look in a professional sense for the sports as a whole.
For women’s sport to grow, it needs to shake off the 1970s notion that it is a gimmick, and show the chauvinists that it is a genuine option for the sports lover to watch. Having players skipping games to play other codes definitely does not show that.
Is their solution to this Perry-plexing conundrum? The ideal is to create another Ellyse Perry, and have one for bowling, one for dribbling. However, cloning is not yet viable.
Perry is a star, but she needs to be a star for one sport, and be identified with one sport. So do some of the other talents, from both football and cricket, and any other female code trying to breathe in the mainstream sports media.
Create some household names, like Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox did for Netball, and Lauren Jackson for the WNBL.
Use these players to create interest in the game, and get people to have a look. Grow the sport into fully professional codes over time. Keep people hooked with the skills of the participants, not the fact one is a quality athlete who can play another sport as well.
Eloise
Guest
Consider this: If you were given the same opportunities as pez would u take them or leave them? I'm pretty sure that I would take them! Being a sportsperson I would do anything to be in her position! I play multiple sports and If I could play them all for Australia then I would! Perry knows that the time may come where she might have to make a decision but for know she is just enjoying what she does and making the most of every opportunity that comes her way! If there are clubs that are happy to accommodate for her requirements then there should be no problems. No questions asked. Women don't even get paid half of what the men do. All of them have other jobs outside of sport. Until they are getting paid a reasonable amount of money there should be no question of 'professionalism' I certainly don't think that it's very professional if men get paid a couple million for winning a World Cup but in contrast the women get paid a couple hundred thousand. They are still representing our country. I would actually prefer to have channel 9 broadcast the women's games and watch that instead of the men(many people have commented things like this on utube as well) I hate it when the women's World Cup final is on and u can't watch it because you don't have foxtel so then u have to find websites that are broadcasting it live (in bad quality it's not in HD trust me!) I really don't think that this is a very valid argument. As u can probably tell ellyse perry is my idol <3 I get frustrated over articles like this because I aspire to be like pez every day! I want to play for Australia and I have always been told that women don't get paid much and it's not going to set you up very well and you need a backup job etc. and I am actually sick of it. I just want everyone to be able to play sport and do what they enjoy and not have to worry about having enough money. I love you pez! Never stop what you are doing! Keep going until the time feels right for you. You will know when the decision had to be made <3 good luck with your ankle recovery! I was shocked when I found out u were having surgery (twice) I hope I one day get to meet u but for now good luck with everything! <3 :)
Eloise
Guest
Consider this: If you were given to represent your country in. 2 sports would you: Take the opportunity? Or Would you make the tough decision? I
Eloise
Guest
Think about this: I really don't think that it is a question of 'professionalism' if you were given the opportunity to represent your country in 2 sports would you take it? Or would you make the hard decision? I play multi
Eloise
Guest
I understand that you re not having a go at pez, and that you are just making a point etc... But I would just like to say: If you were given the opportunity to play for Australia and represent your country for 2 sports would you take it? Or would you make the choice to Only play one sport? I have played basketball, cricket and soccer for almost as l
ArRoN (@pegson)
Guest
This article, reminded me of when i thought i was being intelligent in year 8 English class when i used the phrase "such as"
Amanda
Guest
It's an interesting scenario you're thinking about, Matt. I've considered the situation for women's rugby 7s - it's now an Olympic sport and there's been a groundswell of interest, resulting in increased intensity of competition. It'd be great to see an official circuit established, for both men and women. 7s is a fabulous spectator sport, similar to cricket's Twenty20. In the long term, there may well be commercial viability in the idea, but in the meantime, why not act like professionals and get an unofficial circuit happening? Demonstrate to potential sponsors that the skill, fitness and commitment is there. I'm not sure it works like that, though.
The TMF
Guest
@ Matt The only reason why this is being discussed is that Perry has a profile because she plays two sports. As good an athelte as she is at either, simply playing one sport would relegate her to the pack of the many other talented females who don't get coverage. Everybody involved is aware that they will be conflicts, and still are willing to let her play both. Because they know that the publicity she brings to each sport is based on the fact that she plays both. I can't see these womens sports getting to a truely professional stage, and by that i mean in regards to the players renumeration, until they start getting crowds. Crowds are the only thing the reliablly bring sponsers, and like all other female sports that have succeeded in gaining monetary success it is going to have to be female supporters turning up that will drive it. Even now most men don't watch female sport, even the most successful; in tennis. Don't really understand why but it can't be ignored.
The TMF
Guest
"Perry is the biggest woman athlete in the country (maybe behind only S Pearson)" Easy does it Samson. Lauren Jackson, Sam Stosur, Steph Rice, Alica Coutts, Anna Meares, Karrie Webb, Steph Gilmore, Liz Cambage I am a fan of Perry's but no need for hyperbole.
The TMF
Guest
Jordan only played at AA level for a club owned by the same guy whom owned the Bulls. While AA level can have more talent at times than AAA, Jordan straddled the Mendoza line in batting average and wouldnot be described as a success of any sort in baseball. Folau in AFL was ultimatelya failure. He did improve and ay have succeeded if he had of stuck it out. Karmichael Hunt would have ben a better example. The best example probablly are Bo Jackson as mentioned by someone esle, and Dion Sanders. Both NFL, MLB.
Samson
Guest
In the first place she would just be another name that appears once in a blue moon like Sthaelaker and Blackwell when something big comes up and then forgotten, but instead Perry is the biggest woman athlete in the country (maybe behind only S Pearson) and brings real attention toward her sports Also, she doesn't need to choose a sport until either she is named captain (unlikely until she chooses a sport) or she has a real desire to captain one of her teams (potential for either of her cricket teams, not so likely for the matildas but perhaps for the Sky Blues)
Max
Guest
Women's sport unfortunately is often put on the back burner or completely dismissed. I watched the World Cup final last night with interest as I do honestly love to watch women's sport, especially the w League. Watching Fox Sports news this morning I was quite surprised to see it on at 720am. I for one would have expected to be at the top of the show. And same with this afternoon's paper, but no. I understand about the corporate and sponsorship dollars aren't really that high in women's sport, but I do hope it improves. As for Ellyse, I wish her all the best. I think she is a fantastic ambassador for women's sport and I hope she continues to be. Does she cheapen the sport? I don't think so. If anything, I believe she is promoting both the codes extremely well.
Dennis
Guest
I don't exactly agree with the article, as (no offense) women sports is still very small, if they are only paying semi-professional wages, athletes should only play semi professionally right? Look at Tennis, Sam Stosur gets a professional wage, therefore only concentrate on one sport, that might be slightly different as it is an individual sport (she could technically play another sport). In the article they used Lauren Jackson as an example, she plays for two teams in a year. Overall, I think its unfair to compare male vs female, as there will always be an inequality. The day cricket australia or Sydney FC pays Ellyse Perry the same amount as Michael Clarke or Del Piero, than they can say something, but they don't so they don't actually say anything. Honestly, I don't think her team mates or her football club or state cricket team think she is betraying them. As when she plays she performs. When Sydney FC signed her up, obviously they knew what they were getting into, Cricket Australia also know what they are getting into, but the pros outweighs the cons. I think she will continue playing both sports until she physically can't.
Scuba
Guest
Well, she batted brilliantly at the end today and is currently blasting out the WI top order. Whatever she's doing, she should keep doing it!
Mango Jack
Guest
By and large, I think good on her, but I do wonder what her team mates think when she gives preference to the other sport. I can imagine a level of resentment, perhaps inflated by jealousy, at her letting them down.
The_Big_Big_Show
Roar Rookie
What about Michael Jordan he was pretty good at Baseball. Israel Falau one of the supreme AFL players. It takes rare breeds to excel in a lot of fields. This does not only count towards sports either. Many life skills are hard to replicate in other fields with the same degree of talent.
DHE
Guest
Look up Bo Jackson for a recently modern, and professional counterpoint. Only reason he had to stop playing pro baseball and football at te highest level is a knee injury whig wid be quickly solved by modern sports medicine.
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
Thanks for the (mostly) constructive responses Roarers, I must admit I was slightly worried in submitting this article that I would come across as someone who was just having a go at Ellyse Perry and women's sport, and just get alot of haters who didnt really get the point, but there has been some very good points made. While writing the piece, I had a bit of a chicken and egg scenario in my head- Do amatuer and semi pro athletes all act like profesionals and increase their skills until they get paid for, or do they wait until they get paid like profesionals to act like pros? It is idealogically easy but in real life terms a very difficult situation.
Adam Brown
Guest
She is also drop-dead georgeous! She was on the cover of my wifes womens fitness magazine, and is a regular contributor to triple J radio's breakfast program. Sadly she likely earns less than the average guy driving a truck at the mines
sheek
Roar Guru
Firstly, I would have thought the person Elysse Perry should please most is herself. I wasn't aware she was trying to please everybody. Secondly, while she can, she should continue to play both sports for as long as possible. She's young, she's healthy, she's fit. I think it's terrific that in 2013 there is a sportsman or in this case, a sportswoman who is good enough to represent her country at two sports. Eventually, for her own self-preservation & longevity, she will have to abandon one for the other. But heck, she will make that decision when she's ready. And the rest of us should celebrate the fact she can play at the ultimate level in two sports.
Andre
Guest
So basically, we're critical because Elyse missed a local soccer match to play a cricket World Cup. This could have been avoided by - Elyse missing the World Cup, OR - Elyse standing down from soccer and thereby STILL depriving the final of one of its greats, AND for the rest of the reason as well This would have made one journo feel better, and hurt the sport. But it's absolutely none of your business. Some nobody accusing Elyse Perry of harming women's sport is like me telling the Pope he's erred in an ecclesiastical ruling.