Those who’ve sought to criticise AFL Women’s in the week since it launched have often hit upon the poor skills and lack of scoring that were prominent in the first round of the competition.
Well, it has only taken a week for those complaints to seem a little silly – while the skills aren’t at the level of the fully professional men’s game yet, they’ve already improved noticeably.
What was a life-changing week for every player to step on the field in Round 1 is already becoming a little more routine in Round 2. The players are finding their rhythm and the skill level is lifting.
As a result we’ve seen more running play, better use of the ball, and most appreciably, more goals being kicked. There were 28 majors kicked in Round 1, but we outstripped that by a wide margin in Round 2 with 40.
On top of that the games have been appreciably competitive too. No losing team managed more than a single goal in Round 1, but this week every side has kicked multiple goals, and we’ve seen close games and comebacks in spades.
There’s still some longer-term challenges to be overcome and when they are the skill level will lift. But right now, AFL Women’s is proving itself to be very watchable, as well as ground-breaking. What more could you want?
Sarah Perkins, superstar
We’ve been introduced to more than a few great characters so far in two weeks of AFL Women’s, but Sarah Perkins is arguably the most impressive of the lot.
Perkins shed a massive 40kg in her quest to be drafted to an AFL Women’s team, then had to go through the disappointment of not being picked up on draft day.
She was given a late call-up by the Adelaide Crows as a free agent and has proved to be a recruiting masterstroke.
If Perkins was an average player, well, it’d be a nice story that she had made the grade. But after two goals this week, helping Adelaide to an interstate win that has kept them undefeated and put them on top of the ladder? She’s a bonafide superstar.
Crows versus Carlton will be a cracker
The fixture has fallen into place pretty nicely for us – next week, two of the competition’s undefeated and most impressive teams, the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues, meet on Sunday afternoon.
The Crows have been impressive so far. Their demolition job on GWS in Round 1 wasn’t unexpected, but what really lifted them in the eyes of the fans was an upset win on the road against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
Carlton on the other hand have demolished Collingwood in Round 1 and then this week survived a scare against GWS. While they might have liked to have won that one more comfortably, the maturity they showed coming back from a deficit will hold them in good stead.
As a result the match on Saturday afternoon looks like it could shape who makes the grand final, or even be a grand final preview. The Crows are lucky enough to be on South Australian soil, and they’ll go in as favourites, but it promises to be awesome watching either way.
Of course, speaking of undefeated sides, it’d be remiss of me not to mention that…
Brisbane are the league’s big surprise
I tipped the Lions to be premiers in this inaugural year of AFL Women’s, given the excellent strength that the women’s game enjoys in Queensland, but even I’ll say I’m blown away by the form of what has clearly been the most impressive team so far.
The Lions haven’t had the chance to play at home yet but that hasn’t phased them. Consider this – not only did they knock off Melbourne in Melbourne first up, they then made the longest road trip possible in the game and topped the highly-rated Dockers on Sunday.
They have absolutely nailed their marquee selections. Sabrina Frederick-Taub and Tayla Harris offer great versatility and are having an enormous influence wherever they play.
Harris’ awesome pack mark and ice cold clutch goal to seal the win against the Dockers in the final minutes was without a doubt the moment of the round, and the kind of football phenomenon that will get any supporter off the couch.
Now the Lions have two home games against Collingwood and GWS in the lead-up to what will no doubt be an epic encounter with Adelaide in Round 5. Brisbane fans, forget the troubles of your men’s team, sit back and enjoy what is looking like an awesome ride.
Pies under the pump
Two weeks into the AFL Women’s season, you’d have to say Collingwood are the most disappointing team in the mix so far.
Fremantle are the others in the mix for that dubious honour – tipped to be premiers by many they’re now close to out of the running after an 0-2 start, but have faced two tough sides and had only the one home game.
The Pies may have kicked the first ever AFL Women’s goal in Round 1, but were blasted off the park by Darcy Vescio and the Blues quickly after.
They looked to have a win set up in Round 2 against Melbourne, but after half-time dare I say the ‘Colliwobbbles’ of old set in and the Demons ran over them to victory.
They’re not the only 0-2 side in the competition, but they are the only one to have played out both their losses in their home state.
Short version: they’ve got some work to do. Mo Hope up forward is as big a weapon as any team has, though, and showed us why with a brilliant snap off what was really only half a chance this week. Find a way to get her more opportunities, and they’ll improve quickly.
Maggie
Guest
Reported today that match will go ahead at Brendale after unsuccessful attempts to move it, firstly to the Gabba, then to Burpengary (which has been used for AFL pre-season games in the past). Sounds as if this will lock out/discourage several '000s of potential spectators (and provide poor viewing for many who do attend with no grandstand and no sloped banks at Brendale). Pity, the Brisbane Lions women deserve full support.
Timewaster
Guest
Fazed. Also very nice to see an article praising the AFLW for a change. It's good to have a diversity of views.
I hate pies
Guest
Ooohhh, 45 metres, that's astounding...but in all seriousness, Leo's mark looked harder than it was. It was famous for the position that the game was in, not for the difficulty of the mark. If you want to see some good contested marks, watch Travis Cloke. He might not be able to hit the side of a barn, but he's got hands like a steel trap.
Darren
Guest
Just had another look at Leo Barry mark from 2005 GF. No fists or arm chop in sight and he didn't have to go back and coolly slot a match winner from 45 metres. Agree what was all the fuss about he did nothing special.
northerner
Guest
Other women's sport is suffering from this, no question, at least short term. But the writing surely was on the wall when the WBBL did so well last year. Didn't it occur to the other sports that they might need to have a contingency plan to cope with new challenges from emerging leagues with good publicity machines and strong popular support bases? As for the "hype" - it seemed to me the AFL and everyone else was caught flat-footed by the level of interest the AFLW generated at the grass roots - the support for the first game was both a surprise and a phenomenon, so I think the hype was quite understandable. Everyone knows things will settle down and numbers will normalize, but you can't expect the media to ignore a genuine event that draws 20,000 plus to a woman's league game. Longer term, I think this will be a good thing for women's sports. The W League certainly seems in need of a bit of a shake-up if this article from a few months ago is any example: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-16/w-league-could-be-next-in-line-for-much-needed-pay-boost/7852276
Ken Spacey
Guest
No, in fact it was notable how other events like theW-League semis and actual final got swamped by the hype and unfair comparisons.Example ABC's Angela Pippos saying she switched to the Canberra semi (which was delayed by heat and lost the impetus of the A-League pairing because of heat) "and nobody was there".That is other than the solid 4-5,000 that were there.Seasoned ABC broadcaster who apparently backs women's sports. The AFLW hype has been overdone and not matched by the product and other women's sport has suffered because of this.
I hate pies
Guest
Ever punched a ball from behind Perry? The dark girl could have punched it into next week, but chose to go for the mark. I'm just putting some realism back into the conversation; trying to cut through the hyperbole and exaggeration. For example, I've only been "negative" (read honest) on this point, not every point. Realism vs exaggeration.
Slane
Guest
I'm noticing a very surprising (and pleasant) trend amongst people in Brisbane, they seem to be getting right behind the 'Lady Lions'. Before the AFLW season started I thought that Brisbane might struggle for support but it seems that there are definitely people who are very keen on womens footy up in Brizzy.
Slane
Guest
Good comments, guys. Agree wholeheartedly. Especially how Carlton look better organized than their opponents. They have genuine AFL structures in place and the girls are showing that they have both the discipline and belief to make them work.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Casper - Melbourne centric and yet the Crows (flying at this point) had just under 9300 at Thebarton oval last week and will host Carlton there this Sunday for a 'top of the table' clash. Let's see if it's Melbourne centric. And Melbourne centric doesn't describe a 10,000 capacity lock out at Fremantle Oval for Fremantle hosting Brisbane on Sunday. Noting in these shortened matches - we've perhaps been able to observe that 16 a side on the field isn't necessarily that great (might have worked in the old VFA for a period) - as it makes it harder for the women to full field transition. However - there were more goals scored this week - generally by the losing sides as in week 1 the winning sides kicked 24 vs 4, this week it was 26 vs 14. Noting too - the 2 top scores are both Adelaide (7.6.48 two weeks running). The 3rd and 4th highest scores are both Carlton (7.4 and 7.5). That suggests this will be a mighty match up this week - a must 'stream' match and one that Ch.7 would love to have on Friday night (almost) any time of the year!! I'd suggest the footy standard has surpassed the E.J.Whitten legends matches.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#IHP I gather you're going to be a negative Nelly on every single positive point. A pack mark is a pack mark - it no opposition player got hands to the ball then highly doubtful they would have got fists to the ball. Irrespective - the mark was full of merit and the finish was pretty classy from about 40 out with the ball sailing through about 3/4 goal post height. I bet you watch Ross 'Twiggy' Dunne marking at the end of the 1977 Tied GF and call out "PUNCH IT Frankie"......(I know I do - and Frankie Gumbleton all these times hasn't gone the spoil).
Casper
Guest
Why are so many people keen to see the AFLW fail? Don't get it. If you hate AFL then fair enough, but if you are a fan, then I don't understand the negativity. To say it will be a Melbourne centric thing means that you underestimate the popularity of the game in WA and SA.
rtp
Guest
They have gone from being able to be thrashed by a well drilled 12 year old team to being able to be just pipped at the post by same well drilled 12 year old team. They genuinely were better this week that's true. But how would they have gotten worse?
Mat
Guest
If you're going to be honest you've got to say the standard of play could hardly not improve on last weeks. Crowds and ratings are down and the hyperventilating has stopped except for the usual suspects. The next few weeks will tell where this sits in the sporting landscape. I suspect it will end up being a Melbourne centric thing.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
32 degrees....80% chance of rain. Just awful
Perry Bridge
Guest
The proportion of locals in the Brissie side helps reinforce the importance of QLD as an AFL market. As mentioned previously - by 2015 Aust footy participation was over 210,000 and around 33% of that being female. Tassie by contrast for 2015 had just under 40,000 participants (3.2% of national). The national female participation rate is around 27% so females in QLD are very important indeed.
I hate pies
Guest
With all due respect to Tayla, not one person tried to punch the ball. That makes a pack mark a whole lot easier. A strong grab is taken when someone is trying to punch it out of your hands, or is chopping your arms.
Perry Bridge
Guest
What was clear this week was that general field play/linking up and hitting targets and holding one grab marks all improved. Transition play improved. 2nd proper game in plus a praccie match - this is a very good sign. The crowds dropped away a fraction - lock out in WA though? Many annoyed folk with no AFLW on FTA on Friday night - have to stream it. Now from Week 2 - the Mark of the Round and Goal of the Round contenders would be worthy of any blokes competition.
I hate pies
Guest
40 goals from 8 teams = 5 goals per team (average), or 1.25 goals per team per quarter. Let's not get too excited about the frequency of scoring just yet. The skill level improved, but geez there's still a lot of basic skill errors going on; dropped chest marks, missing targets from 15 metres, missing handballs etc. Even big plugger for the Crows wasn't drafted, presumably because of her size, yet she's one of the best players out there. They've fallen for the same trap that the AFL clubs did by drafting athletes over footballers.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It's pretty amazing that Tayla Harris is only 19 yo, and she's already taking grabs four deep. You rarely see a 19 yo dominate the air like that in the men's (and where it happens, you're talking about players like Wayne Carey, Jonathon Brown and Chris Grant).