One of the greatest successes in women’s sport this year was the inaugural AFLW season.
From the moment Gil McLachlan was seen outside Ikon Park apologising to the 2000 people who were locked out of the opening game, between Carlton and Collingwood, until the moment Adelaide Crows player Erin Phillips was crowned Most Valuable Player, the country watched with interest.
It showed that for little girls who love their footy, the dream about a career playing AFL professionally can now become a reality.
Last year, a number of clubs put in bids for a licence to have an AFLW team. Not all clubs were successful.
To ensure the competition was manageable, competitive, and that talent was appropriately shared, the AFL decided to limit the number of teams to eight, with expansion part of future planning.
Since missing out on a license for the inaugural season of the competition, clubs like St Kilda, Richmond and Geelong have been pushing the AFL for expansion in the second season.
While I want to see growth and more women given the opportunity to play professionally, what I want to see more is a sustainable competition develop over time.
Throughout the season past, there were questions raised about the quality of football being played.
Some of the women drafted had never played AFL before. Before the first game, the teams had only had three months of pre-season training together. We will be better able to judge the quality of football being played in two years’ time, but there was clearly some disparity between the top and bottom teams.
My question is whether the AFL would have had the talent base to expand next year and I respect their decision to take it slow and ensure that the competition is managed appropriately as it continues to grow.
AAP Image/Joe Castro
But expansion is closer than you think.
This week, the AFL confirmed that the ten clubs without AFLW licenses would be able to submit an application this year for inclusion in the 2019 season. The successful bids will be announced later this year.
The teams that received provisional licenses last year – Geelong, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast – will also receive priority weighting when the AFL considers applications.
The big question I have ahead of this next round of applications is: will the Sydney Swans be in a position to apply this time?
Rugby union
While everyone was talking about the announcement of Australia’s pool for the 2019 men’s Rugby World Cup on Wednesday night, I’m counting down until the women’s tournament, which will be played in Ireland later this year.
There has been plenty of focus on the strides being made in the sevens format, which in terms of female participation grew by 33 per cent in 2016, but women who play 15-a-side are also being given increased opportunity to play.
This weekend, over 200 women will compete at the Women’s National XVs Championship.
Sydney are the reigning champions and, featuring familiar faces such as Ash Hewson, Cobie-Jane Morgan Shanice Parker and Grace Hamilton, are tipped as the team to beat. According to Wallaroo Hamilton, Western Australia are also a team to keep an eye on.
For a sport like rugby, which is struggling to retain hearts and minds in the men’s format, it’s more important than ever that our female players are given ample opportunities.
The Championship will not only act as a selection space for the Wallaroos ahead of the World Cup, it will also serve as good preparation for players that will be selected for the Wallaroos squad later this month. This year, the Wallaroos will also compete in a Four Nations tournament against the top three rugby nations in the world – New Zealand, Canada and England.
This means the Aussies head into the World Cup with the most pre-match experience that they have ever had, having previously only just come together before departing Australia.
Rugby league
Finally, I always like to credit companies that are open and willing supporters of women’s sport. This week I wanted to say thank you and congratulate Harvey Norman, who have signed on as the official major partner of the Australian Jillaroos prior to the Rugby League World Cup this year.
The Jillaroos will head into this tournament with plenty of momentum, following their 3-0 series win over the Kiwi Ferns at the Auckland Nines, followed by a 16-4 win over the New Zealanders on Friday night in Canberra.
Harvey Norman is such a strong supporter of women in sport in this country and I’m just waiting for more Australian companies to wake up and follow their lead.
Cathar Treize
Guest
Perhaps you should see the Koori female comp played around different parts of NSW for example, to see the skills & techniques are not an anomaly nor representative of just one rep team in rugby league.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
This sounds like it's something you should write an article on, Chris!
Milo
Roar Rookie
'Football is not the biggest and most popular women’s sport in Australia. Netball is far and away the biggest sport here, and it actually pays the top players a living wage.' Today, yes. So many girls want to play AFL. They fall into netball or soccer because they or their parents have seen little future for the indigenous game for women. Sure, another the perception has been the perceived 'roughness' of AFL vs soccer but times are a changing. My children have played footy and soccer and had more injuries out of soccer than footy and I think more parents are seeing that too. So lets just check the participation rate of (AFL) footy vs netball & soccer over the next few years.
northerner
Guest
Actually, football is not the biggest and most popular women's sport in Australia. Netball is far and away the biggest sport here, and it actually pays the top players a living wage. But I guess my real point would be: if women's football is so important, why is it never featured on the football tab? why are football fans not contributing articles and live blogs about it? where is the marketing drive from the FFA and the W League? Time for football as a sport to start pushing the women's game a little harder, rather than relying on occasional press releases from the FFA to cover the bases.
Alicesprings
Guest
Sounds logical. Geelong and West Coast the next teams in. Will be interesting to see how quickly the suns get a team such is the strength of womens footy up in Queensland.
Tom
Roar Pro
I think it was the right decision by the AFL to put expansion on hold for a year. While the quality of play was satisfactory for hard core fans, the high turnover rates were off putting for the average viewer. Hopefully with another year of young talent and training, the skill level can improve again, as we saw it do throughout the season. When we do get around to expansion in 2018, it will be interesting to see which clubs are granted licences. Presumably just two clubs will be added, out of the five that already have provisional licences. At the moment, Geelong are looking most likely to make it into the league with their extensive investment at VFL level. This puts Richmond, North and St Kilda in an unlucky positioin as it is unlikely that the AFL will introduce another two Victorian teams. Consequently, West Coast, the only other team with a provisional licence, will most likely be the second team to be added to the AFLW in 2018.
Powerboy
Guest
Well said, Andy. Above all else this is reason enough for the AFL to continue to support this exciting league. It was a very proud moment for me to see Erin Phillips shine at the game she was raised to play. For those who claim a "lack of skills" is detrimental to the viewing pleasure, I suggest you watch on as the television rights for the league become very hot property and player payments rise accordingly. I fear for our international sports teams when the AFL ladies are suddenly paid so well.
Chris
Guest
By the way as the title suggests it's a women's sport wrap yet the biggest and most popular women's sport is neglected. Matildas will be playing in a 4 nation tournament in the US . Many of our Aussie girls continue to shine in the US and German professional women's leagues.
Andy og
Guest
I can't express enough how grateful I am for the AFLW. My girls and I went to a game and the girls have been completely captivated by our game ever since. They have joined the local team and been completely embraced by the footy community. My girls are built to play football and for the first time for a long time they are proud of their bodies. They are being praised for being powerfully built rather than feeling ashamed. The confidence they have gained in themselves is obvious to all. Today we went down and watched Geelong vs Seaford girls play at our local oval and we had a ball.We are closer and I humbled at the power of sport.This is bigger than the game,skills and winning are secondary to inclusion. Anyone who has daughters understands that.
Ryan
Guest
I'd like to see a club like north or St.Kilda do what Adelaide did and have a partnership with another state preferably Tasmania. This will grow the game further there and to an extent give Tasmania more respect for the game of Australian rules. By the way Mary, please don't call our game AFL, thats the competition, Australian rules is the sport.
Cat
Roar Guru
I'm sure if the AFLW wanted to cherry pick the girls for a single team it would be as skilled as the Jillaroos. Can't really compare a single side to an 8 team competition.
Alicesprings
Guest
I think the AFLW will get to 18 faster than many think. Looking forward to the mighty Cats hopefully having a team come 2019.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Looking forward to North having another team.
Redb
Roar Guru
Would love to see an Essendon women's team soon. Can't support the Bullies girls forever.
Cat
Roar Guru
Big bloody deal. Representative sport is the most overrated form of sport there is.
Nemesis
Guest
I'm comparing athletes who represent Australia. AFLW players do not represent Australia.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
you obviously didn't watch the Jillaroos game which was full of skill & most important technique which showed the game was tough but entertaining and didn't result in the injuries or head hunting that was apparently prevalent in the AFLW due to poor technique & skills of most players. If you think girls are going to avoid rugby league because they think they'll be 'beat up' then you're sadly wrong, they like the Harvey Norman CEO would have been impressed enough to probably give it a go before deciding it may or may not be for them. There were girls from union, netball, army, teachers, police, mothers etc who said they love it & with the proper pathways & coaching put in place before launching any major comp like the AFLW, the future is bright to get it right from day dot.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing!!
clipper
Guest
Bit unfair comparing the Women's Football team to the Mens AFL teams - would be better if you compared the Women's Football team to the AFLW teams - they also conducted themselves with class on and off the Park - hopefully both will rub off on the blokes teams.
Paul2
Guest
I think articles on AFLW should come with trigger warnings for the benefit of fragile soccer fans.