Why are Australians so critical when a woman aspires to be great, particularly in sport?
There seems to be this lingering resentment or a feeling that what men see as ‘their territory’ is being trampled on by the success of women.
Congratulations to those women who have pushed the boundaries, pushed themselves to start something new, taken a risk and taken up playing a sport they may never have thought of playing, because it certainly isn’t easy.
Women have said enough is enough and are breaking down the traditionalist’s barrier by playing AFL and cricket, throwing them into a spin and it’s wonderful to see.
What are men doing in the meantime? Sitting back and ridiculing their success when they could be doing their own great things, like promoting the fact there is a national men’s netball team.
The thought of a men’s netball team won’t sit right with a lot of people, but it’s funny, women want more men involved and they would celebrate the success of a group of males going out of their comfort zone, not ridicule them.
The uproar regarding the AFL changing its name to AFLM is ridiculous, however, there does need to be a name change.
That change should be to drop the ‘W’ from AFLW.
Why? Because at the end of the day, whether you are male or female, you are still playing AFL.
In a society striving to be equal, wouldn’t it be logical to have everyone under the same banner?
It would then be common knowledge that all the women currently playing would agree that low scoring games aren’t a pretty look.
But people need to be patient, let the game grow, let the women learn and they will continually improve.
It’s taken cricket a lot of patience and persistence to develop the game to where it is today and the women playing are better than ever.
Let’s work together, not separately, because they are striving for something special and to sit here and make a mockery of all the success they are having is simply outrageous.
Let’s embrace and celebrate how strong women are to put themselves out there and attempt something no other women have done.
To all the women out there, keep pushing the boundaries and keep striving for greatness – you are the pioneers, leading the way and making the charge and if you stop, you’ve lost what you want to achieve.
Downsey
Roar Pro
:thumbup:
BrokenSocContract
Roar Rookie
Why do we compare female footballers to men. All and I mean all of our greatest women athletes look substandard when we use this comparison. It's ridiculous. Other sports like tennis or golf don't seem to do it but when it comes to football (all codes)it is a constant attack. The standard of AFLW has improved substantially over the last few seasons and the improvement will continue. These girls aren't training full time,nor are they career athletes. But as there game becomes more professional and more girls do the 10,000 hours required it will only get better and better. Personally I love it. But I love footy and will stop to watch a game of under 10's if I see it on my travels. Some of my favourite footy moments have been while I'm standing in the cold at some suburban paddock watching some fat old guys giving it there all. If you only enjoy the professional men running around then so be it. But many of us and I'm talking 100's of thousands are loving watching the girls go at it in the sport we love. Honestly if we judge our enjoyment by comparison then you are going to be disappointed most of the time. Try to enjoy it for what it is rather than disliking it for what it isn't.
Michael44
Roar Rookie
James. I haven't read all the debates previously about AFLW on this site,so I don't know if AFLW has been criticised simply because they are women. Having said that,I have seen plenty of comments suggesting the standard isn't up to scratch,but,I can't remember many,if any,comments making out that women don't have a right to play Australian Rules Football and to try and become very very good at it. This first line of yours - "Why are Australians so critical when a woman aspires to be great, particularly in sport? Can you provide evidence for this question of yours please?
Maxy
Roar Rookie
have no problem with what the girls are doing,i don't watch afl much at all anymore and don't watch aflw at all,sometimes more is not always better,between the expansion of the afl and aflw to me standard has dropped significantly, I could count on 1 hand how many actually very good games of footy I watched last year,its called professional football.....the way the media talk it up and commentators try to make the boring sound exciting is very cringeworthy to watch at best,call it for what it is,sometimes you hear things so much you start to believe in it,properganda style ,to me that's what is happening through all outlets reporting like fox sports ,sen triple m etc etc, hera it enough start to believe it,i played footy all my life used to love it but have fallen out of love with it,just to end think the girls will improve a bit more but the basic fundamental of afl footy is kicking and men are full time footballers and a lot still cant hit the side of a barn when kicking and they are 26 27 28
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
So because I'm white I'm sexist? Hmmm
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
Clearly I must be, or maybe it’s the lack context in your comment.
shifty
Roar Rookie
Tennis is the name of the sport not the competition they play in. Don't tennis separate it as ATP & WTA?
Mitcher
Guest
If you think that comment wins you the point, it shows how little you understand rugby league.
shifty
Roar Rookie
You lost me when you didn’t realise that AFL was name of the league and not the name of the sport. Yes both Women and Men play Australian rules football. Professionally men play in the Australian Football League and women play in the Australian Football League Womens
max power
Guest
a horrible comment fus of bias and prejudice
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
NRL = National Rugby LEAGUE!
Raimond
Roar Guru
call the men's game "AFLX"
Simon G
Guest
Darren what are you babbling on about? So now if you happen to suggest that the quality of football being played is a low standard, you’re not only sexist but also racist? Talk about being way off the mark.. It’s good that you agree with my Coca-Cola analogy though, because like you say, AFLW is a different “flavour” to the original brand, and the W is used to let consumers know what they are getting. Notice how the original Coke is just called “Coca-Cola”, not something like “Coca-Cola Original”, because there is no need to change the original name, just like how the men’s comp doesn’t have to change from AFL.
Mitcher
Guest
ATP... WTA...? Y You never struck me as quite that dense.
Mitcher
Guest
No that’s actually different. Rugby league is not the name of the league.
Mitcher
Guest
You’re opinion is dangerous. Because you believe it to be fact with little proof. What has whiteness got to do with this. You’re as bad as the people you profess to despise.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I watch it for the women; not the football
Captain Obvious
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry but I can't watch it, it's nothing to do with whether a male of female is playing. The AFLW games are just dull.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
I use simple biology to work out the difference between men and women mate.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It seems to me that you're making a lot of assumptions there, and you have a prejudice against white middle-aged men. Out of curiosity, how many Roar contributors have you actually met?