No longer will top-tier football be divided by gender or age, becoming one of the first national competitions to include the women, men and youth under the same umbrella of the A-League.
Having had the A-league for men but the W-League for women and Y-League for youth, this change has been brought in to ensure that all players are seen as partners regardless of their gender or age. Unifying under the one banner sends a clear message to all those involved, young and old, that gender equality and inclusivity is a priority and will assist with the growth of the game in this country.
There will now be A-League Men, A-League Women and A-League Youth, with social media accounts to also be connected for the organisation and competition.
“It’s not men’s football or women’s football, it’s just football”, Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend said, and it really is as simple as that. To be opposed to this decision is a clear statement in itself, and if anyone truly doesn’t want female athletes promoted and seen as equals, then I don’t think that this conversation is about female athletes but females in general.
The changes made may seem minor to some and may potentially go unnoticed to others, but they’re changes that many other major sports in Australia haven’t made. When discussed they’re often met with backlash. The AFL competition belongs to the men, while the women get the AFLW, their own space to play.
Considering the response from those who neither watch nor respect the profession of female athletes, I am surprised that they call themselves fans of the game at all. On top of that, the outrage that so many express when the AFL competition is referred to as ‘AFLM’ is childish and honestly embarrassing.
For women to be considered equal in a space that has been largely taken up by men appears to some as a huge ask, and yet isn’t equal opportunity something we want for every man, woman, girl, mother, father or child? It should be the bare minimum.
Females have been limited in the sporting world on the big stage for far too long, which needs to be understood by all, and it has an impact across most sports in Australia today. The responsibility is not on just our female athletes, journalists, umpires and supporters to promote the game; it is on those who sit in positions of power and are making important decisions. The responsibility is on everyone, whether it’s your local sports club or whether you’re sitting on the board for the A-League.
What more could you do to promote and encourage female athletes in your community? If we want to diminish the gap between male and female athletes and see them promoted on an equal level, then strong and decisive measures need to be put into place to send a clear message.
Former English cricketer and now commentator Isa Guha wrote, “We will use our voices to push women’s sport to the forefront and grow the game as much as we can. Because you cannot be what you cannot see.”
That ideas has stuck with me for years and truly highlights the importance of promoting sport for young women. This change by the A-League does exactly that.
The A-League should be applauded for taking a step towards actively promoting and encouraging unity for all in their organisation. Our children’s children will giggle in disbelief when we tell them stories of how women didn’t have a national A-League competition until 2008 or an AFL competition until 2017 – to think how petty some people’s reactions have been.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
*they're
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. Men and women also have considerable differences between their own genders too.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I was referring to girls - female children U16, who can now aim for World Cups and more equality in football. What else should I call them?
Kenny Dalglish
Guest
You're wrong. The move was made to increase the commercial opportunities of Australia's most recognised brand - the A League - not the W-League, and in no way because of gender neutrality. In fact, gender neutrality was never mentioned in the reasons. The assumption that the benefits of a distinct brand worth "millions of dollars" is laughable.... and I'm more than happy to school you on the value of the W-League brand.... some thing that you have no idea about in reality.
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
Probably not a good idea to call the women in our sport girls!!
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
My argument is equality for all with a minimum doc of P C nonsense.Women and men are different and should be treated with equal respect as such.doesn.t stop them working together and sharing the load though.AS the French say.Vive la difference!
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
All I have to offer is my opinion,as is the case with you.Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me!!
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
But that is my whole point.Why shouldn’t women mention their gender the Matilda’s are riding high at the moment and are showing the men how to do it!Do you really think they should be dragged down to the level of the men!???
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
I was talking about the nonsense of combining the mens and womens scores together at the World Cup!Mind you,it would bring the men up. A few places in the rankings!!!t He mens and womens world cups are both massive and successful events in their own right and deserve to be treated as such!!!!
Nuxman
Roar Rookie
A league for women,m league for men.fine by me.just keep it short and catchy!!!
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
Maybe its why i have become more interested in A League Womens than A L Men. On the subject of AFL my brother, a keen Canterberry Bulldogs R L follower for decades although having never played the game , had a job transfer to Melbourne a few years ago. He soon discovered that he was entirely left out of all social conversation. Totally ignored unless it was his turn to shout he said. I find the same thing when i go down to visit him. He had to adopt an AFL team in order to be part of the scene. The AFL have got it made whatever excuse you can throw at their outstanding success.
Maximus Insight
Guest
As I was saying: "I think you are one of the way too many fools who post on soccer articles here that try to turn everything into a “my sport is better than your sport” fight whilst accusing everyone else of doing the same thing" This is quite clearly an article about how other sports should follow the A Leagues lead.
Winter
Guest
This is a football article. You always come in saying how afl is better than football. Who is the troll?
Maximus Insight
Guest
Dude, if you feel insulted take solace in the fact I am irritated by you in equal portion. Even though it has nothing to do with the discussion, I took the time to explain how at a high level how the state leagues work in women's Australian football, solely because you asked me to. Now you are suggesting on no basis whatsoever I "think this is something revelatory" If you are deliberately trolling me then fair play. I am annoyed and you are a highly skilled troll. I don't think you are though. I think you are one of the way too many fools who post on soccer articles here that try to turn everything into a "my sport is better than your sport" fight whilst accusing everyone else of doing the same thing Anyway, unless you want or are capable to engage with the actual points I am making in relation to the actual article than I am done with you.
Winter
Guest
Every time you insult someone everyone knows you have nothing to stand on. Women's football have had npl and state leagues for decades now. The fact you think this is something revelatory for aflw is like a car company advertising seat belts in 2021.
Maximus Insight
Guest
I'm not mindlessly "talking up" anything. I am very thoughtfully addressing the specific argument the article was making - whether other sports, such as Australian football - should follow what the A Leagues have done and make the naming "gender neutral". The fact that all you can see is "talking up" and can only engage at that level is merely revelatory of your mentality. I addressed the author, explicitly. It's her prerogative if she engages but instead I got your particularly weird foolishness. Happy to respond to the author from here - she seems more comfortable debating the likes of AA and Stu though.
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
Look at my profile mate..... Posting for years, but I don't spend every day here becise I have a life to lead....
Winter
Guest
As opposed to mindlessly talking up aflw because of a percentage change that leads to a career on less than minimum wage.
Maximus Insight
Guest
I have no idea what you are talking about in your first para. You are clearly confused, we can agree on that. Women's Australian football has a similar structure to the men's all the way through. At the moment, most the AFLW players play in the state leagues as well but are restricted in how many games they can play. Why is a National Second Division (in amusing capital letters) some self evidently good thing? It is almost like you have no capacity to independently assess the worthiness of things and so you are just mindlessly working from the assumption that if it is happening in the soccer then that makes it good "just so"
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
Another original post: "I'm cracking up, get the popcorn" Yes you're so cool about this. And you took more than 250 words to tell us how it doesn't bother you. That is funny. Have a good weekend.