Do you think AFLW will last?

sherrife · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 11:31 pm

Went to the GWS v Freo game today in Blacktown and thought it was great fun.

The skills were mixed from great to very sub-par, but what do you expect from a bunch of women athletes who have been denied the capacity to play the sport at an elite level, many of whom have yet to play more than 30 games of AFL in their lives, and who have to work real jobs for most of their time. Give them training, longer seasons, *pay that means they can do it full time like the men*, and time to develop a cohort of players who have spent their whole lives playing the game, and things will improve quickly.

But regardless, for me the best thing was seeing all the young girls/women in the crowd who felt like they belonged, that the sport wasn't just for the boys, that they weren't weird to want to play. It's not going to change the world, but you could really feel the goodwill and support of the crowd, and the opening up of possibilities for young women.

Member 7167 · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:27 am

I think you will find that TP drives something a little more upmarket in the VW range. I too had a Beetle. It was a brand new 1975 Superbug. Unfortunately on the 4th day I owned it I was side swiped by a semi on the Hume. As you can appreciate it was never the same and we parted company soon after its repair thanks to AGC insurance. Driving down the road at an angle did not push my buttons.

jackcass · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: Bendigo

Wilson wrote a good article in yesterday's Age about the financial aspects of AFLW's footy. Yes, there is large novelty interest at the moment but there is talk of $1m plus broadcast deals on the back of massive ratings. AFLW is the highest rating show in it's timeslot on FTA, and is out-rating men's A-League 4 to 1 on Fox. Not to mention large sponsorships from companies who've previously not been involved in AFL.

There'll be a new EBA negotiated at the end of this season (despite the current one running 2017-1 Cool

which will raise the minimum wage for female footballers from the $9-10K it currently is for the 8 week preseason and 8 week season which again will only attract further interest from young female athletes and drive professionalism.

People who anticipate this will just fade away are going to be very disappointed.