AFLW 2022

[DJC]

The standard of player skills has gone through the roof - in the first season, most of the players kicked the ball like your Mum did off the back verandah.  Now, the majority are comfortably kicking drop punts and actually finding targets, and handball has improved out of sight.  The very best (like Maddy Prespakis) have developed skills that are not too far behind the men.

I wouldn't go quite that far but there has been an incredible improvement in skills.  I think that improvement will continue as the code-hoppers and later converts are replaced by girls who have grown up playing the game. 

Marks are dropped, ground balls are fumbled and kicking and handballing lack the penetration of the men's game, but it's still skillful and generally very competitive.  I'd say the skill level is close to that of elite under 15 boys and the tactics are quite different as a consequence.  I enjoy watching our girls have a go.