In reality the AFLW is yet to fully embrace professionalism on a wide scale, there are some girls who have settled right in, and they are genuine professionals as good as if not better than the men. But a large chunk of AFLW is mates playing footy and socialising with mates, it's a difficult situation, because it's a cake and eat it scenario. They want the big money, they want the respect, but they want to still pick and choose who they play footy with.
I also see it as a bit of a chicken and egg scenario, some claim they aren't fully professional and aren't remunerated as such so they aren't going to commit 100%. But there needs to be some sacrifice before the dollars roll in, in much the same way Olympians and other top amateur athletes commit before the reward.
The AFLW players cannot have it both ways, but many are still kicking and screaming in a fight against the inevitable tide that professionalism brings. Unfortunately, for some players like Peterson, Moody and Vescio, they are a hard core professional minority who's playing fortune depends on a bunch of casual workers.
Of course my comments will be opposed by many, but they are just self-evident and it is exposed in things player movements, trade and drafting. I get why the AFL are doing it this way, they are offering girls a downhill run into AFLW, but it won't last forever, sooner or later someone paying the dollars is going to expect something in return!
Another bit of weirdness is that the AFLW has become a defacto zoned system, this comes from allowing the girls to nominate regions, that is so far from professional it's a joke. That was kyboshed back in the VFL days, when blokes still had a stubby at 1/2-time!
I also see it as a bit of a chicken and egg scenario, some claim they aren't fully professional and aren't remunerated as such so they aren't going to commit 100%. But there needs to be some sacrifice before the dollars roll in, in much the same way Olympians and other top amateur athletes commit before the reward.
The AFLW players cannot have it both ways, but many are still kicking and screaming in a fight against the inevitable tide that professionalism brings. Unfortunately, for some players like Peterson, Moody and Vescio, they are a hard core professional minority who's playing fortune depends on a bunch of casual workers.
Of course my comments will be opposed by many, but they are just self-evident and it is exposed in things player movements, trade and drafting. I get why the AFL are doing it this way, they are offering girls a downhill run into AFLW, but it won't last forever, sooner or later someone paying the dollars is going to expect something in return!
Another bit of weirdness is that the AFLW has become a defacto zoned system, this comes from allowing the girls to nominate regions, that is so far from professional it's a joke. That was kyboshed back in the VFL days, when blokes still had a stubby at 1/2-time!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"