09-04-2023, 09:43 PM
The way the competition was set up,
The way the expansion was handled,
The lack of history and tradition,
The initial movement of players leading to a lack of bonding,
The less than fully professional nature of the competition,
...all meant that there was always going to be a large number of players changing clubs
We can't look at this competition and think that an AFLW team can mirror its AFL counterpart with over 100 years of history and tradition.
When a young male player comes to Carlton he's surrounded by a group of experienced players. Those players were influenced by a group that came before them and so on... back to formation.
What does the young female player experience...pretty much, so far, a lack of stability and an everchanging player group.
A male player may move for extra money, or opportunity.
A female player may be influenced, and move, because...a friend moves, it's a team she supported as a youngster.
What the competition needs is ...'Time'
Now the teams are sorted, and all in line, expect the movement of players to settle.
As the wages increase, players spend more time together, they bond, they develop a culture and a history, and the competition becomes more professional...the reasons for movements will change.
But don't expect that to happen in a year or two, it will get better, but it's probably a 'next generation' ideal.
The way the expansion was handled,
The lack of history and tradition,
The initial movement of players leading to a lack of bonding,
The less than fully professional nature of the competition,
...all meant that there was always going to be a large number of players changing clubs
We can't look at this competition and think that an AFLW team can mirror its AFL counterpart with over 100 years of history and tradition.
When a young male player comes to Carlton he's surrounded by a group of experienced players. Those players were influenced by a group that came before them and so on... back to formation.
What does the young female player experience...pretty much, so far, a lack of stability and an everchanging player group.
A male player may move for extra money, or opportunity.
A female player may be influenced, and move, because...a friend moves, it's a team she supported as a youngster.
What the competition needs is ...'Time'
Now the teams are sorted, and all in line, expect the movement of players to settle.
As the wages increase, players spend more time together, they bond, they develop a culture and a history, and the competition becomes more professional...the reasons for movements will change.
But don't expect that to happen in a year or two, it will get better, but it's probably a 'next generation' ideal.