Womens Footy - Will It Really Last ??

[PaulP]

In some fashion or other, it is here to stay. The AFL have given it a bit of a leg up, and it may disappear off the telly for a while as it gains momentum, professionalism, visibility, profile etc.

But I don't see it disappearing altogether.

I think the AFL knew well in advance that it wasn't going to be a big hit first up, and really just wanted to jump start the process.

[Bear]

It'll sort over time. With a pathway now for women alot more juniors will play hence alot more talent will come through the system. That'll flow through over the next 5-6 years. It has to start somewhere.

Short-sighted people will look at the "now" and say it's no good, those that think a bit more will se that, like any new competition, it will improve as grass roots depth improves.

Spot on Jimbo.

[DJC]

I haven’t seen many games this season but I have listened to a bit of radio coverage and it seems that the AFLW is building a solid supporter base.

I quite like watching women’s team sports, partly because they play them differently to blokes and AFLW is no exception.  Anyone expecting a game like men’s footy will be sadly disappointed.  Anyone who can appreciate the game being played in a slightly different way by athletes in the process of developing their individual and team skills should enjoy what they see.

AFLW has a long way to go and the AFL needs to take a different approach to tampering with the rules and umpiring.  Clubs, and particularly our club, need to understand how to prepare, condition and look after female athletes.  In our case, improving foot speed should be a priority.

I reckon that the AFLW, and women’s footy in general, has a bright future, provided that the AFL seeks input from the players and those with an understanding of women’s footy rather than imposing playing conditions that blokes think are OK.

The evenness of the competition is a positive (apart from the also-ran teams), but it does highlight the need for a round of semi-finals.

[flyboy77]

Spot on Jimbo.

I doubt it will ever reach the heights of women's tennis as a spectacle. Ever.

And that is deplorably bad other than a few cameos from the likes of Camila Georgi - who can hit a mean ball.

[kruddler]

I doubt it will ever reach the heights of women's tennis as a spectacle. Ever.

And that is deplorably bad other than a few cameos from the likes of Camila Georgi - who can hit a mean ball.

...and in every other place in the world apart from Melbourne, they say the same about the mens game.

[mateinone]

It'll sort over time. With a pathway now for women alot more juniors will play hence alot more talent will come through the system. That'll flow through over the next 5-6 years. It has to start somewhere.

Short-sighted people will look at the "now" and say it's no good, those that think a bit more will se that, like any new competition, it will improve as grass roots depth improves.

God posts like these are utterly ridiculous.
if you have a different opinion you sre short sighted, but the oracles can see it better.

Eveyone knows that the skills will improve, that doesn't mean they will (and doesn't mean they won't) ever get to a level where the brand is strong enough for a professional full time league or that enough people will pay good money to watch it.

Australian's have a lot of choices on what sports to spend their money on and only a few of them attract really big crowds. To support a 10 player (at a guess) netball roster requires a lot less cash than a full time football league.
I think most people will be happy for the women if it takes off, but it is far from sure that this this brand will be a brand that people maintain interest in and importantly people and organisations want to put enough money into so as to allow the women to turn professional.

The debate is a reasonable one for people to have on both sides and certainly isn't a foregone conclusion it will be successful.

[kruddler]

God posts like these are utterly ridiculous.
if you have a different opinion you sre short sighted, but the oracles can see it better.

Eveyone knows that the skills will improve, that doesn't mean they will (and doesn't mean they won't) ever get to a level where the brand is strong enough for a professional full time league or that enough people will pay good money to watch it.

Australian's have a lot of choices on what sports to spend their money on and only a few of them attract really big crowds. To support a 10 player (at a guess) netball roster requires a lot less cash than a full time football league.
I think most people will be happy for the women if it takes off, but it is far from sure that this this brand will be a brand that people maintain interest in and importantly people and organisations want to put enough money into so as to allow the women to turn professional.

The debate is a reasonable one for people to have on both sides and certainly isn't a foregone conclusion it will be successful.

What you say is correct, and far be it from me to stick up for Jimbo but...
When the AFL sets its mind to something it usually comes off.

The things that people are saying about the AFLW are almost word for word the type of stuff people said about South Melboune moving to Sydney.
That can be echoed further with Brisbane.
Less so with the more traditional football states WA, SA, but still uttered.
Again, GC and GWS had more detractors than supporters....and although we are still in the infancy of that, the AFL is playing the long game. It took Sydney a whole generation before that was considered 'established'.

So sure, what you say is true....but the AFL have an exceptional record in this sort of thing.
Even if it doesn't get prime time viewing, the AFLW is here to stay.

[mateinone]

Yeah I am not sure that adding expansion clubs counts the same as adding a different league.
They have failed when bringing new concepts previous as well.
The Lightning Championship was meant to be exciting, it was crap and is a long distant memory for those that can recall it.

The AFL may have clubs on the Gold Coast and GWS and you are right they are trying to play a long game with them, but they are the big show, they draw from and contribute to the income streams of the major game and having success there they have a chance to draw sponsors drawn to the biggest spectator league in Australia.

The women's absolutely could league, but they have a hell of a lot of hurdles to get there

[maxm68]

oh its great...  girls playing a mans game  (  the men aren't allowed to be men anymore )

fantastic...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0


POXXX

[kruddler]

Yeah I am not sure that adding expansion clubs counts the same as adding a different league.
They have failed when bringing new concepts previous as well.
The Lightning Championship was meant to be exciting, it was crap and is a long distant memory for those that can recall it.

The AFL may have clubs on the Gold Coast and GWS and you are right they are trying to play a long game with them, but they are the big show, they draw from and contribute to the income streams of the major game and having success there they have a chance to draw sponsors drawn to the biggest spectator league in Australia.

The women's absolutely could league, but they have a hell of a lot of hurdles to get there

I'd argue that it was easier adding a 7 round season of womens football in the off-season than it was introducing 2 clubs in 'enemy territory' up north in an established competition in the modern age.

Womens comp costs what 10 mil? Max.
The other 2 teams cost closer to 100mil to setup and fund.