AFLW 2022b - R9 vs Gold Coast - Friday @ Metricon.

[LP]

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!

[kruddler]

The fact you can (at least to this point) only sign a player for 2 seasons, means its very hard to establish long term culture.
On average, there has been 2 clubs joining the comp every year since the end of season 2. Thats over double this size in 5 seasons. Player movement is essential.

Given the way the draft works (ie it doesn't) it means that established interstate sides will dominate, and even newer interstate sides will get a leg up on most Melbourne based sides.
Add to that the pathetic 'compensation' model the AFL came up with in the off-season and its easy to see why we are struggling.
Seriously, losing Prespakis (and not to mention Gee) and the compensation we got was "allowing us to keep our 1st round draft pick"....which was pick 21!
Georgia Gee herself was pick 12 back in the day. Bombers basically got Prespakis and Gee for free....and we didn't lose pick 21 because they were good players. FMD!

The AFL need to bite the bullet. Up the $'s and make it a national draft from next year. They have the extra $'s courtesy of the new TV rights deal.
Until then, the divide between the interstate sides (and 1 or 2 vic sides) and the rest will just widen.

[Thryleon]

You simply cannot ask the ladies to be a fully national comp when they have their main income sources outside of footy, and they are likely to be studying or not wanting to leave family.  Its hard enough for the blokes who get 100k to do so.

[DJC]

You simply cannot ask the ladies to be a fully national comp when they have their main income sources outside of footy, and they are likely to be studying or not wanting to leave family.  Its hard enough for the blokes who get 100k to do so.

I don't think that the difficulties caused by juggling a career and AFLW are fully appreciated.  Kez was on the wireless recently and one of the many interesting topics she covered was the fact that many AFLW players had to take annual leave from their jobs in order to train and play.  Having two seasons in one year made it very hard for many players and their employers.

Gab Pound's situation is a case in point; she's missed games because university commitments have prevented her from training.  If AFLW was a fully professional comp, would she have to chose between footy and uni?

[LP]

You simply cannot ask the ladies to be a fully national comp when they have their main income sources outside of footy, and they are likely to be studying or not wanting to leave family.  Its hard enough for the blokes who get 100k to do so.

Olympians do it all the time on less, the lower wage is a bullcrap argument that doesn't stack up.

The female cricketers play more games, travel more, play more games, spend more time away form home and do it virtually al year long for less money than some o the AFLW girls.

The lack of money argument is a con.

[Thryleon]

Olympians do it all the time on less, the lower wage is a bullcrap argument that doesn't stack up.

The female cricketers play more games, travel more, play more games, spend more time away form home and do it virtually al year long for less money than some o the AFLW girls.

The lack of money argument is a con.

Olympians train for years for the pinnacle participating in meets that last a few weeks along the way.  Not sure how that compares to uprooting across the country for a 3 month season and knowing that each match you miss is as important as the end goal of the once in 4 year Olympic games where sponsorship will outweigh anything the girls get paid.  The Olympians although frugal will get way more than afl women do if they qualify.  Even standardised and using some of the girls misrepresents your argument because first year draftees don't earn that much.

Do all afl players earn a million dollars a year? Nope.  2% do.

[Gointocarlton]

Olympians train for years for the pinnacle participating in meets that last a few weeks along the way.  Not sure how that compares to uprooting across the country for a 3 month season and knowing that each match you miss is as important as the end goal of the once in 4 year Olympic games where sponsorship will outweigh anything the girls get paid.  The Olympians although frugal will get way more than afl women do if they qualify.  Even standardised and using some of the girls misrepresents your argument because first year draftees don't earn that much.

Do all afl players earn a million dollars a year? Nope.  2% do.

I'm with you Thry, I said it a few weeks ago, the comp is half assed and nothing more than a toke gesture but the AFL. They are paid a pittance and it shows, the AFL should invest heavily (way more than they are now), pay them properly so that can be pro and then watch it prosper. Right now, for me at least, its unwatchable.

[LP]

Olympians train for years for the pinnacle participating in meets that last a few weeks along the way.  Not sure how that compares to uprooting across the country for a 3 month season and knowing that each match you miss is as important as the end goal of the once in 4 year Olympic games where sponsorship will outweigh anything the girls get paid.

So athletes train for years and leave home base to compete once every four years for just a few weeks, ultimately getting a small fortune from sponsors regardless of results, while the AFLW girls sacrifice months on end on the road as travelling paupers facing death at every challenge! :o

Have I missed some key aspect of your perspective?

Walker must really love AFLW!

[Lods]

They can fast track the whole thing by throwing some extra money at it, or they can let it develop naturally over a period of time.

I tend to favour the latter approach.
Let the competition develop naturally, bring in some equalisation strategies as necessary...but don't rush the thing, and try and create a parellel competition with the men's competition in a few short years.
Salaries can gradually increase to cover initiatives that create a more equal competition.

Now in the early stages that may mean a few years of an unbalanced competition that favours certain teams but over time these will sort themselves out.
The thing is...Get the basics right. You're than building on a strong foundation rather than a knee jerk approach.

I'm just curious of the current level of interest.
I tried to find crowd numbers for the current round, (or any round) but couldn't see any.
Is there a growing level of interest, or has the expansion shenanigans turned a few people off?

[Gointocarlton]

They can fast track the whole thing by throwing some extra money at it, or they can let it develop naturally over a period of time.

I tend to favour the latter approach.
Let the competition develop naturally, bring in some equalisation strategies as necessary...but don't rush the thing, and try and create a parellel competition with the men's competition in a few short years.
Salaries can gradually increase to cover initiatives that create a more equal competition.

Now in the early stages that may mean a few years of an unbalanced competition that favours certain teams but over time these will sort themselves out.
The thing is...Get the basics right. You're than building on a strong foundation rather than a knee jerk approach.

I'm just curious of the current level of interest.
I tried to find crowd numbers for the current round, (or any round) but couldn't see any.
Is there a growing level of interest, or has the expansion shenanigans turned a few people off?

Listening to the commentary and crowd noise, the shrieking, high pitched voices you hear (quite noticeable) suggests to  me the crowds are small and there are are lots of females and less males. Some of that comes from the ground obviously but you can tell apart the crowd noise from it. As I said, I don't watch much let alone every game but that's what I have gleaned from it.