AFLW thread

[tdy]

It's early days. They ought to play it mid week then they'd get a TV audience if it's mid afl season

[one-eyed]

Forget about seeing a Richmond team in the AFLW for a few years.

NO AFLW EXPANSION IN 2018

THERE will be no new teams in the AFLW next season after chief executive Gillon McLachlan today reiterated new licenses wouldn't be available until 2019 at the earliest.

The success of the women's league has surpassed expectations and clubs without a team are keen to get involved as soon as possible.

"Pretty much off the table (expansion in 2018)," he said at a Melbourne Press Club lunch today.

"I believe we need to consolidate for the year … and then expand again in the 2019 season.

"We continue to discuss that, but that’s where we are today.

"I said to the clubs who made a submission for a licence in the first instance – there was 13 submissions, five clubs who missed who will be the first cab off the rank.

"We need to make sure we are running at speed and we maintain the right standard and deal with that.

"There’s a lot of clubs who really want licences and I accept that, and of course you’re always having discussions but we’re pretty keen to also consolidate."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-daily-live-rolling-footy-news-from-around-australia/news-story/f8294d43a5da57d5385629486a7cd0c3

[Yeahright]

The dude with the weird username that has brackets will be happy with that.

[mightytiges]

Good hard fought down to the wire inaugural Women's Grand Final in front of a crowd of 15k. The AFL will be rapt.   

[Diocletian]

Will fold in 5 years....

[Yeahright]

Didn't even know the final was on. No one gives a shyte since the real stuff has started

[Chuck17]

Would be double the interest rate if they played in lingerie

[Diocletian]

....only if they started mainly recruiting from outside the sport, Chucky....

[Yeahright]

Sarah Perkins

[tony_montana]

Good hard fought down to the wire inaugural Women's Grand Final in front of a crowd of 15k. The AFL will be rapt.

Did anyone pay to get in?

[mightytiges]

Good hard fought down to the wire inaugural Women's Grand Final in front of a crowd of 15k. The AFL will be rapt.

Did anyone pay to get in?

The late shift to Metricon meant it was free entry. Still the crowd was 25% higher than what the men's derby got later that night.

Will fold in 5 years....

Highly unlikely given the AFL would've originally budgeted to pay for everything and not banked on the publicity and interest the AFLW actually got.  In the battle for sporting media attention all year round, the AFLW provides the AFL with more content to promote during February/March before the men's comp. starts. In time, it will also boost participation numbers in the game as more and more girls take up footy at lower levels now there's a pathway to playing professionally. Numbers speak to sponsors, governments, etc = more $$$ into the sport. 

[tony_montana]

surprise surprise it was free entry..

tbh I just cant ever see it becoming strong in junior participation - reckon netball, soccer and basketball will always be the pick of the sports by the parents

[Francois Jackson]

So glad to see aflw leading the way in "equality" with a shot of 2 descent looking girls passing on the herald sun

Blobbo the best journo going around

[Penelope]

surprise surprise it was free entry..

tbh I just cant ever see it becoming strong in junior participation - reckon netball, soccer and basketball will always be the pick of the sports by the parents

It's quickly becoming the pick of the sport for the girls though.

Participation is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Interest may wane in the top level comp as the novelty value wears off, but from a participation point of view at lower levers it is growing exponentially, and clubs that don't embrace it do so at their own risk.

Talking to someone from an eastern suburbs club on the weekend that has recently started up a netball and womens team. The two dont seem to be conflicting with each other at all, and many women are playing in both for the club.

[mightytiges]

surprise surprise it was free entry..

tbh I just cant ever see it becoming strong in junior participation - reckon netball, soccer and basketball will always be the pick of the sports by the parents

It's quickly becoming the pick of the sport for the girls though.

Participation is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Interest may wane in the top level comp as the novelty value wears off, but from a participation point of view at lower levers it is growing exponentially, and clubs that don't embrace it do so at their own risk.

Talking to someone from an eastern suburbs club on the weekend that has recently started up a netball and womens team. The two dont seem to be conflicting with each other at all, and many women are playing in both for the club.

Yep. This is from the local paper:

Women’s football booming

Jon Andrews,
Bayside Leader
2 April, 2017

MORE than 1200 women have registered to play in the first female Victorian Amateur Football Association competition, highlighting the soaring success of grassroots girls footy.

VAFA board member and former Bayside Mayor Felicity Frederico said the strong numbers meant it was the largest female football competition in Australia.

She said with the recent achievements of the national AFLW season, the hunger for women to get involved was inspiring.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-south/campaigns/more-than-1200-girls-register-to-take-the-field-in-first-womens-vafa-season/news-story/19d003ec25bf78ac44e36fcbffb7e603