Thoughts on AFLW

[Foreign Legion]

I am curious about whether the comments made in this thread arise from mostly watching the Swans AFLW team or are based on broader viewing of the competition. Clearly our team is, at the moment, a long way behind most and probably some way behind all the rest. It will likely take a while for that to change. But the standard of the game played by the better teams is now pretty decent. It's come a huge way from the first couple of seasons.

I'm not an avid AFLW watcher by any means. I've watched all but one of our games this year (two of them live, the rest on TV) but don't spend my time glued to games between other clubs. Nonetheless, I've watched enough over the past seven years to see how it's improved in that time. Even if you just watched the games played by the Swans this year, surely you can see how the Giants, Roos etc are now able to move the ball cleanly, with purpose and with structure. They've been assisted by our women's defensive limitations but, regardless, it is clearly now Australian football (which was maybe questionable in the early seasons).

I think the standard is a LOT better especially against the established teams. I regard the Roos as one of the best sides - no doubt about it.

The Swans AFLW is not the only reason I posted. The general lack of scoring and one sided games is another. The AFLW NEEDS shorter grounds.

[KTigers]

I think while there is a genuine interest for the AFLW at the moment, it's just going to take at least a few years for the skill level of the
players to catch up. In the end though it will have to compete with all the other football codes and leagues to be viable.

[aardvark]

Why am I uninformed if I may ask?

I have watched at least 30 games and about 5 in person.

How do comments hurt a game? Should it not be robust enough to endure criticism?

And yet you didn't even know how many players were on the field.

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Why am I uninformed if I may ask?

I have watched at least 30 games and about 5 in person.

How do comments hurt a game? Should it not be robust enough to endure criticism?

AFLX

I rest my case your honour.

[Foreign Legion]

My apologies - maybe more are needed as it is painful to watch at the moment.

I am a hard core footy fan and watch nearly every Men's game but am losing interest in AFLW

It is a bit like watching Test Cricket in 1975 at the moment without the tension.

[stevoswan]

And yet you didn't even know how many players were on the field.

Don't derail this thread with this back and forth drivel....who cares how many are on the field? It's the standard of the footy they're playing which is the actual crux of the thread....and that standard is plain for all to see.

[Foreign Legion]

And yet you didn't even know how many players were on the field.

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I rest my case your honour.

To be honest it doesn't matter what you or I think.

The ratings will determine the 'value' of the game. The grounds are too big and scoring (by all teams) is too low.

[aardvark]

Why am I uninformed if I may ask?

I have watched at least 30 games and about 5 in person.

How do comments hurt a game? Should it not be robust enough to endure criticism?

I think the standard is a LOT better especially against the established teams. I regard the Roos as one of the best sides - no doubt about it.

The Swans AFLW is not the only reason I posted. The general lack of scoring and one sided games is another. The AFLW NEEDS shorter grounds.

The 3 best games this weekend were played at Ballarat, Fremantle and St kilda. All full size grounds. Plenty of goals scored in all 3 games.

[Foreign Legion]

So two games with the winners above 60 points.

OK.

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Two games with sides scoring THREE and ONE points

[aardvark]

The next draft has about 20 outstanding players lining up and the year after will be massive. The Swans will get priority picks and hopefully some good youngsters from the Academy. A full pre season will also help. The girls will be competitive quicker than you think.

[Foreign Legion]

The next draft has about 20 outstanding players lining up and the year after will be massive. The Swans will get priority picks and hopefully some good youngsters from the Academy. A full pre season will also help. The girls will be competitive quicker than you think.

I have no issue with the players - I think Montana Ham will be an outstanding player.

My question is: do you think the 'normal' AFL length ground is fit for purpose for AFLW?

[aardvark]

Why am I uninformed if I may ask?

I have watched at least 30 games and about 5 in person.

How do comments hurt a game? Should it not be robust enough to endure criticism?

So two games with the winners above 60 points.

OK.

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Two games with sides scoring THREE and ONE points

Did you watch the showdown? I thought Port did really well for an expansion team. Just couldn't score.

[Foreign Legion]

Did you watch the showdown? I thought Port did really well for an expansion team. Just couldn't score.

No I admit I did not watch it. Unfortunately I am a bit disinterested in AFLW lately. I watched pretty much every game for the last few years - different seasons I know.

I have to say I started watching a Kayo replay of the latest Swans game and at half time fast forwarded to see the result,

[aardvark]

Why am I uninformed if I may ask?

I have watched at least 30 games and about 5 in person.

How do comments hurt a game? Should it not be robust enough to endure criticism?

I have no issue with the players - I think Montana Ham will be an outstanding player.

My question is: do you think the 'normal' AFL length ground is fit for purpose for AFLW?

Yeah we just need another four or five of her.
The 3 games I mentioned were 3 of the best games I've seen of AFLW and I've watched every game of every season except for the ones I fell asleep watching.They were all played on full size grounds. My opinion only but smaller grounds would lead to more congestion.

[Foreign Legion]

Yeah we just need another four or five of her.
The 3 games I mentioned were 3 of the best games I've seen of AFLW and I've watched every game of every season except for the ones I fell asleep watching.They were all played on full size grounds. My opinion only but smaller grounds would lead to more congestion.

There is a bloody lot of congestion now because the kicks/handballs don't clear the area. Would you not rather see the ball inside 20M from goal than bloody mauls outside 50?

I am not trying to downplay AFLW - I am trying to promote ideas to improve it.

[stevoswan]

The next draft has about 20 outstanding players lining up and the year after will be massive. The Swans will get priority picks and hopefully some good youngsters from the Academy. A full pre season will also help. The girls will be competitive quicker than you think.

Great....so the Swans might improve and be more competitive but will the women's game as a whole improve? I still contend that it has NOT improved much at all since season one....and now we have a talent pool spread even further with all 18 teams represented.

It's going to be a very slow process (and it may be ten years or more until the young girls currently going through the talent pathways in juniors actually get to the highest level).....can the paying public wait that long....or will just family and friends be turning up to watch?

Sustainability is my main worry because Foreign Legion is right....the game's viability will be determined by economics and ratings, not by positive 'feels' regarding inclusion.