Thoughts on AFLW

[Foreign Legion]

There will be much better players across all AFLW teams in 3-5 years. Girls who were 10-12 when AFLW started will start coming through rather than transplanted 'athletes'.

My initial statement was not meant to be aimed at the Swans Team. It is the competition as a whole. If I was a broadcaster or the AFL I would trial 2 rounds on shorter grounds - I think the results would please everyone.

[Thunder Shaker]

A few remarks:

The scores are similar to the VFL in its early years. In the 1897 VFL season, the average score was 39.0. In AFL season 7 after 6 rounds, the average score is 31.5. When accounting for the shorter AFLW quarters, the scoring per minute is similar.

The standard of play is clearly lower than the men's competition, but the reasons for this are obvious: (1) Less lifetime playing experience for the players, (2) Smaller pool of talent. This will improve over time when these factors are addressed. Don't expect rapid improvement as these take time to resolve (a decade).

The standard will not improve much if seasons are short, either at the top level or at lower levels. A season length of between 14 games and 18 games would be ideal; for the AFLW every side would play every other side once (17 games).

The AFLW team lists are too small. 30 players is not enough. These need to be expanded to 32 or the AFLW should introduce a floating pool of top-up players. These top-up players train with the AFLW teams but can be selected by any team that has too many injuries. There would not need to be many top-up players, maybe one or two per team.

The AFLW Swans are a fair bit behind the other sides at present. That's a temporary problem caused by a short pre-season and a new side spending limited time together.

[Foreign Legion]

A few remarks:

The scores are similar to the VFL in its early years. In the 1897 VFL season, the average score was 39.0. In AFL season 7 after 6 rounds, the average score is 31.5. When accounting for the shorter AFLW quarters, the scoring per minute is similar.

The standard of play is clearly lower than the men's competition, but the reasons for this are obvious: (1) Less lifetime playing experience for the players, (2) Smaller pool of talent. This will improve over time when these factors are addressed. Don't expect rapid improvement as these take time to resolve (a decade).

The standard will not improve much if seasons are short, either at the top level or at lower levels. A season length of between 14 games and 18 games would be ideal; for the AFLW every side would play every other side once (17 games).

The AFLW team lists are too small. 30 players is not enough. These need to be expanded to 32 or the AFLW should introduce a floating pool of top-up players. These top-up players train with the AFLW teams but can be selected by any team that has too many injuries. There would not need to be many top-up players, maybe one or two per team.

The AFLW Swans are a fair bit behind the other sides at present. That's a temporary problem caused by a short pre-season and a new side spending limited time together.

I'm not sure you can compare 1897 to 2022. Ground surfaces would have been hellish. Place kicks at goal - probably drop kicks etc. Imagine how heavy the ball would have been when wet. I can remember kicking footies like medicine balls when I was young lol.

[jono2707]

They could start by reducing the size of the grounds to encourage a more equivalent rate of scoring. The fields are just too big currently in the AFLW and that detracts from the matches.

[stevoswan]

Those calling for ground size reduction for AFLW seem to forget that it means all new grounds (not going to happen) or re-marking boundary lines and repositioning goal and point posts on existing grounds. Again, not going to happen....because there will have to be mounting points for the base of each goal and point post. When the men play on the same ground, those base mounting points (all 8 of them) will become a danger to the players. Therefore, it is not practical to reduce ground size for AFLW unless you resort top point one....and who's going to come up with the money to build new grounds?

[Ludwig]

Why not play AFLW on a converted basketball court. Just put up goal posts and resurface the court with something cushy. It doesn't take long. In the US and Canada they turn around an arena from basketball to ice hockey overnight.

[Blood Fever]

Why not play AFLW on a converted basketball court. Just put up goal posts and resurface the court with something cushy. It doesn't take long. In the US and Canada they turn around an arena from basketball to ice hockey overnight.

Where would you put the 50 metre arc?

[WomblingFree]

Those calling for ground size reduction for AFLW seem to forget that it means all new grounds (not going to happen) or re-marking boundary lines and repositioning goal and point posts on existing grounds. Again, not going to happen....because there will have to be mounting points for the base of each goal and point post. When the men play on the same ground, those base mounting points (all 8 of them) will become a danger to the players. Therefore, it is not practical to reduce ground size for AFLW unless you resort top point one....and who's going to come up with the money to build new grounds?

Well having North Sydney Oval for all home games would be a start…..

It’s all very PC but most womens sport is not as good as the male equivalent. And AFLW is infinitely poorer.

Womens AFL is a great participation sport and it’s growth has been unbelievable for the game but it pales against the men and will leave all but the most die hard footy tragic nonplussed

[liz]

Well having North Sydney Oval for all home games would be a start…..

It’s all very PC but most womens sport is not as good as the male equivalent. And AFLW is infinitely poorer.

Womens AFL is a great participation sport and it’s growth has been unbelievable for the game but it pales against the men and will leave all but the most die hard footy tragic nonplussed

If it's not for you, fine. No-one is forcing you to watch it. Or to comment on it in this thread.

[Foreign Legion]

Well having North Sydney Oval for all home games would be a start…..

It’s all very PC but most womens sport is not as good as the male equivalent. And AFLW is infinitely poorer.

Womens AFL is a great participation sport and it’s growth has been unbelievable for the game but it pales against the men and will leave all but the most die hard footy tragic nonplussed

I agree with your comment about North Sydney oval - perfect for AFLW. If they AFL need to build or remodel some grounds so be it. The smaller footy size is already a concession. Viewers of AFLW want games where 8-10 goals are roughly the norm - not 2 or 3.

[barry]

Where would you put the 50 metre arc?

The 50m arc is kind of redundant in AFLW. In AFL, its the approximate maximum distance a player can kick a goal from. In AFLW, they would be better off with a 35m ARC.

[aardvark]

but it pales against the men and will leave all but the most die hard footy tragic nonplussed

Comparing Mens AFL with Womens AFL is pointless and stupid. They are two different games with similar rules.

[Mel_C]

I think it was a mistake to start the AFLW season earlier this year. The new teams were already going to be at a disadvantage, but this disadvantage was multiplied when we only had a pre season of 10 weeks. So of course the quality of the games is going to be poor.

And as Meg noted in an earlier post, the players can only train at night after work/school etc. Last week was the first time they spent multiple days together and were able to train during the day.

Today I listened to the Swans AFLW podcast with Kate Mahony and she said that due to the low soft cap, there are only 6 full time staff. The doctor and physios as well as other staff are part time. She mentioned that this isn't sustainable.

Up until recently, girls weren't able to continue playing once they reached a certain age. So of course the skills aren't going to be as good as the men's game. But hopefully this will improve in future years, especially with the girls progressing through our academy.

We have to be patient. I get frustrated watching us play, but I keep reminding myself about the points above.

[WomblingFree]

If it's not for you, fine. No-one is forcing you to watch it. Or to comment on it in this thread.

No need to get your knickers in a knot

[joeykanga]

No need to get your knickers in a knot

What a horrid reply.
I was going to comment earlier on this entire thread and why it was even created and just hoped it would die a natural death.

I personally have been to every home match so far at the different locations and have thoroughly loved the vibe, the beginnings of a future.
I've gone with both my daughter and my niece. There'll be a time when the skills levels go through the roof.
I'm a swans supporter , a supporter of girls and women having the same pathways and opportunities.
Why are we demeaning this project which is in its infancy..girls that are being born now will one day have had a football and a dream fulfilled to play this professional sport and will have acquired those skills to play at am amazing level. It has to start somewhere. They'll carry a ball with them everywhere knowing there's a future in the sport.
Why are we speaking of smaller grounds , and all of the other criticisms.
Can we please just leave it alone and if you want to watch the development and the start of something please support it otherwise just watch the men's only if you wish to but why do we even have this thread.

I'll continue to go to every game. I realise we are on a different level to the teams that have been in AFLw for a few years already but boy do I already have favourite players and can see the spirit and the skills that will develop with more preparation and support staff, having that amazing home base at the hall of industries soon.

I'm a big supporter of what women bring to sport and I'll keep watching them and supporting them. I don't need any wins or to compare them to men's sport.
Some of the comments on this thread are beyond belief.