Re: AFLW 2023 Rd 6: Carlton vs Brisbane at Carlton
Reply #9 –
Let me start my saying I have nothing against the AFL for Woman. Blame the AFL for the state of clubs like ours and the general state of the game:
1. Not enough money poured into woman's footy by the AFL themselves. The AFL should pour an equal amount of significant dollars into each club.
2. The result is a Mickey Mouse or token comp and the AFL is to 100% blame which to me at least is hard to watch.
3. RE point 1, Invest a bucket load of money into coaches and paying players properly so they can turn pro. No salary cap in the initial phase.
4. Once they turn pro, they will be able to work FULL TIME on fitness, conditioning and skills. All three are abysmal across the comp and if a male athlete presented like this day one of PS, they would be sent to the fat farm ala Lance Whitnell and more recently Mitch McGovern.
5. Play proper seasons as curtain raisers to the mens games. Not saying 23 games necessarily, but more games in parallel to the mens season. Leverage off the big game crowds to show case the game. Maybe even woman's games after the mens game (??).
6. As these upskilled, professional AFL players begin to retire, they become coaches to teach the next generation of young girls, rinse repeat until you have a fully fledge professional competition.
Build it and they will come.