OPTING to not apply for an inaugural AFLW licence would have been a "big mistake", Brisbane director Cathie Reid says.
Reid is Nicole Livingstone's final guest on the first season of the League Leaders podcast, and first joined the Lions' board in 2016 as applications were being taken for the first season of the NAB AFLW season.
The Lions have gone on to prove themselves as one of the powerhouses of the competition, runners-up in 2017 and 2018 before taking out that elusive first flag this year.
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"It was something that both (deputy chair) Sarah Kelly and I were really passionate about, the initial call was for bids and who was going to be involved," Reid said.
"Sarah and I, along with the rest of our board, were really adamant that we needed a women's team and it was a really important opportunity for us. Particularly in a state that still has such a skew towards rugby, letting go of the opportunity to have a women's team would be a big mistake.
"We've just been so incredibly lucky to have had Bree (Brock) there leading our women's team alongside with Craig (Starcevich) and all the other fantastic people who work in that space.
"To see them get rewarded with the ultimate reward this year of the premiership, all that hard work and effort, it's been a real joy to have the opportunity and privilege to work with the women's team from its inception. It's very much one of the favourite things I do."
EPISODE GUIDE
5.30 – An unusual start to Cathie’s career as a pharmacist
7.35 – Changing your life plan when you’re thrown a curve ball
13.00 – Starting a business and the importance of taking risks
15.30 – The use of innovation and technology in business
20.18 – The competing needs of business and family
26.00 – A call from Leigh Matthews
31.37 – The impact of AFLW and the growth of women's footy in Queensland
35.00 – Creating opportunity from adversity
42.03 – The importance of taking opportunities
This podcast was recorded prior to Emma Zielke's appointment as a Brisbane AFLW assistant coach
