THE AFL, the eight participating clubs, the media and football community at large did a wonderful job creating, promoting and supporting this football revolution. The football landscape has changed forever and this women's football will be a key factor in fending off international sports and cementing our indigenous game as the country’s No. 1 sport for the next century.
PUSH FOR 18 TEAMS
Ten AFL clubs are missing out on the benefits associated with this juggernaut. Having an AFLW team will redefine each club in a special way. Granted, people are concerned about the depth of talent but surely having the resources of 18 AFL clubs recruiting and training players will help fast-track the building of talent pool and standard of play.
FUTURE AFLW PROTOTYPE
Adelaide superstar Erin Phillips showed the physical and mental capabilities that can be developed with years of hard training in an elite environment.
Phillips is one of our nation’s great basketballers and has played at the highest level. Her transition to football – using her physical skills and mental prowess – was a highlight of the first AFLW season and I believe she provides a perfect example of how girls will develop their minds and bodies in the future.
Male players reach their peak after 25 and that’s after years of elite-level training and coaching. Most of the AFLW players have not enjoyed access to high-intensity coaching and training, so we can expect many of them to keep developing and start playing their best footy at 28 and older.
This means there will be a mass of improvement in the competition for many years.
SPACE MATTERS
The power and length of the kicking will likely improve as players train better and receive more coaching. This year most goals were kicked from inside 30m, making the 50m arc redundant. Teams were flooding back and defending inside this 30m zone, often resulting in low scores.
As the players’ fitness improves, on-ballers will be able to get back far quicker and defend space. So while the 16-player rule has helped limit congestion, we need to be careful games don’t become even more defensive.
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
To counter teams’ ability to flood back and protect the 30m zone, coaches must demand the ball be moved forward with speed and authority.
Teams must play on quickly and ideally through the middle of the ground. The AFL could encourage this by introducing a last-touch free kick rule when the ball runs out of bounds between the 30m arcs.
Fans want to see goals kicked, so assistance is required.
GIVE UMPS AN OPTION
A 50m penalty in women’s footy is far too costly for accidental errors and can influence the outcome of games. Umpires need to be given the option of a 25m penalty, applied using discretion.
SHOWING UP THE MEN
AFLW players seem far more committed to promoting their competition than some of their male counterparts.
The women are far more accessible to the media and do not see interviews as a chore. Many were proactive and excited about opportunities to promote their club and sport.
Many AFL players should take heed and better understand the responsibilities they have to grow the AFL brand.
THE STARS ARE AMONG US
This year, we learned plenty about the goalkicking ability of Adelaide’s Sarah Perkins, the rock-solid defending of Carlton’s Laura Attard, the speed of Brisbane Lions’ midfielder Kaitlyn Ashmore, the way Collingwood’s Moana Hope tries to outmanoevre opponents and the class and skills of Melbourne skipper Daisy Pearce. Those unique skills and characteristics resonated with fans in different ways.
I have never met star Western Bulldogs midfielder Ellie Blackburn, but I really enjoyed watching her play. She worked hard, was tough and fiercely competitive, displayed clean ball skills under pressure and was an excellent kick. Something seemed to happen every time she was near the ball.
In summary, she is simply an outstanding footballer.
CHRIS CONNOLLY PLAYED FOR MELBOURNE AND COACHED FREMANTLE. HE IS NOW A COMMENTATOR FOR ABC RADIO AND CROCMEDIA.
