We're almost halfway in the inaugural AFLW season and hasn't it been a banger so far!
I sat down today and wrote down my thoughts on the whole bonanza so far.
Let me know your feedback, comments an thoughts of your own on the Facebook page.
1) The Recruitment of Athletes over Footballers
- bigger grounds + less players requires more running
- they already possess "50% of the requirement" in that they had been in a semi/professional environment before + already had near/elite capacities in specific qualities (speed, aerobic etc)
2) Limited FTA coverage + shitty internet that will not stream anything from the AFL website means if I don't go to the game I can't watch it until the replay comes on online after I've found out the score. I would loved to have watched the GWS/FREO and ADE/CARL games this weekend without knowing the final score beforehand - especially when there is shoe lace tying races or something similar on all four Channel 7 options.
3) Expansion should probably be 3 years or so away for mine BUT then there is an issue with all these academy girls coming out during that time and if they can't all be drafted because of limited spots available, then what happens to them? Also what happens when new teams do come in? Can you "protect" 5 players and the rest are free to be signed up wherever?
4) Skills need work yes, but I figure as these academy girls come in who have played footy since they were 5, it will pick up quite dramatically. The teenage girls I've seen kick the footy at AFLW games with subconscious ball drop, kicking technique etc and the way they move towards the footy in flight all bodes well for future drafts.
5) Intensity is great but they need to learn how to protect themselves. At one point, I think in the GWS/FREO game a player, was running to the next contest, away from the kicker, and ran right under the drop zone and got smashed by 2 or 3 on-coming players - could have been bad.
6) The injury toll is frightening for mine. I understand the short build up, huge increases in intensity and such but again they need to learn how to take and give contact without hurting themselves. I know the Lions have worked a lot on tackling technique to avoid injury even if it's not pretty. As the women have more pre-seasons, I hope this improves greatly
7) That being said they'll be going from AFLW season to local season to AFLW season and so on so if they keep the AFLW season where it is, which I do like, then it means there is little down time, little general/semi specific prep/training time (base fitness/strength etc) and the high rate of injury is maintained.
8) More players per list for sure but again, more training time is also needed to prep players for the rigors of the game.
9) Dropped marks with players on their own has actually hurt teams - a simple skill really that I would've thought wouldn't have been an issue even in the infancy of the league.
10) I wouldn't be against players names on their jumpers like basketball to help us get to know the players quicker.
11) Smaller grounds/venues might be better for the game but I don't see the crowds decreasing soon which would be a logistical nightmare.
12) I'd like to see the AFLW season stand alone and not be on during the men's season as that will affect crowds dramatically with females (and me) playing footy those days and not being able to go to games. Also families with kids who play footy/Auskick might find it hard to go as well.
13) Congestion is an issue which is part skills and part coaching. I wouldn't be against having to keep 1 or 2 players/team in each half of the ground at all times but then we don't get to see McCarthy's goals from the weekend so I don't know.
14) How many of these players picked from different sports will actually go back to them or stay in footy "full time"? I'd like to think that how outrageously successful AFLW has been so far, that they'd stay in footy.
15) How hard do the AFL go in funding women's football at all levels? I'd say they have to go as hard as they can and back it in - it can't all be about the top end and simply ignore the bottom. At least liaise with bottom feeder teams/leagues etc and make sure they can all survive initially as they build up.
16) The game style and umpiring is local footy style which is resulting a some great tackles and bumps but also sling tackles. Tackling will also be improved as players get more training time under their belt. In the AFL you see players "half"tackle and almost look after the bloke they're tackling for fear of getting reported for accidental contact but none of that with the women! It's all in, the umpires are letting it go and I'm happy!!
17 - I've been to 4 games and watched maybe 4 others so I've sen every team play now but I don't think my fav/best players will be a surprise. Kearney, Davey, Eric/Cat Phillips, Harris, Blackburn, Pearce, D'arcy, Tex, McCarthy, Paxman, Vescio, Randall and Mifsud looked good last weekend too for a first glance.
18) This too-much-media thing for Moana Hope is bullshit. In the men's we crave for players who are individual and who don't really toe the company line (Dane Swan for example.) Yes she wzs drafted a as a marque player but with the game tipped to be open and free flowing allowing for plenty of scoring opportunities, and in turn 1-on-1 contests, there's no doubt a 100+ goal kicker has a place as a marque draft pick. Unfortunately Collingwood's form, delivery and AFL game style allowing ZERO 1-on-1's in the Collingwood forward line, has not really allowed Mo to display the qualities that make her a 100+ goal kicker. I am on-board with letting her off the leash with a run through the middle or maybe off half-back just for 5 - 7min spell to get her hands on it. I hope she kicks 3 this week against the Dogs who didn't defend well against the Crows a couple of weeks back when I last watched them live,
What do you think?
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