Although short-sighted decisions at head office left some disillusioned, other stories from the weekend reminded us of the sacrifices the AFLW asks footballers to make.
Hosting the Richmond vs North Melbourne match at the Swinburne Centre, with a capacity of 2,800, was a letdown. The decision locked out potentially thousands from a free-flowing match and was at odds with the sport’s growth mentality.
Ladder leaders Brisbane also have venue issues, seemingly unable to host the grand final on their terms should they win their prelim. The AFLW’s precedent is that the higher ranked team has hosting rights. But the Lions’ preferred venue at the Gabba is being prepared for cricket season. And Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, their second option, will be hosting a Guns N’ Roses gig.
These setbacks are unfortunate, but also offer a chance for the AFL to hear from fans and respond with transparency and understanding. Bring us on the journey, show us your vision for this great league.
Richmond’s Courtney Wakefield was chaired off the ground following the Tigers’ loss, having retired with 30 games and 31 goals to her name.
The 35-year-old has played since Richmond’s VFLW inception in 2018 after being spotted at a talent day in Bendigo just seven weeks after she gave birth. To train and play, Wakefield commuted a roundtrip of 1,400km from Top Hut, north of Mildura, while managing a farm and parenting two children with husband Tom. Making the All-Australian squad last week is a fine end to her career.
Collingwood’s Ash Brazill, also a mother of two and one of the last remaining dual-sport athletes in AFLW, spoke this week about returning to footy after winning gold in netball at the Commonwealth Games. Previously Brazill would play just seven days after switching codes, but this time it took a month to regain her spot in the side. Brazill saw this as a positive sign of the AFLW’s increased competitiveness.
Outside football most players work full-time hours as teachers, paramedics, construction workers, others employed at their club. It’s a reminder of the obstacles AFLW players face - what if the league had started 10 years earlier? What would the careers of Wakefield and Brazille now look like? Where would the sport be now? It’s bittersweet, but how lucky we are to have got to know these players.
It was announced this week that North captain Emma Kearney will join the club’s men’s program in 2023 as a development coach as part of the AFL’s Women’s Coach Acceleration Program. She has worked as Head of Education at North’s community arm The Huddle, and is a qualified teacher. These programs and the upcoming CBA negotiations will hopefully help end this juggle.
The four teams facing off in the preliminary finals – Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and North Melbourne – have been the best sides this season. It’s good for footy, considering the compromised nature of a 10-round fixture. The first three were touted as contenders pre-season, particularly as they weren’t as impacted by player moves in the league expansion.
North Melbourne have proved themselves despite having a tough fixture, losing by small margins to all three but recording wins against other finalists including Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.
On Saturday belief will be strong in this Kangaroos side, especially as they only lost to Melbourne by two points back in round two in a curtain-raiser at the MCG. But they’ve got a huge challenge on their hands.
Melbourne are well-rested after a big win against Adelaide two weeks ago in which coach Mick Stinear and players Tyla Hanks and Liv Purcell demonstrated they could make the tactical changes required mid-game to shift the momentum.
Few will be surprised if talented North midfielder Jasmine Garner is tagged again. Having held her to 13 disposals in round ten, Richmond’s Meg Macdonald went to Garner again on Saturday but Garner was prepared and ended with 22 disposals and two goals. The Dees’ Shelley Heath recently did a stellar job on Essendon’s Maddy Prespakis, so the task may fall to her.
The match will be hosted at much bigger Ikon Park, a relief to Victorian fans and a chance to show their support for the league.
In the other preliminary final, Brisbane will start as favourites on Friday night at Metricon Stadium given their proven ability to pile on goals. Adelaide have had some big wins but also lost twice to Melbourne and will be hoping for the return of captain Chelsea Randall, ruled out with concussion fears before the semi-final win over Collingwood.
Star midfielder Ebony Marinoff has had two uncharacteristically quiet weeks while targeted by taggers. She’ll need to step up to get the game on the Crows’ terms and keep the ball away from league-leading goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw and the dangerous Dakota Davidson.
Despite being knocked out, Richmond and Collingwood fans should be excited. The clubs built seven-win seasons that saw them finish fourth and fifth. It’s hard to imagine they won’t be contenders in 2023, with next-generation talent Monique Conti, Ellie McKenzie and Eliza James.
