News External review for Richmond's AFLW program.

[Phar Ace]

Carlton are so slick compared to our shit trucks. Miles off the pace

And some were dismissive of the Blues and wondering why our review might lean into what they have already done. Now we see some evidence why!.

 

[The Vaucluse]

Spoke to someone closely involved with AFLW. They acknowledge that there is negativity around the product, but they believe the talent coming through the pathways is getting better every year. They spoke about the need to get the right venues to showcase the product and the AFL is continually reviewing where to stage games. Generally, they were excited about the direction the games was moving. Claimed Ross Lyon was a bit of a dinosaur when it came to the women’s game and Carlo’s commentary about Merret and Essendon AFLW isn’t far off the mark. In terms of our program, he didn’t rave about our physical and emotional investment in the program and implied we were thereabouts. He said that the clubs with the worst programs ran their AFL & AFLW as separate entities, with most of the resources going into the AFL men’s program.

 

[toenail63]

Spoke to someone closely involved with AFLW. They acknowledge that there is negativity around the product, but they believe the talent coming through the pathways is getting better every year. They spoke about the need to get the right venues to showcase the product and the AFL is continually reviewing where to stage games. Generally, they were excited about the direction the games was moving. Claimed Ross Lyon was a bit of a dinosaur when it came to the women’s game and Carlo’s commentary about Merret and Essendon AFLW isn’t far off the mark. In terms of our program, he didn’t rave about our physical and emotional investment in the program and implied we were thereabouts. He said that the clubs with the worst programs ran their AFL & AFLW as separate entities, with most of the resources going into the AFL men’s program.

When the building works and the new JD stand and facilities are up and running it will especially benefit the AFLW team over the men's in use of these new club resources, however when it comes to prioritising $$ resources in running programs, men's teams across the board at every AFL club would be disproportionate for the woman to the men because of prioritising investment to create revenue streams, aka ROI's, and this would be the same regardless if programs are seperate entity or not.

Budgetary restraints for women's teams means having to align your priority $$ spending with your primary goals. This is where having an understanding of how the successful AFLW programs do this to adopt their methods into your program is paramount.

The talent is getting better every year, pathways are identifying and developing talent with greater participation numbers. If we aren't throwing a sizeable amount of resources into recruiting talent then we won't become competitive. When our mens program only had Francis Jackson as a part timer we were losing out . Watching the AFLW teams who have the greatest amount of success, they have a disproportionate quantity of talented woman footballers on their lists compared to the rest of the competition.

 

[Bojangles17]

Carlton are so slick compared to our shit trucks. Miles off the pace

So much younger too , so many of our players are as old as the hills and as slow as all get out

 

[Bojangles17]

Spoke to someone closely involved with AFLW. They acknowledge that there is negativity around the product, but they believe the talent coming through the pathways is getting better every year. They spoke about the need to get the right venues to showcase the product and the AFL is continually reviewing where to stage games. Generally, they were excited about the direction the games was moving. Claimed Ross Lyon was a bit of a dinosaur when it came to the women’s game and Carlo’s commentary about Merret and Essendon AFLW isn’t far off the mark. In terms of our program, he didn’t rave about our physical and emotional investment in the program and implied we were thereabouts. He said that the clubs with the worst programs ran their AFL & AFLW as separate entities, with most of the resources going into the AFL men’s program.

The w game is at a challenging point , someone should research why aren’t women generally interested and supportive , that’s a broader issue perhaps . This would be a strange tactic but the Roos should be hobbled at the draft rather than encouraged to prize key players from bottom 6 clubs . Fans are dropping off seeing non competitive games , actions required

 

[Yze does it]

Spoke to someone closely involved with AFLW. They acknowledge that there is negativity around the product, but they believe the talent coming through the pathways is getting better every year. They spoke about the need to get the right venues to showcase the product and the AFL is continually reviewing where to stage games. Generally, they were excited about the direction the games was moving. Claimed Ross Lyon was a bit of a dinosaur when it came to the women’s game and Carlo’s commentary about Merret and Essendon AFLW isn’t far off the mark. In terms of our program, he didn’t rave about our physical and emotional investment in the program and implied we were thereabouts. He said that the clubs with the worst programs ran their AFL & AFLW as separate entities, with most of the resources going into the AFL men’s program.

we're thereabouts physical and emotional investment? great to hear. RFC the only Melbourne club without a VFLW presence.
soft caps mean you can only spend so much of the AFL or the AFLW. teams. VFLW is separate again I think.
We fund a wheelchair team... Bachar Houli foundation, Alannah and Madelaine foundation etc, etc, etc.

The Prez saying something about wanting flag success. The review is a good start.

the EFC AFLW & VFLW players all weeped and asked for trades when Merritt trade didn't go through.

 

[The Vaucluse]

we're thereabouts physical and emotional investment? great to hear. RFC the only Melbourne club without a VFLW presence.
soft caps mean you can only spend so much of the AFL or the AFLW. teams. VFLW is separate again I think.
We fund a wheelchair team... Bachar Houli foundation, Alannah and Madelaine foundation etc, etc, etc.

The Prez saying something about wanting flag success. The review is a good start.

the EFC AFLW & VFLW players all weeped and asked for trades when Merritt trade didn't go through.

I can only report what he said. He also commented that the AFLW ladder was a fair guide to a club’s investment in their program. He also made note that the women play in integrate programs at the Coates underage level, where there is no distinction between male and female athletes, and that’s not always what they encounter when moving into club land.

Let’s see what the review uncovers. If our program was “best in class”, then we probably wouldn’t be undertaking a review into the program. My simplistic assessment, is that with our Mens team undergoing a major rebuild, the investment in the new stand, maybe the women’s program hasn’t been overlooked or hasn’t got the attention it needs. We can’t say that our women’s program has been a raging on field success, that’s disappointing on all number of levels.

 

[Yze does it]

I can only report what he said. He also commented that the AFLW ladder was a fair guide to a club’s investment in their program. He also made note that the women play in integrate programs at the Coates underage level, where there is no distinction between male and female athletes, and that’s not always what they encounter when moving into club land.

Let’s see what the review uncovers. If our program was “best in class”, then we probably wouldn’t be undertaking a review into the program. My simplistic assessment, is that with our Mens team undergoing a major rebuild, the investment in the new stand, maybe the women’s program hasn’t been overlooked or hasn’t got the attention it needs. We can’t say that our women’s program has been a raging on field success, that’s disappointing on all number of levels.

Suns, Giants, Lions and Swans have teams of girls playing in Coates U16. Success flows through for the Lions. Suns have academies for boys and girls. AFL Spending a lot of money on the gold coast academies. . outside of salary cap I guess.
Brizzy always at the top. Make finals lose payers make finals again.

 

[The Vaucluse]

Suns, Giants, Lions and Swans have teams of girls playing in Coates U16. Success flows through for the Lions. Suns have academies for boys and girls. AFL Spending a lot of money on the gold coast academies. . outside of salary cap I guess.
Brizzy always at the top. Make finals lose payers make finals again.

There’s one key stakeholder that the AFL Executive needs to satisfy and it’s the Broadcasters. South East Queensland is a growth market for AFL on TV and the AFL Executive wants to ensure the clubs operating in that territory are super competitive . Unfortunately, it leads to a bias in how the game is administered which is shown in the how the Academies, are funded by the AFL to the benefit of the expansion clubs.

 

[toenail63]

So much younger too , so many of our players are as old as the hills and as slow as all get out

Will be good ones incoming in draft, U18 girls now are all like the Carlton girls, are quicker, cleaner, better kicks and better tacklers.

 

[Yze does it]

There’s one key stakeholder that the AFL Executive needs to satisfy and it’s the Broadcasters. South East Queensland is a growth market for AFL on TV and the AFL Executive wants to ensure the clubs operating in that territory are super competitive . Unfortunately, it leads to a bias in how the game is administered which is shown in the how the Academies, are funded by the AFL to the benefit of the expansion clubs.

SE Q N NSW is a growth market for participation. not scandal plagued thugby. Mums happy for their boys and girls to play
AFL.

In NSW Swans don't miss finals. Giants a good recent record. Lions have been on HQ drip for a long time. Suns ~ went well in their first finals ever.

2026 fixture ~ Not many prime time games to Brizzy.

Carlton, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Geelong even the Dogs play more prime time games.

 

[Bojangles17]

Will be good ones incoming in draft, U18 girls now are all like the Carlton girls, are quicker, cleaner, better kicks and better tacklers.

The blues are a good example of cutting the list back , shrewd recruiting and a coach that’s having an impact , all the key areas we’ve failed miserably

 

[toenail63]

2026 fixture ~ Not many prime time games to Brizzy.

Carlton, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Geelong even the Dogs play more prime time games.

they might get some towards back end of season after RD 16 as haven't announced these yet, esp. Cats, Hawks, Suns and Magpie games

 

[Bojangles17]

we're thereabouts physical and emotional investment? great to hear. RFC the only Melbourne club without a VFLW presence.
soft caps mean you can only spend so much of the AFL or the AFLW. teams. VFLW is separate again I think.
We fund a wheelchair team... Bachar Houli foundation, Alannah and Madelaine foundation etc, etc, etc.

The Prez saying something about wanting flag success. The review is a good start.

the EFC AFLW & VFLW players all weeped and asked for trades when Merritt trade didn't go through.

Hawthorn have demonstrated over the decades that a VFL alliance with box hill has been complimentary to their premiership ambition, would need a pretty good argument to convince me that having no vflw team has harmed our progression it’s other factors

 

[toenail63]

The blues are a good example of cutting the list back , shrewd recruiting and a coach that’s having an impact , all the key areas we’ve failed miserably

So true that's not been mentioned enough how well they've recruited after they started a rebuild.

Little known fact is they got Mia Austin with the pick we gave up to get Grace Egan, Austin had injuries in her first couple years but now looks like they've drafted a gun forward and only 21.

 

[Yze does it]

Hawthorn have demonstrated over the decades that a VFL alliance with box hill has been complimentary to their premiership ambition, would need a pretty good argument to convince me that having no vflw team has harmed our progression it’s other factors

Correct Hawthorn use Box Hill for their VFL programs. Boys AND girls. RFC ditched its VFLW team and even dumped the Port Melb connection .

VFL level teams have systems you can introduce. Can play all f...n year long. from April .. Irish recruits got NOWHERE to play.

 

[Bojangles17]

Correct Hawthorn use Box Hill for their VFL programs. Boys AND girls. RFC ditched its VFLW team and even dumped the Port Melb connection .

VFL level teams have systems you can introduce. Can play all f...n year long. from April .. Irish recruits got NOWHERE to play.

There needs to be a substitute sure, but I’m not convinced we need our own vflw team , do crows or lions have one

 

[Phar Ace]

The w game is at a challenging point , someone should research why aren’t women generally interested and supportive , that’s a broader issue perhaps . This would be a strange tactic but the Roos should be hobbled at the draft rather than encouraged to prize key players from bottom 6 clubs . Fans are dropping off seeing non competitive games , actions required

The games need to be better aligned with the men's season. There is footy malaise by the time the women's season rolls around. As a generalisation, I don't think women don't get the time to go to the women's games, and probably that's because of men. It's systemic.

 

[Phar Ace]

Hawthorn have demonstrated over the decades that a VFL alliance with box hill has been complimentary to their premiership ambition, would need a pretty good argument to convince me that having no vflw team has harmed our progression it’s other factors

Box Hill is highly integrated, and a bit of a cherry pick. We used Port Melb poorly in the vflw. I'm the opposite. You can't convince me the no vflw team approach helped at all.

 

[Phar Ace]

The blues are a good example of cutting the list back , shrewd recruiting and a coach that’s having an impact , all the key areas we’ve failed miserably

Success is easy to identify at this stage of it.....

 

[Phar Ace]

So true that's not been mentioned enough how well they've recruited after they started a rebuild.

Little known fact is they got Mia Austin with the pick we gave up to get Grace Egan, Austin had injuries in her first couple years but now looks like they've drafted a gun forward and only 21.

That's worked well for us then.

 

[Yappie dribbles]

No vflw team is not the issue

The comp is played totally different time of year then aflw and only a max of 5 vflw players are allowed to play per side so majority don't play anyway

North rarely have any aflw players play in the vflw season

There is so many other issues outside the vflw

North Have been in the comp along time so have many preseasons under their belt same as Adelaide and lions

The comp will even up in next few years and then hopefully it will become professional and the best players will stay put because they are not being praised out with huge job offers at club sponsors in the office season

 

[Yze does it]

There needs to be a substitute sure, but I’m not convinced we need our own vflw team , do crows or lions have one

Victorian clubs ALL use their own team. the Tasmanian team is about to join the VFL& W. The Suns and Giants have no league either. You'd be learning from North Melbourne you'd think?

Carlton AFLW team playing very well, 3 years after their review. the review didn't get them to dump their VFLW team.

Tassie makes it 11 teams anyhow, golden opp to even it up with 12.


punt road construction site ~ got to find a field to play.

The association with Port Melb, can't remember the complaint. A Richmond team in Port colours less than ideal. I watch no VFLW but if Richmond had a team I would.

 

[Phar Ace]

No vflw team is not the issue

The comp is played totally different time of year then aflw and only a max of 5 vflw players are allowed to play per side so majority don't play anyway

North rarely have any aflw players play in the vflw season

There is so many other issues outside the vflw

North Have been in the comp along time so have many preseasons under their belt same as Adelaide and lions

The comp will even up in next few years and then hopefully it will become professional and the best players will stay put because they are not being praised out with huge job offers at club sponsors in the office season

Perhaps not THE issue, but still an issue for developing young talent.

 

[Yze does it]

Perhaps not THE issue, but still an issue for developing young talent.

RFC the only Melbourne club to drop out of the VFLW in 2021. Citing the COVID pandemic to not participate.

" The club has been focussing resources and energies on delivering a high quality AFLW program 2021 and beyond."

this hyper focussed, elite program made finals two years... and got smashed in all finals games.

2025 couldn't beat the spooners. RFC spent half the season at 18th.

$100k soft cap fine in 2021 was probably a factor. expensive New grandstand will be the reason in 2025/26.

Mr Woke Brendan Gale was in charge here at that time ~ now in charge of Tazzy about to join the VFLW and make it 13 teams.