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I was moved to write this post as a result of a handful of posts in tonight's gameday discussion thread bemoaning the poor skills on show (posts which are by no means invalid). I posted similarly last year.
When looking at the AFLW competition we must take into account the football background of those playing in the competition. You will hear throughout the commentary of these games about the various sports that these women have come from to play in this competition. Basketball, netball, soccer, there was even a Collingwood player who had a background in dirt bike competitions, but it goes far deeper than this.
We are not that far removed from the days when girls could only play football in the boys' junior competitions & only until a certain age. Once they reached the deemed age limit, they were tossed out of the game entirely as there was no female competition to cater for them from their mid-teens. Many of the women playing in the AFLW were victims of these rules & of course have not received the ongoing coaching, training & match practice to enable them to develop their skills/football nous in the way their male counterparts have. Access to football for girls at school has only become available in recent years. Many of your male TAC Cup graduates have been fortunate enough to not only receive ongoing coaching in local junior competitions, but also in properly sanctioned school competitions, where many have been coached by ex-AFL players.
Realistically, it may well be a minimum of another 5 years before we start seeing females graduating to the AFLW competition with improved skill levels. By then these girls should have had 7-8 years of ongoing coaching & matchday experience. They will also most likely be fitter & more mobile than the current AFLW players, having had access to facilities that some of the current women could only have dreamed of. A better fitness level should invariably assist the skill level.
My advice to Carlton supporters who find the current quality of the AFLW competition frustrating/hard to watch is to remember that at the end of the day all that matters is whether those women who are pulling on the Navy Blue & White jumper are winning. A 3.4.22 to 2.2.14 win is every bit as good as a 15.10.100 to 13.14.92 win.
When looking at the AFLW competition we must take into account the football background of those playing in the competition. You will hear throughout the commentary of these games about the various sports that these women have come from to play in this competition. Basketball, netball, soccer, there was even a Collingwood player who had a background in dirt bike competitions, but it goes far deeper than this.
We are not that far removed from the days when girls could only play football in the boys' junior competitions & only until a certain age. Once they reached the deemed age limit, they were tossed out of the game entirely as there was no female competition to cater for them from their mid-teens. Many of the women playing in the AFLW were victims of these rules & of course have not received the ongoing coaching, training & match practice to enable them to develop their skills/football nous in the way their male counterparts have. Access to football for girls at school has only become available in recent years. Many of your male TAC Cup graduates have been fortunate enough to not only receive ongoing coaching in local junior competitions, but also in properly sanctioned school competitions, where many have been coached by ex-AFL players.
Realistically, it may well be a minimum of another 5 years before we start seeing females graduating to the AFLW competition with improved skill levels. By then these girls should have had 7-8 years of ongoing coaching & matchday experience. They will also most likely be fitter & more mobile than the current AFLW players, having had access to facilities that some of the current women could only have dreamed of. A better fitness level should invariably assist the skill level.
My advice to Carlton supporters who find the current quality of the AFLW competition frustrating/hard to watch is to remember that at the end of the day all that matters is whether those women who are pulling on the Navy Blue & White jumper are winning. A 3.4.22 to 2.2.14 win is every bit as good as a 15.10.100 to 13.14.92 win.
Great balanced other side of the coin post
Another thing I would like to add is that they play for said jumper with pride. I can live with the skill uptake whilst this format is in its infancy. Another CFC side to cheer and barrack for ... what's not to like???

