AFLW West Coast Eagles Women's Team - Discussion Thread

[jatz14]

The cross coders have crossed for money and nothing else. It's only a couple months of the year and it has little impact on the sport they prefer.

Some keep playing both, but a lot, especially the younger ones are quitting their alternative sport. Molloy quit basketball, Conway quit hockey, Cunningham quit basketball. A highly regarded WA hockey player switched.

Off the top of my head, I can only think of 5 top level players playing another sport at a high level.

From interviews, I also think money has little to do with it (let's face it, it isn't a career yet). It's the chance of rocking up to an AFL club, putting on an AFL kit, and going out to play for an AFL team.

WCE have Drew Petrie and Selwood running the women's academy training, with cameos from players like Shuey, Gaff etc.

How do you think a 16 year old Eagles fan views training in Eagles kit at the Eagles home with current and ex Eagles players, and competing for a spot on an Eagles list.

How does that compare to a 16 year old training for the Perth Redbacks, coached by Joe Blogg?

If money is an attraction at all, it's 5% money, 95% lure of the AFL.

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[flamingEMBERS]

Wow that the most in depth talk and balanced talk about our club on TV in a long time and it's not even about the AFL team. Seems the women have no bias or hatred and actually have proper journalistic skills.

 

[Caputo]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl/womens-afl/west-coast-aflw-update!690392

Thought the panel were off the mark on marquee's as I think the Big 3 won't go home in SFT, Chelsea Randall or King. Adelaide and Bris good programs and fully intergrated and both seem settled. King just moved from Collingwood to North. Can't see her staying for one year.

Better marquee value at Freo in Dan Hooker or maybe Emma Swanson who remains at GWS but playing in Darwin

 

[DJMac]

Political suicide to not get a side. The club would be seen as bigots. Hence why every club wants a side now. A 6 to 8 team comp was all that was required for the Womens league.
They could of led the way in how the AFL should of been set up.
East melbourne
West melbourne
South melbourne
North melbourne
Sydney side
Brisbane Side
Perth Side
Adelaide side

What do you think would be the consequences of the political suicide?

 

[jatz14]

What do you think would be the consequences of the political suicide?

Political suicide is overcooking it a bit, but it would come at a cost.

Loss of sponsorship would be one. Image is important to sponsors, and if most clubs are backing a women's team, the Eagles will lose sponsors to Freo if they do not. You may think it an overreaction, but word is, some clubs initially luke warm to a women's team were told directly by major sponsors, get involved or goodbye.

Loss of support will also happen. There are lots of female supporters in WA, and while I doubt a women's team will make much difference to long term female supporters, the 8 year old girl just starting to follow footy is likely to be swayed to a significant degree by seeing Dockers women's players.

I suspect a lot of people will not give a shit, maybe your one of them, but the affect on support amongst women in the long run is likely to be really significant, and I think WC will give a shit.

None of this is dire or terminal, but it all adds up.

What do you think the advantages of not getting a women's team would be? When the CEO goes in to meet major sponsors getting antsy at being seen to back a club not interested in a women's team, what would he tell them?

It isn't political suicide, it is political stupidity.



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[Luuuc]

It really is our social duty to give all Western Australian footy-loving girls a team in their own state that they can identify with and look up to as role models. Forget politics and sponsorship, this is just plain human decency. The current situation is cruel and inhumane.

 

[DJMac]

Political suicide is overcooking it a bit, but it would come at a cost.

Loss of sponsorship would be one. Image is important to sponsors, and if most clubs are backing a women's team, the Eagles will lose sponsors to Freo if they do not. You may think it an overreaction, but word is, some clubs initially luke warm to a women's team were told directly by major sponsors, get involved or goodbye.

Loss of support will also happen. There are lots of female supporters in WA, and while I doubt a women's team will make much difference to long term female supporters, the 8 year old girl just starting to follow footy is likely to be swayed to a significant degree by seeing Dockers women's players.

I suspect a lot of people will not give a shit, maybe your one of them, but the affect on support amongst women in the long run is likely to be really significant, and I think WC will give a shit.

None of this is dire or terminal, but it all adds up.

What do you think the advantages of not getting a women's team would be? When the CEO goes in to meet major sponsors getting antsy at being seen to back a club not interested in a women's team, what would he tell them?

It isn't political suicide, it is political stupidity.

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I don't really see any advantages in not getting a team. I doubt it would make much difference either way so no reason not to.

 

[jatz14]

Its good to see that after 2 seasons with the purple, Hayley Miller and Dana Hooker will still deck themselves out in their Eagles gear to cheer their real team on to a GF win. I dont think the Eagles will have trouble inducing a number of Freos best female players to switch.

 

[jatz14]

Eagles appoint womens head coach.
http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2018-12-13/dwyer-gets-senior-role

 

[ep2018]

So this is still going ahead. Considering all the issues the AFL have had with fixture, players etc with adding two new teams for the coming season, I was sure they'd at the very least delay the next four teams coming in until after 2020.

 

[jatz14]

BHP and ECU extend sponsorship to the womens team.

Eagles have a coach, and 2 major sponsors for their 2020 womens team, and its still; 2018.

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2018-12-17/bhp-ecu-to-sponsor-inaugural-aflw-team

 

[BigVic]

BHP logo is too big on our jumper

 

[Astro7]

Like many, I've taken a lukewarm interest in AFLW. In some games or teams I've been surprised by the
intensity, the passion and the tackling. In other instances it's been the poor skills, awareness and kicking.
But I look forward to an Eagles team and would support it and watch it.
To see our first team run out in Eagles colours would be a buzz and soon as you see those colours worn, the support kicks in.
(* overall, it seems at times there is just too much sport to support or watch with every sporting code splitting into female teams, but am guessing it will sort itself out in time and settle down organically with dedicated support bases and infrastructure that develops professionally along the way.)
Bring it on!

 

[Chris_6678]

Like many, I've taken a lukewarm interest in AFLW. In some games or teams I've been surprised by the
intensity, the passion and the tackling. In other instances it's been the poor skills, awareness and kicking.
But I look forward to an Eagles team and would support it and watch it.
To see our first team run out in Eagles colours would be a buzz and soon as you see those colours worn, the support kicks in.
(* overall, it seems at times there is just too much sport to support or watch with every sporting code splitting into female teams, but am guessing it will sort itself out in time and settle down organically with dedicated support bases and infrastructure that develops professionally along the way.)
Bring it on!

In time i think the skill level will increase to be on par with the mens team. A lot of the woman playing are from other sports so its not like they have been playing the game since they were young.

 

[Dark Sharks]

The missus plays, so i'm constantly involved in womans footy trying to make her the next Chris Marsden

Skill level will catch up eventually. The talent pool isn't the greatest right now but that will correct itself and get better in a few years.

Main thing is they go hard. Skills are shocking, but they have a crack. It's brutal considering some of the girls are clumsy and there's not many hard body's.

 

[jatz14]

The missus plays, so i'm constantly involved in womans footy trying to make her the next Chris Marsden

Skill level will catch up eventually. The talent pool isn't the greatest right now but that will correct itself and get better in a few years.

Main thing is they go hard. Skills are shocking, but they have a crack. It's brutal considering some of the girls are clumsy and there's not many hard body's.

Skills and the bodies will change faster than people think. More and more of the players drafted will come out of junior high performance pathways, and will arrive with a better base.

The first season, a lot of the players basically came out of community footy, and sometimes with only a year or so experience.

If you look at a team like Brisbane who have had a pretty set squad, most of their established players look pretty buff now, it's been a big change over the last 2 years. Some of the 18 and 19 year old high draft picks already look buff (by the standard of 18 year old girls).

That said, the Eagles may face some difficult times. I don't see the talent in WA to make a second competitive team. Even if the expansion rules let us gut Freo, this may just give us 2 uncompetitive teams.

The upside is, Eagles have been deep in female development for a couple of years and would be well aware. I don't doubt they have identified some hidden talent, and will basically have gotten 3 years development into them. I also hope they met get some talent back from East.

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[Dark Sharks]

Agree that the WAFL isn't the most talented pool of players, hence why they've dropped it back to 6 teams, from 9.

At least that's what I've been told anyway. Too many blowouts with certain teams rocking up and getting annihilated.

Doesn't bode well for our womans team when the top league in WA has seemingly reduced in size where everywhere else is growing.

 

[Chris_6678]

The missus plays, so i'm constantly involved in womans footy trying to make her the next Chris Marsden

Skill level will catch up eventually. The talent pool isn't the greatest right now but that will correct itself and get better in a few years.

Main thing is they go hard. Skills are shocking, but they have a crack. It's brutal considering some of the girls are clumsy and there's not many hard body's.

If she a better footballer than you?

 

[Dark Sharks]

If she a better footballer than you?

Awards and recognition suggest yes, she is.


But y'know.... the talent pool.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Agree that the WAFL isn't the most talented pool of players, hence why they've dropped it back to 6 teams, from 9.

At least that's what I've been told anyway. Too many blowouts with certain teams rocking up and getting annihilated.

Doesn't bode well for our womans team when the top league in WA has seemingly reduced in size where everywhere else is growing.

They probably dropped back because before there was only one league for women prior to 2018. Last year the WAAFL introduced two divisions of women’s footy so it makes sense to do some readjustments to the structure and make sure the best of the best play WAFL

 

[squashface]

Awards and recognition suggest yes, she is.


But y'know.... the talent pool.

How many Dustins has she dished out?

 

[Rowan18]

Skills and the bodies will change faster than people think. More and more of the players drafted will come out of junior high performance pathways, and will arrive with a better base.

The first season, a lot of the players basically came out of community footy, and sometimes with only a year or so experience.

If you look at a team like Brisbane who have had a pretty set squad, most of their established players look pretty buff now, it's been a big change over the last 2 years. Some of the 18 and 19 year old high draft picks already look buff (by the standard of 18 year old girls).

That said, the Eagles may face some difficult times. I don't see the talent in WA to make a second competitive team. Even if the expansion rules let us gut Freo, this may just give us 2 uncompetitive teams.

The upside is, Eagles have been deep in female development for a couple of years and would be well aware. I don't doubt they have identified some hidden talent, and will basically have gotten 3 years development into them. I also hope they met get some talent back from East.

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That is interesting on the size of the player pool and the effect on how the team will go. Are the draft concession large enough to make up for it for startup teams?

I haven't been following AFLW closely as I didn't have a team to support (I don't mind the crows but not many of their games are broadcast in Perth) and was looking forward to getting into it when the Eagles join. I am not sure how engaging I'll find it if Eagles get pumped every week.

 

[BigVic]

West Coast has been officially granted licences for the 2020 AFLW comepetition and can start pre-listing players from January 14.

 

[jatz14]

Prelisting rules are, total of 10 players max. 7 open age players from the Eagles academy. 3 players born in 2001, from Eagles development zone.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I’m looking forward to the team winning a flag before the purples.

Up the...bloody...girls? Let’s stick with coasters.