Why women play the rough/risky game of AF? How can we get more?/Improve the AFLW? Any barriers?

[PetterdHoisted]

fu** I missed this news - thought only one to Ash Brazill

Who was the other? Not Bonnie TooGood?

Saints Tarni White...well suspected only perhaps at this stage

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

 

[jatz14]

ACLs arent new to AFLW. Women are prone to having the injury in all sports that involve running and twisting.

It seems like a crises in footy for 2 reasons. Lot more players on a footy field, and they do a lot more running than most sports. There is only 10 players on a basketball court compared to 32 on an AFLW footy field.

Second reason is, your now hearing about them. They were happening before at the same rate, in different sports, and in lower ranks of footy, you just didn't hear about them

 

[Power Raid]

They should probably change boxing and MMA first though. You know, the sports where people are trying to give you a concussion.

Any sport that is a business will have to consider the impact to the P/L from health claims. Boxing and MMA can afford it where AFLW can’t.

Further sports that relies on mums enrolling their kids will also suffer. This is also where AFL and fight sports differ.

 

[Power Raid]

TV is desperate for cheap exclusive content. As they are being squeezed by Netflix and social media on one side and expensive sports content on the other.

Women’s sport was the logical direction but the injury factor might derail this.

Perhaps TV should reconsider AFL and return to strong local leagues over time. This will happen with more sides and conferences, followed by 10 teams in each of WAFL, SANFL, Melbourne. Then another 10 sides from Qld, canberra, NSW combined and another 10 from country vic and tassie combined.

 

[jatz14]

TV is desperate for cheap exclusive content. As they are being squeezed by Netflix and social media on one side and expensive sports content on the other.

Women’s sport was the logical direction but the injury factor might derail this.

Perhaps TV should reconsider AFL and return to strong local leagues over time. This will happen with more sides and conferences, followed by 10 teams in each of WAFL, SANFL, Melbourne. Then another 10 sides from Qld, canberra, NSW combined and another 10 from country vic and tassie combined.

The trend is still very much to the opposite though. The value is still in the biggest forms of the big sports, and thats for streaming as well as for FTA. For soccer, its EPL. You can probably stream the latest game form Puddsworth united in the 4th division, and people will watch it, but not enough to make it the basis of anything.

If your a streamer of sport, you can build something around EPL. You may be able to add the community leagues on other channels, but those leagues add about 0.01% in value.

There is a reason industrialisation won out over cottage industries.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Some great video of Aboriginal women playing AF in Balgo- c. 800kms from Broome, in the WA Kimberley- very remote. They play on gravel!
Many social benefits.

'It's pure gravel': Women's footy in remote Australia

Go on a journey to the Kimberley and watch footy played in red dirt and scorching heat

www.afl.com.au

 

[BringBackTorps]

1. Enjoy.
The Yeronga (in Brisbane) women's "song".

Brighton Homes Arena (Springfield) discussions

That’s better than I had heard.. got told that the Lions would train there but play at the Gabba which makes no sense. Thanks!

www.bigfooty.com

(Scroll to my post #4774- Feel free to forward the beautiful Yeronga "song" to other social media platforms)


2. This link, from French Forest JFC, in Sydney's NS, shows (not that there was any genuine doubt) that the AFLW is driving the boom in female GR AF.
When the much higher profile Swans obtain their own AFLW team, female growth in Sydney, & throughout NSW & ACT, will be turbocharged.

"Girls in the Forest...have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor...with a clear opportunity to a national competition for any girls that want to take their sport as high as possible".
Many JFC's in Sydney's Swan Zone also promote this AFLW "carrot" to females.

Youth Girls AFL | Forest AFL

forestafl.com.au

 

[BringBackTorps]

"The interim ratings for last night's WBBL Final are in, with an average audience of 428,801 tuning in. That's the highest Rating WBBL match on 7 Mate

(ie 2nd tier station, usually rates very poorly. My words & emphases) & 2nd highest on Fox Cricket ever. It is also 12% higher than the WBBL Final".

https://twitter.com/CricketAus

(Scroll to 29.11).



The NRLW State Of Origin & NRLW Grand Finals also rated very well in 2020.

This is further evidence of the increasing appetite for female sport in Australia- & competition for the best female athletes.

Maximising AFLW ratings turbocharges GR female AF growth.

The AFLW season should be finalised before the AFL starts in late March ie start in December. Direct competition with the AFL smashes AFLW ratings, crowds, & MSM interest.

To maximise skill levels/execution, & AFLW MSM & public interest (& thus promote the GR), nearly all games should be played in cooler conditions, & Prime Time- Thur. night starting 7pm, Fri 6 & 8pm, Sat 6 & 8pm, Sunday 5 & 7pm (&/or Mon 7pm).





EDIT:

The necessity to not have more than 1 summer AFLW game played during the day are outlined below

Play Nice - AFL Womens - General Discussion

https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/11/19/six-things-i-want-to-see-in-aflw-season-2020/ Saw this article at The Roar and liked it and wanted to share it around.

www.bigfooty.com

(Scroll to my post#1736 )

 

[BringBackTorps]

1. The transformative power of female GR AF.

abc.net E. Smith 14.9.17

How AFL is bringing new opportunities for women in remote Kimberley

The inaugural women's AFL league in Western Australia's Kimberley is transformative for women in the region as they finally have the chance to participate in a sport that is a "really big deal".

www.abc.net.au

There are surprisingly few female Aboriginal players in the AFLW, despite large nos. in 2020 playing in local comps.- why?


2. In the 2021 AFLW fixture, the vast majority (80%?) of games commence before 5.15- where the summer heat is often still strong until c. 6.30pm.
This will cause a diminution in skills & disposal efficiency- also day time games will cause players to be more often blinded, when going for marks, by the overhead sun.

There is only 1 Thurs. night being allocated; & 4 Sat. nights did not have game starting from 6.30 pm, or later. No Sunday night games- but 7 start at 5.10pm, 2 at 4.10pm local time. Prime Time ratings' bonanza lost.

Because the women are hindered in executing their skills, they will be unfairly targetted for criticism by some, & games will be lower scoring.
The appeal of the AFLW must be maximised, in order to maximise GR female growth/ratings/crowds/MSM interest.

 

[TWLS]

1. The transformitive power of female GR AF.

abc.net E. Smith 14.9.17

How AFL is bringing new opportunities for women in remote Kimberley

The inaugural women's AFL league in Western Australia's Kimberley is transformative for women in the region as they finally have the chance to participate in a sport that is a "really big deal".

www.abc.net.au

There are surprisingly few female Aboriginal players in the AFLW, despite large nos. in 2020 playing in local comps.- why?


2. In the 2021 AFLW fixture, the vast majority (80%?) of games commence before 5.15- where the summer heat is often still strong until c. 6.30pm.
This will cause a diminution in skills & disposal efficiency- also day time games will cause players to be more often blinded, when going for marks, by the overhead sun.

There is only 1 Thurs. night being allocated; & 4 Sat. nights did not have game starting from 6.30 pm, or later. No Sunday night games- but 7 start at 5.10pm, 2 at 4.10pm local time. Prime Time ratings' bonanza lost.

Because the women are hindered in executing their skills, they will be unfairly targetted for criticism by some, & games will be lower scoring.
The appeal of the AFLW must be maximised, in order to maximise GR female growth/ratings/crowds/MSM interest.

The Womens comps way up North are a long distance away from Perth, so while this in itself is no big deal in WA - The land of long drives- Most of the players would possibly be reluctant to leave their communities etc etc. Some would say plane travel has now eliminated the distance thing, so my comments stand about the cultural connections being a major reason.
The ones that do make the move would have to be exceptional talent I would think.

 

[Teen Wolf]

There are surprisingly few female Aboriginal players in the AFLW, despite large nos. in 2020 playing in local comps.- why?

No there isn't. At least 22 indigenous players in 2020, over 5% of the league, a greater representation than Australia overall. And that's without Scotch College scholarships, or full-time professional wages to help players set up a new life in a city that has a team.

If you know anything about Machaelia Roberts or Danielle Ponter etc, you'd know the real surprise is that they overcame the odds to make it to the AFLW at all.

There was one surprise yesterday somewhat relating to this topic, however: Melbourne was not fixtured to play a home game in Alice Springs in 2021, even though they have three years remaining on a contract. Prompted a rare tweet from me, not that it'll change anything.

 

[BringBackTorps]

1. Deakin Uni., Geelong, has invented the new Zena female vest, designed "... to significantly reduce impact across the upper torso...The testing demonstrated that, from an impact event, up to 70% of the force can be absorbed by the vest".

This new invention greatly protects females (& assuages their concerns/provides confidence in playing a body-contact sport) from heavy impacts to the breasts & ribs etc.

Changing the game: New protective performance vest supports female athletes

Deakin's Centre for Sport Research teams up with Zena Sport to create a game-changing protective performance vest for female athletes.

www.deakin.edu.au

This invention will encourage more females to try GR AF- & to remain in the game longer. It is an important breakthrough, & will boost female AF nos. over the long term.
Anecdotally, I am aware of some females (& their mothers) concerned over the long term effects of heavy contact, & marking the ball, on their breasts.



2. A further problem in elite female AF is the constant flooding & running, on the biggest sporting arena in the world. This post 2004 tactic of increased interchange & constant flooding & running disadvantages women with heavy breasts (causing pain/discomfort, & possible damage to the supporting breast tissues. These women require extra-strong strapping around the breasts, to provide support- sports bras don't solve the problem for all women).

There are good reasons why elite middle & long distance female runners have small breasts (some appear almost flat)- discomfort from bouncing & chafing; & breast, shoulder, & back pain.

Even "smaller breasts bounce about 3 inches, which can still be uncomfortable".

As If Running Weren’t Challenging Enough, Large Breasts Can Make It a Full-on Contact Sport

Log your miles in comfort with these tips and bra-fit guidelines.

www.runnersworld.com

" All (?) women (ie smaller breasted women also; but, I assume, not women with very small breasts. My words & emphasis) can experience stretching or damage to the Cooper's ligaments, which hold the breasts onto the chest wall, preventing sagging".

The Painful Truth About Why Your Boobs Hurt When You Run

And what you can do to get the discomfort off your chest.

www.womensrunning.com

The new Zena vest will protect the breasts & rib cage etc. from high impacts. It does not solve the constant running problem for women with heavy, & even smaller, breasts.
This is another important reason to rid AF of the ugly flooding/constant running, record high tackling nos. & stoppages, & record collision injury rates (according to the AFL's Prof. K. Norton).

There is virtually unanimous opinion, from the AFL & MSM AFL experts, that the ugly constant flooding/stoppages/scrappy/low scoring tackleball is a major blight on the game.
We can add the very important (most important?) issue of women's health also, to this constant flooding & running problem (cf. the traditional, pre interchange, 2 reserves on-the-bench only, era of onballers resting only in the pockets; & other players, generally, staying in their selected positions).
Return AF to an 18 vs 18 game- not 22 vs 22.

A more static game will allow more women, with different body shapes, to be able to play the game, confidently, competitively & with less discomfort/injury.

 

[BringBackTorps]

"...community...".

Pick 101 to the West Coast Eagles — Part Timers

I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of so many different teams, clubs and workplaces throughout my journey and at the tail end of my sporting career I now realise that what I chased and craved wasn’t success on the court or field, it was simply being part of these wonderful groups of people.

www.parttimersmedia.com

Brava Chantella Perera

 

[Biggie]

"...community...".

Pick 101 to the West Coast Eagles — Part Timers

I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of so many different teams, clubs and workplaces throughout my journey and at the tail end of my sporting career I now realise that what I chased and craved wasn’t success on the court or field, it was simply being part of these wonderful groups of people.

www.parttimersmedia.com

Brava Chantella Perera

Thank you for sharing this

 

[BringBackTorps]

"The Anderson twins...(both 17 y.o. female AF players from near Wollongong, are) sporty, & have excelled in a number of sports including athletics & netball".
"We're just focusing on football now".

They were asked, re choosing AF "And what do you love about it"?
"The tackling to be honest, & the team camaraderie...It's like a family...AFLW gives girls a motivation...That could be me".

Double the fun at the Academy for new Youth Girls squads

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy's Youth Girls program is expanding in 2021, with twins Amelia and Yasmin among those vying for a spot.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

The Swans are, obviously, much more prestigeous & influential than GWS in NSW. It is hoped they will be the next team in the AFLW, asap. The NRL are having significant growth in female GR contact RL.

NSW Swans' Zone female GR players are being constantly encouraged by the jnr Clubs, with the attendant & crucial tribalism/connections with the Swans, to aim for the Swans' Academy. This theme is promoted as a possible direct pathway into the AFLW, to play for "their" Swans' Club.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Uni. of Qld. Contact Magazine 2019

Assoc. Prof. S. Kelly argues that many females want to play contact sports, & it attracts many sponsors etc. (who may not have been sponsors before), because they equate contact sports with advancing female equality in sport- & in society as a whole.

Kelly said

"Sport, particularly in the case of women's sport,is now established as a platform for equality, economic development,, health and employability".

"Spectators of high contact women's sport are shocked at the extent of contact & brutality. The reason these women play with so much heart...they're playing for the moment. They didn't grow up thinking they would be able to play the elite sports that their brothers, fathers, & heroes played".

You can't be what you can't see

If you’re asked to recall some of the most memorable moments in Australian sport, there are likely to be some outstanding examples of female athletes.

stories.uq.edu.au

 

[BringBackTorps]

1. R. Sargent-Wilson, from Wollongong, is a Swans Female Academy U19 player, & an "endurance machine". She has given up netball in 2021, to concentrate on AF.
Re her reasons for choosing AF, she said

"There are so many aspects to AFL- the running, jumping, & the tackling, which I love".

R. Beuzeville, from Sydney's Northern Beaches, fellow U19 Academy player, & also "a very good athlete", switched from Rugby 7's.
She said

"I love contact sport".

Academy: Girls raring to make red and white history

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy's senior girls squads will create history on Sunday when they run out to play in the red and white.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

London, from Newcastle, & Kate, originally from England, are also in the Swans' Female Academy.

They state they watch the AFLW, & describe its important influence on them.

London: "I love watching the AFLW, it's really inspiring to see the girls out kicking goals (Memo AFL. My emphasis & words) & everything".
Kate: "I watch the AFLW a lot".

Fast learners at the QBE Sydney Swans Academy

In the latest instalment of his series on the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, former Swan and journalist in training, Brandon Jack talks to two rising stars and finds they are well prepared for footy life on and off the field.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

2. The AFL has, again, sadistically staged too many AFLW games during the heat of the day in summer- it is a disgrace. About 75% of games, though, are still good to watch.

Many more games could have been scheduled for 5.30 & 7.30 pm Fri (school holidays- then 6 & 8pm), 6 & 8pm Sat starts; & more games should have been scheduled on Thursday Monday evenings (7.30 start), & Sunday evenings (5.30 pm start).

Playing in summer daytime heat, obviously, diminishes skills & scoring (& possibly gives players/fans/umpires etc. skin cancers); &, with less disposal efficiency, sweaty hands/sweat in eyes/ blinded by daytime, strong overhead sun reducing marking, creates more tackling & stoppages ie CRAP & lower scoring tackleball.
Crowds & ratings (games telecast in Prime Time) would also be much higher; & more appeal to the casual AF fan, when more AF skills, & higher scoring, are on show.

It is pleasing, however, that skills have generally increased again in 2021, & scoring has also increased- but the AFL should be maximising scoring, & the general aesthetic appeal of the AFLW, by maximising the no. of games played in the late afternoons & evenings.

It is clear that the AFLW is the showcase that inspires females to play AF- let AFLW games be played as much as possible in cooler temperatures in summer!

 

[owen87]

Crowds & ratings (games telecast in Prime Time) would also be much higher

Is there anything to support this?

Clashing with AO coverage the last few weeks for example, would not have advantaged AFLW crowds or ratings.

 

[Dirty Bird]

1. Enjoy.
The Yeronga (in Brisbane) women's "song".

Brighton Homes Arena (Springfield) discussions

That’s better than I had heard.. got told that the Lions would train there but play at the Gabba which makes no sense. Thanks!

www.bigfooty.com

(Scroll to my post #4774- Feel free to forward the beautiful Yeronga "song" to other social media platforms)


2. This link, from French Forest JFC, in Sydney's NS, shows (not that there was any genuine doubt) that the AFLW is driving the boom in female GR AF.
When the much higher profile Swans obtain their own AFLW team, female growth in Sydney, & throughout NSW & ACT, will be turbocharged.

"Girls in the Forest...have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor...with a clear opportunity to a national competition for any girls that want to take their sport as high as possible".
Many JFC's in Sydney's Swan Zone also promote this AFLW "carrot" to females.

Youth Girls AFL | Forest AFL

forestafl.com.au

Frenches Forest.
Sorry to nitpick, but I played for them in 2005. Stupid injuries to key players caused us to lose our semi final

 

[BringBackTorps]

1. The FA, "...to improve football quality", wants the A League to move to a winter comp.

A primary reason is because of the very often stated acceptance, & joy, amongst soccer experts & fans that playing soccer in cooler temperatures (cf games finishing before 6pm in the Australian summer heat) produces games that are more highly skilled & attacking- & therefore much more appealing to watch.

A-league clubs are pushing for the season to remain in the summer - SportsBeezer

The A-League will soon learn the extent of independence from Football Australia when it lobbyes the governing body to keep the competition played during the

sportsbeezer.com

The AFLW is, obviously, responsible for turbocharging female AF GR growth since 2017- & it is imperative to make it as attractive as possible (with much fewer games where less than 8 goals, in total in dry conditions, are kicked).

AFLW players, unlike A League/soccer players, have to cope also with being tackled/bumped/pushed/big collisions etc. in the hot sun- saps energy & concentration, & often painful hits! The spectacle of AF, therefore, suffers even more, cf soccer, in daytime, hot summer sun.

To increase the AFLW skill levels & scoring, & thus increase the AFLW's ratings (+ benefits of Prime Time TV!), crowds, & MSM interest, in summer two games should always be scheduled to start every Friday at 6pm & 8pm- ditto Sat.; one game every Thur. & one every Mon., both 7pm; every Sun., two games at 5pm & 7pm. Minimise day games starting before 4pm.

Outside summer, Sat. & Sun. games start 1 hour earlier (still capturing mainly Prime Time).

There are, obviously, many other equally important reasons (eg health) to minimise the no. of games starting before 5pm in the Aust. summer.
(An expanded AFLW comp. played from Nov. [1 week break at Xmas] to late March-1 week prior to the AFL- provides crucial clear air from AFL games: essential for maximising AFLW ratings, crowds, fan & MSM interest etc.).

The many other reasons why AFLW games would thus be a better spectacle, &, equally as important, safer, are listed here.

Play Nice - AFL Womens - General Discussion

https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/11/19/six-things-i-want-to-see-in-aflw-season-2020/ Saw this article at The Roar and liked it and wanted to share it around.

www.bigfooty.com

(Scroll to my post)





2. This Study, reported 10.3.21, has shown that women, in many sports, have twice the risk of concussions as males playing the same sport.

Women and girls face double the risk of concussion in sport, British MPs are told

Dr Willie Stewart told the digital, culture, media and sport select committee that urgent research into female elite sport is required

www.theguardian.com

Playing in cooler conditions & not "distracted" by sweat/sun tan lotion in the eyes, & being "overheated", will assist in improving female players' concentration- & thus improve disposal efficiency & skill execution (ditto less sweaty hands): = lower rates of concussion & head knocks, & other injuries..

Further rule changes will probably need to be considered for the AFLW, & female GR AF, to reduce the rates of concussion.





3. Chanel Nine's high-rating "60 Minutes" program this Sunday is being heavily advertised : "The Brain Bank- What Every Parent Needs To Know?" (with graphic pictures of dissected brains).

The AFL (& RL, RU, Soccer, & many other sports) are becoming increasingly aware of the concussion issue- & so are players, parents etc. & lawyers.

The Vic. Coroner's Court will soon hand down its findings into the death of S. Tuck, which will receive massive MSM coverage.
This will probably cause alarm in the AFL, & other areas.

In the UK, a major test case is being undertaken against British Rugby & World Rugby, for neuorolgical conditions sufferred by RU players- who claim the game of RU caused their health issues.

This case will generate increasing MSM coverage here, & around the world.

Rugby players' claim for brain injury has 'less than 50/50' chance, say experts

The expected multimillion pound lawsuit from rugby players who have suffered permanent brain damage has less than a 50/50 chance of succeeding, two world-leading sports law experts have told the Guardian

www.theguardian.com

In Australia, the NRL appears most vulnerable to legal action for, allegedly, not taking sufficient preventitive action at the time (when the risks of serious neurological damage, caused by concussion, was, allegedly, known).

The UK concussion court case may destroy the NRL

For those of you who may have missed the story, eight former English and Welsh rugby union players, including several high profile internationals, are…

www.theroar.com.au

Soccer, due to repetitive heading of the ball (mainly in the constant practice at training, required to perfect the skill), has been claimed by health experts for being responsible for neurological illnesses, & is also vulnerable.
Heading has been banned for jnrs U12, & restricted for teenagers.

 

[Monument Hills]

We are seeing now early pick draftees who have actually come up through the system from Auskick. They walk out on the AFLW field and instantly make an impact with their skills and footy brains, even if they are still a little small with initially lower fitness levels. They know better how to take a hit, roll into a tackle, protect their bodies in a contested mark better than the cross coders. This year I have been closly watching Bella Lewis, Davidson, Verrier, Hyde, and Bowen and Roxy from last year's draft. The girls will be fine and the spectacle will only get better over the next few years as more long time footballers enter the system. And I will be there watching on.

 

[BringBackTorps]

The link below illustrates the:-

. improving standards of the AFLW in 2021
. growing appeal, on most metrics (except 2021 crowds), of the AFLW in 2021.
. reasons why elite jnr female Sydney athletes (& females, generally) are choosing to play AF (uniqueness of AF skill-set etc.)
. increased general cultural awareness & acceptance of the AFLW (There is a full documentary being made on T. Harris- she is the ripe, old age of 23 y.o.!).

Footy Developments in NSW and Queensland

I had two boys play soccer too until about 12. The also played footy all the way from Auskick and still do and they've just moved in to seniors. They dropped out of soccer for a few reasons: it was expensive and a lot of the culture of the clubs were expressly hostile to Australian football...

www.bigfooty.com

(Scroll to my post)

It reinforces the importance of maximising the no. of clear air AFLW games- the show case- that start no earlier than 6pm- to maximise ratings, as played in Prime Time; & more exposure of the AFLW accelerates, obviously, female (& probably male) GR AF growth.

Furthermore, the Sydney U19 female NAB team recently defeated the Geelong Falcons NAB team- a first for NSW elite, jnr females v. Vic.; & quite incredible, given the much lower no. (& much less AF match experience) of jnr Club females playing AF in Sydney, & Swans' Zone in NSW, cf Melbourne.

Swans girls win on the road

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy NAB League girls team have had a memorable victory on the road on Saturday afternoon, defeating the previously undefeated Geelong Falcons by 13 points in Geelong.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

GR jnr & snr female Club standards are much lower in Sydney- but the Swans' female U17 & U19 Academies are doing a great job. What happens, however, to these elite Sydney females after they turn 20 y.o.- what is their elite pathway?

The adult female teams in the SFL have a low skill standard- the Swans must enter the AFLW asap (notwithstanding they don't have separate female elite facilities yet). Sydney has a pop. of c.5.35m- it needs an AFLW team before another in Melb., or Port Adelaide.

 

[BringBackTorps]

A detailed, major investigation of female (U16- U19, & adult) GR AF injuries, funded by the AFL & Vic. govt., will commence in 2021.
It will be conducted by La Trobe Uni., led by Prof. Kaye Crossley.

Prep2Play - Injuries In Women’s Community Football

YJFL clubs are invited to be involved in a project being conducted to understand injury rates in senior and junior female footballers, and how to best implement injury prevention strategies. The large government-funded project is being conducted by the AFL…Read more ›

www.yarrajfl.org.au

AFLW legend D. Pearce had a knee injury today, caused by a tackle, causing ligament damage- full extent not yet known.

It is hoped a MAJOR improvement can be made in the very high no. of female serious knee injuries, & concussions.

The congested, crap tackleball/stoppages' style of the AFLW (& AFL), leading to record nos. of tackles, & record tackle/bump/push/collision injuries, for both males & females, must be eradicated.

 

[Teen Wolf]

The congested, crap tackleball/stoppages' style of the AFLW ( & AFL), leading to record nos. of tackles & tackle/bump/push/collision injuries, must be eradicated.

Tackles are at an all-time AFLW low this season. 16 fewer per game than last year, a whopping 13% decrease.

AFLW legend D. Pearce had a knee injury today

But do you think today's game in which D. Pearce suffered a knee injury was too congested to find today's game enjoyable, or did you find today's game an enjoyable spectacle despite the injury that D. Pearce suffered today?

 

[BringBackTorps]

Tackles are at an all-time AFLW low this season. 16 fewer per game than last year, a whopping 13% decrease.[Good, but still too many]

Don't be disingenuous.
You know I was referring to Prof. K. Norton, the AFL's own expert, who was appointed to analyse game styles/injury rates etc. He has stated that, in the 1980's, in the VFL/AFL, the average no. of tackles was 40 per game (20 per side). It has increased to 140 per game (70 per side)- with some games in recent years up to 192 per game.

The current game styles are crap, but the "Stand" Rule has improved the AFL.

As you know, the current tackleball/stoppages' crap style are contrary to the AFL's Own Charter Of The Game ie the desire to have a reasonably freeflowing style, played in an attacking fashion, long kicking/high marking, good scoring, & a lot on one-on-one contests. The post 2004, big interchange, constant flooding, modern game is the antithesis of this.

But do you think today's game in which D. Pearce suffered a knee injury was too congested to find today's game enjoyable, or did you find today's game an enjoyable spectacle despite the injury that D. Pearce suffered today?

I enjoy c. 70-80% of AFLW games, they are usually relatively good spectacles- but I want them to greatly improve as a spectacle; & also, more importantly, for players' safety.
To promote the AFLW (which= promoting GR female AF), I want the AFLW game styles (& AFL) to conform with the AFL's Charter Of The Game.

Don't deflect from the female AF very high & very serious knee injury & concussion rates.
Why have you not commented on these crucial issues?
Did you see Nine's "60 Minutes" program, last week, on concussion/CTE etc. type injuries, S. Tuck & D. Frawley etc.

I assume you accept these high injury rates must be overcome.

They won't with the tackleball/stoppages' crap- which is also rife in jnr AF from U16 onwards, & GR snr AF.
Light weight players, with c. 34 players in c. 1/2 the ground regularly, cant find, & run into, space (as they were once able)- & are being injured/bashed out of the game. it's an absolute DISGRACE!