Forget the score, and ignore the sexist narrative that women’s footy is boring

Aine McDonagh celebrates a goal with the Hawks in their win over West Coast.Thinking back to season one in 2017, everyone was on a level playing field. The eight inaugural teams were starting from scratch, with nothing but potential ahead of them. There was no benchmark of performance at AFLW level, and therefore the only direction was up.

Since 2019, 10 teams have entered the competition. That is 300 players over the course of three years. Geelong and North Melbourne entered in 2019. Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast entered in 2020. We are only just starting to see the likes of Geelong, who have always set up so well defensively, now having the added ability and method to counterattack and score quickly. Richmond, who have always applied high pressure around the ball, have added depth to their midfield in Grace Egan and high metres-gained players in Eilish Sheerin and Maddie Shevlin.

Because of these additions over the course of seasons, both teams have become consistent performers in the top eight. They are challenging the best sides in the competition; unfortunately, the noise over recent weeks has been about the score blowouts.Credit:This isn’t because players aren’t up to the level, or that the skill level is just not there. Nor should it be attributed to a sexist narrative, that the women’s footy is boring, predictable, and one-sided.

It’s not as easy as saying why can’t the new teams learn from the mistakes that the inaugural sides made. Teams and clubs must endure experiences that are often uncomfortable and uncompromising to grow. That’s life and that’s sport.We have seen this time and time again in the men’s game. After being demolished by teams for years and years, the Bulldogs and the Demons rose to premiership success.

Women's footy is not so much boring as disgusting.

Only reason anybody watches girl footy of any persuasion is to perve. (Netball will soon realise this and promote their game with that in mind, which is played by fit, athletic, graceful girls in tight uniforms; most beautiful enough to be models.)

The fact GWS turned it around and won the next week highlights what a pathetic performance it was. This is professional sport. Media scrutiny comes with terrible performances.

I think it's okay to think it's boring. If you think it's boring, it's clearly not for you. Why do we bother elevating knobs like Pricey by amplifying their platform. The bigger point is it might be an increasing in teams, competition, attendance

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