AFL misses golden opportunity with women’s finals scheduling

Fans have conceded they will not attend AFLW games again after missing out on Richmond’s final against North Melbourne — it’s a situation which could and should have been avoided.

Eliza James celebrates a second quarter goal. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL has shot itself in the foot.

The move to August for AFL Women’s was all about finding “clear air” and exposing more supporters to the game.

And yet the pair of sudden-death finals scheduled for this weekend have been plonked squarely in the busiest of air for women’s sport.

On Saturday in Melbourne, the much-loved Matildas are set to square off at AAMI Park against second-ranked Sweden at 2.45pm.

For many, tickets were purchased months ago.

Down the road at Junction Oval, at 1.40pm, the Melbourne Stars will host the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL.

At the exact same stroke of the Nylex clock, Richmond is scheduled to host North Melbourne at Punt Road Oval.

And on Monday, it sold out in minutes.

The timing is one thing. The ground is another.

The Tigers have earned the right to a home final, yes. The obvious advantage is clear. But off the field, to be staging this game at a venue that holds just 2800 people flies in the face of all the talk.

This was the time to walk the walk.

This game should have been scheduled for Friday night at a larger venue.

There’s no T20 cricket World Cup or NBL in the prime slot this week, the TV audience was ripe for the picking.

Richmond players Katie Brennan and Grace Egan deserved the opportunity to play in front of a maximum audience.

More than 4000 people attended each of the AFLW games between Victorian teams on the weekend.

The last time Richmond played North Melbourne, the teams who face off on Saturday, more than 3000 people turned up.

And this is a final.

The Kangaroos have more than 3000 AFLW members, Richmond has more than Punt Road holds.

Many of those will be locked out in this decision.

Meanwhile, Ikon Park was touted as being “solidified as the home of AFLW” in the wake of its $40 million-plus — including $20 million from the state government — redevelopment that was recently completed with brand new female facilities.

There’s an undercover stadium at Docklands, or Victoria Park up the road which at least holds a few thousand more.

It’s also raised eyebrows at opposition clubs, some of whom believe staging big games at small grounds only hampers efforts to engage more fans.

Just last week, women’s league boss Nicole Livingstone said the move to a spring season — and particularly recent weeks — had given the league “more opportunity … to really sell AFLW to the AFL fans, so they’re following not only their men’s clubs, but their women’s clubs as well” and bring a “new audience” to AFLW.

Abbi Moloney and Imogen Barnett celebrate their win over the Western Bulldogs in front of a full house at Victoria Park.

But when we’ve got families being turned away at the gate — some of whom told the Herald Sun they won’t return to AFLW given the hassle — of the so-dubbed “boutique” grounds, accusations of kneecapping the game feel like they’re on the mark.

If a smaller ground is the preference, a prime broadcast spot like Friday night has gone begging.

“Know your audience, AFL management please!,” former AFLW player Meg Hutchins said on Monday.

This game is growing. But it needs to be watered to thrive.

Originally published as AFL misses golden opportunity with women’s finals scheduling