AFL clubs prepared to raid Olympic sports and rival codes to build national women’s league

GEELONG and Collingwood are prepared to raid Olympic sports and rival codes to help build enough depth for a 10-team women’s AFL competition.

Kim Mickle would be perfectly suited to the national women’s football league. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

GEELONG and Collingwood are prepared to raid Olympic sports and rival codes to help build enough depth for a 10-team women’s AFL competition.

Magpies chief executive Gary Pert says Collingwood has been contacted by elite Olympic athletes wanting to transfer their skills and play for Collingwood’s women’s side.

Geelong CEO Brian Cook said the Cats believed they could secure talent from other sports and “code hoppers” to play for the Cats.

WNBA star Erin Phillips, 30, had promised to become Port Adelaide’s marquee player until they decided not to enter a submission

Olympic long jumper David Culbert said there were dozens of Olympic athletes who might be lured to AFL by its $25,000 pay check and instant profile.

He said javelin thrower Kim Mickle, a world championships silver medallist, would be the perfect AFL convert given her skill set.

She became a YouTube sensation after a clip of her kicking checkside goals from the boundary and swishing drop punts the length of a basketball court went public.

He said the AFL would be the perfect transition for athletes who had accomplished everything they could in Olympic or rival codes.

“Kim would be unbelievable. She could be the captain of the WA team. She can kick a footy into a rubbish bin from 50 metres,’’ he said.

“This is a massive threat to netball. If they pay an average of $25,000, current ball sport participants in soccer and netball would say hang on, why not?

“If you are (sprinter) Melissa Breen and you have got any capacity whatsoever to get hold of the Sherrin, how valuable are you going to be to (an AFL team?)”

Pert told the Herald Sun the Pies had been shocked by the interest from women who had contacted the Pies.

“We are currently being called by athletes and their managers who are operating at the elite level outside footy,’’ he said.

“A lot of women are saying, “I am an elite athlete, I bring a lot to the table. I train unbelievably hard but without much support. If I was in the AFL competition it would be more professional and more rewarding”.

“You will get a lot of women from other sports willing to be involved.”

Sara Blicavs in action against Jacinta Kennedy. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Geelong best-and-fairest winner Mark Blicavs’ sister Sara is an Australian basketballer still in the expanded Rio Olympic squad.

She is the type of athlete that could easily convert her skills, with many state league netballers and basketballers combining athleticism and co-ordination.

Cook endorsed AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s statement that a proposed eight-team competition might become 10.

“I think it would be the right thing to do. The AFL are understandably concerned about depth of talent,’’ he said.

“But if it went to 10 teams we would make sure we had a strong team. We would hold camps, recruit from other sports, get code-hoppers.

“There is a lot of potential in other areas.”

Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said netball was ready for the challenge of competing with the AFL’s women’s competition.

“In general our view is it is important for women’s sport to be highlighted and encouraged,’’ she said.

“We don’t have a problem with it. We are confident most of the participants in our sport will stay with it.

“We are looking to get bigger at the top and make sure netball is still the no. 1 sport of choice for parents and their daughters.

“What we have got is a fair dinkum international competition. These players aren’t just representing their cities or states, they represent their country and that is a big pull.”

Originally published as AFL clubs prepared to raid Olympic sports and rival codes to build national women’s league