Eight Victorian clubs are vying for four spots in the inaugural AFL women’s league
A POTENTIAL $1 million bill hasn’t deterred clubs from rushing to win first-mover advantage in the national women’s football league.
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A POTENTIAL $1 million bill hasn’t deterred clubs from rushing to win first-mover advantage in the national women’s football league.
Eight Victorian clubs, all bar Essendon and Hawthorn, are vying for one of an expected four local licences in a competition likely to feature eight teams from across the nation.
Such is the desire to win a licence, some clubs are campaigning for the debut season to feature 10 sides — and the AFL is listening.
Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson says a women’s competition will help diversify the league and open up a new market.
“We needed more women in our game at all levels,” Jackson said.
“We need them in our clubs, we need them in our footy departments, and we need them in our crowds supporting the teams. There’s still only in the low 30 per cent of crowds and membership base who are female.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the Magpies’ $25 million facility at Olympic Park was ready-made for women with separate change rooms and gym as well as use of the men’s team’s facilities.
“I want young girls to say, one day, imagine playing for Collingwood, wearing the famous black and white stripes,” McGuire said.
“Our three home grounds will be the Holden Centre, maybe under lights, before big games, Victoria Park, the magnificent spiritual home of football in this state, and the MCG.
“I just think we bring a sense of grandeur to the whole situation.”
The league will cover player payments and travel, with clubs expecting a team to cost between $700,000 and $1 million.
“We’ve got backing for it,” Carlton football boss Andrew McKay said.
“A number of our sponsors said ‘we’ll be behind you’.
“I think having a women’s team creates a broader reach for sponsors. Talking to other people who don’t sponsor us now, they’re pricking their ears up a bit thinking if you get a women’s team, that opens up a whole new market for our business, therefore it would be worth us putting our name to you guys.”
Jackson started at Melbourne in 2013, three weeks before the women’s draft and has since been converted.
“I was looking on and wondering what all this is about to be honest,” Jackson said of the draft.
“Me being new, we had some massive challenges on and off the field. The men’s team was pretty poor at that time, to say the least, so where was all this going to fit?
“We saw the first game played and it was a really good high quality game. You could see that there was a future.”
McGuire said it was about taking “baby steps”.
“In the first instance, we don’t want to be trying to compare it to the WNBA in America or the AFL or even the VFL … the focus on this has got to be about doing something that’s really good,” McGuire said.
VICTORIAN BIDS IN A NUTSHELL
CARLTON
Integrated program with football manager Andrew McKay to oversee both men’s and women’s football. Elite facilities ready to go. Development work with female players in the northern corridor.
COLLINGWOOD
Major selling points are an MCG-sized ground situated in the heart of the Olympic Park, a recently opened $25 million facility as well as significant corporate backing. And the Collingwood Army.
ESSENDON
Not bidding
GEELONG
Geography — a base for the competition in Victoria’s second city — is a major factor. History of success both on the field and in delivering major projects — such as redeveloped Kardinia Park. Financially capable.
HAWTHORN
Not bidding
MELBOURNE
Current and recent past investment into women’s football has helped the game get to where it is now. Will embed the women’s side into their club.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Bid focuses on model based heavily on existing links to the Melbourne Uni women’s team which has produced top level players. The Roos’ growing presence in Tasmania is also a factor.
RICHMOND
The Tigers see Punt Rd as an eventual home to the new league, right in the shadows of the MCG. Richmond — the only club to have a female president, Peggy O’Neal — also points to a track record of championing gender equity.
ST KILDA
The Saints point to high participation numbers in bayside Melbourne, who chief executive Matt Finnis said this week are “showing in numbers, through their passion, through their talent, that they need a team to represent them”.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Three teams, one club model. Long history in women’s football and four years’ experience with current team. Focus beyond existence of new comp to creating elite performance. Campus hub based around Whitten Oval and Victoria University. Pathways for players into coaching and administration.
Originally published as Eight Victorian clubs are vying for four spots in the inaugural AFL women’s league
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