The all Victorian based AFLW All-Australian panel is just another example of Victorian bias in our national league

Blame COVID-19 boarder closures at your own risk, but the Victorian footy bubble is alive and well.

BLAME COVID-19 boarder closures at your own risk, but the Victorian footy bubble is alive and well.

Frequently criticised, and often bleedingly obvious, it’s the subtle undertone of bias that coats footy’s capital of Melbourne.

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Yes Victoria is home to the majority of AFL and AFLW teams and yes AFL House is located in the CBD’s Docklands but the ‘A’ in AFL stands for Australian.

At times you wouldn’t know it.

As the new league on the block, the AFLW has pretty well managed to escape the clasp of Victorian influence in its first four years.

But when the AFLW All-Australian team was named last week, I couldn’t help but cast my eyes over the selection panel.

MAFLW 2020 All Australian team members (L-R) Ashleigh Riddell of the Kangaroos, Caitlin Greiser of the Saints and Olivia Purcell of the Cats pose for a photograph at Arden Street on April 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Now the residential address of panel members doesn’t mean selectors immediately lean to players from within their jurisdiction but when constructing a panel of eight, is it that hard to have one or two interstate judges?

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All eight selectors have extensive footy experience and a well-developed argument for their seat at the table but it is concerning that the AFLW couldn’t find room for at least one person with a different viewpoint.

It is a national competition after all and I do wonder if any one of those panel members could confidently say they watched every single minute of every single Suns and Lions game this season.

Looking at the squad and final team itself, I don’t envy the position of the selection panel and I’m of the view they did a pretty good job (although Suns defender Jade Pregelj and Fremantle sharp shooter Sabreena Duffy absolutely robbed).

But for the sake of inclusion and diversity, I vehemently believe we should extend the invitation beyond Victorian boarders.

Kalinda Howarth on Sunday night after being surprised with news she was a 2020 AFLW All-Australian. Supplied.

Out of the ten person AFL All-Australian selection committee, three members originate from or have strong ties to additional states including Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

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And if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that people from all around the world, let alone within the same country, can connect with each other and have a conversation with ease.

So come 2021, I’m calling on the AFLW to look beyond the obvious and do what is only fair.

The final squad will still be just as strong, but I dare say it will be a better reflection of what is set to be another cracking season.