AFLW show being hosted by a man? Welcome to women’s footy on Nine
BRINGING in a man to host Nine’s flagship AFLW show is a significant step back. You can’t tell me there isn’t a female capable of hosting a women’s footy program in 2018, writes Tiffany Cherry.
Opinion
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REALLY? Is this how far we’ve come, Channel 9 and Croc Media?
It’s 2018, and the opening shot of the flagship TV show for the second season of the AFLW shows … a man sitting in the host’s chair.
Hello, and welcome to Women’s Footy.
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Croc Media — the production company running Sunday morning’s Women’s Footy — and Channel 9 last year led the way in the football world, respectively creating and broadcasting a TV program showcasing the AFL’s new product, AFLW.
Although scheduling was horrendous, due to a lack of a consistent timeslot, they had a female host and a female co-host and reporter, giving hope to women aspiring to a sports media career.
One year later, they’ve taken a significant step back.
Though the person occupying the host’s chair last year was yours truly, I’m most definitely not crying: “Poor me, I’ve lost my job.”
Television is a tough industry. It’s subjective, and decisions are made all the time, often by one or two people, as to whether you’re the right fit.
A decision was made about me, and I cop it on the chin.
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But I absolutely cannot accept that a female couldn’t be found to replace me.
I sought clarification from Croc Media as to why a male was chosen as my replacement. The reply? He was “the best person for the job.”
This is not a witch hunt directed at Clint Stanaway, who now occupies the host’s chair and is caught in the middle of this argument. Clint is a lovely person and, as Nine News sports presenter, a good host.
But surely there was a female — and I could throw up a host of names — who, bearing in mind the message being sent, would be a “better fit” as the face of the AFL’s new and precious product.
Gillon McLachlan said at the AFLW season’s launch this week that “ ... the national league sent a clear message to women and girls: ‘This year is your game’.” He added: “It’s hard to go past the effect the league has had on the next generation of women.”
What about those females, that next generation, who tune in to watch a show about their game only to find a male welcoming them?
What message is being sent to them? “There was a female sitting in this chair last year, but we don’t think she’s good enough and can’t find a female better to replace her, so here’s your male host to welcome you to your women’s game. Here’s your inspiration, girls.”
The Footy Show has a female co-host in Bec Maddern, but Women’s Footy doesn’t even have that, though it’s an option I suggested.
Yes, there is a female on the show — a reporter, as there was last year. And I have no doubt the Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood will do a great job.
“Best person for the job” is the easy argument to stand behind. Croc Media supported its decision by pointing out that there are male senior coaches in the AFLW, chosen because the clubs believe they are the best fit for those roles.
I can see the argument. Tokenism is not what we want in this game, or anywhere.
However, there are eight senior coaching positions, and two of them are held by females. One, Adelaide’s Bec Goddard, coached the winning team in the inaugural AFLW season.
I’m talking about one main hosting gig for the AFLW’s flagship media show.
You can’t tell me there isn’t a female capable of sitting in that hosting chair.
To the men who made this decision, you’ve got to think very seriously about the message you’re sending to your audience — female and male, young and old.
“It’s hard to go past the effect the league has had on the next generation of women.”
Think about those words from the AFL boss.
And add this, which was also part of Gill’s speech: “The women who play our game, we’re done waiting.”
Let me extend that sentiment to the women who watch, work in, want to work in, and love our game.
We’re done waiting, and we’re done playing second fiddle to a man.
We’re done being underpaid. We’re done losing out on a job to a man because we’re women. We’re done being overlooked. Period.
Tiffany Cherry is a media personality and sports presenter, journalist and producer, who has worked in the industry for 25 years. She has covered sporting events around the world for global media giants, ESPN and CNN, as well as Foxtel, Sky News, Channel 7, 9 & 10, SEN and 3AW, which she is currently part of the radio stations number one AFL calling team. Tiffany was Foxtel’s co-host of the 2010 Winter & 2012 Summer Olympic Games and was the AFL’s first female boundary rider.
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