Mardi Dangerfield and Hester Brown want the WAG label retired as they launch compelling new joint podcast
Mardi Dangerfield and Hester Brown are asking that the ‘WAG’ label be ditched in favour of a new term as they launch a new podcast interviewing the partners of high-profile people.
Victoria
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Mardi Dangerfield and Hester Brown are asking that footy WAGS be renamed “significant others” as they prepare to launch their own podcast interviewing the partners of high profile people.
The talented duo is hoping to dispel the stereotypes and misconceptions of the partners of players and those connected with the football world in a series of candid interviews in the Significant Others Podcast, which kicks off next week.
Hester, partner of Kangaroos forward Ben Brown, says the term ‘significant other’ is less demeaning and creates a more positive perception.
“The name of the podcast is Significant Others and that is our suggestion for what you can call us. We really liked that term because it’s gender neutral, but it also gives some agency to the people in their relationships. The use of significant makes you feel like you’re not just somebody’s something, it’s an important partnership. So that’s our suggestion for a word that can be used instead of WAG.”
Mardi, wife of Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield, says they hope to give a more rounded view of the subjects rather than the one-dimensional perception people may have.
“We want to challenge that stereotype a little bit and just show that they are educated, intelligent, experienced, human beings that are standing alongside someone with a public profile and supporting them in different ways,” she says.
“Being within the football world for so long, it really you gives you an opportunity to meet such a variety of people. I think we just met so many incredible people that weren’t getting the justice of their story being wholly told. In the world that we live in today, we don’t have to sit idle with it, we can create a platform like doing a podcast.”
The women hope that by telling compelling, real life stories it will help humanise their subjects at a time when AFL players and their families are under intense scrutiny.
“I can fully understand why there would be resentment towards the AFL and partners at the moment because we acknowledge our privilege to be able to travel interstate, we’re not going to shy away from that, we’re not ignorant to that privilege that we have,’ Mardi says.
“But I think there’s so much negativity in the world, social media fuels and allows a lot of that and truthfully it gets through. We read it, we see it, we hear it, it hurts your feelings, it does. We’re hoping that by doing this and giving a fuller picture, that we can actually humanise people so that some of the things that you say online, this is who you’re saying it to and this is their story.
“We don’t need people to feel sorry for us, that’s definitely not the objective, but just empathy that that’s a human being that you’re sending that message to.”
Both Mardi and Hester do not covet the spotlight but felt drawn to creating this project together.
“It’s going to be much more about other people than the two of us. I don’t really want attention but I feel this responsibility because it’s there to use it well. But it’s really scary,” Hester says.
Mardi admits feeling nervous about putting themselves in the public eye and opening themselves up to further scrutiny.
“We were quite nervous about launching because we didn’t want to it to be too self absorbed and think that it’s all about us. I feel like we’re often put in quite a hard place because we don’t want to say the wrong thing,” she says
“We’re conscious that a lot of what we say will be reflected on our partners and it’s really hard to sometimes have an identity and create space for your own voice, and it to be no more than that. Even though there’s an interest in my life because of Patrick, that doesn’t take away from my identity, my values, my opinions. I think that sometimes that’s what holds us back and where I’m a little bit nervous that it will then reflect on the football club, on our partners, and it becomes also their opinion when it’s actually not.”
Hester and Mardi met in Perth several years ago but bonded over breastfeeding at last year’s Brownlow and the seeds were sown to create a podcast together.
“We’re still learning, this is definitely not our profession, it’s a passion project. Neither of us have been presenters, but I think we’ve got good rapport. We definitely have good chemistry and I think that just comes from a good friendship and similar values,” Mardi says.
Hester and Mardi have been overwhelmed by the interest and support they have received from the people they have approached to be interviewed.
“I’ve been so surprised just how quickly every single person we’ve asked has been like, ‘Yes, absolutely I would love to, it’s a great idea’. Because starting any idea you’re nervous about the uptake and will people want to participate and we’re asking them to be a bit vulnerable,” Mardi says.
“It is sometimes a scary position because you do open yourself up for criticism and I think that’s obviously why Hester and I have hesitated too, because it’s okay, people are entitled to their opinion, we just hope that it’s about our product, it’s not our characters.”
She says the people they have interviewed have felt a sense of appreciation and relief at being able to tell their full story.
“The enthusiasm is really encouraging from people that we’ve asked to come on it. Sometimes it’s a real relief to be able to just tell your story, start to finish. I think maybe some of our guests feel a little bit of that, a little bit lighter because it’s not about justifying yourself, but maybe it does help other battles that you might be having.”
The series kicks off on Tuesday with Anna Scully, wife of Carlton star Eddie Betts.
“People will say to me all the time things like, ‘Oh, I just love at Eddie Betts. He’s the most amazing player’ and I’ll be like, ‘You should meet his wife, because she’s incredible’,” Hester says.
“There all these people out there that people haven’t met or really heard from properly that have great stories to tell and are interesting in their own right, but they’re often reduced to being you someone’s partner, or in our situation an AFL wag, when there’s so much more to the story.”
While the focus will be on AFL related subjects for their first season, there are plans to expand to partners of people in other high profile roles.
“We want to branch out to talk to the partners of politicians, what’s the stress like there and what are the sacrifices that are expected on your career? Or musicians, actors, actresses, what’s the experience like for their partners and what are the stories that you rarely hear?,” Hester says.
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