AFLW: All the latest news ahead of Round 9 of the 2021 season
As the return of AFL steals the limelight, the AFLW is reaching its climax. And an experienced coach has warned about the crowded schedule.
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Brisbane Lions coach Craig Starcevich has warned the AFLW needs clean air for the climax to its season if the competition’s support is to continue to thrive.
Entering the final round of the AFLW’s fifth season, Starcevich said the women’s game was suffering from the “congestion” around the end of its season and the start of the men’s.
This year’s AFLW finals series will begin in Round 3 of the men’s season and the Magpies premiership player said the best footy of the year was potentially getting “lost”.
Starcevich, who has twice guided the Lions into the AFLW Grand Final, said the issue was only going to get worse as the women’s competition expanded.
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“We are probably going to get to the point now as the seasons expand, what do we do?,” Starcevich said.
“Say last weekend there were 16 games of AFL and AFLW footy across that weekend so that is pretty congested.
“The media attention tends to go to Round 1 AFL rather than Round 8 AFLW. That is our next challenge I guess is where are we going to put it?
“I think clean air is the way to go. It’s just (a matter of) finding it.”
Starcevich acknowledged finding clean air in a packed sporting calendar was a challenge, but suggested bringing the start date forward or a spring start date could be options.
“Is it where it is right now and we start on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day or something ridiculous like that. I don’t know, we are going to run out of space,” Starcevich said.
“Or is it spring, do we play in spring, leading into Christmas? I don’t know, but we are going to need a block of 12-15 weeks somewhere in the year that has got some clean air and a bit of space so people can still support their clubs.”
Starcevich felt the best AFLW football of the year was getting lost once the men’s competition started.
“I think it does (get) a little bit (lost),” Starcevich said.
“Which is a shame because some of the best footy is being played (coming into finals) and it is not being seen by enough people.”
BEST AND FAIREST FAVOURITE ESCAPES BAN
— Mitchell Woodcock
Fremantle star Kiara Bowers has escaped suspension and is still eligible to win the AFLW’s best and fairest award after her one-match suspension for rough conduct was downgraded to a $400 fine.
Bowers was initially banned for one game for a dangerous tackle on Melbourne’s Eden Zanker in the first quarter of their clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday.
The tackle was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact by the match review panel which saw her offered the suspension with an early plea.
Bowers pleaded guilty to the charge at the tribunal but the Dockers successfully argued that the tackle was low impact, with Zanker’s momentum and her fend off also causing the Demon to land on her head.
AFL commentators Paul Hasleby and Karl Langdon said they were disappointed in the tribunal’s decision.
“She speared (Zanker) into the ground essentially,” Langdon said.
“(The tribunal) is outcome based.”
“I think it deserved weeks,” Hasleby added.
“That’s where you need consistency.”
A ban would have seen Bowers miss this Saturday’s crucial clash against North Melbourne as well as rule her ineligible for the AFLW’s highest award, of which she’s favourite.
Melbourne club doctor’s report stated Zanker had mild neck pain but no concussion from the tackle and was not taken from the field after the incident.
Zanker is not expected to miss any games from the tackle, but the report states she’ll need ongoing physiotherapy and medication for neck pain.
Fremantle QC Seamus Rafferty successfully argued that the incident was dynamic and that Zanker’s momentum contributed to her going horizontal before landing on her head.
Rafferty argued the incident was rated as low impact when comparing it to examples provided by the AFL.
He also said the medical report stated it was mild neck pain which he suggested was the lowest form you could sustain.
AFL’s counsel Nicholas Payne said while Zanker was able to play on after the tackle, the video evidence and medical report indicated the impact was rated medium and it had potential to cause serious injury.
It was the third time this season Bowers has been fined, having been reprimanded for rough conduct on Adelaide Crow Anne Hatchard and for a clumsy trip against Brisbane’s Jess Wuetschner.
Fremantle general manager of football operations and performance Joe Brierty said it was a fantastic outcome.
“She’s obviously a very important player for us and it’s a big game this weekend as we’re playing one of the top teams in the competition,” he said.
Fremantle are still $4 favourites to win the 2021 AFLW premiership despite their loss to Melbourne at the weekend.
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Originally published as AFLW: All the latest news ahead of Round 9 of the 2021 season
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