Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall and Bec Goddard support moves to free up AFLW

WHY the Crows support AFL rule proposals to open up the AFLW.

Chelsea Randall takes a strong mark against Brisbane in Round 1. Picture: Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE co-captain Chelsea Randall has backed the AFL’s vision of a more free-flowing and higher-scoring women’s game after the league on Wednesday sent out a memo to the eight competing clubs directing them to restrict numbers around stoppages.

The instructions come as television ratings were down for the Carlton-Collingwood season opener and the AFL is understood to have asked clubs to:

START with five defenders, six midfielders and five forwards at centre bounces

KEEP forwards away from midfield and backline stoppages by creating a 15m protected area around the ball-up, and

SHOW an intent to move forwards away from a play they are not involved in.

The memo follows meetings and phone conversations between AFL executives and coaches earlier in the week.

It is understood the anti-density measures will serve as guidelines for now but may be legislated if not followed over the coming weeks.

The proposed changes have polarised opinion.

Brisbane’s Jessica Wuetschner was scathing in a tweet.

“This is my view only, but are they bloody serious?” she asked. “We are out here to win, whatever it takes.”

Carlton has been named as one of the most defensive sides and its captain Bri Davey, was of a similar mind to Wuetschner.

It is a similar sentiment previously held by AFL coaches such as Paul Roos and Ross Lyon when criticised for being too defensive.

“We don’t really care what it looks like — as long as we’re getting that win,” Davey said.

But both Randall and Crows coach Bec Goddard have been strong in their words in creating a good spectacle and Goddard says the coaches have a massive responsibility in creating a spectacle that will attract crowds and sponsors so that the players can one day aspire to be full-time footballers.

Goddard had backed a proposed set of “anti-density rules” in meetings but was outvoted by the majority of coaches.

The last-touch rule which was introduced this year was seen as a compromise.

Randall said the Crows had always set out to have an attacking and entertaining brand.

“From the Adelaide Crows’ view, we pride ourselves on being such an attacking team,” Randall said. “As players we get told our team structures and game plans and we just want to execute them as players and play some footy.

“From our end, we are an attacking kind of team. That’s the footy we’d like to play, anyway.”

Randall also implored her teammates to take responsibility for their direct opponent and settle down as they prepare for fellow premiership contender Melbourne on the road on Saturday.

Randall, who will continue to skipper on her own with Erin Phillips missing another week a quad strain, was loath to dwell on the club’s loss to Brisbane in last weekend’s season opener at Norwood last weekend.

She said there were mitigating factors in the error-riddled loss but said skill execution had been a strong theme as the Crows seek to bounce back.

“Obviously it’s a disappointing start to our season but we can’t dwell on those type of things; we’ve got to move forward,” Randall said. “But definitely our skill execution (needs to improve), our intensity and just effort at the footy around the ground.

“Those are some of the things that we’ve been chatting about as a group.

“The excitement of Round 1 can bring different emotions into different players ... we had 11,500-odd people there and sometimes that can cause some panic.

“But we don’t want to dwell on it. We had a really good first half and we just need to do that for four quarters.”

Originally published as Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall and Bec Goddard support moves to free up AFLW