The AFLW Grand Final between Brisbane and Adelaide drew a bigger crowd than the QClash

THE AFLW Grand Final, which was played at a neutral venue, drew a bigger crowd than the QClash between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Adelaide Crows celebrate after winning the AFLW premiership. Picture: Getty Images

OF the two AFL matches held on the Gold Coast on Saturday the biggest crowd was at the one that shouldn’t have even been played there.

It was also the one played by women.

If any indication of the rise of women’s sport in Australia was needed, the AFL Women’s grand final proved it.

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Despite being played at Metricon Stadium between Brisbane and Adelaide, 15,610 fans took advantage of the free entry and public transport to descend on the Gold Coast.

In contrast the AFL round one clash between Brisbane and Gold Coast could only attract a crowd of 12,710.

The NRL derby between Gold Coast and North Queensland may have just taken the attendance bragging rights on Saturday with a crowd of 17,674 but that takes nothing away from the successful end to the first AFL Women’s competition.

Adelaide players celebrate in front of a packed crowd. Picture: Adam Head

Crows coach Bec Goddard paraphrased Australian music icon John Farnham’s hit “You’re the Voice” when she spoke about just what had happened on Saturday and across the summer in the inaugural AFL Women’s season.

“We are the voice of this competition and we had the chance to turn the pages over from a football history that’s been missing (something) with women playing it at the elite level,” Goddard said.

“It was our chance to write the story.” Lions women’s coach Craig Starcevich said right from the opening round, the new competition had proven its worth.

When the doors had to be locked for the opening clash at Princes Park between Carlton and Collingwood in February, Starcevich revealed he’d wrapped up his team’s training session to watch the scenes in Melbourne.

Chelsea Randall, Bec Goddard and Erin Phillips celebrate with the premiership cup. Picture: Getty Images

“Everything this competition’s done has exceeded expectations,” Starcevich said. “We’ve had upwards of 10,000 people at Fremantle Oval for our second game. We had the ripping crowd at Norwood where there was 12,000 and today. “It’s been quite amazing and I think the standard of footy will definitely improve over the next little bit.

‘You’ll see an even better product next year.”

Originally published as The AFLW Grand Final between Brisbane and Adelaide drew a bigger crowd than the QClash