Why low AFLW scores are least of your worries — just look at the players’ faces

FOUR losing sides kicked a combined four goals. But that should be the least of your worries, as something stronger is helping the league draw such huge support.

Smiling ear to ear. Picture: Sarah Reed

WITH the four losing sides kicking a combined four goals, the inaugural round of AFLW was not without its flaws.

But the low scoring and one-sided affairs did little to dim the good will surrounding the historic weekend.

With more than 50,000 fans flocking to four separate venues — including an overwhelming 24,500 at Ikon Park — fans voted with their feet.

Friday night’s momentum carried through to Saturday, where crowds exceeded expectations at Thebarton and Whitten Ovals.

Not even torrential rain and lightning could detract 6,500 fans descending on Casey Fields on Sunday afternoon — something which hasn’t always been a guarantee for the AFL.

Given the AFLW playing standard is certainly below that of fulltime AFL players, it’s fair to argue there’s something stronger than the game that’s drawing such huge support.

And it was pasted across the faces of the players of all eight clubs.

Kate McCarthy and Emily Bates celebrate their Round 1 win. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

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For these women, footy is first and foremost a passion. It’s not a job. After all, most of them have one of them Monday to Friday.

And without the weekday constraints of the footy club, the players are fresh, outspoken and true to themselves.

Darcy Vescio joked with coach Damien Keeping at their joint press conference on Friday night that she was already thinking about team tactics after kicking her first goal — an interaction that gave us a little glimpse of the inner workings of the team.

While winning is a priority, so too is enjoying the experience. And funnily enough, it’s that joy that has transcended the football community, who have fallen in love with AFLW

“Full credit to (the) AFL,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews tweeted.

“Launch of AFLW has been brilliant marketing. The players’ joy is infectious and the aspirational aspect is a winner.”

Despite this, at times the standard of play reflected the part-time, semi-professional nature of the competition.

While quarters are shorter and scores therefore smaller, it wasn’t lost on many that Vescio kicked three more goals than all of Collingwood’s players combined.

In the match many perceived to be a grand final preview between Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs, it was perplexing, if not slightly frustrating, that the Dockers could only manage one major.

Bulldogs marquees Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn. Photo: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

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But Bulldogs’ coach Paul Groves indicated time would be the only indicator of improvement.

“We’ve just got to let it play out,” Groves said.

“It’s going to be a completely different-looking game style once these girls play more and more footy at this level.”

Indeed, in the first round of VFL in 1987, no losing side kicked more than three goals. That, too, was a semi-professional era.

It’s hard to know if the players back then were beaming ear-to-ear like the AFLW stars were on the weekend.

But it’s likely they enjoyed their opportunity to play a game they loved.

The inaugural round of AFLW was a huge success because that love was palpable. There was no element of business. No grandstanding.

And as Garry Lyon told SEN, it was this authenticity that resonated so strongly with supporters.

“There was no carry-on and no ‘bullshit’,” he said.

“If a free kick went against them, they stood up, they didn’t whine, they didn’t throw their arms in the air, they didn’t look at the umpire … it was so refreshing to watch.”

Originally published as Why low AFLW scores are least of your worries — just look at the players’ faces