There were just over two minutes left on the clock in Port Adelaide’s round eight clash with Gold Coast when the Power, up by a goal, took possession with a mark inside 50.
The Power had the chance to ice the game. But instead of running down the clock and taking a set shot – any score probably would have done – Julia Teakle quickly tried to find a teammate at the top of the goal square. Her kick was smothered.
Port had coughed up the ball, a quick transition goal – and the win.
Erin Phillips’ Port side ended up drawing with the Suns in round eight last year.Credit: AFL Photos
It drew the attention of former Port player Kane Cornes, who described it as “the worst four minutes of football from an elite sporting team that you would have seen”.
“What has the fallout been? Nothing.
“Where are we going to get to with AFLW if no one questions why Teakle didn’t know to milk the clock? Has the team ever practised leading a game late? Does the coach place enough emphasis on scenario training? Because it didn’t look like it,” Cornes, who conceded that he doesn’t watch much AFLW, said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“And if anyone did question it, like I am now, are the players ready for it? That’s the question. Is the AFLW competition ready for critiques like this over a disastrous result?”
According to the AFLW captains, the answer is yes.
“Absolutely, it’s fair game,” said Hawthorn skipper and 2021 league best-and-fairest winner Emily Bates. “If the comments are justified and there’s been thought put into it and there’s research, then why not?
“It’s more the people that just say things with no basis. That’s pretty frustrating ... But we’re a professional league. We want people interested. We want the feedback. I’m all for it.”
Port Adelaide’s own captain agreed.
“If it’s valid and it’s warranted, you know, that’s how the game’s going to get better, and we need to be able to take that feedback and take that criticism and use it in the right way,” Janelle Cuthbertson said.
Not every player needs to be treated like a superstar simply for taking the field. But there’s a difference between valid critiques and trolling.
Healthy discussions, including criticism, including around tactics and which players are performing and which aren’t, is something Richmond vice captain Gabby Seymour says would help the game.
The AFLW captains gather ahead of the 2024 season.Credit: Wayne Taylor
“If someone misses a kick or drops a mark in the men’s commentary, it would be like, ‘And that’s an absolute clanger’ versus like in the women’s it’ll be like, ‘And she’s missed the kick on that one.’ It’s quite an obvious difference in the language.”
She uses the example of player ratings out of 10 – a staple of men’s grand final day.
“Whilst obviously you’re never going to want to read that as a player [when] you’ve underperformed, it’s also a very objective analysis of how did that player perform,” Seymour said.
“Not just ‘Well, they were fantastic and it’s so good that women are playing football.’ I’d really like to see an evolution of that commentary.”
Despite that, there is a strong player consensus that the men’s and women’s games are different and should be treated within their unique contexts.
Hawks skipper Emily Bates.Credit: AFL Photos
And as the women play a different style to the men’s, in-depth analysis of their game, from those who understand the context behind it, would help fans understand it too.
But with such a young league and relatively few past players compared with the men’s competition, broadcasts are more likely to feature current players in commentary positions. Publicly critiquing the opposition is not always a simple task, or one that is appreciated by other players.
Viewers can’t expect to see the same product as the men’s game when they turn on an AFLW game.
“That’s not to say that it’s better or worse. Either way, it just is what it is,” Sydney co-captain Lucy McEvoy said. “And if we can start to get a little bit more in-depth analysis on the W game, I think it’ll deepen that understanding of what AFLW is and how it is different.”
So while criticism is welcome, it needs to come in the context of the growing professionalism of the women’s competition, which is just nine seasons old.
It is only this year that clubs have started to train in the daytime throughout the week. That means proper sleep and recovery, better preparation for the season, a more professional athlete’s lifestyle and, Bates says, greater access to coaches and facilities.
More time in a professional football environment can only improve the final product.
McEvoy summed it up: “We’re trending in the right direction, which is really exciting. And of course, it’s going to take time.
“You can’t click your fingers and expect that it’s going to happen overnight. You’ve got to get the right investment into it and build that brand over the next few years.”
Given how far the competition has evolved already, it’s past time for congratulating the league’s mere existence.
Constructive criticism is a sign of respect that AFLW deserves.
Who’s tipped to win the flag?
On Tuesday, the results of the AFLW captains’ poll were released, and North Melbourne are slated to go one better and claim the flag this season after making their maiden grand final last year.
In an anonymous poll, nine captains tipped the Kangaroos for the flag, while eight had the Brisbane Lions and one had Geelong. The Lions are projected to claim the McClelland trophy ahead of Sydney.
North Melbourne star and four-time club champion Jasmine Garner is the favourite to take out the season’s best and fairest, ahead of reigning W award winner Monique Conti and Ebony Marinoff.
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