AFL's new women make 'blokes grateful for what they have'
It may have taken the AFL more than 100 years to wake up to the merits of a women's competition, but Gillon McLachlan admitted the new league was not just established for altruistic purposes.
The AFL chief executive said this week, in the lead-up to Friday night's historic first AFLW match in Melbourne between rivals Carlton and Collingwood, that even though "equality and aspiration" were big reasons for spending $4 million to set up the new competition it was also "good for business".
Such was the interest in Friday night's match that it was moved from Collingwood training venue the Holden Centre to Carlton's Ikon Park to accommodate more spectators.
The match will be telecast by Seven West Media, which is also showing a match each Saturday night during the eight-week season, and Fox Sports, the broadcaster of every game in the competition.
The broadcasting deal and general interest in the AFLW has brought a slew of new sponsors to the sport, including retailer Harvey Norman. Its chief executive Katie Page has made several visits to the GWS Giants' women's team in recent weeks. She sent the side a message of support from overseas before its first match on Saturday night away to the Adelaide Crows.
Another retailer, Cotton On, signed a deal to provide the AFLW apparel and other corporations new to the sport such as Sydney Airport have signed on as club supporters.
GWS has signed about 2000 members for its AFLW team alone, more than any of the other seven teams in the competition. A Giants spokesman said the women's team would help provide a pathway for female athletes to elite AFL for the first time in NSW and the ACT, where the club will also play some matches.
Meanwhile, Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert said his club's womens team had been excited to train in a high-class venue and that their attitude had provided some lessons for their male counterparts. "They are loving being here and remember they have been playing in local competitions, so it is a big step. But I think some of the blokes have seen their enthusiasm and thought that they should be grateful for what they have here too."
McLachlan said while there would be some nerves on the first weekend of the new league, the AFL would be backing it well into the future.
"This group of women players will create their own game," the AFL CEO said. "I'd like to remind everyone that this is year one. We are here for the long haul."
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