Mark Robinson: AFLW season is a mess as problems mount for the AFL

The AFLW season is a mess. It’s been severely compromised by COVID— which is certainly going to impact the men’s season — and the season change to a January start has been ridiculous. The AFL Commission and the AFL have a growing number of issues ahead of the introduction of four new teams next season, not least being the ludicrous demand that part-time professionals play in 30-degree heat on full-sized ovals with 16 players on a team, with a skill level which is improving but not sufficiently adequate to kick reasonable scores. This past weekend, on the fifth anniversary of the start of AFLW, three teams — Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood — each kicked one goal in 60 minutes of football. It was the second consecutive weekend that Collingwood, a foundation women’s club, has kicked just the one goal. Defensive footy has greatly improved. Still, one goal? The gap between better teams such as Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne, North Melbourne and maybe Brisbane and the bottom eight teams is stark. Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Hawthorn will join the competition next year. It will further dilute a talent pool that arguably has plateaued this season because of the COVID complications and the schedule. That’s another 100 or so players that need to be found to be of AFLW standard, notwithstanding the competition is continuously developing. There was rush by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan to the start the women’s comp, and arguably there’s been a rush to expand it. All the while, the competitors want more money, more support staff and greater respect. The AFL is killing the players. The early January start pitted them against other sporting codes such as the men’s Ashes, BBL, the Australian Open and the women’s Ashes. When has January ever been a football month? January is hot, February maybe even hotter and the height of day light saving. That’s a time for barbeques, beaches, camping, holidays and parties. It’s not for camping on the couch watching one goal being kicked by an AFLW team. This Sunday’s match between Melbourne and Greater Western Sydneyat Casey was supposed to have started at 1.10pm. It’s tipped to get 34 degrees. The AFL moved it to Saturday at 4.10pm. It should be about 30 degrees. Richmond plays North Melbourne at 2.10pm on Saturday. The predicted temperature is 32C. St Kilda tackles Brisbane on Sunday at 1.10pm. The forecast is 36C. A backyard cricket game wouldn’t last 30 minutes in that sort heat. Only two weeks Melbourne veteran Daisy Pearce raised concerns on 3AW about playing in the heat. “It’s horrendous,” she said. “I won’t mince my words.” The competition is besieged by COVID. Games are postponed which causes stress for players, who elsewhere are working, studying and mothering. Part-time players and support staff for that matter need predictability in their schedules, not flexibility and agility. Their footy life only works if the rest of their lives are normal enough. It is nightmare seasons as teams and players are impacted by COVID. In some cases, players end their isolations and/or health protocols and are required — and want — to immediately play. We all know people who have been COVID-positive and they still feel the effects three weeks on. These girls are back into it. It’s nuts. The Saints have played three games because of COVID and Fremantle six games. It means St Kilda — and another five other teams who have played four games — will be asked to cram games to catch up. Because of protocols in Western Australia, the Eagles will have played last Saturday and again on Tuesday before flying home. Again, part-timers being asked to accommodate professional demands. In December, the AFL released its plan for women’s footy across the nation. It is about money, participation, coaching and representation community footy among other brave new plans. It’s all good, but clearly the calendar space for the women’s competition needs to be addressed again. Carlton coach Daniel Harford has suggested it run parallel to the men’s comp, such as Melbourne and Collingwood women play double-headers with Melbourne v Collingwood men’s. It’s appealing, but it has its opposition. Vocal feminists don’t want to be curtain raisers to the men’s teams, and even if it was a popular idea, the networks need to find staff and channels to broadcast all the games. Fox Footy, which covers every football game, and Channel Seven are understood to be in discussions with the AFL about where best to position AFLW. January is not working. Interest has waned. One alternative is a September start to coincide with the men’s finals. Maybe launch on the bye weekend before the finals, play day games and leave the nights to the men, don’t play the Grand Final weekend, and play the season through October and November. Another suggestion is to increase the number of players from 16 to 18 to help transition the ball, lengthening quarters and even reducing the size of grounds to aid scoring, but that would also aid density. The AFL has decisions to make because AFLW has lost traction this year and not all of it can be blamed on COVID. January and February in scorching heat is not the place for full-time football played by part-time athletes.