Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

While the Matildas have captured the hearts and minds of Australians the world over on their barnstorming run to the World Cup semi-finals, the AFL season edges ever closer to the business end of their own campaign.

This week on The Age’s Real Footy AFL podcast, Caroline Wilson, Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson assess the state of play across the competition, while Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler and their teammates – many of whom are now household names – capture the spotlight with the round ball. Most importantly, our podcasters ask: what does the enormous support for the Matildas mean for the AFL and the rapidly expanding AFLW?

The use of technology in Australian Rules compared to the world game is a hot topic as FIFA frequently and successfully uses VAR to resolve key decisions, while the AFL often grapples with technology when it comes to contentious decisions.

How female athletes earn an income is a hot topic, too, especially right now as the AFL negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with its players, and how the women’s contingent fits into that.

“The AFL should be very worried about what the Matildas have done,” says Wilson. “The AFL need to take a long hard look at themselves. How serious are they about the AFLW?”

Niall believes the AFLW moved to an 18-club competition too quickly.

“Let’s be clear here, though. The AFL cannot compete with a national team in a World Cup at home with a wave of national following in all states,” says chief AFL writer and sports scribe Niall.

“The AFL have already blown this [with the AFLW]. You know why? They expanded the competition too quickly and they should have created a scarcity of demand. The less often you play the most interest there is in the games.”

Battle for hearts, minds and players: Matildas competition versus the AFLW.Credit: The Age / Getty Images

Also on the agenda this week – Port Adelaide’s coaching situation, Brownlow Medal contenders, how injuries will impact Collingwood and the burning question of Brodie Grundy’s role at Melbourne.

All that and plenty more on this week’s episode of Real Footy.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article