The Australian Football League will contribute an estimated A$4M ($3M) "to fund the bulk of a new eight-team women's league, to be played in February and March next year," according to John Stensholt of the AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW. Teams will "begin scouring the market for sponsors to also help fund the competition," which will cost each club up to A$1M ($740,000) per season including player wages and travel costs. The sponsors are "expected to be in addition to those that already sponsor the men's teams," with a major sponsorship estimated to be worth A$250,000-A$350,000 ($185,300-$259,500) per team. The AFL "will also search for a major sponsor" with retailer Cotton On, led by BRW Rich List member and billionaire Nigel Austin, Toyota and Telstra rumored to be "potential major backers." AFL President Mike Fitzpatrick said, "Our game is in the cusp of changing, and forever." Melbourne "will contribute four teams, Collingwood, Carlton, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, who will be joined by the Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants, Adelaide Crows and Fremantle" (AFR, 6/15). ABC's Stephanie Chalkley-Rhoden reported the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne are "both seen as trailblazers for the competition after staging a series of exhibition games in past seasons" in what the league dubbed a "revolution." One the most high-profile female players, Daisy Pearce, said that it was a "great opportunity to play elite sport and a chance she never thought she would have." She said, "To look around today and see those little girls who are going to grow up knowing that's something they can achieve is amazing." Each club "will be able to sign two marquee players and fill out the rest of the playing list via a national draft." A season of six matches, followed by finals for the top four, will begin in February (ABC, 6/15).
FEELING LEFT OUT: In Melbourne, Lane & Quayle reported the five clubs "to miss out on fielding a team in the opening season of the AFL's inaugural women's competition will push for future inclusion, despite their dismay at being overlooked." Geelong put its "knockback down to the strength of the talent pool" in its region -- a pool the club is "committed to now growing" -- while Richmond pointed to its "track record in promoting gender diversity." St. Kilda, North Melbourne and West Coast also "made their disappointment clear, saying they remained committed to helping advance the game for women in their areas." Geelong CEO Brian Cook said that the Cats put a lot of work into their proposals but "we weren't exactly sure of the criteria." Cook: "You feel a bit disappointed because of that but to be fair, there were only so many licenses. Thirteen into eight doesn't go and that's fine, we understand that." The five unsuccessful clubs that pitched -- Geelong, Richmond, St. Kilda, North Melbourne and the Eagles -- have "provisional licences for entry to the competition, at a date to be stipulated by the AFL" (THE AGE, 6/15). Also in Melbourne, Eliza Sewell wrote Carlton "played a very visible public game." CEO Steven Trigg said in April that it had "big commercial backers Hyundai and Visy in place." The AFL "got it right with eight teams." Six "would have probably been the perfect match for the available talent, but only two teams in Victoria would not have washed." Ten clubs "would have stretched the talent pool too far" (HERALD SUN, 6/15).
THREATENING RETIREMENT: In Sydney, Samantha Lane reported Pearce has threatened to retire if she cannot "play for her beloved Melbourne Football Club." As the AFL "instructed eight handpicked foundation clubs on Wednesday that further signings are strictly forbidden while it selects marquee players and sets their destinations in the national competition, Pearce dictated her own non-negotiable terms." If the AFL sought to pair Pearce with another club, she said, "I'd really have to weigh up whether I played." Though "the scenario is unlikely, Pearce's conscious move to publicly mark territory suggests it is not entirely out of the question, either" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/15).
TOP MARKS FOR AFL: In an editorial, THE AGE wrote the AFL "made history this week when it announced the creation of a national women's competition." The league, and CEO Gillon McLachlan, "deserve congratulations for taking this important step." We "endorse the AFL's progressive decision and we celebrate this important and sensible change." This is "not an issue of ideology, or of us versus them." As newly elected Canadian PM Justin Trudeau succinctly said when asked why he had chosen to appoint 15 men and 15 women to his cabinet: "Because it's 2015." The AFL's eight-team women's competition "is welcome and meaningful, but it ought not be used to suggest that the football world has done all it needs to address its poor record on gender equity and diversity." There is "a long way to go on this score, and the women's competition should spur on further change" (THE AGE, 6/15).
