In celebration of International Women's Day, ESPN contributors and AFLW players Imogen Evans and Isadora McLeay have reflected on what this year's theme "Invest in women: Accelerate Progress" means to them and how the improved investment or lack thereof in their sport has impacted them as athletes.
Imogen Evans - Delisted AFLW player
The action of investing into women's sport is synonymous to having belief in the product. Many of the obstacles faced by women in sport are created from a lack of investment and could be mitigated with the genuine pursuit of putting female sport on the map and ensuring it's as appealing as possible.
Using AFLW as my personal reference point, there's a constant push-pull between whether performance or financial investment should come first in order to grow the game.
Some suggest the product (AFLW) should speak for itself, that investment will inevitably grow alongside the popularity of the game. Increased popularity equals more profit for the AFL, therefore it's expected that more cash will be dispersed into the sport. It's seen as the safer approach. But in the contemporary landscape of female sport, this approach simply disregards the undeniable momentum and opportunity that lies behind the growth of women in sport.
While investment into a product before it generates a return is a riskier financial play, I believe this is the move (within responsible financial means) beneficial for women's sport.
By placing more financial investment into AFLW, grassroot programs will have the ability to further foster future talent, professional female players will slowly be able to turn their entire focus to the game, giving them more time to enhance their craft, resulting in better footy being played on the park. There will be more resources available to assist with the marketability of the game, aiming to draw in higher crowds and create a whirlwind of emotional investment from spectators.
It's a long-term investment, not a quick fix.
This is certainly no stretch, the on-field improvement in AFLW from its inaugural season is obviously evident. The increased support from the AFL enabled this change and has the power to continue to help grow the game to the level it needs to be.
In 2017, the base AFLW wage was $8,500 for 290 hours of work ($29.32p/h). Fast forward to 2023, the average wage was $60,000 for 1040 hours of work ($57.28 p/h) - almost double the pay to work hours ratio.
The financial support demonstrated by the AFL particularly after the 2022 CBA (where female AFL athletes received a 97% pay rise) is one of the more obvious demonstrations of financial investment. A revolutionary move that made waves within the wider world of female sport.
During the recent AFL CBA discussions, the back and forth of negotiations shed light on how the AFL board viewed the AFLW's value, a disheartening reality. It all boiling down to statistics such as dwindling crowd numbers, a by-product of tiptoeing around AFL men's finals with 4pm and 5pm starts on weekdays.
The discourse was enlightening and not in a good way. It's difficult to argue with the numbers, AFLW certainly still has some growth to do, but the league's unwillingness to take calculated risks sends a message of caution and hesitation. The limited investment in season length or proper scheduling tells a story of doubt which has a certain personable impact on women on the ground.
The Matildas' recent World Cup semifinal run is another large-scale example that demonstrates the thirst for entertaining female sport and the result of adequate financial investment in female football programs all over the world.
The emotional investment in the Matildas skyrocketed after the 2023 World Cup. The women not only represented their country, but also demonstrated an exceptional level of football that captured the respect and interest of swarms of spirited Aussies.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the Matildas are playing a farewell match against China at Adelaide Oval which will draw a capacity crowd of more than 53,500. Conversely, the last time the Matildas played in Adelaide it was 2019 and they had a crowd of just more than 10,000.
Investment in women's sport is not a black and white conversation. But the continuation of adequate emotional and financial investment into women in sport is a non-negotiable.
Isadora McLeay - Uncontracted AFLW player
In the span of just eight seasons AFLW has grown immensely. From grassroots level the game has captivated so many young females, with the growing competitiveness, skills and IQ each season helping the standard improve.
Simply watch some Zarlie Goldsworthy highlights if you want proof.
And the reason why the sport has developed is simple: investment in women's sport. When AFLW first started in 2017 players were paid a minimum of $8,500, fast forward to the 2024 season players will be paid a minimum of $46,000 with some earning as much as $100,000, while the average is set to hit $82,000 by 2027.
From a grassroots standpoint, Aussie Rules is now becoming a sport that girls are starting to play from a young age. Instead of transitioning to the sport in their mid-20s from netball or other sports, young girls are picking up the footy from a young age and learning the skills much earlier.
As pay has increased it has given young girls the dream that being a professional fulltime athlete is possible.
Women only competitions are now all over Australia, when most players in the current AFLW competition grew up as the only girl on their team. The opportunity for the younger generation is getting greater, and it blows my mind.
Growing up young kids would play Aussie Rules in winter, the same time as their heroes in the AFL. But for majority of the history of AFLW it was played throughout summer, meaning AFLW players would have to adjust to playing in temperatures of over 30 degrees. It meant quarters were restricted to 15 minutes, which would ultimately affect scoring and performance as players were under immense fatigue.
Now there has been a permanent shift to play AFLW during the winter months bringing with it longer quarters, which last season saw a 30.6 percent increase in scores. After just one season of change, imagine what can be done in three seasons?
With the season shift it also attempts to breakdown the stigma that AFLW is merely pre-show, there only to support the lead into the AFL men's season. Now with both seasons on at the same time, it's created footy festive vibe throughout the league and has given fans a chance to enjoy both versions of the game.
Meanwhile, currently players are expected to hold themselves to the standard of a professional fulltime athlete, all while working a second job to make ends meet.
To find a second job that is compatible with AFLW demands is extremely difficult and some athletes are required to go on unpaid leave throughout the season to find time to meet the standards that are being expected.
What I am hoping for is when an AFLW player is asked what they do for a living, they can just give the answer of being a fulltime athlete, instead of listing their two other jobs they do on the side.
AFLW needs an equal playing field.
An equal playing field includes increased visibility in the media including newspapers and advertisement, same quality changerooms and grounds, similar technology of behind the goals vision -- every season of AFLW there is a questionable goal or point that determines the game but no camera to look back at.
Investment also means proper funding of programs so players can have access to fulltime staff all year round, especially for injured players who need physio but can't find a time to work as both parties are working around their own second jobs.
Women's sport is on the rise, and it's exciting, it's time for everyone to get behind it.
Instead of female athletes always having to be grateful to even have an opportunity the mentality needs to shift to how do we make this as big as the Matildas in 2023.
The way the Matildas were able to captivate the nation in our own backyard, and still are, sets the standard for all other female sports.