A future for women in the AFL?

We hear a lot these days about the decline of the traditional gender defined roles and stereotypes in society. And we can all think of someone that we know in our lives who confirms this trend, whether it be a stay-at-home dad or the lady who drives your bus.

At the moment, highly skilled women in the game are not taken seriously. Events like the Brownlow medal awards ceremony exacerbates the problem, with commentary regarding the best and worst dressed partners of the attending male AFL players appearing in Women’s magazines.

Former Collingwood played turned radio and television commentator, Brian Taylor, made the following remark about women in the sport.

"Now they're there after every bloody game. Why? What's going on here? I'm not sure that's a good thing for footy."

This sort of criticism is concerningly widespread.

Journalist Beverley O'Conner, first female director of the Melbourne Demons club, recently wrote an article on the issue stressing that women should be taken seriously in the game.

“Our involvement is not only as wife or girlfriend, but as physio, trainer, coach, umpire and player. From boardroom to changeroom, the participation of women should not still be up for discussion in 2013.”

Chelsea Roffey: The AFL's first female umpire and goal umpire in the 2012 grand final.
(Source: ABC)

However, a fair question to ponder is whether or not such a physically violent and aggressive sport will ever appeal to many women. After all, it is statistically the most dangerous sport in Australia (according to the Medibank Private Safe Sports Report 2006, based on patient presentations to Australian hospital emergency departments and general medical practices).

So will there be a more publicised AFL competition for women? Like the W-League in the soccer, for example. Currently the AFL Women’s Championships struggles to make a story in any media outlet. The top Google search result for ‘afl women's round 2013’ is the website for the 2013 AFL fixtures (for the male competition). For now it seems that Aussie Rules - like the other four football codes, remains a clearly male-dominated game in almost every aspect.

- Lachlan Lewis