Just a question to values TBV members. How many girls / women have a desire to play League (or Union for that matter) ? I asked my daughter & her numerous girlfriends the other day. Not one of them said yes. Most had no interest in the game from even a spectator point of view. My wife the same. Seriously have never come across ANY girl / women who say they do. Suggests to me that it is being driven by a very small - dare I say it - group within our population. Its hard not to think many of the girls playing the sport are not "butch". Not a great look physically for the vast majority either. Now I'm not saying they shouldn't be playing the game - far from it. If they want to belt the tripe out of each other that's ok with me. The problem I have is the push to promote / show the game as if its a mainstream sport for women - because it just isn't & in my mind will probably never be one. The sad thing to me is that we (mostly men) are watching it for different reasons to a men's game. It is not being watched for skill level that's for sure - more the novelty of women performing "unwomenly" (my new word). I'd love to put together a book of comments from spectators watching the game from a collection of pubs - a lot of very disparaging comments. Yet they still watch it. Is that what women in the game really want ? So bottom line - is the cause for women to be equal in all areas really being helped by stuff like this ? I don't think so.

The success the women's game is currently having is for all the wrong reasons imo. They are a spectacle for women brutality. It would hardly inspire any parent to encourage their daughters to play the game. In most folks eyes (men & women) a female should have feminine qualities. Is that an out-dated idea ? Playing Rugby does little to achieve that end. MOST women cannot even relate to those playing it

No surprise there PT. That's were the vast majority of Polynesian girls live. You know - 15 stone plus & built like brick outhouses. Wrecking balls !

Gee there's some crap in that article

It is The Telegraph reporting on the Western Suburbs.

Numbers for women’s AFL are skyrocketing, nationwide. Ask girls the attraction and they’ll invariably say “Because it’s so much fun”. I’d imagine girls playing League would say the same.

JudgeHolden wrote: Numbers for women’s AFL are skyrocketing, nationwide. Ask girls the attraction and they’ll invariably say “Because it’s so much fun”. I’d imagine girls playing League would say the same.

Not sure you could ever compare League /Union to AFL re brutality Judge. Not knocking AFL either - just a totally different game re physicality. I could actually imagine encouraging my daughter to play AFL. Not so Rugby.

I just have one question.

I think I've got the answer to get women out of sport. Just make it totally genderless.

JudgeHolden wrote: Numbers for women’s AFL are skyrocketing, nationwide. Ask girls the attraction and they’ll invariably say “Because it’s so much fun”. I’d imagine girls playing League would say the same.

oneonesit wrote: JudgeHolden wrote: Numbers for women’s AFL are skyrocketing, nationwide. Ask girls the attraction and they’ll invariably say “Because it’s so much fun”. I’d imagine girls playing League would say the same. Not sure you could ever compare League /Union to AFL re brutality Judge. Not knocking AFL either - just a totally different game re physicality. I could actually imagine encouraging my daughter to play AFL. Not so Rugby.

But the fact remains- they’re doing it because they love it.

Regarding AFL, it doesn’t have relentless collision that rugby does but in some ways it’s more dangerous. It’s a game when you get legitimately hit when you’re not expecting it, as opposition players aren’t just in front of you but all around you, and the game is essentially chaotic.

This actually worries me a bit. I’ve been to a women’s AFL game. Standard was ordinary but by gees the girls have a crack. Unfortunately most of them have grown up playing other aports so they don’t simultaneously brace for contact and protect themselves as well as men who’ve been playing their whole lives. An 18yo girl coming off with her face caved in after head butting someone’s knee will be a PR disaster for the AFL.

JudgeHolden wrote: oneonesit wrote: JudgeHolden wrote: Numbers for women’s AFL are skyrocketing, nationwide. Ask girls the attraction and they’ll invariably say “Because it’s so much fun”. I’d imagine girls playing League would say the same. Not sure you could ever compare League /Union to AFL re brutality Judge. Not knocking AFL either - just a totally different game re physicality. I could actually imagine encouraging my daughter to play AFL. Not so Rugby. But the fact remains- they’re doing it because they love it. Regarding AFL, it doesn’t have relentless collision that rugby does but in some ways it’s more dangerous. It’s a game when you get legitimately hit when you’re not expecting it, as opposition players aren’t just in front of you but all around you, and the game is essentially chaotic. This actually worries me a bit. I’ve been to a women’s AFL game. Standard was ordinary but by gees the girls have a crack. Unfortunately most of them have grown up playing other aports so they don’t simultaneously brace for contact and protect themselves as well as men who’ve been playing their whole lives. An 18yo girl coming off with her face caved in after head butting someone’s knee will be a PR disaster for the AFL.

I don't know where femininity disappeared too.

The Grand Final for Ladies used to be at the Maternity Unit.

Now It's at Penrith Park.

It all started with women wanting to be jockeys.

Jarryd Hayne would be the longest serving lady in the NRL at present