I’d say the assertion that the bottom players are “meme level” with their skills. Granted, some players do look “worse” than others, but in my view there were none out there that were so far off it they didn’t belong.
I think as well the comparison needs to be like for like. If course compared to a men’s comp refined (for better or worse) over decades, some of the skills will seem sub-par. But compared to women’s football of watched I’d say tonight’s skill level was, at worst, average.
That’s fair and I’ll admit “meme” level is probably hyperbolic. I will though reiterate that I saw some dreadful ball drops, handball techniques and other technical flaws etc in a portion of players which were not present in the top players. I do feel they looked out of place in a premier level competition.
This was my first game so can’t compare to early W standard. Can only comment on what I saw tonight in isolation.
My overall point which I probably didn’t get across adequately was that the top players are fine/better than I expected and it’ll only get better with time as the bottom increases.
Also fold Norf.
And Tamsin and Nor and Renee, you savage.
Not shown in that clip but right there were Kendra and Mia-Rae and Laura Bashford… at least.
In the bad old days, girls could play in the same team as the boys, but were forced to retire at 12yo. After that it was tennis or netball for the girls comps ( apart from a bit of hockey or cricket):.
I was told that when the girl Australian rules players were first invited to the Hangar and given access to the gym facilities, their eyes lit up at the chance to be given regular access to top class sporting facilities, after scrounging for time at local clubs.
There would probably still not be much expertise in the management of sports injuries specific to women’s physiques at clubs.
Especially without Brendan Major.
Came back in here to make note of this; despite how difficult umpiring is this young lady was superb. Did she make any mistakes?
Maddy Prespakis and Bonnie Toogood are on the latest Rush and Rath podcast. Just hearing the pathway Prespakis had to AFLW -
with the ability to play juniors all the way through and had an established professional comp to aim for, vs Toogood who pivoted to other sports, shows how the quality will start improving rapidly now each season.
Some of the girls have strong skills, and a professional training environment is going to enhance those skills rapidly - AFLW now vs the first AFLW season is chalk and cheese.
There are limits to the talent pool now, which is why we see the bottom end in teams being weak in skills. However, the talent pool is already heaps bigger than what it was at the start, and only going to get bigger.
We also have people who are clearly skilled but not anything like elite athletes - take people who are obese and playing top level football - this is going to fall away as the athletic demands grow - these people are either going to shed the weight or not get selected - but its a transition thing - the professional training environment will provide stronger nutritional support. Currently this is a bit like Stringer, but on a greater scale - he’s certainly had unacceptable skin folds for an elite athlete, and it does impact his ability to contribute.
It’s all going to go to a good place. Look at the WBBL, and the Aussie Women’s cricket team. These days, they are playing to a strong standard.
Maddie was a Beast last night! Stoked she is a Bomber
About the best comment you made
Impressive coach
not to be snide, but this was afl until like 2009, see DEW
I love all the different shapes and sizes.
Reminds me of VFL when I was a kid.
We used to be proud of the fact that footy was for everyone.
First ever 21. Dani is very serious.
Vogt obviously meant that perfect pass, too 
Woosh was smart to kick the first goal at our end, to get that pop.
BOOM.
