GEORGIE PARKER: AFLW should mimic NRLW State of Origin with a Australia-Ireland game in season build-up

West Australian

2 days ago

In the new frontier of women's professional sports, the AFL still has a lot to learn from the NRL — and its AFLW fixture for the upcoming season isn't getting it any closer to being the head of the class
The NRL and AFL are like Melbourne and Sydney — two cities always bickering to everyone and anyone who will listen about who is better, even though both are major players in their own right.
The AFL can truly claim to be a national sport and boasts much better crowd numbers, but the NRL holds its own with broadcast figures, especially in its women's competition.
The NRLW State of Origin series has drawn a lot of eyeballs, with nearly two million people watching NSW claim the series over Queensland two weeks ago.
Then, last week, two million people watched the dead rubber match — something the AFLW could only dream of.
The AFLW's biggest match of the year last season, the grand final, attracted 354,000 viewers.
The NRLW Grand Final, played as a curtain-raiser to the men's decider, drew nearly 700,000 viewers.
The NRLW has a few advantages over the AFLW. The game itself, while tough, is simpler at its core, so the contrast between the men's and women's playing styles isn't as stark.
The season is shorter, with the NRL holding back on rapid expansion, which has created more depth across the 12 teams.
And the biggest point of difference? State of Origin — a marquee event that highlights star players and gives fans a reason to tune in during the regular season.
The AFL, however, has not nailed it with the most recent AFLW fixture update when it comes to combating the sleeping giant that is the NRLW.
While it's an improvement on last season's debacle, there are still plenty of holes.
Firstly, why aren't there any double-header matches during the crossover with the AFL finals? This is a prime opportunity to attract a different audience during a period when there's less men's footy being played. The NRL has already shown how well this strategy works.
Secondly, why are there no matches at Marvel Stadium? Given the nature of women's footy, matches are more affected by rain — and even more so by wind — than the men's game. Using a venue like Marvel, which is shielded from the elements, seems like a no-brainer to improve the standard of play and attract fans who are still on the fence.
We all know Marvel is owned and managed by the AFL, so scheduling AFLW double-headers there to create a better TV product (which is where the money is) should be in their best interest.
And finally, can we replicate something like the NRLW State of Origin during the men's season to generate interest in the AFLW? Perhaps an Australia-Ireland series, similar to the old International Rules format, given the sheer number of elite Irish players in the league.
Whatever the solution, something needs to change. For the amount of money being invested in the AFLW, the return on investment isn't stacking up.
And I think the frustration around that investment will only grow if more innovation isn't shown.