Melbourne AFLW skipper Kate Hore backs league's future, citing rising skills and talent
The AFL has reportedly told clubs the women's competition is losing $50 million a year as it approaches its 10th season, which starts next month.
League officials have made improving on-field performances the top priority for the AFLW, which is also facing declining crowds and television audiences.
AFLW players are pushing for an expanded season, in which every team plays each of its opponents once, by 2031.
But a review by league officials has reportedly showed that would come at a $200 million loss.
Hore, a seven-year AFLW veteran, urged league officials and sponsors to have faith in the competition, which she believes is growing its on-field product each year.
"I'm super confident that the AFLW is an amazing competition already and we're only 10 seasons in, so I think we just need to keep investing, both as players and then more broadly as well, into the game," Hore said.
"I compare myself as a player in my first season in 2018 and if I was that same player now I certainly wouldn't be getting a game.
"The standard and the investment from players is only growing, and the competition's only going to keep growing as the investment comes."
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Hore, a three-time All-Australian and premiership player in 2022, said the continuing influx of young players who have developed through talent pathways will lift the AFLW's standard.
"The skill levels are going to continue to grow and I've really seen that in our new girls and our draftees this year," she said.
"They've been playing the game since they were five years old.
"I compare it to myself, I played from five until 10 (years of age) and then didn't play for 10 years.
"It's a pretty long time where I didn't get to develop my skills.
"These girls are coming through the pathways now … it makes me really, really excited for the future."
Hore on Wednesday helped Melbourne launch a new sponsorship with a Swedish automotive manufacturer, who will partner with the Demons' women's team this season.
"This partnership just shows that there's so many businesses and organisations that really want to help grow the game and support us girls," Hore said.
"It's an investment really and the competition's growing. We're celebrating our 10th season but only nine years in, so the competition is going to continue to grow.
"Sponsorships like this show that there's real investment from organisations and businesses out there, which we really love."
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AFL news Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron late to his own party in Cats win over Essendon
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4 hours ago
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Sheepish superstar Jeremy Cameron late to his own party
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The 32-year-old sheepishly admitted before the opening bounce he was 30 minutes late getting to the ground as he tended to his farm, which is around 20 minutes outside Geelong. He then kept the Fox Footy crew waiting for an interview while he took a few more warm-up shots on goal and the commentators tried desperately to fill the time. Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis both tried to get Cameron's attention before he finally sauntered over. 'I'll see if I can grab his attention,' Lyon said. 'No, he's having another shot.' When he did arrive, they couldn't resist some gentle ribbing. 'Jezza we've been padding for five minutes,' Lyon said. Lewis then chimed in with: 'Mate the game's about to start.' Once the interview did get underway, the former GWS star was naturally asked about the pursuit of the ton. 'Too much focus I reckon,' he said. 'Everyone asks about it, pretty much everywhere you go, especially the kids and that. 'That's all good fun, but I don't take myself too seriously, sort of try to laugh it off and have fun out there with the boys and that's what I'll be doing again tonight.' When he was asked about his overall approach, Cameron was true to form when he said with a grin: 'It changes for each individual. I got here half an hour late, which was spot on for me. 'That's how I sort of approach it. I did the last check-up (at the farm), just made sure everything's OK. 'Everyone's got their own prep and from there we're pretty steely focused.' During a big build-up to a match that wasn't expected to be overly challenging for Geelong against the lowly Bombers, goalkicking great Jason Dunstall talked about the chase for the century of goals last achieved by Buddy Franklin way back in 2008. 'I think he doesn't want to think about it too much, but it's there, front of mind, make no mistake,' Dunstall said. 'When you're a goalkicker you know exactly how many you have, you know what you're chasing and he's not far away.' Boundary rider Cam Mooney then stunned everyone by picking a big key forward to kick a bag of goals … only it wasn't Cameron. 'I think that man right there is going to be the man tonight,' Mooney said as the camera panned to another big Geelong forward, Shannon Neale. 'He might kick the bag. It's not going to be Jeremy Cameron, I'm sorry guys, it's going to be this man, Shannon Neale. 'Everyone's going to be too interested in stopping Jezza.' Mooney proved he's somewhat of a Nostradamus as Neale duly kicked the first three goals of the game over the opening 12 minutes. 'Shannon Neale came in as the support act, but he has grabbed the early running,' Gerard Whateley said 10 minutes into the game. 'Two goals for Neale.' Two minutes later, Neale had his third and Lyon quipped: 'I don't know if Cam Mooney's got the Tatts Lotto numbers, I tell you what.' 'The count is on,' Whateley added. 'Just not the count we were expecting.' It took until six minutes into the second term for Cameron to finally get his chase moving. He took a contested mark on a tight angle and had no issue stepping back and slotting goal No. 76 for the year. 'Jeremy Cameron, it's such a beautiful kick, and that's the rise the crowd was looking for,' Whateley said. Four minutes later he kicked his second from another contested mark with Mooney saying: 'Listen to the crowd.' Anthony Hudson then stated: 'For a career-best 77 goals, he was late to the game and late to get started, but he's off and running now Jeremy Cameron. 'That is two.' That 77th goal was one clear of his previous best, the 76 he kicked for the Giants back in 2019. The Cats took a 27-point lead into the halftime break and Hudson said: 'Eyes will turn again to Jeremy Cameron in the second half.' Instead, another key forward started to make his mark on the contest. Bombers youngster Liam McMahon managed one goal in each of the first two quarters and then two more in the third as the 23-year-old continued to give long-suffering Essendon fans some hope for the future. 'Jeremy who?' Hudson said when McMahon slotted his fourth. The Bombers closed to within three goals in a surprisingly competitive second half without really threatening to pull off the massive upset. Cameron was able to flex his muscles in front of goal in the final term, kicking two goals in a four-minute period to move to 79. He had another chance in the dying minutes. 'You felt like he had to get to 80 tonight to be a legit chance,' Whateley added. 'Not just a 'let's talk it up chance'.' But he pushed the shot across goal, with Dunstall saying glumly: 'Come on Jez.' The Cameron watch will now move to Sydney for the Cats' match against the Swans next week.
