HOW MUCH would you pay for a ticket to a NAB AFL Women's game?
Although matches are currently free (the Fremantle v Collingwood match aside, where a $2 donation includes public transport), conversation is starting to turn towards charging for tickets in the future.
AFL.com.au was at the captains' day on Tuesday in Yarraville in Melbourne’s west, and spoke to all the skippers ahead of the new season on a range of topics, with opinions varying on proposed ticket prices.
Erin Phillips (Adelaide)
A headline you'd like to see
'Crows women go back-to-back'
The club to watch (other than your own)
Carlton. Their list is pretty strong and now with Tayla Harris, they'll be tough to beat.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
Ruth Wallace is my breakout player. Dynamic, fast, explosive, can kick goals - our version of Eddie Betts, I reckon.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
I think the team with the cleanest skills is probably going to win this one. Everyone's fit, so I think it's going to come down to one-percenters.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
I would charge about $20 for family and make under-12s free. Adults should be $10.
Emma Zielke (Brisbane Lions)
A headline you'd like to see
'Sell out at Perth Stadium'
The club to watch (other than your own)
I still think Adelaide is the team to beat and watch. They still have their superstars and picked up some really good players from the draft. If they play the same as they did last year, they will remain in contention for the flag.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs). She was a standout last year working with Ellie Blackburn, but I think she will step it up again this season.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
With the work and preparation everyone's put in, I think you'll see better skills, faster ball movement with the new last-touch rule and higher scoring.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
It's hard to put a price on it. I think people would be happy to pay $5 to watch an AFLW match, if not more. The Grand Final could be a higher rate, as it is in the men's.
Brianna Davey (Carlton)
A headline you'd like to see
'Record-breaking AFLW crowds – more than any other women's game in any other sport'
The club to watch (other than your own)
Greater Western Sydney - I reckon they're going to be a dark horse.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
Sophie Li who plays with us, she's an up-and-comer. She's a bit older but I think she's going to take the league by storm.
Sophie Li is expected to make a big impact for the Blues this year. Picture: AFL Photos
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
The increased professional attitude and the elite standards.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
I would charge something, a couple of bucks. A gold-coin donation would be great. In saying that, it's great everyone can access games and be involved.
Steph Chiocci (Collingwood)
A headline you'd like to see
'Magpies 2018 premiers'
The club to watch (other than your own)
Melbourne
Which player will take the competition by storm?
(Western Bulldogs captain) Katie Brennan - she's disappointed she missed out last year and she's looking really fit.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
Knowledge and understanding of the game.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
Whatever they'll pay.
A headline you'd like to see
For the round two clash against Collingwood at the new stadium: 'Record-breaking attendance, history making attendance' – something along those lines. It would be pretty special to wake up the next day and read that in the paper.
Kara Donnellan (Fremantle)
The club to watch (other than your own)
I think Melbourne had a little more to give last year. I think they were quite disappointed, having a couple of close losses, so I'm looking forward to watching their season progress. It will be interesting to see how they go.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
There are a number of young girls coming through, but, for me, the player at Fremantle will be Alicia Janz. We've recruited her as a ruck, she's a really raw talent and has come from a netball background, but she's as hard as nails.
Alicia Janz is a former netballer who will play for Fremantle this year. Picture: AFL Photos
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
Hopefully more crowds, better standard, faster-paced, more skills, more goals, harder hits, bigger marks – hopefully everything escalates.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
It's just great to get the crowds in there and whatever attracts crowds – price or no price – I want to play in front of big crowds cheering for Fremantle, so I think I'll leave that up to the AFL.
Amanda Farrugia (Greater Western Sydney)
A headline you'd like to see
'GWS Giants prove everyone wrong to make the Grand Final'
The club to watch (other than your own)
Carlton has recruited really well over the off-season. Melbourne has an elite midfield and Adelaide has shown they can really go against the grain and play a unique style of football. It's a really open field and that's what makes it exciting.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
Cora Staunton, our Gaelic football pro. She's 36 and can kick goals on her left and right without looking at the goals. She's taken to our game like a duck to water and I think she's going to be a crowd favourite.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
The calibre of footy we are going to produce will be a higher standard. I think the structure of teams is going to be a lot more sophisticated. Hopefully the whole brand of football improves.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
I don't think having free entry is an issue at this point in time. It attracts people, but I think they would be more than willing to pay a little bit to come and watch. It adds value to what you are coming to watch. It's not about generating revenue now, but I think people are willing to pay a gold coin.
Daisy Pearce (Melbourne)
A headline you'd like to see
'The MCG has been sold out on AFL Women's Grand Final day'
The club to watch (other than your own)
I think the Dogs will be big improvers this year. Missing their captain Katie Brennan, a star of the competition, and having her back will add instant improvement to them, but also some of the young talent they've been able to bring in, in (Isabel) Huntington and (Monique) Conti. I think they'll be ready to go and ready to make an immediate impact.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
She's not very young, I think she's our second-oldest player, but Melissa Hickey, who did very well last year and made the All Australian team as a defender is going to do some great things in the midfield this year. She's put in a truckload of work and having played as a defender her whole life, she was thrown in our midfield a couple of times last year and played in the midfield for Darebin [in the VFLW], but she's had 10 months to really hone her craft as a midfielder and it's been pretty impressive how she's been training.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
I think the wonderful thing about this season is that instead of fans and people coming to watch or tuning in to watch AFL Women's, they're not doing it out of curiosity – they're doing it because they have heroes they want to follow. It was almost overnight or the first night last year that people loved [Carlton’s] Darcy Vescio or wanted to go watch Bri Davey dominate across half-back. That's really cool.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
You want to keep it affordable, so that it's accessible to people, but let's say $20 for a family to come along is pretty reasonable; $10 for an adult. I think that's what you'd pay to go and see most local, community sporting events. We want this to be a community sporting event – albeit an elite one – so I think that would be affordable to most people. I think it's good to see a value put to the entertainment and for people coming along.
Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs)
A headline you'd like to see
'Western Bulldogs through to the Grand Final'
The club to watch (other than your own)
Melbourne. They played a great brand of footy last season, they've got some new personnel on board and some great leadership in the club.
Which player will take the competition by storm?
I'm very excited to see our little prodigy, Isabel Huntington. She's got the agility of Darcy Vescio, takes big marks overhead and can find the goals. She's going to be a weapon up forward.
What will be the biggest difference between this season and last season?
Just knowing what to expect. Adding professionalism and expectation to our group has helped develop the girls in terms of their fitness and football IQ.
How much would you charge for AFLW matches and why?
It's important to do it going forward. It's great it's free, but I think a small charge, whether it goes to charity or back to the AFL, would mean a great deal. People would be coming to watch and giving a little bit of money to see a spectacular show.
