Collingwood captain Steph Chiocci and Fremantle skipper Hayley Miller are among several players who have joined the chorus of those within AFLW calling for more games to be played at big stadiums.
Miller, Hawthorn’s Kate McCarthy and Chiocci pointed to the crowd of more than 12,000 that turned out at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night for Essendon’s clash with Hawthorn – and the standard of play at the venue – as evidence more women’s games should be played there.
Maddy Prespakis and the Bombers celebrate with fans after their win.Credit:AFL Photos
The Bombers-Hawks match was originally scheduled for ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne and selling out within a day. The AFL then relocated the game to Marvel Stadium to cater to the demand of fans.
Essendon coach Natalie Wood said she had no doubt the standard of the venue improved the standard of the football on the night as her Bombers claimed victory over fellow inaugural AFLW side Hawthorn.
More than 12,000 vocal fans filled the bottom level of the stadium and some of the crowd took up space on the second deck.
“It was a great atmosphere, seemed like the crowd were really enjoying the spectacle,” said Wood.
“I think the fan experience is really important … I think that, you know, if we’re working towards establishing a really professional product then our members and our fans need to be able to come along and consume that, and be a part of that and live that with us.
“So, if that means that, you know, we needed to be here in order to get twelve and a half thousand people here, then I think that’s the right thing to do.”
Wood’s comments came after Miller shared her views on the match on social media, saying “this is why AFLW should be played at stadiums … and Marvel in particular”.
McCarthy retweeted Miller’s sentiment with “12,092,” the exact crowd figure on Saturday night, and Chiocci reshared the post with her own emphasis: “retweet, retweet, retweet”.
After the game, Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard, who had pioneered the call to move the game to Marvel Stadium, said both sides put on a really good show under the roof and said more AFLW games should be played in the stadium.
“It felt like there were so many more than 12,000 here tonight. That’s a big number, but it sounded a lot louder … Just give the women the opportunity to play in big stadiums and the fans will come,” said Goddard.
Hawks captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd added that the conditions meant they could play better football.
“It’s really good having the roof closed. There were no conditions like we get out at Box Hill with the rain and the wind, and I think you saw that the skills were up because there weren’t any [of those] other factors,” she said.
Goddard added the improved conditions at AFL-level stadiums meant better contests, such as cleaner gathering of ground balls. Hawthorn will next play St Kilda at Box Hill City Oval, while Essendon will take on Carlton in round two at ETU Stadium.
Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard addresses players at Marvel Stadium in round one, 2022.Credit:Getty Images
Next weekend, North Melbourne and Melbourne’s clash has been moved to the MCG in a double-header with the men’s final, but there are no further AFLW games scheduled at Marvel Stadium this season.
AFL general manager of women’s football Nicole Livingstone lauded the crowd and atmosphere at that game and others. She said the league would “strike a balance” when selecting venues for the rest of the season.
“All games have been fantastic this weekend and we’ll continue to find the right balance between boutique venues and major stadiums for bigger events such as Saturday nights,” she said.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
