We’re here to win, insist riled players
AFLW players have declared results will continue to trump aesthetics amid demands for a more attractive style of play.
League officials have contacted coaches expressing their concern after a low-scoring start to the second season.
Friday night’s prime-time season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood at a nearcapacity Princes Park proved to be particularly miserly.
No goals were scored in the entire second half as the Blues, who kept numbers back AFL Cape York House base but are looking to expand their reach throughout Cairns.
The Eagles are in their fifth year of competing in the local competition and AFL Cape York development manager Sean Hunter wants to promote an inclusive football club. throughout the match, 3.4 (22) to 2.2 (14).
Carlton skipper Brianna Davey insists the Blues weren’t instructed to flood their defenAFL prevailed
“There is still the stigma that the Eagles are just a team for kids that live at AFL Cape York House; that is not correct,” Hunter said. “The Eagles are a football club for everyone from all backgrounds.
“The idea of the team is to integrate our boys into the sive 50, instead suggesting nerves influenced the scoreline. But while players are conscious of the need for entertainment, Davey says winning games must remain top priority.
“As players and as teams, we probably don’t really care what it looks like as long as we’re getting that win,” Davey said yesterday.
“We understand from a spectacle point of view, we want people to enjoy watching the game. We’ll continue to do that but at the same time ... we’re here to win games.” local Cairns competition and make new friends from outside their comfort zone through playing footy.”
In the 2017 decider, the Eagles made it three premierships in a row in the Colts division, proving too strong for the Manunda Hawks.
Western Bulldogs defender Hannah Scott took a similar view, noting that teams could ill afford to sacrifice the defensive side of their games.
“It is a very short season and one loss can be detrimental to your season,” she said.
“You just have to do whatever you can to get the win.”
Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney shared in the highest-scoring and most entertaining match of the round, with the Demons claiming a 7.3 (45) to 6.3 (39) victory.
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan on Tuesday said he wanted
They had a partnership with Cairns City Lions last season to help both clubs with numbers.
“Culturally, the Lions guys learnt something and the Eagles boys learnt a lot of life lessons, too,” Hunter said. “We are a unique football club and it is a unique experience.” to see coaches take a more attacking mindset.
Collingwood assistant coach Daniel Harford criticised the league’s interjection, saying officials needed to figure out what they wanted from AFLW.
“Do they want it to be a serious, competitive environment?” he asked on RSN radio.
“Or do they want it to be a showcase of free-flowing entertainment slash football?”
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