Siren #136: The AFLW Oracle, footy photo essays, “Tag Us?” and Siren book club
A Women in Sport Collective
We are back in your inboxes with another themed issue, this time dedicated to the AFLW.
It’s been a little over two months since we celebrated the 2023 AFLW grand final and we thought it was an opportune time to reflect on the season, the highlights and our favourite stories.
In this issue, Siren intern Pyper Denneman caught up with Siren co-founder Gemma Bastiani aka “AFLW Oracle” to chat all things footy and stats. And we have a wonderful photo essay from superstar photographer Kel Rowe that chronicles their experience of the season.
We’ve also rounded up some great stories from women in sports media – some AFLW and some not – that we wanted to share.
We’ve had a lot of fun creating these themed issues and highlighting and amplifying the work of our wonderful women and non-binary sports media community.
But these last few newsletters have also provided a sneak peek of where our focus will be in 2024.
Creating opportunity and community.
Amplifying the work of the women and non binary people in our sports media community.
And as always, working hard to challenge the status quo of sports media.
Want to help us with that work? Become a Patreon of Siren today!
Tag us? We want to amplify your work!
Since Siren launched in 2020, the number of women and non-binary people creating incredible sports media content has grown. And this THRILLS us!
Every byline, podcast, video, newsletter, or social media post is fuel for the fire that burns in our belly – a fire that is determined to see a sports media that reflects our sports communities.
But we need your help! We love to share your work but try as we might, we sometimes don’t catch it.
So if you’re a woman or non-binary person making sports content, tag @siren_sport (on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X and LinkedIn) so we can share your work!
Inside the Playbook, with Gemma Bastiani
By Pyper Denneman
Our wonderful intern Pyper Denneman spoke to our Siren Sport co-founder Gemma Bastiani on all she's achieved covering the AFLW these past few seasons.
We also asked Gemma to share her top ten AFLW stories, so settle in and work your way through this delightful list!
Adelaide's control and Brisbane's pressure — AFLW top eight's biggests strengths ahead of finals
The forward, Kade Chandler, who has surprisingly reshaped the Melbourne Demons attack
AFLW wingers are becoming increasingly important, and a barometer of team success - ABC News
Ball on a String: Midfield beast Jake Stringer driving Essendon Bombers' scoring power
How Brisbane Lions rebuilt their way to the 2023 AFLW flag with one simple word
'I still get goosebumps': Erin Phillips on footy, family and her legacy
The best seat in the house: my season on the boundary
By Kel Rowe
Kel Rowe spent AFLW Season 8 on the boundary, documenting the competition for the first time as an accredited photographer. She shares her experience and fave photos with us.
While the off-season means the AFLW news slows down, we can always rely on Sarah Black to keep us informed! Just this week, Sarah looked at the Stars of the future: 13 prospects to watch in 2024.
The Far Post has a new episode talking all things A-League W.
Shout out to Sarah Burt who co-hosted the Speed Series at Sandown over the weekend!
We’re big fans of embracing your own individual sports fandom and we love a crossover so we of course loved this piece from Marnie Vinall on The Taylor effect and the increasing number of women and girls watching the NFL.
Siren Book Club - Personal Score by Ellen van Neerven
Attention fellow sports book lovers! You won’t want to miss this.
The next Siren Book Club book is Ellen van Neerven’s Personal Score: Sport, Culture, Identity!
The Siren Book Club for Personal Score will be held online via Zoom on Tuesday 12 March, at 7pm AEST.
Register here to book your spot and we will email you the link closer to the date.
We’re hoping to do more book club sessions in 2024 so if there is a book you’d like us to include, let us know? We’d love to hear from you!
Sydney Women in Media Event - She Kicks Goals
In this Olympic and Paralympic year, our friends at Women in Media NSW are launching 2024 and discussing its upcoming calendar of events with the "She Kicks Goals" campaign to raise the profile of women working in sports media.
On Thursday 15 February, WiM NSW will be joined by a star panel of women in sports media:
Ann Odong, Media and PR Manager at Football Australia
Abbie, founder of HERWay
Elizabeth Wright, ABC sports journalist, Paralympic medallist
WiM supports those in need, should you wish to attend and require financial assistance, please email nsw@womeninmedia.com.au
Siren is now on Patreon!
We have a Patreon! And we’ll be adding some cool things for our Patreon supporters over 2024 so if you can, sign up now!
Funds from our Patreon go towards:
commissioning and paying writers and content creators
running our Emerging Sports Writer Programs
creating opportunities for women and non-binary folk in sports media
The support of the Siren community has facilitated that work and helped support those commissions and opportunities and we can’t thank you enough.
You can become a Patron of Siren today and help us continue to challenge the status quo of sports media.
