Long the spiritual home of the AFLW, Princes(s) Park could soon be transformed from its current tired state to the ‘centre of Victoria’s professional women’s AFL’. It’s news that will be music to the ears of fans who could be enjoying the updated facilities as early as the 2021 season. The transformation is expected to include updated change rooms and amenities for the women’s league alongside a women's sports injury prevention and research centre and a women's coaching education hub.
As encouraging as the news about the upgrade of Princes(s) Park is, the news this week about the VFLW is not quite as rosy.
Changes seem certain for the 2021 VFLW season with reports that competition will move to align with the AFLW season. The Victorian state league would join the QAFLW and the SANFLW in aligning with the AFLW competition. The change would provide greater opportunity for players to play their way into the senior team, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Particularly about what any changes could mean for non-AFLW aligned clubs.
That announcement, however, was overshadowed on Monday by the incredibly disappointing news that the Richmond Football Club would not field a team in the VFLW in 2021.
What does this decision say about Richmond’s commitment to women’s football? And if the AFL let the Tigers leave the VFLW, what does it say about their commitment? There is simply no excuse for a club like Richmond, with all its resources, to walk away from the VFLW.
It’s salt in the wound of clubs like the St Kilda Sharks, Diamond Creek and the Eastern Devils who were forced from the state league in 2017 despite solid records growing and developing the game for women and girls. Julia Chiera of the Darebin Falcons shared this twitter thread about it all.
Women’s sport is not expendable. Not now. Not ever.
In this issue
Kirby Fenwick chats with paratriathlete Lauren Parker about the postponement of the Tokyo Paralympics and her plans to be faster and stronger for 2021. Gemma Bastiani caught up with filmmakers Alison Smirnoff (also Siren co-founder, what a talented woman!) and Bill Irving about their documentary, Kicking Against the Pricks.
We’re also excited to announce our partnership with Deakin University to provide experience and support to women who want to pursue careers in sports media and to introduce Brielle Quigley, the first Deakin x Siren intern. PLUS, our new Siren Collaborator, Rachel Bach, has put together something special about her journey in sport in her first piece for the By The White Line Diaries.
Last week Kirby Fenwick wrote for The Guardian about the precarious nature of the AFLW for athletes as players make defining career decisions for 2021 and beyond.
Kasey Symons is co-hosting this webinar on Friday morning with Rana Hussain and Dr Ryan Storr joining acclaimed sports writers Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson as they discuss their forthcoming book: Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Fan. Register here for the event.
Lauren Parker: “I can be better, fitter, stronger and faster for 2021”
By Kirby Fenwick
Lauren Parker is training better than ever and feeling great, despite the impacts of the postponement and of COVID-19. Image: Con Chronis/Triathlon Australia
While the postponement of the Tokyo Paralympics was disappointing for paratriathlete Lauren Parker, her focus is on being fitter, faster and stronger for 2021.
Back to our roots: Community clubs and Kicking Against The Pricks
Kicking Against the Pricks is a documentary about women’s footy, reclamation of the body and the feminist revolution happening in towns and communities across Australia.
Announcing Siren X Deakin Internship Program
Siren is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Deakin University to offer Work Integrated Learning placements to women working towards careers in sports media!
From Prague to the Pitch: how one conversation sparked a photography career
Rachel Bach, in her first entry for the By The White Line Diaries, shares how she first took her place behind the lens and found her love for football photography.
Halftime Huddle
As we hit round 7 tonight in the 2020 Super Netball, the Halftime Huddle are throwing back to when Sarah and Taylor spoke to Queensland Firebirds star, now assistant coach, Katie Walker. She speaks about the highs of being in a team, being omitted from the squad and homeschooling. Get her in your ears, she is a champ!
Netball legend Laura Langman has announced her retirement from the Silver Ferns. Congratulations Laura on an incredible international career.
And we think this tweet pretty much sums up the feeling in the Diamonds camp!
Germany’s Sophia Popov took out the top spot in the AIG Women’s Open with a stunning performance across the 3-day golf tournament. It was her first ever major title and came only a year after the athlete almost quit golf due to an ongoing battle with chronic illness. Just like Karrie Webb, we couldn’t be happier for the new champ!
In massive news for the WNBL, Liz Cambage has signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2020/21 season after the tough decision to opt-out of the WNBA season. Despite the circumstances, Australian basketball fans couldn’t be more excited to see her back at Dandenong Stadium where it all began.
We were very saddened to hear about the passing of cricket legend Wendy Blunsden earlier this month.
In lighter news for cricket, word on the street is that Ellyse Perry could be set to make a post-injury comeback in the upcoming Australia vs New Zealand limited-overs series!
While it remains to be seen whether the star allrounder will make it onto the field, we are pumped to see the official list of names set to go head-to-head with the White Ferns next month.
In case you missed it, earlier this week the ABC dropped the trailer for the upcoming Cathy Freeman documentary and it’s safe to say we are all hanging out for its premiere on September 13th and have the popcorn ready!
A big congratulations to athletics powerhouses Jemima Montag, Kelsey Lee-Barber and Jessica Hull for being three of the first five athletes named to the Australian Olympic Team!
Mary Konstantopoulos interviews Brisbane Broncos’ Ali Brigginshaw who gives beautiful insight into both the comradery and sacrifice of NRLW players.
Merch! Wonderful, women’s sports merch! Basketball fans rejoice and get around the latest drop of WNBA Logo Caps. We love seeing more items dropping, and maybe we’ll get some more accessible to Aussie fans soon!
Erin Delahunty weighed in on that controversy from Round 5 of Suncorp’s Super Netball, offering thoughtful insight into the future of the league’s dispute handling process.
The Melbourne Renegades were the first club to name their full squad for WBBL06.
True North Research looks into Puma’s partnership with the Melbourne Vixens and how they’re making the most of engaging with their audience.
Lisa Sthalekar was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame this week and this post from her just sums up why we love her so much. She’s so full of love. Congratulations Lisa, so well deserved.
Runner up
The only thing better than this video is Ann Odong’s description!
