Hawthorn AFLW coach Bec Goddard has challenged the sport’s greatest gamers to strongly think about uprooting themselves from their “comfortable little patch” to develop the league.
The coach of the fledgling Hawks says the broader AFLW taking part in group has a “greater responsibility” than to their golf equipment, claiming elevated participant motion will construct the competitors’s fan base and result in the higher pay and situations the gamers are striving for.
Goddard’s feedback come the day after Hawthorn landed a serious blow on 2022 grand finalists Brisbane, poaching former league greatest and fairest Emily Bates and All-Australian ahead Greta Bodey on the second day of the league’s Priority Signing Period.
The PSP interval has additionally seen Sydney nab star Collingwood ahead Chloe Molloy, whereas Port Adelaide has recruited All-Australian Ashleigh Woodland from the Crows and is near signing Fremantle defender Janelle Cuthbertson.
The concessions for the competiton’s enlargement sides have angered followers of groups dropping their greatest gamers for little compensation, however Goddard stated “movements like these have to happen” for the league to develop.
“It’s for the future of not just the women already in the competition, but the future of the competition,” Goddard stated.
“If it’s going to be better commercially, if these players want to earn more money into the future, if we want to grow the fan base, and you know, talk about that big word of equality, then movements like these have to happen.”
The hole between the competitors’s prime sides and groups launched in later seasons can solely shut if extra gamers transfer, Goddard stated.
“There is a little bit of responsibility on the collective playing group to look at this and go, ‘Well, they’re asking for more money, they’re asking for a new CBA … how can I contribute to that as well?’” Goddard stated.
“Is just staying in my comfortable little patch of grass the right thing to do? Maybe there is a greater responsibility for the players in the competition.
“That’s not the job of all players … but I feel we’re in a really privileged position at Hawthorn that we’ve got two amazing women that have wanted to expand, look after their future and see the competition for what it is as well as look after themselves.”
Source: www.news.com.au
