Our women's side has a lot of work to do next season in covering for one of the up and coming superstars in the AFLW, Sabrina Duffy. She was playing incredible footy in the WAFLW leading Peel to a premiership last week and earning BOG honours having moved into the midfield this season.
However her work/football balance has been a rough ride and
she's not going to be able to play next season. It's a big blow for our prospects in 2022 but I wish her all the best in her new role and my fingers are crossed she'll make a return the following year.
It's a tough gig for the women trying to manage a job outside of footy and the demands both on and off field of playing AFLW that the men don't have to face. While the game may be struggling financially due to covid, there are currently plenty of far worse uses of AFL $$$ than paying women's footballers a better wage so they have the option of being a full time professional footballer. It may not be the case in this instance with Duffy where I have no doubt she enjoys her job outside of football but it would make things far easier for those playing AFLW if they have a secure income in football. I hope we get to that point soon.