AFLW has the brightest of futures but it deserves a vision after record-breaking 2021 season
AprApril 2021 at 6:43pm
AFLW needs to build on the gains the competition made in the 2021 season, which was capped off by the Lions premiership win.
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As retiring Brisbane Lions captain Emma Zielke walked onto the AFLW grand final dais to receive her premiership medal, she was greeted as per tradition by a young Auskicker. Good game, Emma. You re my hero, said the girl adoringly.
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The video has since been shared widely across social media because it encapsulates what is so special about the AFL women s competition.
Third time lucky for Brisbane Lions as they finally capture the AFLW flag A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Isabel Dawes of the Lions and Jesse Wardlaw of the Lions celebrate during the 2021 AFLW Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on April 17, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) A Set the default text size A Set large text size
After two previous heartbreaking AFLW grand final losses, the Brisbane Lions have emerged as the queens of the jungle this year, and deservedly so.
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The Brisbane Lions have won their first AFLW premiership, denying the Adelaide Crows their third flag in five years and ending the home teamâs perfect record at the Adelaide Oval.
In a re-match of the inaugural womenâs grand final in 2017 - which Brisbane lost by six points - the Lions were looking for their big breakthrough after finishing runners-up in both 2017 and 2018 seasons.
The Crows had never lost at Adelaide Oval in AFLW history, also entering the clash without their skipper Chelsea Randall who was ruled out with concussion. Inaugural Crow Angela Foley captained the side for the day, with forward Ailish Considine recalled for her first game since round six to replace Randall. Brisbaneâs side was unchanged.
A superb defensive performance underpinned Brisbane’s first grand final win on their third attempt, the visitors blunting Adelaide’s vaunted attack in a 6.2 (38) to 3.2 (20) win on Saturday.
Alexandra Anderson and Emily Bates led the way with 23 possessions each, player of the match Kate Lutkins, Breanna Koenen and Shannon Cambell were outstanding down back and Jess Wuetschner and Courtney Hodder kicked two goals each.
Catherine Svarc blanketed key Adelaide midfielder Ebony Marinoff, who didn’t have her usual influence with 16 touches.
Crows superstar Erin Phillips kicked four goals the last time these teams met but went goalless on a quiet day by her standards.
By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Dandenong’s Sunny has risen to the ranks of AFLW ‘mini-legendom’.
As part of the 2021 Mini Legends ad, the eight-year-old flicks back braided hair extensions in imitation of Richmond star forward Sabrina Frederick.
In recent times, the pair have hung out, kicked a footy, done media and recorded a TV interview together for AFLW grand final weekend.
Sunny was chosen along with lookalikes of Bailey Smith, Stevie-Lee Thompson, Zach Tuohy and Mitch Robinson in the latest round of Aussie Rules child-replicas.
It started with signing on with a model agency two years ago. Her father Chris Cooper said he thought it might lead to a bit of work in Kmart catalogues.