Sarah Guiney

Carlton defeated St Kilda 9.12 (66) to 6.4 (40) in the first AFLW regular-season match played at Marvel Stadium as part of a women’s and men’s double-header. Despite initially sparse lower-level seating, the crowd grew to nearly 18,000, bringing the familiar, inclusive community atmosphere of suburban AFLW grounds into a major stadium and introducing new fans to the competition. Carlton’s early control, Darcy Vescio’s performance, Amber Clarke’s goal and St Kilda’s late rally provided memorable moments, supporting the AFL’s decision to continue staging AFLW games alongside men’s matches.

The AFLW could grow its audience by adopting the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s bold approach to staging games in major venues and targeting women’s-sport fans directly. The PWHL’s Takeover Tour increased attendance substantially and attracted many spectators who had never attended an NHL game, demonstrating that women’s competitions can build audiences beyond the men’s fan base. By contrast, the AFLW’s close integration with the AFL provides financial security but encourages cautious decisions, such as relying on double-headers and existing ticket sales. The league should make larger stand-alone investments in venues, marketing and strategic ambition, even at the risk of short-term under-filled stadiums.

HiTZ Cricket is an autonomous batting simulator launched at Melbourne’s CitiPower Centre after being introduced in the UK. Supplied by BatFast, it can deliver more than one million programmed variations of pace, spin, swing, line and seam, while adapting to users’ characteristics. The system encourages batters to make genuine shot selections rather than anticipating repetitive bowling-machine deliveries, and provides field settings, live feedback, statistics and video replays. Its relatively low booking cost could make independent practice more accessible to returning players, social cricketers, elite batters and women entering the sport, potentially helping users rebuild confidence before joining a club.

Ice hockey is gaining visibility in Australia despite limited funding, scarce rink space and heavy reliance on volunteers. Melbourne’s O’Brien Icehouse Hockey Academy now serves more than 1,200 students annually, while adult “beer leagues” are expanding and women’s games are drawing larger crowds. Wider access to NHL and PWHL broadcasts, the Winter Olympics and the popular series Heated Rivalry are helping introduce the sport to children, young adults and broader Australian audiences, largely through word of mouth.

North Melbourne defeated Brisbane by 40 points in the AFLW grand final, winning 9.2 (56) to 2.4 (16) and completing the competition’s first undefeated back-to-back premiership run. Brisbane mounted a fierce, high-pressure challenge and threatened early, but North capitalised on mistakes and ultimately overwhelmed the Lions through its depth, accuracy and defensive strength. Eilish Sheerin was named best on ground, while established stars including Ash Riddell, Emma Kearney, Jasmine Garner and others underlined the team’s exceptional talent. The result concludes a three-year grand-final rivalry but leaves both sides positioned as contenders, while raising questions about the AFLW’s ambition in staging such a major match at a relatively small venue.

Carlton’s AFLW team has emerged as the momentum side of the finals after a dominant semi-final win over Hawthorn and nine victories since a season-changing win over Brisbane. The turnaround followed a major cultural and staffing overhaul after the club’s 2022 review, but the team’s chemistry, youthful energy and enjoyment cannot be manufactured. Led by players including Sophie McKay, the Blues have developed an entertaining identity that challenges deficit-focused narratives about the AFLW. They face an experienced Brisbane side in the preliminary final, but their confidence and fearless style could give them an advantage.

Adelaide Crows captain Ebony Marinoff and Brisbane Lions stalwart Ally Anderson are set to become the first AFLW players to reach 100 games. Their milestones will coincide with their clubs’ 100th AFLW matches and occur simultaneously in separate home games. Both inaugural players have never missed a game, remained with one club throughout their careers and helped establish winning cultures while mentoring younger teammates. Despite the personal achievement, both say their immediate focus remains on winning.

Former West Coast player Mitch Brown’s decision to come out publicly as bisexual is presented as a courageous act of solidarity with queer people in Australian rules football. His announcement came after the AFL delayed and reduced Adelaide player Izak Rankine’s punishment for a homophobic slur, a decision criticized for weakening the league’s supposed zero-tolerance stance. The piece argues that Brown’s example, along with support from players who have participated in Pride events or condemned homophobia, offers hope that the AFL can build a safer and more inclusive environment for closeted male players, while acknowledging that substantial cultural and disciplinary change remains necessary.

The AFLW’s first nine seasons have been defined by expansion, rule changes, shifting schedules and disruption, making adaptability a key determinant of success. North Melbourne’s undefeated 2024 premiership campaign is presented as the product not only of talent but also of resilience developed through years of competition, injuries, list changes and Covid interruptions. Sydney’s progress was accelerated by Chloe Molloy, whose season-ending ACL injury exposed the team’s dependence on her influence while also creating an opportunity to develop leadership and collective confidence. As AFLW enters its 10th season, Hawthorn, West Coast and Geelong aim to build momentum, while Sydney’s prospects depend partly on Molloy’s recovery and the team’s ability to apply what it learned during her absence.

Indoor skydiving uses 200km/h wind tunnels to simulate prolonged freefall, allowing athletes to perform dynamic, speed and choreographed freestyle routines. World champion Kyra Poh discusses how her swimming background, rigorous training and love of speed led her to the sport. The Australian championships in Western Sydney also feature Canberra-based competitor Jakob Kapelj and his seven-year-old daughter Alia, highlighting the sport’s family appeal despite the substantial cost and physical demands of high-level competition.