At the successful conclusion of the first season of professional women’s AFL two senior male, ex-player, commentators of the game publicly raised a some issues. I won’t offer my opinion on what they said. I’ll just quote them and leave you to make up your own minds about what they said. I will also raise the question of what the possible underlying motivations for such comments were. I have added a quote from a prominent female journalist who seems to have her own views of what lies behind the thinking of men who make disparaging suggestions after what seemed to most of us to be a very successful launch of a new professional sport.
What Garry thought
“I was worried and concerned with Erin Phillips taking out her two young babies, one in either arm.” – Garry Lyon raising concern over the safety of Erin Phillips’ twin babies who she took onto the field during post final celebrations.
What Dermott thought
“In that area I have heard of… and I hope it is not true…. I have heard of situations within that women’s league of grooming”. – Dermott Brereton claims unnamed sources advised him that the AFL’s women’s league was being used by lesbian women to “groom” women.
What Susie thought
“Why does it seem that every time a woman does something awesome there’s a man standing by to knock her down?” – Journalist, Susie O’Brien, took Lyon to task for his comments. I suspect she might have reacted similarly to Brereton’s question.
Over to you folks. What do you think? Comments welcome!
Perhaps Gary might want to view a full pre-game and post-game NRL televised game. The players often walk out with junior club players (usually around 7-8 years old) or they take their own young children onto the playing field. Are they disparaged or their behaviour commented upon? No!
What a purile comment to make. It smacks of grasping at straws in my humble opinion.
As for Dermott, well of course its all about sex for women in all sports Dermie, did you just get that email!!!
What does one say when you are scrambling for a quotable quote, something about sex of course.
Their lack of respect is sad, and one would pray atypical.