Let me tell you something that’s been gnawing at me since the AFLW season kicked off: the way Carlton dismantled St Kilda isn’t just a sports result—it’s a masterclass in how women’s football is rewriting the rules of what’s possible. I mean, 26 points? That’s not just a win; it’s a statement. And yet, the real story here isn’t the scoreline. It’s the context—the fact that this game was played in front of 20,455 fans, the same stadium where the men’s team would later clash, and the way it’s already sparking debates about whether the AFLW should be allowed to outpace the men’s competition. Personally, I think this game was a turning point. What makes it particularly fascinating is how it challenges the narrative that women’s sports need to ‘catch up’ to men’s. Here we are, in 2026, with a women’s match drawing more attention than a men’s game that’s been around for decades. That’s not just progress—it’s a seismic shift.
Now, let’s talk about the game itself. Carlton’s dominance was almost clinical, but what stood out to me wasn’t just their skill—it was their unshakable confidence. They led by 31 points at one stage, and yet, they still had to weather a late St Kilda charge. I find that incredibly telling. In my opinion, this isn’t just about talent; it’s about mindset. Teams like Carlton aren’t just preparing for games—they’re preparing for the idea of being challenged. And when they’re not, they’re left with nothing to prove. That’s a dangerous place for any team to be, but it’s also a sign of how far they’ve come. What many people don’t realize is that this kind of margin isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about mental fortitude. When you’re so far ahead, you have to guard against complacency, and Carlton did that. But what does that say about the league? If a team can dominate like that and still feel the need to ‘lock it down’ in the final term, maybe the competition is finally reaching a level where every game matters.
Then there’s the double-header concept. I’ve been skeptical about it for years, but watching this game at Docklands, I felt something shift. The energy in the stadium wasn’t just about the AFLW match—it was about the idea of women’s football being part of the same ecosystem as the men’s. The crowd numbers were staggering, and I can’t help but think: what if we stopped treating women’s sports as an afterthought? What if we gave them the same billing, the same marketing, the same urgency? From my perspective, the double-header isn’t just a logistical experiment—it’s a cultural test. If we can sell out a stadium for a women’s match, why not make it the centerpiece of the day? A detail that I find especially interesting is how the men’s game was framed as the ‘main event,’ even though the women’s match had just finished. That’s not just a scheduling choice—it’s a hierarchy. And that hierarchy needs to be questioned. What this really suggests is that the AFLW isn’t just fighting for visibility; it’s fighting for respect. And if the league wants to grow, it needs to stop apologizing for its existence.
Let’s not forget the players. Poppy Scholz, with her four straight goals, wasn’t just a standout—she was a force of nature. But what’s more impressive is how she managed to do it while carrying the weight of expectations. Young athletes in women’s sports are often asked to be both warriors and role models, and Scholz embodied that perfectly. Her performance wasn’t just about scoring; it was about proving that the next generation isn’t just here to fill seats—they’re here to redefine what’s possible. And then there’s the St Kilda fightback, which raises a deeper question: why do we always expect underdogs to rise? The Saints’ late charge was thrilling, but it also highlighted a problem. When teams are forced to play catch-up, they often rely on emotion rather than strategy. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s also a reminder that in the AFLW, the gap between the top teams and the rest is still vast. If we want parity, we need to invest in development programs that don’t just focus on the elite but on building a sustainable pipeline of talent. Otherwise, we’ll keep seeing the same teams dominating year after year.
Finally, let’s talk about the future. This game was a snapshot of where women’s football is now, but it’s also a blueprint for where it could go. If the AFLW can continue to draw crowds like this, it’s not a stretch to imagine a world where women’s matches are the highlight of the weekend, not the footnote. But to get there, we need to stop asking ‘how can we make women’s football more like men’s?’ and start asking ‘what can women’s football teach men’s?’ Because the truth is, the women’s game isn’t just catching up—it’s leading the way. And if we don’t recognize that, we’ll miss the chance to build something truly revolutionary.
