- Published:
- Friday 3 February 2017
The Andrews Labor Government has supported League of Her Own, a documentary telling the historic story behind the Women’s Australian Football League and the athletes and trailblazers who made it happen.
League of Her Own will air at 9.45pm tonight on national television following the inaugural Women’s AFL match, which will see rivals Carlton and Collingwood compete at Ikon Park.
The Labor Government has provided $25,000 to capture this significant moment in Victorian sporting history.
Seeing women and girls play sport inspires the next generation of girls and reinforces the strength and value of women’s athletic abilities. Despite this, women receive only seven per cent of total television sports coverage.
This lack of media coverage is at odds with women’s athletic success, increased participation rates, and the public’s growing interest in women’s sport.
Last year’s Women’s All-Stars Game between the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Football Club was the highest rating Saturday night AFL game of the year, watched by a national television audience of more than one million people.
The Labor Government’s Gender Equality Strategy recognises that sport is a core platform for change.
This complements the Change Our Game campaign, the 2019 target for State sport boards to comprise of 40 per cent women, gender equality programs in sporting clubs and making facilities more inclusive for women.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Fiona Richardson
“This documentary, and the presence of Women’s AFL on television, sends a clear message that women belong on the football field. Female athletes deserve visibility and recognition.”
“Elite female athletes do not receive the same media attention or pay as men. Supporting this documentary is just one way we are addressing this inequality by giving women in sport a platform.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“Women deserve exactly the same opportunity on the sporting field as men. We'll do everything we can to make that happen.”
Quote attributable to Co-Director of League of Her Own Angela Pippos
“Women’s AFL is more than football. It’s about equality, fairness and respect. It’s about girls having strong visible role models and it’s about elite sportswomen being able to test their bodies to the limit.”