Women's involvement in league

[salivor]

Just watching the AFL Grand Final coverage that they're showing us on this side of the ditch and I notice the involvement of women in the coverage from presenters to panelists.

I can't remember seeing a woman presenter, commentator, sideline presenter, footy show panelist (bar Wilson and her gender is questionable), you name it we just don't involve them in the coverage of our game. I think this just further spreads the image that league is a boys club.

Most sports seem to be able to do it, even the testosterone fuelled NFL manage to involve women in their coverage. I just wonder when if ever the NRL is going to become a little bit media savvy, surely there has to be at least one credible woman presenter/commentator/panelist out there?

 

[Mr Saab]

Call me sexist, call me whatever, but i dont want to see women commentating on our game.
It was sickening to see what ch 7 did to their coverage of the world cup of union by having Liz Ellis on the panel...i mean seriously....what the heck would she know about Union? I remember she would be talking about rucks and mauls. She is a bloody netball player!
Ok, Harragon and Fenech are not much better on the sidelines (when they do/did make the token appearance) but at least they have played.
I will say i do like Lana Birchell's Footyshow appearances on the Sunday Footyshow, but i dont want to see that go past that to any form of commentary.

 

[Nightward]

I think League has a number of problems with the general presentation of its image, all of which would be contributing to this.

More specifically, there appear to be a greater number of sexually violent acts associated with Rugby League. The AFL and Rugby Union don'tappear to be linked so closely with such activities, nor are they percieved to have a culture that either accepts or hides it as League is supposed to.

Now, I don't know the excruciating minutia of every situation, true or exaggerated there, but if any brand (be it sporting or any other) is percieved to have an issue like this associated with it, the odds of there being a problem grows.

If people in general feel the group they are part of (gender, ethnicity, whatever you please) is being treated with a lack of respect, interest will naturally ber quite low. If interest wanes, so too does the chance that there will be a presenter or journalist from those groups.

On top of that, we have the buffooonish antics of the NRL Footy Show on Channel 9. Cheerleader competitions, Lady Luck, the general stupidity displayed on the show... Ye gods. Talk about shooting ourselves in the foot...

I'd also point out that the AFL and free-to-air media involved with it appear to be putting in a much greater effort to be inclusive.

It could also be an artifact of the different media cultures involved; Fairfax/News Limited and Melbourne and Sydney are very different beasts.

EDIT:

As salivor said, there needs to be something credible about the person to make it worth doing. Liz Ellis was used because she was a known figure for other achievements, but clearly didn't know much about what was going on. Channel 7 Brisbane has a female sports reporter whose name presently eludes me, but she does know what she's talking about and can communicate it effectively.

Tokenism in any form is pointless. If you have to scream about how inclusive you are, odds are you're not.

 

[ocko]

the thing is too, most women on tv are simply there for their looks, not actual ability. most knowledgeable female sports journos are in the print media, where it doesn't matter what you look like.

 

[philstorm]

the thing is too, most women on tv are simply there for their looks, not actual ability. most knowledgeable female sports journos are in the print media, where it doesn't matter what you look like.

Ouch?

Not true IMO.

 

[This Year?]

Doesn't channel 9 have a sideline presenter???? I think her name is Lana Burchill (not 100% sure though).

 

[grouch]

Lana Birchall is part of Nine's Sunday Footy Show team, and she had sideline duties for a couple of Sunday games this year. When performing those duties I think she was a welcome change - she acted more as strictly a factual reporter, passing on info and doing interviews. I found her a welcome change from the half-assed experts like M Johns and Harrogan.

 

[coolumsharkie]

Spectators.

 

[Hellsy]

Doesn't channel 9 have a sideline presenter???? I think her name is Lana Burchill (not %100 sure though).

Jason Taylor's fiancee, soon to be wife

 

[ocko]

good old nepotism/despotism/rooting the right person- always a way for women to get ahead in life :lol:

 

[This Year?]

good old nepotism/despotism/rooting the right person- always a way for women to get ahead in life :lol:

That's a bit harsh....

 

[salivor]

Liz Ellis is manufactoring a panelist. With the thousands and thousands of women we have following our game, and the amount of women in the media, I just can't believe that we don't have one single knowledgable, credible female voice in Rugby League. I don't put Lana Birchell in this category and it's quite obvious that once you take away the script her knowledge of the game is quite limited.

 

[Bengal]

yeah, we need a woman somewhere, helps grow our audience, still, I think the afl boys are ahead of all codes on this one. I think most other codes are similar to us.

 

[ocko]

well said sali.

 

[wittyfan]

Ugh, the NRL doesn't need their own version of Samantha Lane.

 

[Mary]

Lana Birchall is part of Nine's Sunday Footy Show team, and she had sideline duties for a couple of Sunday games this year. When performing those duties I think she was a welcome change - she acted more as strictly a factual reporter, passing on info and doing interviews. I found her a welcome change from the half-assed experts like M Johns and Harrogan.

Agreed, though the only half-assed expert out there I reckon is the Chief.

 

[nqboy]

Debbie Spillane was fantastic for the ABC as their sideline eye on Saturday's match of the day back in the 80s. Cute as a button, personable and knew her footy.

I believe she blotted her copybook as media manager for the Dogs but not sure what she's doing these days. I agree that the ones they have these days aren't worth a toss or if they are, that's all they're worth.

 

[ocko]

I agree that the ones they have these days aren't worth a toss or if they are, that's all they're worth.

LOL!

 

[Lego_Man]

Most women dont have a clue about the game...and those who do probably dont have the looks to be fit for our tv screens. Sounds harsh but it's true...i mean even Ray Warren cant get his mug on camera these days.

On the other hand, if they could find someone competent it wouldnt take long to adjust. Here in NZ they introduced an Ex-Black Fern (the women's version of the all blacks) to the sky tv team after prettying her up with makeup and a nice hairdo. When she first started i was a bit sceptical, but eventually you get to the point where you dont notice/care.

 

[ocko]

i couldn't care less what someone looks like, if they know their stuff i like 'em. unfortunately tv is about style over susbstance.