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THREAD/ I've seen the @Siren_Sport crew and other #AFLW fans are frustrated that there's no way to view this weekend's @aflwomens practice matches.
Over this thread I'll explain (frustratingly) how that your ability to watch these games is just one click away from happening!
Over this thread I'll explain (frustratingly) how that your ability to watch these games is just one click away from happening!
First a disclaimer. Thanks to Julia M. at WARF Radio, we attempted to cover three of these #AFLW games (2 live, 1 mid-week replay). Clubs said yes, AFL said no (more on that soon). Please don't see this as sour grapes that *we* can't do it; rather we just want SOMEONE to do it!
Understandably fans cannot attend today's #AFLW practice games. Although Covid-19 safety is mentioned, it's more a logistical reason. So, only in attendance will be players, coaches, umpires, essential club match day staff and a camera person... wait, what?! 
A camera person will be there to get vision for both coaches and the AFL - should something need to be looked at by the match review officer. The vision from this camera will be recorded straight into the camera person's laptop at the ground (for easy post match distribution)
Now, during the 2019 VFL(M)/VFLW season, SRS camera persons would record all matches into their laptops, with VFL(M) matches then pushed via a private stream to Champion Data for the live calculation and publishing of stats on the VFL app.
In one of my many at the ground chats...
In one of my many at the ground chats...
with the head of SRS about how we couldn't live video stream the VFLW matches, he (Peter R.) pointed to the camera person's laptop and said (paraphrasing) "all I need to do is press that button, and the vision is live for everyone to see". Yes, technology speaking, that simple.
Both he and I could never get a straight answer from @AFL_House - who now run the VFL(M)/VFLW - on why these matches, in the age we now live in, could not be live streamed if everything from a technology point of view was already in place. So, back to the AFLW this weekend...
We (WARF Radio) got told we could only attend for reporting/interview/tweeting purposes. That only official broadcast partners can cover the matches live.
We absolutley respect that these broadcast partners pay $$$ for rights, but there is inconsitency in this policy with #AFLW.
We absolutley respect that these broadcast partners pay $$$ for rights, but there is inconsitency in this policy with #AFLW.
In 2017/18/19 we were permitted to cover these #AFLW practice matches. AFLNT also live streamed the Dockers v Crows practice matches in Darwin - in 2018 we were told we could do radio only (no vision) of the Dogs v Blues, but after our game, AFLNT video streamed the Darwin game!!
Also, over the last few years, community broadcaster JOY FM (despite not being an official AFL broadcast partner) were permitted to live broadcast the regular season #AFLW Pride Game. Again, not sour grapes, just explaining the puzzling AFL House media strategy.
Now some may...
Now some may...
say that Aussie Rules practice matches are not normally covered live. True, but with AFL House constantly looking at 'what the Americans are doing' to insert into our game, they missed that most American Football and Basketball practice matches are show on network and cable TV.
Now, if the official broadcast partners don't want to cover these #AFLW practice matches, and the AFL don't want other groups covering the games, surely Headquarters could permit the clubs themselves to produce the own coverage and stream to their own websites?
Again, it's...
Again, it's...
common practice in some of the major American sports for franchises (clubs) to produce and network their own TV/Radio coverage. As mentioned in this thread, the camera person and all the technology is at the ground already, it just needs to be streamed to the club's website.
And what about commentary, if say commentators were not allowed at the ground. As Australian soccer broadcaster @teopellizzeri showed, it can be done from home. During the Victorian lockdown, he live called soccer matches from Darwin! Again the technology is there.
As for...
As for...
commentators (a cost that perhaps the official broadcasters didn't want to take on), the @MakingCall program showed their are plenty of women just looking for an opportunity to practice and showcase their commentary skills.
All these #AFLW games today, just one click away.
All these #AFLW games today, just one click away.
