With the news confirmed that Carlton will obtain a licence in the AFL’s inaugural 2017 National Women’s Competition, Blues historian Tony De Bolfo caught up with some influential Carlton women to gauge their reaction.

Judging by their responses, it’s safe to say they were over the moon that the Blues would field a women’s team next year.

VIVIENNE KERR
Carlton FC No.1 female ticketholder

  

“This is superb. I couldn’t be more pleased for the club and for women.

I wouldn’t say that this (a pre-eminent women’s football competition) has been a long time coming, but it’s the right time – and I say this because in the old days women’s football was never taken seriously.

But women have become more skilled at playing the game than in the beginning and now they’re really something. I’ve watched in awe at the women who play today and it still seems a miracle to me that they can kick, but I always thought they could with the right training.

I myself was a good basketballer so I had good evasive skills. I remember Laurie had a brother back from the Navy and we used to play ‘keepings off’ with a footy, and I beat them hands down. But I would have been better if I’d been able to kick and run. 

In terms of the League game I think women should realise men have paved a way. In saying that, and while I’m not a women’s libber, women are equal to men and I’ve always thought that.

I’ll be waiting with interest to see who wears No.11. Go girls!”

JO SILVAGNI
Television personality, wife of Stephen, mother of Jack, Ben and Tom

“This is fantastic for women’s football and for Carlton in expanding its brand. I don’t know what the statistics are, but there are a lot of women interested in and involved with the game, whether at a supporting level or, of course, a playing level – and now that women can play at a truly professional level is fabulous.

What this ultimately means is that the game becomes a lot more inclusive. Years ago females just watched on, whereas now the opportunity to play the game at the top end is attainable.

A lot of women I know would have loved to play. I myself, with two older brothers, was always surrounded by a football, and while I don’t know how good I might have been (and I wasn’t the world’s greatest kick either) I would have given the game a go. But with three sons, and still kicking the ball around in the backyard now, who knows? 

How big can women’s football get? Well, the sky’s the limit because women are really interested. The fact that we’ve be given the opportunity to participate at the highest level brings a whole new dimension and to be able to play for our proud club makes it even better.”

KATE JENKINS
Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Carlton FC Director

“This is a landmark moment for women in sport. For years, the AFL has been seen as a male domain, but the establishment of the new competition recognises the fact that women can be players at the highest level.

For Carlton, it’s the death of the boys club. Finally, we truly are a club for men and women.

It’s really important for gender equality that women are represented as footballers as well as administrators and supporters and there’s no question we have to make sure the women’s game becomes equally valued to the men’s. That’s not just going to happen with the announcement. It doesn’t mean the fight for gender equality has been won. But it is a significant step. 

I had two brothers and to fit in with them I took part in kick-to-kick in my childhood. At the time it never occurred to me that women would ever be playing football, but all that has changed.”

SHELLEY WARE
Marngrook Footy Show presenter, primary school teacher, Carlton fan 

“This ticks all the boxes. It’s a small step in the right direction for Carlton, which is such a strong club, and for the game itself. It’s been a long time coming, but you’ve got to start somewhere and well done to Gillon McLachlan and the AFL for driving it.

What they’ve done is awakened the sleeping giant. In my opinion, women’s footy will take off because the girls are excited the game is ready for them. A friend of mine’s daughter is 14 and now talking about football as a career path – and yet for me growing up, playing the game wasn’t even a thought because football was always male-dominated.”

TEGAN HIGGINBOTHAM
Comedian, actor, writer, Carlton fan

“I’m so excited that we’ve got a team in. This is such a monumental step forward for women in the AFL that Carlton simply HAD to be a part of it. With Collingwood also a part of it, Carlton people can now, as they should, hate their women’s team.

Though I used to have a kick with Dad, playing the game was never really a career option. How lovely it is to talk to a few younger women who are now legitimately thinking about it.

I also feel that the timing is right for Carlton because Carlton is now a different club heading in such a positive direction. At Carlton there’s a renewed sense of positivity, 2016 is a great year to be proud as a Carlton supporter, and the inclusion of a women’s team is the cherry on top.”

and how it used to be . . .

The late Myra McKenzie, from an interview in 2008

Myra was a participant in the first known match involving women representing VFL/AFL clubs (Carlton and Richmond), in what doubled as a fundraiser at Princes Park, Saturday, August 12, 1933.

“The whole point was to raise money for the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Someone thought: ‘What if we get two girls teams to play?’, so one team wore Carlton colours, the other Richmond.

My father saw the ad (seeking prospective female players) and said ‘You’d better get over and show them what you can do’, so I went to training and about 70 or 80 women turned up.

We had to train so many days a week. ‘Mickey’ (Crisp) and (former Carlton captain) Ray Brew, a solicitor, both coached us at the time and eventually they picked a couple of teams to play one another. This was the Monday of the King’s birthday holiday weekend of 1933. There was entertainment all day at the Carlton ground – jockeys were there, past footballers, a running gift and lots of things. A lot of girls play footy now, but in those days, no . . . not many could kick the ball and I was about the only one who could drop kick.

We played two 20-minute halves, it was very low-scoring and we won the game. One paper reported that we’d raised 10,000 pounds, but we raised more than that. It was a very enjoyable experience.

There was talk (of future women’s matches) but the man in charge at Carlton said we weren’t allowed to train at the ground and that was it.

One night after an annual meeting (then Carlton President) John Elliott said to a group of us that women don’t know anything about football because they’ve never played it, and a friend of mine said ‘She (Myra) has’. Next time I saw Elliott I brought the (women’s team) photo and he said ‘My God, you have’ and he told me to show the photo to the boys on the committee.”