smh.com.au
Brisbane Lions' AFLW Grand Final Loss Doesn't Diminish Queensland's Football Boom
Despite losing the AFLW grand final, the Brisbane Lions' consistent success has driven a 133% increase in women's Aussie rules participation in southeast Queensland since 2019, alongside a 54% rise in youth female players and a 70% increase in girls-friendly change rooms.
- What is the impact of the Brisbane Lions AFLW team's consistent success on women's football participation in Queensland?
- The Brisbane Lions AFLW team lost the grand final, but their impact on Queensland women's football is significant. Since 2019, community participation in southeast Queensland increased by 133%, youth female players by 54%, and girls-friendly change rooms by 70%. This growth is largely attributed to the Lions' consistent success and visibility.
- How has the Lions' performance and visibility influenced the development of women's football infrastructure in Queensland?
- The Lions' consistent presence in the AFLW grand final has inspired a new generation of female players in Queensland, dramatically increasing participation rates. This success demonstrates the power of elite sports teams to drive grassroots growth, particularly in traditionally non-dominant regions.
- What are the key challenges and opportunities for the Brisbane Lions and the AFLW to sustain the current growth trajectory and further expand the game's reach in Queensland?
- Continued investment in coaching staff and resources is crucial for the Lions and the AFLW to maintain this growth trajectory. The increased demand for coaching time highlights the need for more full-time support staff to optimize player development and team performance. This will become increasingly important as competition intensifies.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the Brisbane Lions' grand final loss as a secondary storyline, emphasizing their significant contribution to the growth of women's Aussie Rules in Queensland. The headline and introduction highlight the positive impact of the Lions, potentially downplaying the significance of their defeat. The focus on the positive aspects of their contribution, while valid, might overshadow the disappointment of the loss for fans and players.
Language Bias
The language used is generally positive and celebratory, particularly concerning the Brisbane Lions and the growth of women's Aussie rules. Words and phrases like "exponential growth," "massive inroads," and "invasion" are used to describe the Lions' impact. While not overtly negative, these phrases suggest a dominance that might not be entirely accurate and could be replaced with more neutral terms like "significant increase" or "substantial growth."
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the Brisbane Lions and their impact on women's Aussie rules football in Queensland. While mentioning the NRL and potential AFL expansion, it omits detailed analysis of the NRL's current market share in Queensland or the specific challenges the AFL faces in competing with rugby league. The article also omits discussion of other factors contributing to the growth of women's Aussie Rules in Queensland, such as community initiatives or grassroots programs independent of the Lions' success. This omission could lead readers to overestimate the Lions' sole influence on the sport's growth.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat implicit false dichotomy by focusing on the rivalry between AFL and NRL in Queensland for dominance, suggesting a zero-sum game where one must succeed at the expense of the other. The reality is likely more nuanced, with potential for co-existence and even collaboration.
Gender Bias
The article focuses primarily on men in leadership roles (coaches, players). While celebrating the growth of women's football, the analysis centers on how the men's success and presence influences this growth. There is a relative lack of prominent female voices beyond Jasmine Garner's Best on Ground performance. More balanced representation of female athletes and leaders in the sport would improve the analysis.