AFLW 2020 kicks off with more than just football of importance | Kirby Fenwick

Opening-round results were forgettable for the expansion clubs but there was a significance that went beyond the final score

With four new teams entering the AFLW competition this year, inevitably the opening round focus would be on how they fared. The results may not have been what the newcomers wanted, but the first round brought more than just some tough welcomes – it also highlighted the very real impact of the season length.

On Friday night, Richmond and Carlton opened the season at Princes Park in front of a crowd of 15,337. But the occasion seemed to overawe the Tigers, who were touted as a team to watch prior to the season given their aggressive recruitment strategies. Instead, they struggled to convert and put no scoreboard pressure on the Blues who looked faster and stronger than last season. A bright spot for the Tigers was the first club goal kicked by recruit Sabrina Frederick who never looked like missing when she lined up in the final quarter.

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from Football | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2UyXOn8