The First Ever AFLW Pride Game Made History In More Ways Than One
The AFLW keeps kicking goals.
When the final siren sounded at Whitten Oval on Friday night, history had been made in more ways than one.
The match between Carlton and the Western Bulldogs marked the first ever AFLW pride game. Almost 9000 fans rocked up to the stadium in Melbourne’s west, many of them carrying rainbow flags or wearing pride-themed football merchandise. Both teams wore special jumpers for the occasion and ran out onto the ground through a joint banner celebrating the Yes vote in the marriage equality survey.
From little things big things grow! Great night for some rainbow footy action at the first #AFLWPrideGame ??✊? pic.twitter.com/Df7Ij4K05G
— Jason Ball (@jasonballau) February 23, 2018
#AFLWPrideGame Come On Blues ? @PRIDECARLTON @CarltonFC #BoundByBlue #aflwdogsblues pic.twitter.com/UNAGjdXz6p
— Shelley Ware (@ShelleyWare) February 23, 2018
.@bulldogprideau ? #AFLWDogsBlues #AFLWPrideGame pic.twitter.com/VeA4s4QF5Y
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) February 23, 2018
#AFLWPrideGame guernseys looking ??#RealStrength pic.twitter.com/WBmoqxSouf
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) February 20, 2018
Tonight’s special joint banner! #AFLWDogsBlues #AFLWPrideGame pic.twitter.com/vRvyBv2xjc
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) February 23, 2018
Pride game is pretty packed y’all ❤????? #aflw #aflwdogsblues #aflwpridegame pic.twitter.com/dChk2wZ6H5
— ? Justina Ashman ? (@justinaashman) February 23, 2018
My lovely partner @ColvinKate used to be a footy cynic, but now the Dogs have won her over with champagne football, yummy chicken skewers, nice beers and about three billion rainbow flags.
FOOTY FOREVER! #AFLWPrideGame #AFLW #AFLWDogsBlues pic.twitter.com/nmzMWdfJvI
— Jackie Lynch (@JackieVLynch) February 23, 2018
Even the umpires got in on the action.
Loving the rainbow socks, flags and guernseys! ?️? #AFLWPrideGame pic.twitter.com/Voo5a0BPmx
— AFL Women’s (@aflwomens) February 23, 2018
The men’s competition introduced a pride game in 2016, but in some ways this match might have been more significant. While there are currently no openly gay players playing in the AFL, there are a number of lesbian players in the AFLW, including arguably the league’s best player in Adelaide captain Erin Phillips.
When the AFLW pride game was announced earlier this month, Bulldogs defender Hannah Scott said it meant a lot to both her and her partner.
“There’s so many people out there that struggle through this every single day and it effects not just the person, but the family, the friend, it effects everything,” she said.
The sentiment was echoed by Carlton captain Brianna Davey.
“Obviously I’m a gay person myself,” she said. “We have the ability to make a difference, make a change and to really make sure people feel included and belong and I think that’s the point.”
But while both clubs were proud to be involved in the game, only one team came away smiling. In the end, the Bulldogs crushed the Blues by 73 points, with a final score of 86 to 13. It was the largest score ever recorded in the AFLW, as well as the largest winning margin.
Not only that, but Bulldogs forward Brooke Lochland kicked a massive seven snags, smashing the record for the most goals kicked by an AFLW player in a single game.
The previous record was four.
Brooke Lochland kicked seven goals tonight. Only one TEAM had kicked more than that in a game this season.
— Daniel Cherny ? (@DanielCherny) February 23, 2018
“#AFLW is too low scoring”
Hold my drink:#AFLWDogsBlues #AFLWPrideGame pic.twitter.com/EWdO9eeq6a— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) February 23, 2018
Still, I’m not sure she celebrated any of her goals as hard as she did this one that turned out not to be a goal at all.
“One of the greatest point celebrations” welldone ladies ?? @BonnieToogood_8 @AislingUtri @BrookeLochland #RealStrength pic.twitter.com/nJo2AcShMd
— Ellie Blackburn (@eblackburn2) February 24, 2018
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Feature image via Western Bulldogs AFLW/Twitter