We live in undoubtedly strange times. There aren’t answers to many questions about the ongoing effects of the coronavirus at the moment, but one thing is certain when it comes to its impact on the AFLW competition.
“What we know is the footy community is strong,” said Emma Race during the ABC’s The Outer Sanctum radio show on Saturday morning. “The AFLW community faces adversity together all the time.”
Last weekend’s round saw the AFL take the unprecedented step of barring fans from games, following Friday night’s match between Geelong and North Melbourne. That match is now likely to be the last opened to fans this season; all others have been restricted to players, staff and media, leaving most to follow from their couches and interact with other fans not on the perimeter, but through their phones.
The AFLW’s online fanbase has flourished since the inception of the league and, through the likes of The Outer Sanctum team, it is able to connect and share experiences while still supporting from home.
The sense of community fostered through social media in women’s sport is special. It has given many fans a space to occupy and connect to others in an inclusive and celebratory way that has often been denied when entering the fan space of traditional men’s sports.
At the weekend, The Outer Sanctum led the charge, calling for people from the outer – the people they have connected to through their radio show and podcast – to celebrate their teams and favourite players. Fans came together to recreate the fun and inclusive experience of a match day experience through social media. It was a significant antidote to the worry and fear of the current climate.
The weekend’s virus-impacted round was not the first time these fans have rallied together in the best way. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the night a photo of Carlton forward Tayla Harris was posted, viciously trolled, removed and reposted because of the response of a unified and passionate fanbase. It changed the narrative and the course of Harris’s career as she leant into the moment to use her platform as a driver for social change.
While the photo signifies the power of a collective of marginalised voices, and the strength of community that exists in the outer of the AFLW, it still has significant challenges.
When it was announced that fans would not have access to AFLW matches after Friday night’s game, out came the trolls to use the space to provide sexist comments about attendance figures in the women’s game. This was not limited to anonymous accounts; high-profile figures, some who even hold public office, also chose to weigh in.
Harris has continued to campaign for more social media monitoring. She has indicated that, while her photo and what it now stands for is still a powerful reminder of the events that occurred and what was subsequently achieved through collective online action, there is still much to do.
God damn I’ll give up my AFLW wage to employ someone to monitor this, public bullying is a ripple effect to young people in schools and communities that lead to mental health issues and suicide. 2/2
— Tayla Harris (@taylaharriss) February 21, 2020
This space has the potential to become more vulnerable during a time of self-isolation and social distancing. It has been a sanctuary for many women’s sports fans, but it can also be confronting and dangerous with very real life impacts when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.
Sports administrators have a mountain of work ahead of them during this difficult time. Those in positions of power will not be envied for the decisions they are going to have to make, that will have consequences for thousands of people in their community. It might not seem important, but digital spaces will play a huge role in helping to keep these people connected and engaged. This presents sport with unique opportunities.
Fans are not going anywhere and will remain connected to the sports they love as long as they continue to be played in a safe way. Interaction with fans can keep the sense of game-day fan experience alive and thriving during this difficult time, but also keep their fans safe in a very different, but still very powerful way.
