Saturday, September 22, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Perry's choice: professionalism and women's sport
Ellyse Perry is an incredibly inspiring figure. Her feats in representing Australia at both football and cricket are worthy of the highest praise.
Her goal in the 2011 Women's World Cup was one of the best of the tournament, and should be on highlight reels for years to come. Her determination and talent is, and should continue to be, an inspiration for girls and young women around the country for years to come.
Perry should be given the opportunity to continue to play both sports if she wishes to do so. But unlike Gerard Whateley, I also believe Canberra United should be given the opportunity to make its club the most professional organisation it can.
I went to all bar one of CU's home games in the past season, and I watched every W-league game broadcast by the ABC. I was among the 2,500 fans who saw our club secure its first championship, with a nail-biting win over a talented Brisbane Roar side, as the sun beat down at McKellar Park in January. Like all sports fans, I want my team to continue to be the very best it can be.
Like many Canberra United fans, I know a significant factor in CU's success this year was the drafting of Czech coach Jitka Klimkova, and the professional attitude she brought to the club. I know Capital Football has worked hard to entice her back for another season and that in return she's demanding a more professional outfit.
It's not "dismal", "selfish" or "unimaginative", as Whateley says. It's professional. Would it be dismal if an AFL club ruled out a player because they weren't willing to live in the club's home city or attend every training session? Or an A-league club? I suspect not. Why should the standard be any different for women's sport?
The next W-League season will hopefully feature two sides based in Sydney, with the new Western Sydney franchise promising to field a women's team. If Perry was to play for a Sydney-based club, it's more feasible that she would be able to attend all training sessions, and continue with her cricket commitments. If so, good luck to her, and the club. I have no doubt she would continue to excel at both, and the club would have gained a recognisable talent, which can only help to strengthen the league as a whole.
Canberra United recruited Perry when the Central Coast Mariners were not willing to let her continue with both sports. With a championship to defend, it's well within its rights to decide it needs a full commitment from all its players.
Remember, Perry ruled herself out of Canberra's semi-final in favour of a cricket match. I'm sure it was a heartbreaking choice, and she did so knowing she would be unlikely to be selected for the final. But it was her choice, and now the club is asking her to choose again.
As the club itself has stated, this has been an issue for some time. While it may have come as a surprise to some, it's not a surprise to those of us who followed the 2011-12 season closely.
Yes, Capital Football's Heather Reid could have expressed the ultimatum with a little more eloquence, but the request is not unreasonable. Canberra United and Jitka Klimkova should not be criticised for their decision.
Canberra United shouldn't be asked to "reconsider its place in the grand scheme of Australian sport". It should be congratulated for aiming to set new standards for this semi-professional league, just as Ellyse Perry should be congratulated for her incredible achievements on the football and cricket pitch.
To Whateley and all the others who have expressed outrage, I admire your passion, but don't forget the dozens of other women playing for Canberra and the other clubs in the W-league. They deserve your support too, regardless of whether they excel at one sport, or two. And if you do all feel so passionately about this, I hope I'll see you at a W-league game next season.
Naomi Woodley is a Canberra-based journalist for the ABC. You can follow her on Twitter.
Tags: soccer, women First posted May 30, 2012 15:34:57Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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Contact Sport - Friday 8 July
We take a look at the Tour de France, speak to cyclist Richie Porte, preview the Super Rugby final between the Reds and the Crusaders, review game three of the NRL State of Origin series, meet Australia's Paralympians and reveal how Ireland is preparing to take part in the International Rules contest.
Tags: australian-football-league, cycling, netball, rugby-union, football, state-of-origin, paralympics, australiaWednesday, July 6, 2011
Weekend listening - sport on digital radio
With streaming and digital radio, we offer you a host of listening options over the weekend, in addition to what's on your radio.
The deciding game in State of Origin 2011, Queensland vs New South Wales at Lang Park, is on air from 7pm. From 7pm on Friday night you can hear NRL with Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers at Parramatta Stadium.This coverage is also on Grandstand Digital but on Grandstand Digital Extra you'll find the quarter finals of the Netball World Championships from 7.45pm.
If you'd like an option to the sport, you can hear Anita Heiss on Evenings via 702 Digital and our stream, in Windows or AAC formats.
On Saturday, we'll have Grandstand on your radio from midday then AFL at 2pm with Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions at York Park in Launceston before 5pm when we switch to NRL and Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders at Shark Park followed by Canterbury Bulldogs vs Melbourne Storm at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide from 7.30pm.The same line-up is on 702 Digital and Grandstand Digital.
Grandstand Digital Extra has the semi finals of the Netball World Championships from 7.45pm.
Newsradio has coverage of AFL action with Gold Coast Suns vs Sydney Swans at Gold Coast Stadium from 7pm.
We have more NRL coverage on the radio from midday Sunday with the first half of Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers at Sydney Football Stadium kicking off at 2pm followed by Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval at 3pm.At 6pm we have The Road to London.
This same line-up is on 702 Digital and Grandstand Digital.
On Grandstand Digital Extra we have The Sunday Inquisition with its weekend sporting wrap at midday then NRL from 2pm with all of the Roosters vs Panthers match and the second half of the Sea Eagles vs Rabbitohs before we head on The Road to London at 6pm and then take in the final of the Netball World Championships.