OPINION: Women’s footy final is not a curtain raiser

The concept of a curtain raiser is the event following is of greater significance.

So when the Great Southern Football League decided to fixture the grand final of the women’s competition as a curtain raiser to a round 2 clash of the men’s GSFL season, you couldn’t help but scratch your head.

Last month it was announced the second GSWFL season would be extended by three rounds as the game continues to grow after a debut season which exceeded expectations.

Crowds at each of the Friday night fixtures last year attracted the same if not more patronage than most regular GSFL fixtures where tumble weeds can often be seen on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

When it came to the women’s grand final between North Albany and Royals in May, there was not a spare seat in the house at Collingwood Park underlights

Cars were lined up for 30 minutes back to Ulster Road to try and squeeze in for a park around the ground and the crowd was as big as the GSFL grand final in September.

After a thrilling final which the Kangas won by the five points, it was expected that a fair portion of the crowd would stay and watch the men’s match between North Albany and Albany. They were wrong.

By the time the match started, those tumble weeds were back and by the time the game finished, most people would have been in bed.

With the women’s competition being a significant growth area for the game, this season coming has been extended and Centennial Stadium chosen to reflect the significance of the grand final event.

Perhaps the most important change which should have been made was actually acknowledging the women’s grand final as the main event and not a curtain raiser.