A young journalist’s view on the future of AFL media

Ever since I was little, I've loved football. Although I've never seen my team win a final or premiership (thanks Essendon), I have still developed a love for the game.

I love not only watching it, but analysing the game, working out team tactics, and my favourite - figuring out what that interchange card means and why on earth Hawthorn is holding up a picture of noodles with 30 seconds to go.

I've always dreamed of working in AFL media, writing about the game, interviewing players and building a career in the sport I love.

At the age of 18, I'm first year media and communications student at Swinburne. I'm loving the start of the journey, but this week made me question what that future might look like.

Kate McCarthy, one of the most respected Seven and Triple M sports commentators, revealed the constant abuse she receives online for simply sharing her opinion on football. Something her male colleagues are able to do without their gender being brought into the conversation.

What makes this hard to comprehend is that McCarthy is well-accomplished.

She played 42 AFLW games across Brisbane, St Kilda and Hawthorn. She was named an All-Australian in 2017, won Brisbane's leading goalkicker award that same season and has since established herself as a respected figure across television and radio.

Despite her impressive resume, some people decide to criticise her because she is a woman.

As a young woman deciding to work in AFL media, that's confronting.

McCarthy spoke out earlier this week on radio station Triple M about the trolls targeting her.

"There was just comment after comment after comment all about my gender and nothing to do with what I was talking about, and the way that football has changed and the reason it's changed is because women are in our game and it's changed for the worse," McCarthy said.

If someone with McCarthy's experience and achievements is still forced to defend her right to have her own opinion, what does that mean for young women like me who are only just trying to break into the industry?

The harsh reality is women's football has come a long way, but it still has a long way to go.

A male commentator can make a controversial call and spark a debate. A female commentator can make the exact same point, and suddenly the conversation shifts from football to whether she belongs there in the first place.

Passionate debate is part of the sport, but criticism should be about the opinion, not about the gender of the person who sparked it.

Kelli Underwood is another well-known name in AFL media, becoming the first woman in 2009 to commentate an AFL match. After being awarded an Order of Australia medal for broadcasting, she shared she had copped criticism just because of her gender.

Unfortunately McCarthy and Underwood aren't the first women in football to receive this treatment, colleagues such as Abbey Holmes, Rebecca Maddern and Caroline Wilson have all been criticised.

Commentators should be judged by knowledge, passion and the quality of the conversation, not by whether the person behind the microphone is a man or woman.

That sends a damaging message to young girls watching from home. It suggests, no matter how knowledgeable you are or how hard you've worked, your gender will still be used against you.

The next generation of girls, like me, shouldn't have to wonder if they'll be accepted before they've even started. They should only have to worry about becoming the best journalists, commentators and broadcasters they can be.

I still want to work in the AFL.

If anything, hearing McCarthy speak out has only strengthened my determination to be part of the industry.