Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has hit out at the AFL for their decision to tell AFLW coaches they should strongly consider playing a higher scoring brand of football.
The calls reportedly came from the AFL on the back of Friday night's season opener between Carlton and Collingwood, after neither side managed to kick a goal after half-time.
Lyon has slammed the League's call, suggesting they should be supporting the AFLW competition, and not try to manufacture performances.
โIs this an exhibition game or, as we have been told repeatedly since AFLW came in, will we treat these women and this sport with the respect it deserves,โ Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
โThey're professional athletes, they're competitors, they want to win and they're dedicating themselves to the process.
โCoaches are then required to coach in a certain manner.
โIf you want an attractive and high scoring game, legislate and take it out of the hands of the coaches.
โCoaches are going to be competitive.
โI agree it was ugly and that is a concern, but legislate.
โDonโt, after one round, go to the coaches and say hang on a minute, make it attractive.
โThat isnโt their obligation.โ
In making a call to the coaches, Lyon believes the AFL has prioritised the importance of scoring over winning games, which doesn't fit in line with the current competitiveness of the league and their players.
โYou canโt come out and say you want a competitive game and a professional league, we have Daisy Pearce telling us how much it means to her, and you got girls sacrificing so much,โ Lyonsaid.
โThen you say, hey hey hey, donโt worry about winning, just make it look good.โ
While high-scoring football is always attractive to spectators, Lyon understands almost everyone involved with clubs in the competition would prefer winning games, which would certainly be the main focus for teams at the business of the season.
โTen minutes into the last quarter of the Grand Final, what is the priority of the coaches?โ Lyon added.
โI can put one or two behind the footy and we win the premiership, or, well no, we want it open and attractive, therefore I wonโt.
โFremantle were playing the Western Bulldogs on the weekend.
โThe Dogs have kicked three or four goals, and rightfully so, Ben Dixon says Freo need to put one behind the ball.
โHe was saying the coach wasnโt doing her job because she wasnโt putting players behind the ball.
โWhere does it start and where does it end?โ
