I really can't get into wnbl this season. It’s so hard to watch. Just hope the Nbl shake it up when they have part ownership. Alignment of teams I want. If my NBL team had a women’s team, I’ll follow it.

I think the best thing would be for every NBL team to hav eit's WNBL team also. So for example Mleb United have the male and female teams and we have the season run together. Womens play first, followed by the mens.

So the Townsville women would need to move to Cairns?

It has been a tough WNBL season to watch, as the production quality (SD instead of HD) is woeful on TV, and the 9Now platform is just not great for live sports.

What I have loved is that some great young players have been getting opportunities, albeit, at the expense of top-line players moving to Europe.

I think we see a big step up next season under new ownership.

Hoopie, it is an interesting question. Townsville has a bigger population than Cairns and the Fire have had FAR more success than the Taipans so why would the "move" not be in the other direction? The whole idea is reflective of deeper issues and attitudes that are at the heart of the "problem" with the WNBL. Those who think that such an idea is a magic bullet are ignoring several key factors, particularly when they think that the AFLW can just be copied across to the WNBL.

The first is evident in your question in that the AFL did not have any risk in alienating supporters of an existing club. For this idea to happen in the WNBL, 4 clubs would have to move or disappear, 50% of the clubs. Even if this was a "one step back, two steps forward" scenario, could the WNBL survive the one step back?

The second is the money. The AFL is so far in front of every other sport in the country it is not funny. Even the NRL has not yet replicated the men's comp in terms of teams. When you look at the metrics in terms of attendance, memberships, viewer numbers and budgets, the AFL outweighs the NBL by a factor of at least 5 and up to 10 times in some areas. That means they can both afford to subsidise the AFLW, but also a low percentage "conversion" of fans still results in a decent figure.

Thirdly, we already have people complaining about the level of talent but now 25% more talent needs to be found to add in another 2 teams, not to mention any further ones if the NBL itself expands. All this while in direct competition for talent with the juggernaut that is the AFL(W).

Fourthly, how does running double headers increase the money? You might save a little on game day costs but how do you increase income? Do you charge more? Quite a few NBL teams are getting close to sell outs anyway. As a one off they might work for novelty value but not the solution long term.

The solution long term is one which involves a lot of work and patience as societal attitudes to female sport (unfortunately) slowly change. As long as fans constantly compare female sport to male sport, female sport is going to struggle. The simple fact is that elite level males will run faster, jump higher, kick further and throw further than elite level females. Basketball is a classic example. You won't see any slam dunks at a WNBL match so if that is what drives your fondness of attending an NBL match then a WNBL match is not going to get you as excited. It is why I would wholeheartedly agree with those who asked questions about the Ninnis appointment. Yes the sport is the "same", but the tactics are different enough because of those athletic differences that just dropping a top level coach in with no previous experience in the WNBL is no guarantee of success.

Tennis is probably the "gold" standard in terms of a "big" world sport that has a high level of equity so I would be doing a deep dive into fan attitudes in that sport before looking at the AFL. Why do people not make a comparison all the time between Sinner and Sabalenka? How often do you hear or read comments that Sabalenka could not beat my U-14 son? The AFL is big enough to withstand those attitudes and overcome them with sheer financial might and will, but basketball needs a more nuanced approach.

NBL Men/Women

Perth-Perth
Adelaide-Adelaide
South East Melbourne-Southside, rename?
Sydney-Sydney


Scrap Bendigo, move to Tasmania = tas men + women

Scrap Geelong, move to Melbourne = Melbourne men + women

Canberra gets a men's team + Canberra women

Illawarra mens + Illawarra gets a women’s team

Cairns, Townsville, possibly become nth qld something for the moment, playing out of cairns and Townsville

Nz or Auckland men + women



Down the track, possible cairns or Townsville split, geelong team with a new stadium and expansion in new areas like Wellington nz, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Western Sydney, Sunshine Coast etc

Where is all the money (and players) coming from? Very easy to come up with the plan Weedy, no effort at all required to come up with those combinations. Why are fans just going to come out of the woodwork? Even the AFL has a very low "conversion" rate, they just rely on their huge numbers they start with. Basketball does not have that luxury and so a different and nuanced approach is required.

I would make the rosters smaller, just 8-10 contracted in the women's + more amateur spots.

Then what happens when the inevitable injuries hit? Still does not answer the question about where the money is coming from. AFLW average attendance is about 7.5% of AFL and 7.5% of NBL average attendance would be about 530. Average WNBL attendance is about 1500 so already 3 times that. Just making female versions of current NBL teams will not in any way be a magic bullet. Why did Melbourne not pick up the Boomers license? You have the team going from Melbourne to Geelong and back to Melbourne, not the way to build fan interest or loyalty. You even hedged your bets on the Townsville/Cairns issue.

Cairns Basketball is currently working on having a Cairns WNBL team, even having a Taipans Girls' Academy now. Unfortunately the mens' academy fell away though.

Uprooting a team that just relocated a few months ago, and the team with the best attendance in the league, would be monumentally stupid.

Geelong putting up a better fight than I anticipated, but it still doesn't feel like they have a chance here.

Top spot secured for Bendigo. Now the attention goes on who gets home court for the Lynx/Fire semi and who will win the "lucky" dip and be Bendigo's opponent for that semi. Crazy that the Spirit finished the last two years with a winning record and recorded 5th and 6th finishes and now 4th this year will be at best a 10-11 record and more than likely 9-12 or even 8-13. Who gets 4th?

Can't wait for the Lynx to go over to Victoria and win game one of the grand final, have a close game two all but won before missing a couple of free throws late, then go back to Victoria and get absolutely smashed in game three.