PEOPLE power is the key to ensuring the NAB AFL Women's competition can soon stand on its own two feet.
New head of women's football Nicole Livingstone has put the onus on the fans to come along for the ride as the AFLW prepares for the array of challenges on the horizon.
The three-time Olympic swimmer, seven weeks into the job, points to how far AFLW has come since kicking off on February 3 last year, notwithstanding some of the negativity it has attracted.
No decision has been made on when people will have to pay for the privilege of watching AFLW games, but Livingstone said that time was approaching.
It looms as the next major decision, with players already discussing the possibility of one day becoming full-time professional footballers.
"It's more me starting that conversation with people," Livingstone told AFL.com.au at Tuesday's AFLW season launch.
"When people are talking to me about the girls and their pay, part of that is, 'Well, it can't just be the AFL and corporate Australia's responsibility'.
"The fans that want to see women be compensated better for playing elite football – I need them to be involved as well."
Critics suggested the $2 tickets for the inaugural AFLW match at Perth's Optus Stadium on February 10 devalued the product despite all proceeds going to charity.
AFL.com.au surveyed all eight captains on Tuesday about potential ticket prices, with suggestions ranging from a gold-coin donation to $10 for an adult and $20 for a family.
"I've had many people contact me from the public and I'd like to get almost a citizen's gang together," Livingstone said.
"I had one lady say to me the other day, in reference to charging for tickets, that it should be more than a coffee and less than a packet of cigarettes – and kids should be free."
Sam Mostyn, the AFL's first female commissioner and this year's AFLW premiership cup ambassador, echoed Livingstone's sentiments.
"Hopefully what I'll see is big crowds. I'd love to see people come out," Mostyn said.
"(I want to) encourage people to watch games live, get out to every suburban ground and make this the great winner that it was in the first year.
"Prove the point that this is the most important thing we can do for football."
Pre-season talking points included the AFLW promotion, or lack thereof, ahead of the first bounce in 2018, as well as Channel Seven's decision to broadcast most games on its secondary channels.
The new AFLW App will enable fans to stream every match, and Livingstone said it was important the League was aware of viewing habits.
"I'm happy to see women's sport being broadcast. Let's actually be realistic about it; women's sport being broadcast is a rarity," she said.
"It is happening more now – basketball has re-secured television, cricket is on TV more as well – but it is a rarity.
"We'll also have the app and I think whether it's on Seven or 7Two or 7Mate, it still takes the sport to people."
Livingstone also defended the League's promotional strategy, saying it had deliberately centred on digital and social media in recognition of the new audiences it was trying to attract.
She was adamant, too, that they were prepared for the AFLW's next stage, as the advantage of being the new kid on the sporting block lessens.
"It may start to not be the bright, new, shiny thing, but then we'll start to create sporting history," she said.
"We'll start to create conversations about the agility of the girls and the aerobic ability of the girls and their speed.
"Those conversations will start to be the week-in-week-out conversations, like it is with the men."
