Aussies rules footy has long been a boys club, literally and figuratively. But the introduction of the women’s league in 2017 heralded a symbolic new beginning - one that is reaching far beyond the field and into the heart of the Australian Football League.

An increasing number of women are joining the ranks of the big business that is the AFL in a range of organisational roles which traditionally have been filled by men, and this is opening up new opportunities for the next generation of players, umpires, support staff and administrators, and showcasing a range of exciting new career pathways for today’s young people to step into the AFL jobs of tomorrow. 

Kylie Rogers, General Manager of Commercial, and Tanya Hosch, General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy, are two women currently employed by the AFL, outstanding leaders and industry role models, and are both certainly making their mark on the game right now.

Prior to joining the AFL in 2017, Kylie was Managing Director of Mamamia Women’s Network, Australia’s largest women’s first digital media company, and before that spent 17 years working with Network 10. These days, in her role with the AFL, Kylie is focussed on creating a sustainable revenue model to ensure growth for the industry across all 18 football clubs and at AFL House, and she loves the diversity of her every day job.

“My role really varies day by day, from board meetings, team workshops and commercial analysis to the excitement of working with artist managers to select the talent for the Grand Final, or even working hands on with our event managers to bring a concept to life. No day is the same - and I love that about my role!,” she says.

In a different department of the AFL, Tanya’s role involves advising the AFL and broader industry on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, multiculturalism, racism, sexism, gender and gender diversity, LGBTQI issues and disability.

“My role is to enact policy change within the AFL and its community to ensure it is a more inclusive, fair and equitable landscape for all. 

I’m required to have a broad knowledge of the political, economic and sociological landscape of Australia to advise on best practice policy and initiatives for the league, while maintaining a focus on the growth of the game,” she says.

Tanya says the AFL provides a huge platform to address equality and fairness, something she is personally and professionally incredibly passionate about.  

“As an organisation with so many members and fans, what we do is noticed. So I get to see my advice take the form of action. It’s a wonderful place to be an advocate because sport is a powerful vehicle to drive change and impact others in a positive way,” she says.

Both Kylie and Tanya say having more women in leadership roles is critical to the success of the AFL, and more broadly our nation. 

“Seeing a woman working in a traditionally male dominated organisation, or in a role which is traditionally filled by a male, sets the standard to empower other females to do the same. It is the right of every woman and girl to be able to participate in our game, or work for our organisation, and I know the health of the code is better off for having a more diverse workforce,” Kylie says.

Tanya says being an indigenous woman in a senior role within the organisation sends a powerful message, too.

“Women being represented in leadership roles is vital to the success of any organisation as it not only provides younger generations with role models, but it sends a message – we all have a part to play and value to add. 

I hope the fact that I am an Indigenous woman on the AFL Executive adds to that importance, and that our community is represented and heard at all levels of the game. It is critical that when we look across the population, we see society’s balance represented at senior levels of leadership,” she says.

“When I started at the AFL, I didn’t acknowledge the significance of my appointment, but the public response quickly helped me to see that this was quite a big deal. As a football community we face many issues of racism, sexism and discrimination, and my role is to champion others and make the game a safer and more inclusive space.”

A major breakthrough for the organisation was the inclusion of women in the game six years ago, with the establishment of the AFLW. Since then, female football participation has boomed in Australia, rising from just 195,000 female players in 2014 to over 580,000 in 2019!

“AFLW has brought new fans to our game, allowed us to create a new career pathway for hundreds of athletes and it is the future growth of our competition. It has helped raise the profile of women in sport across the entire country, and all female codes are benefitting. The fact that young girls are growing up knowing they have every opportunity to play our game, or work for our game or other sports, is so important, and frankly well overdue,” Kylie says.

“Whether you have goals to work in football administration (football management, medical, high performance coaching or player welfare) or commercial, sponsorships, marketing, public relations, media, memberships … the opportunities that exist within the football landscape are endless.”

Tanya says the establishment of an elite women’s league met the long-held aspirations of hundreds of women “who had advocated and dreamed of this for many, many years”.

“Some were worried it would overshadow other women’s sport but I think the opposite has been true. I think all of women’s sport has been stronger and become more visible, and more celebrated. This is only part of the benefits to us as a whole society.  Whenever the role and strengths and success of women are highlighted in all parts of our world, the greater chance we have of improving equality for women and girls at all levels of their lives,” she says.

The AFL are proud supporters of girledworld’s Workplace Mentoring & Employability Skills Program - an online e-learning course providing high school students across Victoria with windows to the world of work, industry mentors and virtual work experience. 

To sign up your school and students for FREE access to this career education e-learning module supported by the Victorian State Government, please register here.