The Outer Sanctum

This week, Nic, Julia and Shelley discuss the continuing fallout from Adelaide’s 2018 pre-season camp following revelations from Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins, unpacking notions of secret keeping, toxic masculinity, and the dangers of “bush psychology”. Rana talks with eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, about the commission’s work with the AFL in reducing online abuse and raising aw...

The top eight is starting to take shape and there is as much going on off-field as there is on the ground. Emma, Lucy and Rana discuss how genuine cultural change takes more work than performative gestures, how sponsorship can undercut other club values, and what might derail Tasmania's bid for an AFL licence. And how will you share the love between AFLW teams? Rana has some great tips to help nav...

After a thrilling weekend of footy, Emma, Lucy and Tess debate what makes a person 'clutch', whether Jack Ginnivan is being unfairly targeted and what the appropriate vessel would be for the grand final parade on the Yarra River. Plus: animals at the footy and a VERY special announcement. Show notes We mentioned the Dollop podcast (which is hilarious). The small clip we played came from this episo...

It's been a huge week in the west, with a new mascot joining the manor. We welcome them into the fold and critically assess the fashion prowess of three of their counterparts. Going around the grounds, we venture to Jurassic Park, where clickbait culture treats women's accomplishments as fodder for gossip and derision, and old-fashioned masculinities as the idealised norm. You can follow The Outer...

Four new teams are joining the AFLW in season seven so let's get to know the coaches. Lauren Arnell is the coach of the inaugural Port Adelaide AFLW team. She caught up with Julia Chiera and spoke about her appointment to the senior role, what she's discovered about the footy world and herself along her three state footy journey and the importance of mentorship. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on...

Four new teams are joining the AFLW in season seven so let's get to know the coaches. Lucy speaks to Sydney Swans AFLW head coach Scott Gowans. He talks about the role club culture played in his move to the Swans, his approach to building the list and development pathways on and off the field. They also speak about rivalries, and raise the idea of some new competition in unexpected areas. You can...

Four new teams are joining the AFLW in season seven so let's get to know the coaches. Julia catches up with the coach of the inaugural Essendon team, Natalie Wood. She talks about her playing and coaching journey, how to rally a brand new team, building an impressive list and her hopes for a big round one match up. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email...

Four new teams are joining the AFLW in season seven so let's get to know the coaches. First, Emma catches up with Bec Goddard. Bec is no stranger to the Outer Sanctum and to women's footy, having coached Adelaide to a premiership in AFLW season one. She's back and this time she's coaching at Hawthorn, the club she grew up loving. She tells us about her memories of Waverley Park, her development an...

Tess, Julia and Kate ask what the fight between Melbourne players says about masculinity, mental health and club culture, and consider the debate around the AFL's illicit drug policy, with guidance from Dr Annie Madden AO. Plus we offer up a special edition of omen watch and ask which footy song you'd bring back if you had the chance. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Fac...

Emma, Julia and Rana look ahead to a seventh AFLW season and unpack the fast evolution of the league. In a game of Kiss, Marry, Dump, the team consider what they love about the competition and what they're happy to let go of. Plus, AFLW powerhouse Isabel Huntington talks about her new appointment to the AFLPA board, her life outside footy and a potential future in sports administration. You can fo...

This week, as debate raged about who should take responsibility for the welfare of retired footballers, yet another mass shooting in the United States saw sporting figures and clubs taking matters into their own hands. Over at Wimbledon, we ask if the call for athletes to use their platform can go too far. Player movements are afoot in the AFLW with expansion signings, the draft and trade period....

There's a new CBA for AFLW Season 7 and there's a lot to celebrate about it. Rana caught up with Paul Marsh from the AFLPA to discuss how the deal was done. And following the election we ponder the parallels between politics and sport, what we can learn from the success of the independents and do we need footy's first referendum? You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook...

In the lead-up to the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, we reflect on its power and significance. We unpack the recent debate about aggression in footy, and consider current interpretations of the 50m penalty. Finally, we talk to Collingwood AFLW star, Sabrina Frederick, about the impact the uncertainty surrounding the CBA and Season 7 is having on players and their families. SHOW NOTES Lauren Wood on wher...

It's been a huge week in international politics, with the rights of pregnant people coming under renewed attack in the USA. What will this development mean for sport? Closer to home, with an election looming, we consider election omens and make our own pitches for your vote. Plus, player privacy, an update on AFLW, and a new report into umpire abuse. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , I...

This week Nicole talks to multi award winning journalist Russell Jackson about the work he’s doing to give a voice to survivors of historical cases of child sexual abuse at some of our biggest and most beloved sporting clubs. CONTENT WARNING: This episode tackles difficult and sensitive issues including child sexual abuse and violence against children. If you or someone you know needs help or...

With the announcement that AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will leave the role at the end of the season, we do a temperature check on our relationship with footy and discuss what his legacy will be. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the K...

As we refresh and unwind after the AFLW season, take a listen back to some of the great conversations we've had this year. If you missed it, Rana wrote an excellent piece in The Age about the end of the Gillon McLachlan era and what leadership the AFL might look to going forward. Read it here . Links to the full episodes from this week here: Craig Starcevich and Trent Cooper Hayley Miller Michael...

That's a wrap on AFLW season six. We celebrate the Crows big win, deal with breaking trade bombshells and ponder what comes next for the competition. Rana wrote about the Crows dynasty for the Guardian this week - read it here . You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the la...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - AFLW Grand Final week. To mark the occasion and unpack who will win and why, we’re joined by two of the best footy brains in the business - AFLW coaches Craig Starcevich and Trent Cooper. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the...

We’re at the pointy end of the AFLW season, and as we count down to Saturday’s Grand Final, we review the preliminary finals and preview what’s to come. We reveal the inside word from the W awards, and consider the challenges of expansion and the trade season. In the melee we discuss allegations of racism from Cyril Rioli about his time at Hawthorn, and unpack some of the many issues raised. And w...

This week Lucy chats with Michael Willson, Chief Photographer for the AFL, about being on the SCG in the crowd to capture the incredible images when Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th goal. They talk about the anxiety, joy and privilege of working on the sidelines of the game he loves. And he shares his feelings about the images that have stayed with him, and those that got away. You can see some of...

This week saw jubilant scenes at the SCG as Buddy kicked his 1000th goal, chaotic scenes at the MCG as a fire alarm triggered an evacuation, and joyful scenes at the GABBA as Brisbane sailed into the AFLW prelim. Off field, we turned to the Oscars, and while women’s sport was being celebrated, an ableist "joke" and a violent response threatened to overshadow it all. Read what our Rana wrote about...

This week Nicole catches up with Felice Arena, bestselling author of the popular Specky Magee kids’ books. Specky is turning twenty and to celebrate, a 20th Anniversary edition has been released along with Felice’s brand new kids’ book, The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – about the adventures of a young girl who loves her footy, even though it’s war time 1942, and girls aren’t allowed to play....

The AFLM is back, and the AFLW finals are finally underway. An impressive Freo put an end to North Melbourne’s season, but in an unexpected twist, a journalist became the biggest story of the week. We consider how we got here, and where we need to go next, in a week that challenged us all deeply. Further resources and reading: https://youtu.be/xYUthwfkmcA https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/underwoo...

It's Finals Eve for the AFLW so Lucy called footy analyst, Gemma Bastiani for some good old footy chat. Gemma previews the finals, reviews the season, and makes some predictions. Enjoy the great work of Gemma and other excellent women in sport over at Siren Sport You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com The Outer S...