A Moanna Hope goal kicking spree helped the Western Bulldogs to a comfortable victory over the Melbourne Demon's women's AFL team on Saturday night, but the real story is in the ratings the game got.One million viewers tuned in to watch the best 44 female footballers in the country do battle at Whitten Oval - with 387 000 in Melbourne alone - confirming the interest in the women's game ahead of the launch of an 8-team women's competition in 2017.Two of the biggest names in women's AFL were involved in the clash, in Moanna Hope and Melbourne Demons midfielder, Daisy Pierce. Pierce was a stand-out in a losing team with 12 kicks and 13 handpasses though it was the heavily-tattooed Hope that showed her dominance, kicking six goals in her team's tally of 91.Western Bulldogs club president, Peter Gordon, was enraptured by his team's performance, labelling it "spectacular and announcing new sponsors for the team."I see a future in which girls know that they can not only just watch the game and love the game, but play it at the highest level," he told Channel 7."They have the opportunity to play this game. For us, who have loved this game and love the Whitten Oval … to see it played at the highest level by these two teams — the standard's been spectacular."It's a dream come true, really. It couldn't be better," he said.It wasn't without controversy, however. The game trialled a series of controversial women-only rules, including a smaller ball; 16 players a side; two players inside the forward 50 at all times; and five players in the forward half following a stoppage.Upon being told of the special rules back in June this year, Melbourne midfielder Alicia Eva said she'd prefer if they just stuck with the traditional set, given that's what they're coached to play."I can see why the AFL is putting forward ideas because they want to make women's football attractive," Eva told AFL.com.au's Trail Blazers podcast."But girls are now coached to play exactly the same rules as the boys are, and taught the same philosophies.""So if [the rules] can stay as close to the AFL (men's game) that would be fantastic."AFL chief executive, Gillon Mclachlan, meanwhile, was forced to defend the initial pay offer made to female footballers for next year's competition. Entire club list's will be forced to fit under a $200k salary - more than $100k less than the average male AFL player.Mclachlan defended the decision, saying the WAFL competition was yet to sign a broadcast or sponsorship deal."At the moment we don't have any commerciality around the league," McLachlan told ABC Radio National Breakfast, admitting that the ratings had come as a surprise."We've got to start up, a complete start up, so we're investing millions of dollars next year in establishing a league."
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