Brendan Fevola says AFLW players outwork male counterparts after Richmond coaching stint

Brendan Fevola says AFLW players demonstrate a work ethic and hunger that he rarely saw in the professional men’s game, a view formed while working as a specialist coach with Richmond’s women’s program.

Speaking on the AFLW Weekly podcast, Fevola said his season at Punt Road has “literally changed my life,” adding that he has never been “happier or fitter” since joining the Tigers. He told the programme that while the team’s formal program includes three training sessions a week, many players use their allotted days off to do extra work on skills, recovery and conditioning.

"The biggest difference for me is they are just happy, and they want to be better," Fevola said. "They train three times a week...but many are in there doing extras on allocated days off." He also highlighted the gulf in pay between the AFL and AFLW, saying the women “are being paid peanuts (in comparison),” and that it will be a long road before some players command salaries in the seven-figure range.

Richmond announced in February that Fevola had been engaged as a specialist coach focusing on forward play and development. Club head of women’s football Kate Sheahan said at the time that the players would benefit from Fevola’s experience and energy, calling him “exactly the type of person we want involved in our program.” Sheahan added that his on-field resume and enthusiasm for the women’s game had made the appointment a positive for the club.

Fevola is a three-time All-Australian and a two-time Coleman Medallist who kicked 623 goals in 204 AFL games across Carlton and Brisbane. He said his work with Richmond has given him renewed purpose and a strong appreciation for the progress of the women’s competition.

His comments come as the AFLW continues to professionalise and expand, with clubs investing more resources in coaching, facilities and player development. While pay and conditions have improved since the league’s inception, Fevola’s observation underscores the gap that remains between the men’s and women’s competitions in terms of remuneration.

Fevola credited the players’ attitude as a driver of the game’s future growth. "The girls inspire me, they really do," he said on the podcast. He described the Tigers’ environment as one in which players seek extra sessions and embrace recovery work, traits he suggested are less consistently seen in the men’s professional ranks.

Richmond’s appointment of a specialist forward coach is one example among several AFL clubs that have increased investment in dedicated coaching roles for their women’s programs. Fevola’s public endorsement of the players’ commitment provides an internal perspective on the daily culture at Punt Road and highlights the role of experienced former players in accelerating the development of AFLW talent.

Fevola said he will continue working with Richmond and remains optimistic about the sport’s trajectory, noting that the commitment he has witnessed from AFLW players will drive further improvement in standards and results.