Offtopic/fun » was not in the starting lineup for the 17h time

Sue Alberti played Australian football as a girl, but around 15 years of age her father decided it was too dangerous for her. In any event, she was quickly running out of places to play. It is a story that is all too familiar.Albertis love of the game never diminished, and she became a central figure within the push for more womens football. Success in business followed, and there is a story of her attending a womens game, learning the clubs finances were threadbare, and writing a cheque for $Aus250,000 on the spot. Needless to say, the players and staff were stunned; like so many they had belted their heads against the brick wall of indifference about womens footy for so long.She became vice-president of Western Bulldogs in the AFL, not to mention her roles as managing director of the Dansu Group, chair of her own medical research foundation, and director of various other organisations. It is for people such as Alberti for whom this weekend, devoid of AFL finals as the league trials a post-season bye, is important.Thats because Melbourne and the Bulldogs are playing an exhibition womens game at Whitten Oval on Saturday night that is the teaser before the AFLs brand new national womens league starts in March, 2017. The teams are not relevant -- both Melbourne and the Bulldogs have drawn in some of the best players from around the country in an all-star concept -- but the Demons and Dogs have been front-runners in the push for a national womens league.Channel Seven, the AFLs broadcast partner, is showing the game live and it will be live-streamed, too, which will provide another sample of the publics appetite for the womens game. Previous experience suggests there is substantial interest: When Seven showed last years exhibition game between the same teams it out-rated the Adelaide vs. Essendon AFL match shown the previous day, with about 300,000 viewers nationally. It was the first ever live broadcast of a womens match but certainly not the last.Within a few months, the likes of Alberti were at the MCG to hail the announcement of the new national league to start next year, including teams from Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs. The AFL has the financial muscle to make it work, of course, and other sports with many women participants ought to be fearful; already there are indications of young, athletic women crossing over to the indigenous game. The fact there will be payment of players and in particular, two marquee players for each club, only adds to that feeling.Interestingly it is a fix done from the top, rather than beneath. The AFL is starting the project by building a high-level league for players to aspire to play in; yet surely there needs to be much work done at the grassroots to offer opportunities for players in the first place. This is a work in progress.But in a short time the momentum has gathered, and the likes of Daisy Pearce, Melbournes brilliant on-ball player, and Moana Hope, the champion full-forward from St Kilda Sharks who kicked more than a century of goals this season and recently signed to play with Collingwood in the national league, have grown profiles. The new league will only add to this.Fifty percent of AFL crowds are women and girls. Plainly the game has been loved by females for as long as it has been played. The formation of a high-end national league is not only welcome but overdue; frankly, it makes you wonder why it took so long to happen.Mike Clevinger Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Willie Mays Hayes Jersey . 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Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history.PITTSBURGH -- Jayson Werths wide grin belied the fact that the Washington Nationals right fielder is an old hand at clubhouse celebrations, having played on eight division-winning teams during his 14-year big league career.Werths latest crown came Saturday night when the Nationals clinched their third National League East title in five years, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 behind 5 1/3 scoreless innings from rookie reliever Reynaldo Lopez.Its never gets old, Werth said. Never.Stephen Drews two-run single capped a three-run first inning for the Nationals, who return to the postseason after a one-year absence. Their win ensured a playoff berth, and they won the division about 20 minutes later when the second-place New York Mets lost to Philadelphia.Its such a hard thing to accomplish, Werth said. You spent six months trying to do it. Its why you go to spring training early, so you can do everything possible to put yourself in positon to win the division.The Nationals won the division in Dusty Bakers first season as manager. He replaced Matt Williams, who fired following a 2015 season that began with high hopes of Washington reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history.Baker had been out of the game for two years after being fired by the Cincinnati Reds following the 2013 season, four days after they lost to the Pirates in the NL wild card.Thats what I came here for, Baker said, standing in a corner of the clubhouse and watching his players celebrate. Im telling you -- let these young men have a great time tonight, back to work tomorrow. First step in a four-step process. This step is the hardest to get. Im just so happy for these guys. I love them. I love this team.Lopez (4-3) came on to the start the bottom of the fourth inning with a 6-1 lead and allowed three hits while striking out five and walking one. He was removed a runner on first and one out in the ninth inning.He was really impressive, Werth said. We still have some questions about our roster going into the postseason. Hes a great talent and if he pitches like he did tonight he can really help us.Marc Rzepczynski and BBlake Treinen got one out each to end the game, and a pocket of Nationals fans behind the visiting dugout cheered.ddddddddddddJoe Ross allowed one run and five hits over 2 2/3 innings in his second start since missing 2 1/2 months with right shoulder inflammation.Drews single came after Bryce Harpers sacrifice fly. Harper also drove in a run with a grounder during a three-run fourth that included three errors and increased the Nationals lead to 6-1. Jayson Werth hit into a run-scoring forceout and Anthony Rendon had a sacrifice fly.Wilson Ramos had three hits for the Nationals, and Drew and Werth added two each.Pittsburgh lost for the just the third time in 10 games but fell four games out of the second NL wild card with eight games remaining.Rookie Josh Bell homered in the third.Ivan Nova (12-8) lost his second straight start, giving up six runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in four innings. He had gone 5-0 in his first eight starts after being acquired from the New York Yankees on Aug. 1 in a trade.I thought he was getting into a nice spot going into the fourth inning and we more or less took him out of the game with our defense, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: Drew was taking the place of 2B Daniel Murphy (strained glute), who did not start for the sixth game in a row.Pirates: RF Gregory Polanco (facial bruise) sat out a day after being injured while running in the fence while chasing a fly ball. . LF Starling Marte (back strain) was not in the starting lineup for the 17h time in the last 18 games. . SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm discomfort) did not start for a third consecutive game.UP NEXTNationals: Rookie RHP A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.68 ERA) will start Sunday in the finale of the three-game series.Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-2, 4.11) will make his third career start and first since July 23. The rookie was placed on the disabled list the following day with shoulder inflammation and has made three relief appearances since being activated Aug. 28. ' ' '