A women’s AFL match out-rated the men’s last weekend. Miracles do happen.

A massive win for women’s sport.

We could be seeing a lot more women’s football on live TV soon, judging by this weekend’s ratings.

The first live broadcast of a women’s AFL game on Sunday was a massive success, drawing more viewers than the Adelaide v Essendon men’s AFL game on Saturday.

The women’s game between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs had an average audience in Melbourne of 175,000, compared to the 114,000 people who watched Essendon’s thrashing.

Seven Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin said the number of viewers of the women’s game – which peaked at 501,000 and averaged 301,000 nationally – meant there could be more shown next season, Fairfax Media reports.

“We were happy to play a role in this historic first and are rapt with the ratings and for all of those who made it possible,” Mr Martin said.

There was some disappointment among supporters after the hotly-contested game was shortened by 90 seconds in the final quarter to ensure the men’s teams could start their match on time.

In a previous interview with Mamamia, Western Bulldogs captain Steph Chiocci said the women would love to have a national league by 2017.

The win for women’s sport came in the same week the Opal’s qualified for the Rio Olympics, the Diamonds won the Netball World Cup AND the Southern Stars edged closer to winning the Ashes.

There are currently 195,000 female participants in AFL.

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