Of course, die-hard misogynist and self-confessed Sam Newman was hostile to the AFL Women鈥檚 (AFLW) league infamously 鈥渦nbelievably stupid and ridiculous鈥 on Channel Nine鈥檚 The Footy Show.
It turns out plenty think otherwise.
The first ever match in the eight-team competition, held on February 3, featured from the 24,000 capacity Ikon Park in Melbourne to watch Carlton thump Collingwood. The response was clearly far greater than expected 鈥 the stadium sold out of beer.
Over half way through the initial season, the crowds and interest has remained strong enough for the AFL to reconsider plans on whether to expand the competition. AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said there was pressure for expansion from the 10 AFL clubs currently without licences to field a women鈥檚 team.
The Roar said on March 1: 鈥淔or now, the league is sticking to the original plan that the AFLW should stay at eight teams until 2019 at the earliest. But McLachlan is no longer adamant that will be the case.鈥
The AFL chief told the press club that day: 鈥淚鈥檝e had feedback that people would like to reconsider that [plan] ... all our clubs are desperate to get a W licence.鈥
Although it has taken the AFL until 2017 to launch a women鈥檚 competition, women playing Australian Rules football is far from new.
In Play On! The Hidden History of Women鈥檚 Australian Rules Football, published last year, Brunette Lenkic and Rob Hess wrote that women鈥檚 determination to play the game in the face of hostility goes back more than 100 years.
They say it was 鈥渞esilience in the face of indifference, ridicule, hostility and limited support鈥 that has won women their right to play the game.
On The Footy Show, Newman continues bashing away with sexist drivel. In one of his frequent misogynistic outbursts, on one episode last year he to 鈥渃ome get on your knees鈥.
It is a safe bet that, when the show returns this year, viewers expect to be treated to the full expression of his considered views on the AFLW, a competition that reported he admitted he didn鈥檛 watch.
But despite Newman and his sexist supporters, the women鈥檚 game advances in leaps and bounds 鈥 enjoying strong support from fans.