We need to start giving women's sport the respect it deserves

Recently, while quietly relishing a Central Otago pinot noir and waiting for my duck, asparagus, blue cheese and baby beet salad to arrive, I found myself watching some awesome telly. Awesome because it was a team of talented Aussies dishing it to a bunch of northern hemisphere hopefuls in the way only us Aussies can – fast, merciless and super skilled.

Was it our boys giving the Poms a batting lesson? Nup. Perhaps the mighty Kookaburras taking the Dutch for a spin around the car park? Nope, not them either. It was our women's rugby union team – the Wallaroos, my new collective girl-crush – showing the Welsh girls how it should be done in a 25-3 caning during the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

It was fast. It was brilliant. It was beyond entertaining. (And I know very little about rugby union, I hasten to add.) Seriously, it was one of the most exciting games I've seen: massive hits, stirring aggression at the breakdown (not sure what that means, but I'll go with it) and ferocious tackles with scant regard for personal well-being. These girls are weapons!

Which brings me to my point – women's sport is amazing, yet we still don't seem to see enough of it. I don't actually know what percentage of televised sport in Australia is devoted to women's sport, but I'm here to tell you it's not enough!

For too long we have looked at women's sport through the prism of the male version. That's not what it's about. It's about incredible athletes who are passionate and strong. Who ignore what their gender happens to be. And as a girl who knows all too well what a tough training session is, I have just one word for the Wallaroos: respect.

Michelle's tip
The best way to support women's sport? Watch it! With friends!