Strong Is The New Pretty

By Suzie Miller

Directed by Sarah Giles

World Premiere Season
2026 Victorian exclusive

The celebrated Australian playwright behind sell-out smash hit RBG: Of Many, One and international phenomena Prima Facie and Inter Alia, Suzie Miller turns her extraordinary imagination to the birth of the AFLW in this world premiere.

In 2010, an official report into the state of Australian Rules Football recommended the creation of a national women’s league. Seven years and a whole lot of grit, passion and fancy footwork later, the AFLW was born. This is inspired by the incredible story of how the league went from a pipe dream to a sensation the sports world could no longer ignore.  

With her gift for finding the political in the personal and trademark insight and warmth, Miller joins forces with multi-award-winning director Sarah Giles (The Importance of Being Earnest, No Pay? No Way!). Now fielding a brilliant lineup of eight players – Lucy Bell (Appropriate), Amy Hack (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s Yentl), Amy Ingram (Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe), Edyll (Send Help, NBC's La Brea), Amber McMahon (Accidental Death of an Anarchist), Tara Morice (Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom), newcomer Nyasha Ogden and Contessa Treffone (Picnic at Hanging Rock) – this dream team writes a love letter to a game and a community.

It’s theatre written in mud, sweat, and belief. It’s not just about a sport. It’s about a revolution. 

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This play is a fictional imagining by the playwright of true events. It combines fiction with references to true events and inspiration from interviews and other sources, and reflects the honestly held opinions of the playwright. The play is not endorsed by anyone who developed or played in the AFLW or the AFL, and neither the AFL nor any individual team have sponsored, approved, or been affiliated with the development of this play, nor had any artistic input into the play or production.

Please note some marketing assets may feature Sheridan Harbridge, who is no longer appearing in the season. All current cast information is accurate as listed on this page.

Originally commissioned by Trish Wadley Productions.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.