The group chat for wives and girlfriends of Australian Football League (AFL) players is often a space for shared anxiety and frustration during games, rather than the gossip and feuds outsiders might expect, according to Chloe Pink, wife of North Melbourne defender Toby Pink.
Pink, 26, shared insights into the inner circle of AFL partners on a podcast, detailing how the chat becomes a hub of emotion during close matches. "It's normally like, 'Oh my God, I'm so anxious! I feel sick!'" she said, describing the collective nerves when games are on the line.
When officiating decisions draw criticism, the messages can escalate. "It's like, 'F*** these umpires! What is this call?!' and, 'Oh my God, what is happening?!'" Pink explained, noting that such reactions are common when teams are under pressure.
Beyond the game-day stress, Pink noted that many WAGs are far more engaged spectators than often perceived. "We're a lot more passionate and louder than you'd think. Some of us, especially with loud personalities, we're yelling, we're screaming, we're like fans," she said. "I'm screaming and yelling and out of my seat. So I think that's probably never captured. People probably don't think that that happens. But we're like fans too."
.
Contrary to popular assumptions, Pink stated that the group chat is largely focused on organizing social events and fostering friendships. "Conversations are usually centred around organising lunches, dinners and girls' trips," she said, highlighting the close bonds within the North Melbourne WAGs group. She mentioned Courtney Darling, wife of veteran forward Jack Darling, as one of her closest friends.
The group has also organized trips together, including a recent holiday to Bali while their partners were away for games. "The boys played two games in Perth in a row, so we headed over to Bali in between," Pink explained. "We just had a little girls' holiday while the boys trained."
Pink actively dispelled the notion of widespread drama and rivalries among AFL partners. "All of the wives and girlfriends I know across the whole AFL, everyone is so lovely," she asserted. "I think journalists really hope that there's lots of beef between WAGs and lots of drama between WAGs, but there's actually not."
She likened the dynamic to that of any workplace, where occasional personality clashes are natural but not indicative of significant feuds. "Obviously there are personalities that clash, but that's typical," Pink added. "You've got 40 people in a room that you're forced to be there with."