A new study suggests netball and basketball need to become more physically challenging to ensure it doesn’t lose players to women’s football.

A sense of identity, desire and thrill-seeking are the main reasons young girls engage in a certain sport.

Dr Sam Elliott from Flinders University tells Natalie Peters and Erin Molan the research will be helpful to sporting clubs.

“Girls… are seeking to express themselves in ways that are much different than previous generations.

“It is absolutely a significant factor but it’s no more significant than these others that we’ve mapped in this particular study.”

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Former netball captain Sharni Layton, who now plays AFLW, called in to tell Natalie and Erin each sport is special in its own way.

“Funnily enough, I found that my body pulled up so much sorer playing netball than what it did with football.

“Every sport has their pros and cons and they can all grow together.”

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