It’s an emerging social media sensation that started in Wollongong, and it’s paving a path for the next generation of women and girls in sports media.
Co-founded by UOW alumnae Tori Saros, the ‘Carlton Besties’ has amassed over 19,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram and is making waves across the AFL media sphere as a female-led content creation entity.
While the concept originated as a podcast, Ms Saros said social media has been crucial in creating a community and a platform for female football fans.
“There [aren’t] a lot of female creators in the AFL industry… and we kind of wanted to change that,” she said.
“Girls from Twitter, Instagram, TikTok [have] reached out and said, ‘you’ve changed the way that I look at footy’.
“Girls as young as nine, ten [have] come up to us outside of games saying how much they love… what the Besties do.”
‘The Besties’ has added a league-wide account in 2024, with over 7,500 followers across its Instagram and TikTok pages.
Carlton Besties / Besties Footy – Follower Breakdown by Will Cuckson
