Over 85,000 punters packed into the bleachers at the MCG to watch Australia and India duke it out in the final of a world cup, toppling the worldwide attendance record for a standalone women's sporting event on a day which became as much about honouring the century of female accomplishments on the sporting stage as it was about Meg Lanning's troops' triumph.

Judging from the reaction, the Australian triumph inspired women and girls all across the country, and the scene of the team becoming Katy Perry's backup dancers will live on with Jack Riewoldt performing Mr Brightside with The Killers after Richmond's AFL win in 2018.

We've spent plenty of time talking to the stalwarts of women's sport about the explosion of girls playing all sport - any sport, from tenpin bowling to netball to league tag to the full-blown contact version of both major codes.

This year for International Women's Day we thought we'd go to the next generation - the countless young stars blazing away on paths cleared by those who came before - to talk about standing on the shoulders of giants.

While we were absolutely spoilt for choice of young guns to talk to, we approached Phoebe Litchfield, Eva Reith-Snare, Erin Naden and Em McDonald to hear who they've idolised and how sport's changed in their short lifetimes.

Who's been the most inspiring woman from the Central West you've seen on or off the field? Grace Hamilton because how successful she has been in her sport and how she leads her team. She is a great role model and an awesome ambassador for young girls in the Central West and ex-Australian cricketer Jo Hunter. She coached my in under 12s and since then has inspired me to one day play for Australia. She was a great coach too and taught me a lot.

How much women's sport did you watch growing up? How has that changed now? I guess I am still growing up but definitely when I was younger I rarely watched any women's sport because It wasn't on TV and I didn't have the love of it as I do now. Now I was mostly women's sport - watching cricket mostly and the odd footy game, but the fact that it is on TV now allows young girls to aspire to play sport professionally.

What was the most empowering thing you've seen on a sporting field? The World Cup final for cricke. I went to watch in Melbourne and it was the most amazing game I've ever been to. The atmosphere was electric and the women that were playing were so happy to be there and so amazed about what women have been able to achieve in a small amount of time. To get just under 90,000 to a women's game was incredible!

Who's been the most inspiring woman from the Central West you've seen on or off the field? Most inspiring woman from the Central West for me would have to be Tegan Dray. Miss Dray mentored me throughout my senior years at high school and tried her best to keep me organised. She is amazing in everything she does, her determination is incredibly inspiring and motivational as well as her organisation, juggling coaching/playing representative netball and teaching high school students.

How much women's sport did you watch growing up? How has that changed now? I watched a lot of hockey and softball, growing up, playing both sports. But I didn't see much televised women's sport, so it's great to see a dramatic increase in that.

Who's had the biggest impact on you? My mum has had a massive impact on me, coaching me since I first started playing hockey. She has taught me to work hard, stay humble and back my ability. I'm very grateful for the support not only Mum but the rest of my family have shown in my hockey. Another woman who has majorly impacted me would be Rachel Crawford. When Rach gave me a scholarship at Crawford fitness, I was very much injured - I was struggling to bend my knees. But after two years of training with her I haven't had a muscular injury since and I am very lucky for her training and I wouldn't be where I am now without her.

Who's been the most inspiring woman from the Central West you've seen on or off the field? There's a few but I'd say Mish Somers, Karah Armstrong and Monique Christie Johnston. Their attitude towards their sport on and off the field, giving 100 per cent in every game, and always helping others out and encouraging everyone and there skills are great on the field.

Who's had the biggest impact on you? Monique Christie Johnston again because she's been there for me from early days with my sport, been there for me at my lowest and highest. She helped me do interviews, trained me and gave me the confidence to be my self and be the best of myself. Very supportive. And also my mum because she's always been there, drove me around, pushed me to be the best I can be and i wouldn't be where I am without her support.

How much women's sport did you watch growing up? Not much at all What's changed since you were young? Definitely more opportunities for woman in sport, more advertising on TV.

What was the most empowering thing you've seen on a sporting field? Not one thing in particular but anything where i see encouragement, woman lifting other woman up in every game and having each other's back, getting amongst each other in the highs and lows but any woman's team or individual that shows emotion when they win it just shows how much they love their sport and how hard they have worked to be where they are

Who's been the most inspiring woman from the Central West you've seen on or off the field? Grace Hamilton is definitely someone from the Central West that on and off the field brings a lot of inspiration. Jacky Lyden and Amanda Ferguson are two women that have had a massive impact on me as a sportsperson through rugby by pushing me to do things I'm probably not comfortable to do or think I'm good enough to achieve.

How much women's sport did you watch growing up? As a kid I never watched women's sport. Men's NRL, men's rugby and men's soccer is all I watched as a kid, now as I think women's sport is being televised the skill level that is now being shown is pretty amazing. Look at Sam Kerr for instance playing soccer for one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, women are now given the same opportunities as men.

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