AFLW players outraged over proposed plans but nothing confirmed

This afternoon Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said no decision had been made on the format or number of games on the upcoming AFLW season. 

"Our newly formed AFL Women’s competition committee meets for the first time this coming Tuesday, and I look forward to the discussion with key stakeholders from all parts of our women’s football community,” she said.

The statement came after Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce told SEN that the league should “get the women’s game right” first.

“I get that there’s a commercial reality that they want to keep this competition within the little free eight-week timeslot where there is no sport, that was the reason for it in the first two years while it was in its infancy and getting going," she said.

“But I thought when those two new teams came in I was rubbing my hands together thinking we’re going to get a legitimate competition here, play everyone once and head into a finals series - you beauty.

“But it seems not to be the case and the reason it annoys me is that this is presented as the female elite professional offering by the AFL and it has been lauded as that – finally there’s an elite women’s competition.

“But with the AFL presenting it as that, it comes with a level of expectation that everyone within the sport, us players and coaches, we wear that expectation that this is going to be a professional elite competition when in reality this is a gimmicky tournament," Pearce said.

It had been reported that despite the introduction of Geelong and North Melbourne, the league decided to keep the eight week season with two weeks of finals and would split the competition into two five-team conferences.

In the end, this would mean most teams will play one less home-and-away game than they did in the first two years.

Players were obviously frustrated by the proposed decision. 

We as athletes have worked for years to have an AFL women’s competition. To put our full time work commitments, family, relationships, almost everything on hold to get the most out of the AFLW competition and reality is we aren’t getting taken seriously.. https://t.co/ukGDHGwLQ6

— Aliesha Newman (@AlieshaNewman) August 3, 2018

Some players have moved their lives, given up work/study and $ to play AFLW. These decisions are voluntary, but made on the assumption the game is getting bigger. Not shorter. The ramifications of this won’t improve the AFLW as a commercial product. It will do the opposite.

— Alicia Eva (@AliciaEva2) August 3, 2018

I understand the need and the AFL’s desire to maximise the commerciality of AFLW, but I don’t think a 6 game season will be able to do that anyway, doesn't less games = less commercial opportunities? As an athlete it’ll be hard to justify the sacrifices we make for 6 games.

— Lily Mithen (@lily_mithen) August 3, 2018

The suggestion of a 6 game season for 10 teams poses many issues & questions. How will it be determined which teams will play each other & which won’t? How does this support progression of the AFLW? More importantly, how does this promote fairness? Disappointing & frustrating.

— Stephanie Chiocci (@Steph_Chiocci) August 3, 2018

I love moving across the country for months, leaving my family behind to play a 6 week season 🙄🙄 When the pre season is twice as long as the actual season, something is wrong!

Don’t bring new teams in if you can’t accommodate for them!! @AFL #pissed https://t.co/2VIBSetloV

— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) August 2, 2018

CEO of AFL, Gillon McLachlan came out on 3AW to defend the criticism from players.

“There is no bigger priority for us, in AFL head office, than AFLW,” he said.

“No bigger. There are others equal, but it’s a huge priority for us.

"The team are working through it, and wherever we land will balance all of those issues.”

The draw is set to be finalised and released in late October.