Grand plans unveiled for AFLW expansion
The AFL Women’s competition will expand to 14 teams for the 2020 season, with North Melbourne and Geelong to lead the charge in 2019.
The Adelaide Crows won this year's inaugural AFLW flag. Photo: Dan Peled / AAP
Richmond, West Coast, St Kilda and Gold Coast will join the competition in 2020 under an ambitious plan announced today by AFL chief Gillon McLachlan.
Hawthorn and Essendon had their applications knocked back by the AFL Commission but could be added as early as 2021.
Port Adelaide and Sydney are yet to apply for a licence.
The Roos are expected to host some games in Tasmania and will draw upon the talent pool from the island state.
Several factors helped Geelong and North Melbourne over the line for 2019, including the fact that both will play in the women’s VFL next year.
“I think the real clincher was to have regional presence that we don’t currently have,” McLachlan told reporters.
“(North Melbourne’s addition) is a real win for female football in Tasmania, and clearly Geelong represents a huge region of participation for us.
“Both of their submissions were outstanding. They had a very clear plan and a lot of things bolted down.”
Hawthorn had signalled their intention to play in Tasmania, with the men’s team already hosting games in Launceston.
Neither they nor Essendon had the benefit of a provisional licence after electing not to apply during initial submissions.
“There were so many competing forces in all of the submissions,” McLachlan said.
“They contemplated supporter base, financial scale, regionality, facilities, organisational capacity, how long their commitment has been to women’s football.
“I know that Essendon and Hawthorn will be disappointed. There is though an opportunity for them to have a licence as early as 2021.”
McLachlan confirmed there were no plans to make supporters pay to attend games in 2018.
The AFL supremo said he expected the quality of play to increase with a deeper talent pool from which teams can select.
“I think you’ll find… with the injection of talent and with another pre-season under the womens’ belts, the standard will increase,” he said.
“We look forward to taking games nationally to different venues and different spots.
“We will take the game to places it hasn’t been and we’ll look forward then to the expansion in 2019.”
-AAP
