The AFLW’s competition committee has met for the first time with a raft of changes discussed at the board room table.
Among the options was beginning the third season of professional women’s football in January. However such a move would bring the game into direct conflict with the summer of tennis and the Australian Open. It’s understood the league prefers a February-March timeframe.
Head of women’s football at the AFL, Nicole Livingstone, said the fixture for 2019 was not yet set. Her comments come off the back of widespread condemnation of a floated six week season plus finals.
Livingstone said that particular model had never been agreed upon and was only one among several options.
"Clearly this has had quite a bit of attention in the last little while,” Livingstone stated.
"I'd like to make it really clear that no decisions have or had been made about the 2019 fixture and beyond.”
Nine and seven game seasons were another options discussed as well as a conference system.
A final call will be made by October with the AFLW will expand to 10 teams next season and to 14 the following year.
New rules will also be trialled including kick-ins from an extended goal square, reducing legal kicks from 15 metres to 10, boundary throw-ins will be brought in 10 metres, and last disposal out of bounds awarded between the 50-metre arcs.
"Some of the data we’ve seen has suggested that it is a game that might need some assistance with some rule adjustments,” Livingstone added.
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