The Australian Football League Commission will "next week pave the way for creation of the national women's league," with the first season to start in March '17, consisting of "at least six clubs and the potential for a national draft to establish the historic year one," according to Caroline Wilson of THE AGE. With most Victorian AFL clubs "furiously jockeying" for just four women's licenses, and teams from Western Australia and Queensland, the commission "faces the dilemma of whether or not it can afford to establish a national competition without a team from South Australia." With Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs "long considered certain foundation clubs, strong challenges have emerged" from Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Geelong, St. Kilda and Collingwood. As part of next week's AFL report to the commission:
- The women's AFL in '17 will certainly consist of four clubs from Victoria, a Brisbane Lions team and one from Western Australia, with both the Eagles and the Dockers "fighting to gain" the first women's WA license;
- The AFL is expected to "cover the establishment cost of the foundation teams," estimated at A$500,000 ($360,700) per club, "incrementally reducing that funding" each year;
- The women's AFL competition will start with a televised national league in March '17 and finish in May to allow "minimum interference" with local competitions;
- The AFL is considering "a national draft to spread talent, but faces the problem of relocating the cream of the country's women players in the early years," given the expected low player payments;
- Next week's commission talks will pave the way for clubs to officially tender for women's licenses early next year (THE AGE, 12/9).
