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The Australian Football League Commission and league execs "could not reach a resolution on the expansion" of the AFL Women's competition at Monday's day-long board talks in Geelong and have "put off a decision" on the distribution of new licenses until grand final week, according to Caroline Wilson of THE AGE. A "robust two-hour debate broke up" with AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder and his commissioners instructing the AFL to "do more work on the women's format after refusing to ratify a range of recommendations" put forward by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and General Counsel Andrew Dillon. Eight AFL clubs, including five provisional license holders, "face a nervous wait" of a further five weeks before learning whether their clubs will be handed licenses in time for the '19 season. The "hot favourites" are Geelong, West Coast and a hybrid North Melbourne-Tasmanian team, with Richmond and St. Kilda also "determined to convince the commission their submissions are compelling." Gold Coast, led by new CEO Mark Evans, has also "heavily lobbied to join Brisbane as the second Queensland team," while Essendon and Hawthorn -- which did not bid last time -- "have put forward strong cases." The disputes centered "not only on the number of clubs and which clubs deserved licences but also the structure of the competition once the league increased and whether the competition would be played in two conferences" from '19 (
THE AGE, 8/29).
