Play Nice AFL Womens - General Discussion

[TigermanM2]

How do we find the Carlton team in the AFLW.

Kind of like them.

Tracking along nicely.

Kind of got a bit better now.

Back in the mix of things.

Starting to get some nice young talent now.

Looks really promising for the Blues in the AFLW.

Along with the ever green Dees both will be solid in 2026 AFLW.

Blues Dees along with a few other teams like Suns to some extent hawks and further back the Pies are part of the next wave of teams coming in and through.

Pies have a while to go but laid foundations now.

Need to kick on finally.

But i like the Blues nowadays.

Kind of looks the goods now.

Amazing what a difference 5 players make to a team in one year.

2 Irish players were outstanding. Finn and Fitzpatrick
2 Draftees - Scholz and Sophie McKay. Again outstanding! In their very first season no less. Sophie was amazing and time and time again she lifted the team. Provided that spark that was non existent in previous years.
1 Old Timer - Harriet Corner. Was always very very solid but 2025 saw her in the form of her life at 33!

Sure others had their moments but not sure anyone had the same impact as the above 5. Everyone else pretty much just rode the wave and played their part.

 

[The Nostradamus]

which players are likely playing their final year in the aflw this year?

For north expect Kearney, Shierlaw and sheerin to retire at years end and maybe Emma king

 

[Dory_77]

which players are likely playing their final year in the aflw this year?

For north expect Kearney, Shierlaw and sheerin to retire at years end and maybe Emma king

Paxy and Lauren Pearce from Melbourne. Still have the occasional good game but age is catching up with them very quickly.

 

[Teen Wolf]

From the 2025 AFL Annual Report:

The new AFLW Growth Strategy was approved by the Commission in 2025. It focuses on three main objectives: producing thrilling and compelling footy on the field, building fandom and attendances as well as growing the League’s financial sustainability. The new long-term strategy looks ahead to the next three, five and 10 years of the competition. Research showed more than 90 per cent of AFLW fans are sitting in the AFL ecosystem already. Unlocking these fans in AFL databases and clubs will be key to growing the game for future generations.

Total TV audience for the AFLW grand final was 514,778. [Last year's report had the 2024 GF drawing 497k including streaming, whereas this year's report implies the 2024 GF drew around 522k. In any case it confirms they were the two most-watched GFs since the first season, despite not being particularly close.] Most-watched H&A game was the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood which had 317,276 viewers.

AFLW membership delivered an all-time record of 84,644. This is an increase of nearly 11 per cent from the 2024 season and reflects the continued growth of the game. 12 clubs broke their all-time AFLW membership record (Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Geelong Cats, GWS Giants, Gold Coast Suns, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast).

The AFLW home and away season achieved a record 268,349 attendance and a fourth successive sold-out Grand Final. Attendance for the finals series was 49,329, bringing the total number for all 117 games to 317,678. There was a 40 per cent boost in crowd numbers across marquee and priority games that were targeted at the start of the season via the Growth Strategy.

Football improved in the AFLW competition according to analysis of data and trends. Overall stoppages went down by 36 per cent, scoring increased by 10 percent and metres gained also increased.

The game saw record community participation with a final 2025 figure of 624,503. Since 2022, more than 144,000 women and girls now play Aussie Rules footy – a 45 per cent increase – supported by rising numbers of women coaches (up 27 per cent) and umpires (up 44 per cent). Women and girls’ football is now played at almost 500 ovals nationwide, reflecting strong demand and sustained growth.

The AFL recorded an underlying operating profit of $67.9 million, an increase of $22.5 million from 2024. Operating revenue increased by $171 million to $1,204 million. Distributions to clubs totalled $468.1 million, including $43.4 million for AFLW.

 

[jatz14]

Serious question: why are there no trans women playing in this competition? Trans women are women after all, so is it just a case of the AFL being transphobic? Or is there another explanation?

The trans testosterone limits set by the AFL are <5 nm/L for 2 years before becoming eligible, plus other criteria. Typical female levels are normally 10-55 nm/L. So, a trans footballer would have testosterone levels less than half the low end of normal female levels, and <1/10th of high end levels. At that level, they can suffer health effects, as its a level that would be considered low, even in natural women. So, a lot of trans people dont like going that low on testosterone levels for health reasons, excluding them from high level sport.

A long period of time on that level of T, while leaving them with a size advantage, can somewhat result in muscle with the consistency of blanc mange pudding. But this takes a while. They may still have strength and power advantages after 2 years, but not as much as people assume.

There was a trans player in local leagues pre AFLW, that tried to join, which created the usual hoo hah. Some women refused to play against her, those that did mostly reported she wasn't that much, bigger and stronger, but slow enough that her strength rarely counted as she couldn't catch anyone. She later joined the Australian womens handball team

If I am going to be honest, I think its highly unlikely a trans athlete with a long term T level of <5, will ever play in the AFLW as I don't think they will ever be good enough to get drafted, and if they are, it will be marginal enough that I doubt clubs will consider it worth the hassle. Which I suspect, is exactly what they intended when they set the level at <5, rather than the <10 some sports go for.

 

[MYOB]

Sounds like some North people couldn't care less about the Women's results and are only interested about the men's team.

I never knew that the president and the CEO both got tatts after the 2024 premiership

 

[Teen Wolf]

Seems like every club has associations with dinosaurs who hold antiquated attitudes towards women's football.

That is not a worthy talking point, nor are tattoos. The focus need not even be on the leaders of clubs who denounce those antiquated attitudes, but rather on other clubs who make the dinosaurs their leaders.

 

[MYOB]

Seems like every club has associations with dinosaurs who hold antiquated attitudes towards women's football.

That is not a worthy talking point, nor are tattoos. The focus need not even be on the leaders of clubs who denounce those antiquated attitudes, but rather on other clubs who make the dinosaurs their leaders.

So it's not a worthy talking point. A leadership challenge at any club is a talking point.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Just because Caro conflates two separate things, doesn't mean you have to.

A couple guys from the '90s making empty threats if the men's team doesn't improve has nothing to do with a couple guys from the '70s complaining about the women's team being respected.

 

[CURVE]

Port Adelaide has named their new AFLW coach for season 2026, Carlton assistant Glenn Strachan.

Port Adelaide appoints Glenn Strachan as AFLW senior coach

That leaves Melbourne as the only club yet to name their new head coach.

The new coaches for 2026 are:
Adelaide - Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis

Age

36

Ht

188cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.8

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.5

5star

G

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.2

3star

Geelong - Mick Stinear
Melbourne - tba
Port Adelaide - Glenn Strachan
Richmond - Jarrod Donders
Sydney - Colin O'Riordan

38

Colin O'riordan

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

190.1

3star

D

8.5

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

4.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.5

2star

MG

98.5

2star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.2

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.4

4star

MG

267.8

5star

 

[MYOB]

Port Adelaide has named their new AFLW coach for season 2026, Carlton assistant Glenn Strachan.

Port Adelaide appoints Glenn Strachan as AFLW senior coach

That leaves Melbourne as the only club yet to name their new head coach.

The new coaches for 2026 are:
Adelaide - Ryan Davis
Geelong - Mick Stinear
Melbourne - tba
Port Adelaide - Glenn Strachan
Richmond - Jarrod Donders
Sydney - Colin O'Riordan

Look at all those women

 

[CURVE]

Look at all those women

I think, for the moment at least, you will see more women going into Administration than coaching, I think with coaching they need to reach a particular level of qualifications before they can become a head coach and because the AFLW is still a relatively young competition, the number of qualified women aren't quite there yet. At least that is my understanding anyway.

There was an article on the AFLW website a week or so ago about three woman (Dom Condo (Cats), Erin Lorenzini (Roos) and Aysha Ward (Bombers)) who have taken the administrative path.

 

[jatz14]

I think, for the moment at least, you will see more women going into Administration than coaching, I think with coaching they need to reach a particular level of qualifications before they can become a head coach and because the AFLW is still a relatively young competition, the number of qualified women aren't quite there yet. At least that is my understanding anyway.

There was an article on the AFLW website a week or so ago about three woman (Dom Condo (Cats), Erin Lorenzini (Roos) and Aysha Ward (Bombers)) who have taken the administrative path.

Another issue I think is, a man, especially with an history in the AFL, will find it easier to transition from coaching in AFLW to AFL. I feel that women coaching in AFLW will tend to be pigeonholed as "women's" coaches, and without experience in men's footy, may find it harder to be accepted in AFL.

I don't think this will apply to admin. Getting your foot in the door in AFLW admin will more easily transition to the wider AFL.

For many, admin is likely to be the smarter career choice.

 

[CURVE]

AFL has announced four rule changes for season 2026. These are changes that have come into the AFL in season 2026.

Four rule alterations announced ahead of 2026 AFLW season

The four changes are as follows:

• At centre ball-ups, rucks cannot cross the centre circle line and engage with their opponent prior to contesting the football
• The "reasonable time" allowed for a kick-in (currently around 12 seconds) will be reduced to eight, in accordance with the time allowed after a mark around the ground
• A shrug while being tackled will be deemed as prior opportunity, as the player is attempting to evade or fend their opponent
• A player must stand if they are in the protected area (within five metres) when a mark or free kick occurs

 

[timokane]

How do we see the likes of the Blues and Dees faring in the 2026 edition of the AFLW
Also the saints as well

 

[Tandy]

Would be nice to see some different teams up the top. Same as the men’s game I guess

 

[timokane]

When does the VFLW start keen to get to some games at Ikon and Vic park

 

[troybe]

When does the VFLW start keen to get to some games at Ikon and Vic park

May 16

 

[timokane]

Ok cool late start normally starts in around the Anzac day round

 

[CURVE]

According to Riley Beveridge, Melbourne will announce Katrina Gill as their new AFLW coach.

 

[cats_09]

Ok cool late start normally starts in around the Anzac day round

It's to allow a few weeks overlap between the end of the VFLW season and the start of the AFLW season

 

[timokane]

In the AFLW.
When do we think that when Collingwood AFLW girls finally improve and make finals.
Well over due for a successful AFLW camp pain.
Need to win more.
So when do we think they will make winning a good habit to have.
As a Pies fan done with the Pies girls been the annual battlers in the AFLW.

 

[CURVE]

In the AFLW.
When do we think that when Collingwood AFLW girls finally improve and make finals.
Well over due for a successful AFLW camp pain.
Need to win more.
So when do we think they will make winning a good habit to have.
As a Pies fan done with the Pies girls been the annual battlers in the AFLW.

Collingwood have an AFLW side?

 

[timokane]

yes they do actually a foundation club as well in the AFLW they started with the likes of the dogs and dees

 

[CURVE]

According to Riley Beveridge, Melbourne will announce Katrina Gill as their new AFLW coach.

Sorry, got that wrong.

Katrina Gill is the new Head of AFLW for Melbourne, Tom Wilson is Melbourne's new AFLW coach.