The AFL Womens competition has always been problematic for the administration. A strange unwillingness to match the competition alongside the men's comp, as well as a heavy handed approach to rules and governance by the administration, left the AFLW in a strange limbo, until the restructure gave it the space and time it needed within the the fixture.
Four very simple changes were made to the competition. The first was to move the start of the season to two weeks out from the mens, giving the first two rounds stand alone status and access to the big stadiums for exposure. Local rivalries would also headline this round.
The second change was a simple one; an 18 game season, in which every team played each other ones before finals.
The third was to schedule the grand final (after a two week finals series, in which the top two sides were given a week off and a guaranteed spot in the Prelim Final) during the second Bye round in the mens competition. This benefitted the mens compeition which now finally had the two weekends off which the AFLPA had been pushing for for years, the first falling between rounds 5 and 6, and the second between rounds 16 and 17.
The fourth was to schedule most games mid week. The original fear against this was understandable, that fans wouldn't turn up on school nights. However, this move exploited the full benefits of a shorter game, played in suburban grounds. Most games were played early enough to be finished before an unreasonable time, making them family friendly, and special arrangements with local footy club were made, such as coaching clinics and free admission during the evenings pre-game.
Four very simple changes were made to the competition. The first was to move the start of the season to two weeks out from the mens, giving the first two rounds stand alone status and access to the big stadiums for exposure. Local rivalries would also headline this round.
The second change was a simple one; an 18 game season, in which every team played each other ones before finals.
The third was to schedule the grand final (after a two week finals series, in which the top two sides were given a week off and a guaranteed spot in the Prelim Final) during the second Bye round in the mens competition. This benefitted the mens compeition which now finally had the two weekends off which the AFLPA had been pushing for for years, the first falling between rounds 5 and 6, and the second between rounds 16 and 17.
The fourth was to schedule most games mid week. The original fear against this was understandable, that fans wouldn't turn up on school nights. However, this move exploited the full benefits of a shorter game, played in suburban grounds. Most games were played early enough to be finished before an unreasonable time, making them family friendly, and special arrangements with local footy club were made, such as coaching clinics and free admission during the evenings pre-game.
