The AFL Women's competition has been hailed a success after a bumper first round - but there are still unanswered questions about the fledgling league's future.
*WILL THE CROWDS KEEP COMING? A remarkable 24,500 punters showed up at Princes Park on Friday night to see Carlton defeat Collingwood, with a further 2000 locked out of the ground. Nothing short of the grand final is likely to top it but that shouldn't mean crowds will dry up completely. The combined first round attendance - more than 50,000 across four games - suggests there's genuine interest in the competition and Fremantle and Brisbane are yet to host games.
*WHERE WILL THE FINAL BE PLAYED? The seven-week competition will culminate in a grand final on Saturday, March 25 - halfway through the first round of the men's season. The AFL have kept an afternoon timeslot free to prevent clashes but haven't picked a venue yet. It could be played at the MCG before Essendon and Hawthorn's blockbuster clash. But some players are keen for it to be a standalone match at a smaller venue. It partly depends on results - if two non-Victorian teams make the final, it's less likely to be played in Melbourne.
*WHEN WILL THE LEAGUE EXPAND? It seems inevitable there will slowly be more teams added, although it's less clear when that will happen. Thirteen clubs applied for licences to compete in the inaugural season, meaning five were left hanging. West Coast could be the next cab off the ranks considering their healthy fan base and the opportunity for a meaningful rivalry with Fremantle. Geelong would also have a solid case.
*WHAT WILL EXPANSION MEAN FOR THE LEAGUE? It's likely the season will eventually have to be longer, meaning the AFLW will have to compete for audiences. If the season starts earlier, it will come up against the Big Bash and Australian Open. If it finishes later, there will be more clashes with the men's games. It's also not clear how the new teams will build their lists - will they be given free rein to poach players from other teams?
Share
