The controversial AFLW conference system has been refined going into the 2020 season, with a lot more work going into the separation of the teams.
Debate was sparked throughout the 2019 season, with both Carlton and Geelong making the finals ahead of sides with better records, North Melbourne and Melbourne, simply because of the way they had been split up.
With four new teams entering the competition and a lot of player movement going into the 2020 season, accurately dividing 14 sides into even conferences seems a difficult task.
Former AFLW rising star Chloe Molloy revealed what the AFL has done to make the conference systems as even as possible.
“They’ve had experts come in and rate players and then get an overall rating of the team,” the Collingwood star told SEN’s The Boundary AFLW Podcast.
“Which was actually really good to be informed because I assumed it was just the whole first, second, third, fourth and that’s how they split the conferences.
“Although they have snaked it this year and Nicole Livingstone has gone around to the clubs and made them aware of how they have put the conferences together and informed us that the teams actually have been rated.”
Molloy added that her side has been given a rather impressive rating.
“Collingwood biased, we’ve actually been rated quite highly up there,” she said.
“So there’s more time and effort that has gone into trying to get this conference system right.
“I don’t know if I could get my hands on that data, but I was cheeky and asked Nicole Livingstone (what my rating was) and she could not tell me that.”
Conference systems are used frequently in world sports, with the NFL and NBA being prime examples.
Molloy says she is fine with it being used in women’s footy, but still wants to play every team at least once.
“I think it’s possibly the way AFLW has to go. If they could get a conference system where we play every team, then my answer to that question would be yes (the conference system will work) because you get to play everyone, but right now I’m sitting on the fence,” she said.
“I’m not sure (if it will work). It might, it might not. It has only been one year of the conference system.”
Conference A in 2020: Adelaide, North Melbourne, Geelong, GWS, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Richmond
Conference B in 2020: Fremantle, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda and West Coast
The top three teams from each conference at the end of the season will advance to finals with the division winners receiving a bye through to the second round.
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