There has been some conjecture about the future of AFLW from alarmist members of the media, but key figures remain certain that it will continue to evolve and grow in 2021.
With clubs looking to keep themselves afloat financially and a team like Carlton already pulling their support for their VFL affiliate side, concerns have been raised about whether sides will continue their support for the women’s competition.
One of the pioneers of women’s footy Susan Alberti is entirely confident that AFLW is going nowhere.
“The AFL are absolutely committed to the AFLW. It has been a long time in the planning, it is here now and it is not going away,” she told SEN’s Whateley.
“Absolutely (I have spoken to the right people about this). I keep very, very close to what is going on in AFLW, not just the senior people in AFL headquarters, but also the women and the umpires and everyone connected with the game and they’re all pretty positive.
“It was quite sad how it ended, but they’ll come back bigger and stronger next year. The growth I’ve seen in the game has been absolutely remarkable in the last few years.
“It was up about 11 per cent in 2018, last year about 30 per cent, it’s just getting bigger and bigger all the time.
“We’ve got nearly 600,000 young women playing our game right now. It’s not going away, it’s just going to get bigger and bigger, it just takes time.”
Alberti’s comments are backed up by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, who last week guaranteed the future of all 18 men’s sides and all 14 women’s teams.