The AFLW competition appears certain to remain at 14 teams for the upcoming 2022 season.
The league has expanded quickly since 2017, jumping from eight to 10 to 14 in its first four seasons.
Hawthorn, Essendon, Sydney and Port Adelaide remain on the outside for different reasons.
The Hawks in both 2016 and 2018 stated they either weren’t ready or did not yet want an AFLW side, while the Bombers and Power similarly stated they weren’t yet ready back when the previous licenses were awarded.
Sydney faces a different challenge, as they and GWS attempt to build women’s footy from scratch in New South Wales.
A final decision on what the 2022 AFLW season will look like is set to come next week, but SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund believes the recommendation will be to hold at 14 teams next year.
“The AFLW competition committee met yesterday in what was a crucial sit down to map out where the league goes from here, what it looks like and when it’s actually going to be held,” Edmund told SEN Breakfast.
“The four AFL clubs yet to be admitted into the competition are all pushing to enter the league, particularly Hawthorn and Essendon, who are adamant they should be able to field a side next year.
“Yesterday that committee was strong on there being no expansion and they have put that recommendation to the Commission.
“It’s sounding like the gates will be locked on expansion in the short term. The Commission will make a final decision on the structure next week.”
The COVID-19 crisis hit AFLW particularly hard.
The Victorian talent pool, which will eventually be expected to carry 10 teams, was setback a full year at both VFLW and NAB League levels because of the lockdowns across 2020.
Key figures in AFLW, including St Kilda coach Peta Searle, Carlton coach Daniel Harford and premiership Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich, have all called for a period of consolidation and a break from expansion at various stages this year.
Starcevich was particularly strong following the AFLW Grand Final.
"It's painful when (expansion) happens and I reckon the next phase of it should just calm the farm for a little while,” he said.
"Let's wait for a few years because I don't want to go through that again and I suspect the 14 current clubs don't want to go through that again."
Another factor in this is timing. The six original expansion teams received the nod of approval more than 12 months out, giving them time to recruit both players and staff.
Given it’s currently May and the AFLW trade period is set to start this month, bringing new teams in as soon as 2022 would be a logistical nightmare.
The next big topic in AFLW is when the competition will start.
The Age’s Daniel Cherny reported earlier in the week that there is a push to start the season in December, limiting crossover with the men’s season.
Edmund adds that Richmond CEO Brendon Gale raised the issue of overworked staff at the meeting yesterday.
“Brendon Gale was particularly vocal and critical in this meeting of the AFL over the workload and staff shortages at the clubs, particularly after the AFLW season overlapped significantly earlier this year,” Edmund said.
“It now appears inevitable that the AFLW season starts earlier in December as forecast. Up against the cricket and the Australian Open, but it has more clear from the AFL and eases stretched football departments after the soft cap reductions there.
“In many cases these clubs are horribly understaffed when juggling two programs.”
Starting the AFLW season in December would have to be approved by the AFLPA, given the shift would impact work commitments and mean playing through the entirety of summer.
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