• Meet the future stars of the women's game at the AFL women's football hub

REDUCED team numbers on-field and a smaller ball are to be trialled in the women's all-star game at Whitten Oval next month.

The AFL will use the final exhibition match of the year to gather data to help it formulate rules for the inaugural national women's league starting next February.

Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will each play 16-a-side, with six interchange players.

The ball will be slightly smaller than the one used for the women's exhibition matches played around Australia this season.

The AFL's definition of deliberate-out-of-bounds will also apply for the nationally televised all-star game.

AFL game development general manager Simon Lethlean said rules were tested during the second round of the women’s exhibition series to assess their impact on reducing congestion and increasing scoring.

“We have also consulted a number of AFL assistant coaches and opposition analysts to gain their views on the women’s games, while also considering data relating to the optimal football size for women,” Lethlean said.

“Deakin University will assess the impact of these rules in advance of the national women’s league and it does not necessarily mean these rules will be in place in 2017.”

Teams to represent the Demons and Bulldogs will be picked from squads of Australia's elite players from all states and will be announced next week.

The match, to be played under lights on Saturday, September 3, will be televised live nationally on the Seven Network and entry to the game will be free.