However, several industry sources have told The Age that the competition committee is calling for an extended 11-week AFLW season next year, comprising eight home and away matches and three weeks of finals for what will be the first year of a 14-team AFLW competition. It is a marked increase from the seven home and away rounds and two weeks of finals played in a 10-team competition in 2019. Livingstone had already publicly committed to the retention of the controversial conference system used this year. It remains unclear when an extended season would begin, with the league having to weigh up whether to bring forward the start of the season into January - where it would compete with the Australian Open tennis - or retain an early-February start and have the season overlap with up to a month of the AFL men’s competition.

If the 8+3 model were to be implemented, teams could be split into two conferences of seven, playing six in-conference matches as well as two cross-conference games. A selection of teams could from each conference could qualify for the finals, with wildcard spots - which could help address the issue of conference imbalances - another option for the AFL. Separately, the competition committee has put forward a recommendation for the entrance of the four clubs still without AFLW teams - Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Sydney. The Crows celebrate with the 2019 AFLW premiership cup. Credit:AAP Since eight clubs were handed inaugural AFLW licences in 2016, most of those who missed out in the initial intake have been jostling to join the league as soon as possible.

North Melbourne and Geelong entered the league this year, while Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast and Gold Coast will come into the competition in 2020. It’s understood the competition committee has recommended the remaining four clubs be included in two separate instalments in 2022 and 2024. The order of entry is also unclear. Hawthorn - who won the VFLW competition last year - are strongly of the belief that they are ready to field a team. Sydney have been hamstrung by a lack of facilities but a Liberal Government pledge to upgrade Moore Park helps the Swans’ cause. Loading There is also a school of thought in AFLW circles that Port’s entry should be fast-tracked to help split the talent in South Australia in a bid to curb the dominance of Adelaide, who have won two of the first three premierships and essentially have carte blanche over players in their state. Change is also understood to be afoot in relation to the Crows’ relationship with the Northern Territory, which could promote equalisation.