AFLW coaches and senior players have expressed confidence a deal on their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) can be reached despite delays raising doubts over the start date of the season.

Key points: AFLW preseason is meant to begin in early November, but as yet no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has been approved

AFLW preseason is meant to begin in early November, but as yet no collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has been approved A sticking point from the players' side has been the length of seasons for 2020 and beyond

A sticking point from the players' side has been the length of seasons for 2020 and beyond In the AFLW Draft, Western Bulldogs has taken Northern Knights utility player Gabby Newton with pick one

The players and their union have been locked in talks with the AFL over conditions and the length of the season after agreeing to financial terms early in negotiations.

The league had pushed for a season of just eight matches plus finals but a number of AFL Players Association members were determined to extend the season to 13 matches, so each team could play each other in the recently expanded competition.

The last CBA was rejected after 30 per cent of players voted against it.

Darcy Vescio — who voted against the previous deal — said the players had dropped their demands for a 13-game season and that discussions on Monday had resulted in an agreement making the competition go for 10 matches plus finals.

"That won't be changing for now, obviously there are lots of mixed feelings about how long the season should be," Vescio said.

"So, at the moment we've got an outcome [where] we are growing every year, which is really positive.

"I think we've definitely grown out of this experience and we'll see where it goes next time."

The changing face of AFLW 2018 2019 2020 Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane Carlton Carlton Carlton C' wood C'wood C'wood Fremantle Fremantle Fremantle GWS GWS GWS Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne W Bulldogs W Bulldogs W Bulldogs Geelong Geelong Nth Melb Nth Melb W Coast G Coast Richmond St Kilda Teams in bold = expansion teams

Vescio said it was important for women players to continue to push for better conditions and ultimately a professional league.

"I think as players in this space we still need to push to make sure we keep moving forward and for us, we've got to remember that we're still building, and we've got to make this a full-time thing."

Despite the season fixtures still not being released, coaches of AFLW teams said the ongoing impasse has not been a distraction as teams prepare for preseason.

Carlton AFLW coach Daniel Harford said he had been fully supportive of the players opposing the AFL's conditions, but was optimistic a deal would be reached quickly.

"My understanding is that they had a pretty fruitful meeting yesterday, I don't think anyone begrudges the girls trying to understand the conditions get a bit better so we support that," Harford said.

"I think discussions yesterday would suggest that is pretty close to being finalised."

Legendary former player and coach of the new St Kilda women's team, Peta Searle, was also confident players would reach a deal with the league.

"Females are great negotiators, it's just a matter of working through it and it will happen and I was all confident that the players will get what they need to get," Searle said.

Gabby Newton from the Northern Knights was the top pick in the AFLW Draft, taken by the Western Bulldogs. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

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League boss Nicole Livingstone did not comment on the negotiations in her speech at Tuesday's national draft but she spoke about the optimism within the league and it's eagerness to grow.

The draft saw 100 women selected by teams, with the Western Bulldogs using their first pick to select Gabby Newton and Carlton taking midfielder Lucy McEvoy with pick two.

The Bulldogs had four picks in the top 10, adding Nell Morris-Dalton (pick six), Gemma Lagoia (pick eight) and Elisabeth Georgostathis (pick nine).

Brisbane Lions selected Lily Postlethwaite with pick three, followed by GWS taking Maggie Gorham at four, and St Kilda named Georgia Patrikios with pick five.

Richmond took Sophie Molan at seven, and North Melbourne rounded out the top 10 with Western Bulldogs VFLW player Ellie Gavalas.