AFLW players have expressed fears for the future of the competition, as the AFL attempts to navigate its way through an unprecedented financial crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Key points: AFLW players are concerned the 2021 season may be sacrificed or condensed because of the financial crisis facing the AFL

AFLW players are concerned the 2021 season may be sacrificed or condensed because of the financial crisis facing the AFL The coronavirus outbreak led to the cancellation of the AFLW season last month

The coronavirus outbreak led to the cancellation of the AFLW season last month AFLW clubs have urged the league not to scale back the competition after the growth it has enjoyed since commencing in 2017

Some clubs that fielded AFLW teams during the incomplete 2020 season are questioning whether they can afford to continue doing so beyond this year.

St Kilda player Tilly Lucas-Rodd said there was a feeling that the AFLW — which began in 2017 — might be sacrificed or scaled back as part of drastic AFL cost-cutting measures.

"There's a lot of uncertainty whether it (next season) will even happen because the AFL has taken a huge financial hit with this stuff," she said.

"It is uncertain whether it will happen, how long it will be and what it will look like.

"But you've got to push that to the side and think it's (next season) going to happen because there's obviously bigger things in the world going on that are more important at the moment than footy."

West Coast captain Emma Swanson said the future of AFLW had been on players' minds since the season was abruptly cancelled last month because of restrictions put in place to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

"There's been a mountain of work put into women's football over a number of years and particularly over the last four or five years into the AFLW," she said.

"You just hope that there's been too much work put into it to just let it slide away now.

"I stand by the AFL … I'm sure they'll do everything they can to make sure we're still running around next year some time."

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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has publicly said the league's intention was to ensure the AFLW continued in the 14-team format that emerged from its recent expansion process.

The $600 million line of credit secured by the AFL last week could provide the lifeline the women's competition needs.

But there are many competing interests the AFL needs to prioritise while working its way through the financial crisis, including keeping 18 clubs and the men's competition viable.

AFLW coaches Nathan Burke (Western Bulldogs) and Steve Symonds (Collingwood) have urged the AFL not to let the women's competition stagnate or fall by the wayside after years of growth that have provided significant benefit to the game overall.

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AAP