TRADITIONAL powerhouses Carlton and Collingwood have been awarded licences in the new AFL women’s league, along with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

As foxfooty.com.au reported on Monday morning, the four Victorian clubs, as well as four interstate clubs (Fremantle, Brisbane, GWS Giants and Adelaide) will make up the inaugural eight-team national women’s competition in 2017.

“Our game is on the cusp of changing forever and changing for the better,” AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said at a packed media opportunity at the MCG on Monday.

“The establishment of a national women’s league will provide a platform to inspire young girls to reach for the stars and provide another avenue for fans of Australian football to enjoy.

Round 18

“Our game will never be the same.”

While the Bulldogs and Demons have long been assumed as definite teams in the women’s league, there was fierce competition for the final two spots with the majority of Victorian clubs bidding.

But the Blues and Magpies beat out Geelong, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Richmond for the final two Victorian licenses.

Fitzpatrick said on Monday said the teams that missed out on licenses will be granted “provisional licenses”, with a view to expand the competition in 2018.

Geelong made what sources said was a strong bid based on the club’s geographic coverage, which would cover western Victoria and Geelong itself — a point of difference from other bids.

Collingwood had been widely assumed to win a license given the sheer size and reach of their club and supporter base, while Carlton’s case was bolstered by equal opportunity commissioner Kate Jenkins, who recently joined the Blues’ board.

Hawthorn and Essendon, Sydney and Gold Coast chose not to bid for women’s teams ahead of the inaugural 2017 season.

Fremantle beat out West Coast for the Perth licence — and wasted no time revealing a jumper for 2017 on Monday — while Brisbane, GWS and Adelaide took the women’s licenses in their markets.

Marquee player Daisy Pearce, who has represented the Demons in exhibition matches over recent years, said it “would be hard to get me to play anywhere else” when asked whether she would be playing for Melbourne in 2017.

Pearce said eight was the right number of teams to have in the inaugural competition.

“It’s great for me personally to have the opportunity to play elite sport in a professional arena,” Pearce said on Monday.

“It’s more about the little girls around us today that will grow up believing they can be footballers.”

There had been discussion whether the competition would be eight or 10 teams, but the AFL opted for an eight-team league in this first phase.

Bulldogs chief executive David Stevenson said Monday’s announcement was a significant moment for women’s football and his club.

“We are genuinely thrilled to be part of the inaugural women’s competition, for the club, for our fans but mostly for the young women who now can realise their dreams of being professional footballers,” he said in a statement.

“The club has a genuine commitment to creating an elite program for our female athletes, focusing on performance, innovation, experience and growth — and today’s announcement allows us to continue our leadership role in women’s football.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without valuable contributions from our players, coaches and staff and I want to thank them for their unwavering attention and focus.

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“We operate under the one-club, three-teams banner — today marks the continuation of that, and subsequently the further growth of our football club.”

Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann said it was an “absolute must” that the Lions have a women’s team from the inaugural season of the competition.

“There is so much talent across Queensland, we are really excited to get to work on developing a team that will do us proud in this great new national competition,” Swann said.

The 2017 women’s league:

Carlton

Collingwood

Western Bulldogs

Melbourne

GWS

Brisbane

Fremantle

Adelaide

Amazing!! There are no words to describe my joy. Thank you @afl & all involved who have made our dream a reality pic.twitter.com/3PmxaTPbEj — Steph Chiocci (@Steph_Chiocci) June 15, 2016

Awesome news! Guess I better get my sister playing footy again!! #gun https://t.co/ZqPHhrcdvE — Brodie smith (@Brodiesmith33) June 15, 2016

Back at Bulldogs HQ, club staff receive the news we'll have a Women's Team in 2017. #bemorebulldog #3teams1club pic.twitter.com/mehHIX2vtY — Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) June 15, 2016

Collingwood has been awarded a license for the 2017 national women's league. #GOPIES pic.twitter.com/hmbzaGGxZ3 — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 15, 2016