The start date of the AFLW 2022 season will be determined in August AFLW

Start date next AFLW The season will be announced shortly after the breakthrough in negotiations with the players’ union. AFLW clubs have received preliminary competition dates, which will move from summer to the start date in August.

Many AFLW players have criticized the delay in revealing the exact start date, but AFL CEO Gilan McLachlan says negotiations on a new collective agreement with the players’ union are almost complete.

“I’m sure we’ll agree in the next 24, 36 hours,” McLachlan told reporters in Adelaide on Monday. “It is important that we have the right result for our players, as well as for 18 clubs … and for women’s football in general.

“I hope people understand that the transition to an early start date is without collective bargaining [agreement], these things take a while. The players know that we will play in August, the clubs got the previous dates, we are close …. I am optimistic that we will have an announcement in the next day or so. “

Four new clubs will join the AFLW next season, making it a competition with 18 teams. Last season’s league was a nine-round competition, followed by the finals, which culminated in the grand final on April 9th.

The players want more rounds given the increase in the number of clubs, but McLachlan has hinted that this may not be provided. “Overall, the women’s cohort wants to play a longer season,” McLachlan said.

“Our opinion is also that we will attract four more teams and we want to consolidate before expansion. Obviously this is what we discussed. This is a real problem for the players, I know that … obviously, that was a key part of the discussions. “

Meanwhile, the Hawthorn expansion team has attracted Tilly Lucas Rod (St. Kilda), Jess Dauphin (North Melbourne), Janet Byrd (Gold Coast) and Akeka Makura Chuota (Richmond) from competing clubs for the first season of AFLW.

Last season, Lucas Rod took second place in the list of the best and fairest among the saints, while double-sporting star Dauphin is a two-time Australian. The 32-year-old was also a successful cricketer, was the captain of Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL.