Eight teams have been granted licences and will make up next year’s inaugural women’s AFL competition, the league announced on Wednesday.
Of the 13 applicants, Victorian clubs Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs, along with interstate clubs Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney, were successful in their bids.
That left North Melbourne, Geelong, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast Eagles disappointed.
The remaining men’s teams – Sydney, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Essendon – did not enter a submission.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick confirmed the five teams missing out would be granted provisional licences, with a view to possible expansion as early as 2018.
“Our game is on the cusp of changing forever and changing for the better,” Fitzpatrick said at the announcement at the MCG.
“The concept of a national competition has been put together in short space of time but this day has been a long time coming.
“The number of women and girls playing club football has doubled over the past five years.”
Details of the format of the competition were to be discussed later on Wednesday.
Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce said: “We’ve seen on so many issues that sport is a powerful vehicle. To see women out there playing a really physical sport, at our most powerful, will [encourage change] across all of society.”
The women’s competition will run for eight weeks, in February and March 2017.
Congratulations Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, GWS, Melbourne, W Bulldogs #journeyto2017 https://t.co/qmt9zIGNYc
— AFL (@AFL) June 15, 2016
