NORTH Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney is supportive of the AFL's plans to shift the NAB AFLW season to August, saying it’s the right time of year for the competition.

"I've always been of the opinion that we should be playing in that springtime period, so I was quite relieved. I was supportive of the AFL's decision to do that," Kearney told Credit to the Girls podcast.

"I do have the perspective of other people's issues with it, especially if they do [make the change] this season, given the number of ACLs we've had, it'll be another season those players will miss, and obviously expansion, the impact that might have on the quality of the game.

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"I think more so is the players who have taken time off work for this season, thinking they'd have the off-season and then play again next year, some have taken leave without play, some have moved interstate to play, and now they have to have difficult conversations with employers to say they need to take more time off.

"I certainly understand it from that perspective, but from the playing point of view, we'll be in the cooler months and not competing against sports like tennis and cricket, which is a great move."

EPISODE GUIDE ... 

0.40 – North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney joins the show

1.04 – Following up on a scoreless final quarter

1.53 – Ash Riddell's record

4.30 – Kearney's take on the August start date

7.17 – Discussions with the AFL and AFLPA

8.12 – Steps to professionalism and supporting players' employment

9.32 – Kearney's experience with cricket and growing professionalism

12.55 – The Roos' first final at Arden Street

13.49 – The growing history between North Melbourne and Fremantle