NEARLY all AFLW teams will train during the day once a week in 2023 as the competition takes another step towards full-time professionalism.

The change is club-led, with a variety of circumstances leading to clubs making the call to offer daytime training, as opposed to previous years where sessions were primarily held in the evenings.

Due to its young list, West Coast was the first AFLW team to implement a day session last year, with Melbourne also following in its footsteps as the year progressed.

West Coast players listen to coach Michael Prior at a training session on July 2, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Geelong has also previously had flexible arrangements in place, particularly for its players with children, who have been able to complete gym or running sessions in their own time rather than with the full group.

Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs will now all have at least one day session during the week.

BACK TO WORK Pre-season kicks off ahead of 2023

Hawthorn has a greater number of players with longer working hours than some other clubs, so will have one afternoon session and two evening trainings.

Brisbane has started to incrementally move back its training sessions, which will kick off at 4pm (rather than 5pm) this year, while Sydney said its training times will be worked in alongside other programs.

Craig Starcevich speaks to his players during a Brisbane training session on November 24, 2022. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Photos

Clubs had to present their plans to the AFL and the AFLPA in order to run day training sessions, including alternate arrangements for the few players who cannot train at that time.

They also needed the agreement of the entire playing squad before proceeding with day sessions.

Another consideration clubs need to make is the availability of part-time staff, such as physios, who often have their own private work already locked in during the day. The soft cap means it's not simple to make such support staff and assistant coaches full-time, with only a handful of senior staff in such roles.

The average 94 per cent pay increase in last year's CBA, combined with a shifting younger age demographic on AFLW lists, means there has been a sharp decline in the number of players in full-time work.

Chelsea Randall watches on during an Adelaide training session on November 16, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

The current minimum AFLW wage for tier four players is $39,184 for a six-month contract, rising to $71,935 for tier one (not inclusive of extra marketing payments for a small number of players per club).

When the AFLW started in 2017, virtually all players drafted already had careers, given they had been previously been playing community and state-league footy. They were also a variety of ages, from 18 to mid-30s.

Fewer and fewer mature-age players are now being drafted as lists stabilise, with 18 and 19-year-olds the primary focus.