THE AFL today wrote to all AFLW Clubs to advise the AFL Commission had approved recommendations relating to Special Assistance for five AFLW Clubs presented to it at its meeting on Wednesday, May 12.
 
In providing Special Assistance, the AFL Commission considered a range of factors including the win/loss record of these Clubs over the past two seasons, percentage, performance against teams above and below them on the ladder and an assessment of their respective list profiles.
 
The Commission also considered the views of all stakeholders and industry groups consulted with the Special Assistance to assist the ongoing development of their respective playing lists.

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The Commission approved the following recommendations:

- Provide the Gold Coast SUNS with two priority selections, after the fifth (5th) and seventh (7th) selections in the first round, as well as access to two mature age players from Queensland prior to the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft.

- Provide the Geelong Cats with two priority selections, after the sixth (6th) and (8th) selections in the first round, as well as access to two mature age players from their region prior to the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft.

- Provide the West Coast Eagles with a priority selection in the second (2nd) and third (3rd) rounds of the draft, directly after the fifth (5th) selection in each of those rounds.

- Provide St Kilda with a priority selection in the second round of the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft, directly after the sixth (6th) selection in that round.

- Provide Richmond with a priority selection in the second (2nd) round of the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft, directly after the seventh (7th) selection in that round.

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Additionally, these priority selections are made on the basis that the first five (5) selections, held by each of the Clubs receiving Special Assistance, are not to be traded ahead of the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Draft. Any selections after this point can be traded as per current AFLW Rules.
 
A summary of these selections can be seen here in an updated draft order here.
 
Timelines for the upcoming NAB AFLW Sign & Trade Period, as well as projected dates for the NAB AFLW Draft, will be advised in due course.