EXPANSION of the NAB AFL Women's competition won’t happen until 2019, but that has not stopped clubs from lining up to take part.
With applications closing in the middle of this month, some clubs have already announced their intentions to apply.
St Kilda, Geelong, Richmond, North Melbourne and West Coast unsuccessfully lodged applications for the 2017 season but were given provisional licences, and their updated submissions will receive priority over others.
A decision on expansion for 2019 is expected in July/August to give the new teams, broadcasters and the wider industry time to prepare for the third AFLW season.
So how are clubs positioned in their quest for AFLW teams?
The Bombers did not apply to take part in the inaugural AFLW season, as they were still dealing with the fallout of the WADA ban.
In an interview on essendonfc.com.au, chief executive Xavier Campbell said although the club still did not have facilities for a women's team it planned to field one down the track.
Has a provisional licence and will apply for a team in 2019.
The Cats were "bitterly disappointed" in the AFL Commission's decision to delay expansion, with CEO Brian Cook saying the club will be doing all it can "to join the AFLW as soon as possible".
Geelong has a team in the VFLW competition, made up of players from the Greater Geelong region and western Victoria. It also spruiks a ready-made, elite-level home ground in Simonds Stadium.
The Suns did not apply for a team in 2017, but CEO Mark Evans has said the club would be keen to join the AFLW when there was enough talent in Queensland to support two teams.
The Brisbane Lions dominated the inaugural season until the Grand Final. Queensland also comfortably accounted for both Western Australia and NSW/ACT in the first round of the NAB AFL Women's Under-18 Championships.
There’s plenty of evidence to suggest there will be enough talent to support a second Queensland team, especially as the Suns now also have an under-17 talent academy.
Hawthorn did not apply for an inaugural licence, arguing at the time it preferred to invest in grassroots footy.
But the Hawks moved quickly and now have a VFLW side (Box Hill) and are also aligned with the Eastern Ranges under-18 TAC Cup side.
In a letter to club members, president Richard Garvey said Hawthorn would apply for a 2019 licence, having put a "strong talent pathway in place".
The Kangaroos were disappointed at having missed out on an inaugural team, but do have a provisional licence for 2019.
They are aligned with VFLW side Melbourne Uni (runner-up to Darebin in the VFLW last year), and hosted an exhibition match earlier this season. The North Melbourne-sponsored team playing Darebin in a practice match was made up of players from Melbourne Uni and various Tasmanian teams.
The Roos also have an alignment with Tasmania through their next generation academy.
Port Adelaide did not apply for a licence last year, and although it has a team in the Adelaide Football League, the state’s premier women's competition, it appears unlikely to do so this year.
China remains the focus for the club in the next few years, after the successful first game in Shanghai last month.
Richmond has made the interesting move of appointing a women's football operations manager, former Collingwood player Kate Sheahan, before confirmation of the successful applicants for 2019.
The Tigers are very confident they will have a women's team, having aligned with Bendigo Thunder, who are playing some of their home matches in the Northern Football League competition at Punt Road.
They have also launched a talent academy for indigenous girls to be run in a similar fashion to their program for boys.
The Saints hold a provisional licence and are very keen for a team come 2019.
Their main selling point is the talent pool in the bayside area, with three VFLW clubs based in the south-east of Melbourne – St Kilda Sharks (no connection), Seaford and Cranbourne.
St Kilda fielded a side in an exhibition match earlier this season, made up of players from AFL Victoria's open-age academy.
The Swans expressed interest in applying to take part in the first season, but ultimately did not.
The main sticking point for the club at the time was a lack of facilities and space, and that is still the case.
Sydney is looking for a new training and administrative base and could revisit its interest in having a women’s team in the future.
After applying for an inaugural team, the Eagles have been quiet about their 2019 intentions.
With Fremantle struggling on-field this season, several stars now playing interstate might need to return to make a second West Australian team viable.
If the Eagles do apply, they still hold a provisional licence and their application will receive priority.
Juniors to go again
The final round-one match of the NAB AFL Women's Under-18 Championships takes place next Saturday afternoon, June 17. Vic Country will host Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium in Geelong, the only time the two sides will meet in the carnival.
The second phase of the championships will be held in mid-July on the Gold Coast.
NAB AFLW Draft
The draft is slated for October 18, meaning those delisted by AFLW clubs last month and untried youngsters have the remainder of their state league seasons to impress AFLW clubs.
Bulldogs coach Paul Groves was an interested onlooker during Diamond Creek's 61-point thumping of Geelong in VFLW action last weekend.
Highly touted Diamond Creek youngster Chloe Molloy did her chances of being drafted no harm, kicking four goals in the first half before being moved up the ground.
The 18-year-old represented Calder Cannons in the girls’ TAC Cup earlier this year, winning the competition's best and fairest award as well as topping the goalkicking.
Molloy is leading the VFLW goalkicking with 15 goals from four games, seven ahead of her nearest rival, teammate Christina Bernardi.
With the Bulldogs holding the No.1 draft pick and on the hunt for a key forward, Molloy could well end up in the red, white and blue next year.
