FURTHER on-field changes to the NAB AFL Women's competition may be on the cards next season. 

The AFL’s head of women's football Nicole Livingstone said the revamped VFL Women's competition, which will feature nine sides with links to AFLW teams (including those with confirmed or provisional licenses), will be bringing in anti-density rules when its season starts in May. 

"It was certainly discussed, and we've had this discussion, with the coaches in the review last year. We'll continue to talk to the AFLW coaches about the best style of play for AFLW to continue to develop that," Livingstone said on AFL.com.au's podcast Trail Blazers. 

"[The] VFLW have announced some changes to their competition this year, with some anti-density rules, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes. That's actually a really good flow on from the under-18 competition into the VFLW.

"We saw some good styles of the game this year in terms of the movement of the ball. If you look at those five teams that [at the start of the last round had] the potential of getting through to the Grand Final, they were moving the ball really well."

Although the exact VFLW anti-density rules have not yet been confirmed, the boys' TAC Cup competition has guidelines in place, with two forwards and two defenders needing to be inside forward 50 at all times. 

AFLW teams were directed to open up the play and start centre bounces in a five-six-five formation following a "spirit of the game" memo from the AFL after round one this season. 

Livingstone also said talks with the AFLPA over a new pay deal, which started at the end of last year, were progressing.

"We are at the process of being at the table with the AFLPA, talking about player agreements, and that conversation is going very well," she said.

"We're not at the stage yet of agreeing to a player contract for players for season number three. We also need to finalise what a structure would look like for season number three.

"I'm not at liberty to tell you about that at this stage but … we are working really hard. We've got some really good resources in the AFL in terms of the strategy side of things, but it's such a big jigsaw in terms of the broadcast, looking at fixturing and looking at those [new] teams as well. Even right down to where [the competition] fits in the calendar." 

With North Melbourne and Geelong joining the competition in 2019, details about list structure, the trade period and the draft hinge on the new pay deal. 

Trail Blazers also featured Brisbane Lions midfielder Ally Anderson and Western Bulldogs forward Aisling Utri ahead of Saturday's NAB AFLW Grand Final.