WHILE their male counterparts have had the odd player retention problem over recent seasons, the Brisbane Lions women's team is hoping to avoid similar issues with a simple strategy.
On the eve of the code's first national season, women's club CEO Breeanna Brock says the Lions are hopeful that in three years they'll have a list made up entirely of Queenslanders.
Queensland has punched well above its weight in women's footy to this point, and Brock expects that to continue.
The Lions have five non-Queenslanders on their inaugural list: marquee signing Sabrina Frederick-Traub (Western Australia), priority pick Kaitlyn Ashmore and Nicole Hildebrand (Victoria) and Brittany Gibson and Jessica Wuetschner (Tasmania).
And while the men have lost a string of first-round draft picks to the 'go home' factor – something they have straightened out in the past two off-seasons – the women plan on having no such problems.
"I don't think any of us are ready for the tsunami of interest and participation that's going to come," Brock told AFL.com.au.
"In Queensland we've had 37 per cent increase in participation (in female football) year-on-year for the past four years and you hope that's going to increase with all the extra exposure (of the NAB AFLW competition) and the juggernaut of the AFL behind it.
"We've got great youth girls' programs and talented under-18s, (so) our nursery is looking really good in terms of continuing to build the (Lions) as a Queensland side.
"The hope is that within three seasons we'll be 100 per cent made up of Queensland talent. That's certainly a goal for us."
Brock says she expects Gold Coast (which, like the Lions, has established its own academy) to bid for a team if and when the competition expands.
In the meantime, though, all eyes are focused on the inaugural season.
With a relatively short preparation, Brock says there have been challenges, but believes the Lions are well placed to be strong first-season performers.
"It's been a bit of a rush, but that's the same for everyone," she said.
"We've got our challenges up here. We've got five girls who are 'tradies' and the weather has a big say in what they can do.
"It's unique here because it's consistently hot.
"How you manage training loads when players working outdoors have just been cooked for six hours is a challenge.
"The keys are being flexible and adaptable and making sure everybody gets what they need, when they need it and when they can do it," Brock said.
"We're working on our building blocks for the first three to five seasons, on how the Brisbane Lions are going to be successful and be dominant in the competition.
"That's what we're here for. We want to win games and win premierships."
