Port Adelaide is ready to bid for an AFLW licence when the league opens its next intake

Port Adelaide says it will apply for an AFLW licence as soon as it can and will be well prepared to make an instant impact.

Port Adelaide under-16 girls players Alicia Gaffney, Chloe and Madison Schwarz after lining up against the Crows at Alberton Oval this month. Picture: Supplied

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Port Adelaide will apply for an AFLW licence during the next round of bidding.

As the Crows prepare to play their preliminary final against Geelong at Adelaide Oval this Sunday, Port’s Next Generation Academy manager Shane Grimm has confirmed the Power wants to join the national women’s competition as soon as it can — possibly 2022.

The league, which is in its third season, has 10 teams and will increase to 14 next year when Richmond, West Coast, St Kilda and Gold Coast join.

That will leave only Port, Hawthorn, Sydney and Essendon without sides but the AFLW has yet to provide a timeline for further expansion.

The ⁦@PAFC⁩ U16 Next Generation Academy makes it 2 from 2, defeating Adelaide FC by 6 goals at Alberton. #showdownII #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/xaNTpPbKMR

— Vicki Schwarz (@VSchwarz9) March 20, 2019

“We’ve effectively just got to wait until the AFL provides licences,” Grimm said.

“Once that is presented to us, we are absolutely keen to get involved and we think with the work we are doing now, we will be well prepared when that does happen.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure but I think (the next bid for licences) may be 2022.

“We think we will definitely be ready to go when we get that opportunity.

“We think it’s important Port Adelaide get in so it gives South Australian girls an opportunity to play for another team.”

The Crows were granted SA’s sole AFLW licence for the competition’s inaugural season in 2017 and they went on to win its first grand final.

Port instead invested in its China strategy and developed female footy at a grassroots level with an under-16 girls team and women’s Aboriginal academy.

Port Adelaide under-16 girls ruck Georgia Hooper competing against the Crows at Alberton Oval this month. Picture: Supplied

Grimm helps oversee that side as part of the Next Generation Academy and it includes players from SANFL clubs West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens.

Port and Adelaide have twice faced off in an under-16 match this month — the Power winning by 56 points and 37 points, respectively.

“When it (the AFLW) first happened we were obviously invested into China,” Grimm said.

“But understanding there was only ever going to be one licence to come out of SA and the talent pool wasn’t going to be what it was, it’s something we wanted to make sure we got right first.

“We hope by the time we are in (the AFLW), the girls we have had with us for the past three or four years might be able to play for us.”

An AFLW spokeswoman confirmed there was no timeline for further expansion.