Crows star Ebony Marinoff expects AFLW conference system debate to heat up again at season’s end
An Adelaide dual premiership player reckons the debate on having an AFLW conference system is likely to blow up again at season’s end and she’s not looking forward to the “backlash”.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Crows great sends stranded fan to World Cup final
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
CROWS star Ebony Marinoff believes the hotly-contested debate about AFLW conferences is likely to resurface again at the end of this season.
The AFL introduced a conference system last season, splitting teams into either an A or B pool by their ladder positions and kept it for 2020.
Last year, with just 10 teams, the two sides which finished highest in each conference at the end of the minor round qualified for the finals.
Watch every match of the 2020 NAB AFLW Season LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The argument on the conference system heated up when Geelong earned a spot in the finals as one of Conference B’s representatives despite having fewer wins than Conference A sides North Melbourne and Melbourne, which both missed out.
This year, with 14 teams, the top three each from conference will play finals.
Speaking on The Advertiser’s women’s football podcast, CJ and the Noff, the dual premiership midfielder expected at least one unlucky side in Conference B would have a better record than a team in Conference A.
If finals were played today Fremantle (20 points, five wins), Melbourne (16 points, 4-1 record) and Carlton (16 points, 4-1 record) would qualify from Conference B.
Collingwood is fourth on Conference B’s ladder with 12 points.
Brisbane, second on Conference A’s ladder with 14 points and GWS (third, 12 points), would make the finals ahead of the Magpies.
“There’s going to be one unfortunate team in Conference B,” Marinoff said.
“We’ve got Freo, Melbourne, Collingwood and Carlton (all battling for top three).
“I know each team has dropped a game they probably shouldn’t have.
“So there’s going to be one pretty unlucky team that doesn’t make it through to Conference B (finals).
“I’m not looking forward to the backlash of what that’s going to give about our conference systems in the AFLW.”
Adelaide is fifth on Conference A’s ladder after a 42-point loss against North Melbourne in Hobart last Saturday.
Cramey missed the clash against the Kangaroos with a calf complaint but Marinoff battled hard and finished with 26 possessions.
The Crows take on GWS at Richmond this Sunday.
Marinoff said the match is a must-win for Adelaide to sneaking into finals contention.
“We have to win, if we don't we are a very low chance of making the top three in our conference,” Marinoff said.
“What we can control is winning the game on Sunday but there’s obviously a lot of work to be done to get the win.”