AFL has no plans to advance AFLW Grand Final

The AFL has responded to a report the league was looking to shift the AFL Women’s Grand Final in a bid to crown a premier amid fears coronavirus concerns could shut down the season.

The AFLW premiership won’t be decided next weekend. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL won’t advance the AFL Women’s Grand Final to this coming round.

Floated on the broadcast of Adelaide’s clash with Greater Western Sydney this afternoon, there was a suggestion that efforts to get ahead of further coronavirus protection measures could include expediting the competition decider by five weeks.

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The AFLW premiership won’t be decided next weekend. Picture: Getty Images

It was suggested that the top team of Conference A — North Melbourne — would face the top side of Conference B — Fremantle — next weekend.

But The Herald Sun understands that, while uncertainty clouds the sport, moving the Grand Final is not being considered.

The speculation was news to Fremantle coach Trent Cooper and Western Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke after their clubs’ record-breaking shootout at Whitten Oval.

Burke said he’d “be really flat” if his team’s season ended abruptly because it would stunt its development.

“The standard is going to go up another level next year, and so for us to play teams of a really good standard ... that’s going to give us an inkling of what we need to do over the pre-season,” Burke said.

“We can play teams that we’re going to beat, but we’re probably not going to learn anything.”

After a hard-fought loss to Fremantle, the Bulldogs are set to face the Kangaroos on Saturday.

“If we play like we did today that is gold,” Burke said after the 15-point loss to the Dockers. “That just gives us momentum running into the VFLW season to build on that again, and then to come back knowing this is the way the game is going to be played.”

The AFLW competition does not enjoy the “wriggle room” of the men’s competition for measures such as postponing the season, given most player contracts expire at the end of April.

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Originally published as AFL has no plans to advance AFLW Grand Final