AFL Queensland have today revealed changes to the QAFLW season which will benefit the Suns and local QAFLW clubs

Greater exposure, more playing opportunities and increased synergy between state and national leagues will be the Queensland women’s Aussie rules norm in 2020 with AFL Queensland today formally announcing changes to the 2020 Bond University QAFLW and development seasons.

GREATER exposure, more playing opportunities and increased synergy between state and national leagues will be the Queensland women’s Aussie rules norm in 2020 with AFL Queensland today formally announcing changes to the 2020 Bond University QAFLW and development seasons.

The start date of Queensland’s premier female division, which includes Gold Coast clubs Bond University and the Coolangatta Bluebirds, has been moved forward one month to align with the 2020 AFL Women’s fixture, with round one now scheduled for the weekend of February 29 – March 1.

QAFLW players Erin Sundstrom of Bond University and Beth Pinchin of the Coolangatta Bluebirds. Pic Mike Batterham

The opening weekend will now align with round four of the AFLW season where it will run simultaneously with the national competition for the final five rounds of the home and away season, as well as the three week finals series through to April 18-19.

The changes may also pave the way for some AFLW and QAFLW double-headers but the logistics of such fixtures are still in the works.

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While non-selected AFLW players may still play a few QAFLW games to maintain match fitness, it’s expected that listed players will undertake a small rest period at the discretion of AFLW clubs following the end of the season, allowing emerging talent to play a bigger role at state league level.

With two Queensland clubs playing in the AFLW competition from next season, the changes allow listed Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns players the opportunity to still play football should they not be selected in an AFLW team on any given weekend.

Serene Watson of the Gold Coast Suns is seen after being taken at pick 18 in the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s draft. Watson plays for both the Suns AFLW side and Bond University in the QAFLW.. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Gold Coast SUNS Head of Women’s Football, Fiona McLarty said the changes to the fixture would be beneficial to both the AFLW and QAFLW clubs.

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“It’s great to have women’s football in Queensland running at the same time as the AFLW season,” McLarty told aflq.com.au.

“It’s really valuable for us to give players who aren’t in the AFLW side some real game-time while the season is running, rather than just rely on training sessions for them to build form.

“It’s also good for the players themselves as it gives them the best opportunity to put their hand up for AFLW selection.

“AFL Queensland has had a strong focus on developing women’s football over the last decade and this is further evidence of their commitment to making the QAFLW the state-league competition of choice.”

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Brisbane Lions Women’s Football Chief Executive Officer, Bree Brock added: “For the QAFLW competition, it allows other [non-AFLW] players to play bigger roles and have greater opportunity. We’ll now see more talent rise up through the competition.”

After a 14 Round fixture in 2019, the QAFLW will be expanded to a 16 round season to be played across 23 weeks, including four competition-wide by rounds, with the Grand Final scheduled for Sunday, August 2.

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The QW Winter Series as its known won’t go ahead next season and various community QFAW competitions will commence approximately a month after the QAFLW season begins.

The full 2020 QAFLW fixture will be announced in the coming weeks.