The AFLW’s big boss has admitted that a further four teams will stretch the league’s talent

With four new teams set to enter the AFLW competition next year, AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone admitted that there might not be enough ready-made talent to facilitate the league’s expansion.

WITH four new teams set to enter the AFLW competition next year, AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone admitted that there might not be enough ready-made talent to facilitate the league’s expansion.

Nicole Livingstone poses for a photo during a AFLW U18 Championships media opportunity at Metricon Stadium on July 08, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Speaking on the Gold Coast last week during the AFLW Under 18 national championships, Livingstone said that more than 120 new players were required to fill out the incoming teams playing lists which could place stress on the league’s continued improvement.

“We have 120 new spots available with the four clubs coming in but there’s probably more than that given players retire and get injured and can’t play,” she said.

“It is going to be a stretch on our talent, having four new clubs come in and 120 further players.”

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Despite admitting the league may suffer in the short term, Livingstone said that the rapid progression of existing AFLW players would help bring new talent up to standard.

“They’ve improved year on year and we’re coming in now to having a fourth pre-season,” she said.

“Those players that are in the industry already are strengthening year on year, and when you bring the new players into a new environment that has those players in there, that brings them up to speed very quickly.

“The improvement they can make in these first couple of years is huge.”

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Livingstone also looked to the success of first year players like Madison Prespakis, who won Carlton’s season best and fairest and the AFLW rising star award as an 18-year-old.

“We have a host of girls coming through who are freakishly amazing,” she said.

“We now have a talent pathway from Auskick right through and we’re now starting to see those girls come through.”