AFL backing controversial AFLW conference system but Bulldogs boss says split was wrong from start

The AFL has revealed why it’s standing by its conference system, despite a public outcry. But Western Bulldogs boss Debbie Lee says the league failed to factor in one big issue when splitting the expanded AFLW as debate heats up.

Nicole Livingstone and Debbie Lee.

The AFL failed to factor in significant player movement when it allocated teams into its controversial women’s league conferences, according to Western Bulldogs football boss Debbie Lee.

The league is backing its conference system despite the likelihood of lesser performed teams playing finals ahead of better credentialed rivals.

AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone said the league had no plans to revert to a conventional single ladder for its 10-team competition, despite a public outcry.

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A clear divide has emerged with conference A teams registering 12 wins and conference B sides, just three. There have been nine conference crossover games with A teams winning every one and on average doubling the score of their conference B rivals.

The top two teams from each conference will qualify for the preliminary finals.

Livingstone linked the unbalanced conferences to the “unpredictable” nature of AFLW.

AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone and Bulldogs football manager Debbie Lee.

Lee said more weight should have been given to club lists rather than simply looking at 2018 ladder position to determine the conferences.

“There was a risk doing the conference system and the risk is obviously what’s happening now,” Lee said.

“I would have rethought how the teams were put into conferences. There wasn’t enough consideration around the lists, the player movement.

“If you finished first, if you finished second and you split them, that wasn’t even going to work because of the player movement.

“You can see teams that have lost players aren’t performing as well as they did last year and it’s clear, that’s as clear as day.

“If we had a conference system and Melbourne was in conference B and North Melbourne was in conference B (both are in conference A), I don’t think we’d be having this conversation.”

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Western Bulldogs have won two of three games but sit last in Conference A behind unbeaten North Melbourne and Fremantle, and Melbourne and Adelaide.

The Dogs would be a game clear on top if they were in conference B, where Carlton, Geelong and Brisbane sit on one win ahead of winless GWS and Collingwood.

Lee said the Bulldogs were focused purely on winning games.

“You still need to come first or second in your conference so if you’re good enough, you’ll win it anyway,” Lee said.

Livingstone said the league was “happy with where we are” and rejected the suggestion the league had gone too early with splitting its competition, which grows to 14 teams next year.

“We’re sticking by the conference system … it’s an education and journey process for people that are following AFLW that we’re focusing on two ladders and two conferences, not one. (We’re) not merging them together,” she said.

“The races within the conference are exciting and we wanted exciting conference races.

“We have a set decision that two teams from each conference will come through into the prelim finals, one ladder would lead itself to having the top four teams off one ladder (playing in preliminary finals), which is not what the rules say.

“Everybody knew that two teams would go through from each conference … if you can’t be in the top two of your conference, are you the best team?

“People need to get their heads around the conferences.”

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