AFLW 2023: All the latest news as clubs start pre-season training

AFLW players hit the track on Monday as pre-season training started for 2023. But other than a rough start date, there’s no clarity on what the season will actually look like.

Port Adelaide star Erin Phillips says “it’s not ideal” the league’s start date and pay deal is yet to be locked in as the season nears.

But Phillips said AFLW players are trying to not think about the fixture or collective bargaining agreement still not being finalised.

Phillips and the Power kicked off their 2023 pre-season at Alberton on Monday.

They begin with the league providing no more clarity around the season, other than it will start in the bye before the AFL finals.

While a CBA – the first time AFL and AFLW players have been included in the same one if the agreements do come together – is still a while away.

“It is not ideal but it is not something that we are thinking about,” she said.

“We know when roughly the season is going to start and that is all we are focusing on, we have a big pre-season. We have 12 weeks to get as good as we can.

“We are focusing on controlling the things that we can control.”

AFLW players will be paid at the previous agreement rate until a new deal is secured, where backpay is expected to be included.

There remains a stark crevasse between the league and players on the terms of the new deal, with players continuing to push for an increase in season length to 12 home and away games.

Erin Phillips at Port Adelaide training. Picture Matt Turner.

Last year, AFLW players were kept in the dark for a long period of time regarding a start for the 2022 campaign, the sign and trade period, pre-season and even when the AFLW draft would be held.

Phillips said players could only focus on what was in front of them.

“Obviously we would love a schedule but we can only control what we can control,” she said.

“So we just have to focus on our training and that will hopefully get done sooner rather than later and we can get a schedule.”

Part of the gap between the AFL and the AFLPA on the new CBA is the players association’s push for AFLW players to be paid for 12 months of the year instead of nine, as soon as 2024.

Phillips said this would mean a lot to the playing cohort.

“That is the long term focus and the goal, I think right now our aim is to get a fixture for this year and then figure out maybe a plan going forward,” she said.

“I know that is the goal to become full time athletes eventually, but the girls are focused on the now and trying to be the best players we can be.”

We're back 👋 pic.twitter.com/2eSfHo1emA

— Port Adelaide AFLW (@pafc_w) May 29, 2023

Phillips and the Power will be looking to improve on their one-win season in 2023. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

After winning just the one game in their inaugural season in 2022, the Power will be looking for improvement in 2023.

Phillips, a three-time AFLW premiership player with fierce rivals Adelaide, backed them to find it.

“Obviously no doubt fitness was a big one and that just comes with time and with repetition, I know in the off season the girls have been doing a lot of work in that space,” she said.

“Experience is something you can’t teach and that is what this team is all about, growing and getting better and making improvements.

“This is day one.

“So far the attitude is there so we have to keep that up.”

Originally published as AFLW 2023: All the latest news as clubs start pre-season training