AFLW news: What’s happening in the world of women’s footy

The AFL has granted Richmond and West Coast’s women’s teams special assistance in this year’s AFLW draft after both failed to win a game last season. However, the rescue package comes with strings attached.

The Eagles also did it tough, and asked the league for help. Picture: Getty Images

Richmond and West Coast have been afforded priority picks for this year’s AFL Women’s draft, with the salvage packages the first of their kind after challenging debut seasons for both clubs.

And they must immediately endeavour to take the picks to the market for “ready-made talent”.

Both the Tigers – who were winless in 2020 – and Eagles, who managed just one victory, made applications to the league for special assistance, which was on Monday granted to help teams “deliver upon their football strategy”.

Each club will receive an additional draft selection at the end of the first round of the 2020 AFLW draft, which will be held later this year – Richmond receiving pick 15 and the Eagles pick 16, which come after the first round.

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Richmond did not record a win in its debut AFLW season. Picture: Getty Images

The selections must be on-traded to bring in established talent to add to the team, and while they can be combined with other selections or players, they cannot be used to bring another pick back to the club.

“After a detailed assessment of the list challenges facing the two clubs, their opportunities for improvement and an examination of how their respective issues can be addressed, the decision was made to provide special assistance,” league general counsel and AFLW list committee member Andrew Dillon said.

“There is no doubt both clubs had challenges building a competitive list in the first year of participation in the competition and it is to the benefit of the entire competition that they are competitive.

“AFLW fans want a strong and even competition, and while the endeavour and intent can’t be faulted by either club, there have been list build challenges that have impacted the on-field competitiveness of each team.”

The Tigers will have the first pick in the 2020 draft, which will have its date confirmed in the next 10 days.

The AFLW sign and trade period is set to begin on August 3.