Melbourne coach Mick Stinear wants ‘honest and robust’ review of AFLW after third season

Melbourne coach Mick Stinear wants more games next season and says it will be hard to explain the fact the best four teams won’t play finals under the controversial new conference system.

Harriet Cordner of the Demons and Danielle Ponter of the Crows in action during the 2019 AFLW Round 7 match.

Melbourne coach Mick Stinear wants an honest and robust review of AFLW and more games next season as he admitted the fact the best four teams won’t play finals would be hard to explain to some.

The Demons were thumped by flag favourite Adelaide on Saturday and won’t play finals, but have finished the season with more wins than one and possibly two finalists because of the lop-sided conference system.

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Geelong or Brisbane will play finals with three wins and four losses. Carlton could also have a 3-4 record and will finish top of Conference B.

Melbourne has a 4-3 win-loss season record.

“That part will hurt the group,” Stinear said.

“And from a coaching point of view, you want to be playing finals but I think we’ve only got ourselves to blame, we lost three games, we win those and it’s a different position, so we can’t complain about where we finished but it makes it harder to justify (to) others that the best four in the comp don’t get to play (finals).

“But that’s the structure we signed up for so no complaints from our end.

Angela Foley lays a spectacular tackle on Demon Tegan Cunningham.

“I’d hope there’s a review of this season and let’s try to do it bigger and better next season, that’s all I can ask for,” Stinear said.

“I think with another four teams coming in you just hope there’s some honest and robust discussions about what’s best for women’s footy because the growth in the game this year has been unbelievable, so let’s make sure we keep giving these girls the best opportunity to display their talent.

‘I’d love to see more games, the girls deserve it, they’re only going to get better with more games. I’m certainly an advocate for that.”

Stinear said the Crows were the team to beat for this year’s premiership.

“Adelaide thoroughly deserve to be on top of the ladder and they’ll make life hard for whoever they play next week,” he said.