AFLW players begin pre-season without round 1 date locked in

AFLW players ploughed into their pre-season on Monday without knowing the date for round 1, which has left them in a state of confusion.

As AFLW clubs around Australia began their pre-season, the league’s most decorated player, Erin Phillips, declared it was “not ideal” to have neither a start date or a pay deal locked away.

The start of the next AFLW season will be the first weekend of September, but who plays who and when and where remains a mystery for not just Phillips and Port Adelaide but every team.

The players’ union and AFL officials are also yet to finalise a collective bargaining agreement as talks continue, with the length of the deal believed to be a sticking point.

Having so many significant unknowns remains a concern but Phillips, a triple premiership player at the Adelaide Crows and a dual league best-and-fairest winner, said it was not important to get distracted by them.

“Obviously, it’s not ideal,” Phillips said on Monday as the 38-year-old began pre-season training with Port Adelaide.

“But it’s not something we’re thinking about.

“We know roughly about when the season most likely will start and that will probably be, from what I hear is that (AFL men’s) bye weekend in August, September.

Erin Phillips is only worried about what she and her Port Adelaide teammates can control. Picture: Matt Turner

“And that‘s all we’re really focusing on at the moment … we have got 12 weeks at the moment to get as good as we can in that time and get ready to play our first game.

“So, control the things that you can control and we’re certainly doing that.”

Melbourne premiership winner Lily Mithen said it wasn’t a new situation for AFLW players,waiting for not only the fixture but details on the CBA

“We’ve been in this position before where there’s been a bit of uncertainty with dates and things like that,” she said.

“There’s times you need to wait and times you need to push and I think everyone is comfortable with the way it’s tracking. We know the outcome will be beneficial for us as a playing group.”

Melbourne players celebrate with the premiership cup last November. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Contracts for a full year, rather than the current nine-month deals, are among those issues the AFL Players Association is trying to sort out.

Phillips said it shouldn’t hold up a call on the date to start the season.

“That is a long-term focus and goal,” Phillips said of pay talks.

“Right now, the aim is just to really get the start date, get a fixture for this year.

“Looking long-term, I know for the players, that is the goal eventually to become full-time athletes.

“When that will happen, I’m not sure.

“But certainly the girls are really just focused on now and trying to be the best players that they can be and put a product on the field that‘s exciting.”

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Phillips said she had yet to seriously contemplate retirement and finally entering a pre-season injury free pushed it further from her mind.

“It has been my last season probably for the last five years,” she said.

“At the moment, I’m really enjoying having the first off-season where I actually haven’t had a scope or surgery or any kind of setback.

“I’m just looking at this season … and then we’ll see what happens after the year, but I certainly haven’t made any decision yet.

“Honestly, even though I am 38 I feel youngish … I come into this team just feeling excited and grateful that every year that I get to play footy. I’m very lucky.”