Covid forces the AFLW season to be delayed until January

The AFLW season has been delayed a month to allow greater flexibility due to Australia’s Covid outbreak.

The AFLW season will start in January. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFLW season has been delayed a month until January to provide greater flexibility and the least disruption due to the ongoing Covid outbreak.

The AFL, together with the AFL Players’ Association, has informed AFLW clubs that the 2022 AFL women’s competition will begin on the weekend of January 6-9, 2022.

Season six of the AFLW was previously scheduled to start in December, but the decision to begin in January was made in close consultation with clubs and the AFLPA.

AFL general manager women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the league was looking forward to season six and reinforced the health and safety of the community remained the league’s priority.

“This year’s AFLW competition saw the best season yet with the quality of the game continuing to attract supporters and inspire hundreds of thousands of girls and women to play football,” Livingstone said.

“The 2021 season was also the most challenging yet due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic affecting all but two rounds of the competition.

“As we prepare for season six, we know the nature of playing professional sport in a pandemic means we will continue to be presented with challenges in the lead-up to and during the season and, as a result, have made the decision for the AFLW competition to commence in January next year.”

The AFLW season has been delayed a month. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Livingstone said the league remained committed to completing a full 10-round season plus finals – an increase from nine rounds in 2021 – and would continue to communicate with all clubs and players as soon as decisions were made.

“We openly acknowledge there are unique challenges and recognise the non-football commitments of both AFLW players and staff, and through this open dialogue we know the AFLW community is absolutely determined to work through them to achieve another groundbreaking season,” she said.

“The health and welfare of those in our game and the wider community remains the priority and we remain committed to commencing and completing the 2022 AFLW season in a safe manner led by respective governments and public health officials.

“We have an experienced team that has proven it can deliver a full fixture in a constantly changing environment and that same team will deliver the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s competition.”

AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh backed the decision to delay the AFLW season a month.

“The AFLPA and players understand the challenges that Covid is currently presenting to society and our industry,” he said.

“The decision to push back the start of the season is a sensible one in the current circumstances and has been worked through with AFLW player leaders.

“The players’ ongoing flexibility is to be commended and we appreciate the AFL’s willingness to in turn work with us to recognise the impact of these changes on the players’ non-football lives in the agreement we have reached with them.”
 

Originally published as Covid forces the AFLW season to be delayed until January