AFLW news: Former Pies coach says reset switch is the answer to saving struggling AFLW

With another AFLW expansion threatening to dilute the product even more, a former coach has outlined his radical plan to save the competition before he says it’s too late.

Former Magpies coach Wayne Siekman has warned AFLW contests between the top and bottom sides are becoming “unwatchable” and the only solution is to start again and redraft all players when the league expands to 18 teams next season.

Fearing the standard of play could get “very ugly” when the league swells to a full 18 teams for season 2022-23, the inaugural Collingwood women’s coach said the only way to solve the widening gap in the competition was to undergo a complete reset via the national draft.

AFLW will complete its expansion in its seventh season when Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans enter the competition.

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Isabella Lewis tackles Collingwood’s Jaimee Lambert at Mineral Resources Park, Perth. Picture: Getty Images

While Siekman acknowledged the “top end” standard had improved significantly since the league’s inception, he said the gap between the top and bottom of the ladder had created contests that were “hard to watch” after the most recent expansion in 2020.

Siekman’s comments came after a day of one-sided battles when Melbourne kept the Giants to one goal — 5.8 (44) to 1.1 (7) — and Fremantle thumped Carlton in a 7.9 (51) to 1.3 (9) victory on Saturday.

“Certainly this weekend has really gone to show that when a top side is playing a bottom side it is nearly unwatchable,” Siekman said.

“The first two years were pretty even … nearly anyone could beat anyone in those first two years.

“Then the next two clubs came, which wasn’t too bad … but as we’ve seen with the induction of the last four, the standard has got worse.

Brisbane’s Orla O’Dwyer kicks the her team forward against the Saints at the weekend. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m a big fan of the AFLW and I love seeing the growth of the game. But it’s going to be very ugly the next couple of years because look what has happened the last two years with four extra teams now we are going to go the full 18.”

Siekman’s answer to the situation was to start from scratch and go back to the draft for all clubs and players.

He said a “draft lottery” was the only way to ensure the competition was “fair and even” when it expanded to the full 18 teams.

“My suggestion is that they start again. With 18 teams, it‘s the perfect time to go back (to the draft) for every single player,” Siekman, now football manager at West Adelaide, said.

“If you are going to do it and make it even and fair from the start with all 18 clubs, just start again, just put every single player into the draft and you start over again.

“That way you are going to get 18 clubs that are pretty fair in depth from the top end to bottom end.

“My main point is to make it fair. If they did then the competition is even from the start, 18 teams in it next year, everyone is on square one, everyone has got to build from there and there are no excuses going forward.

“It gives the AFL women’s competition the chance to be fresh, no more teams coming into the competition and see how they can develop.

Courtney Hodder of the Brisbane Lions unsuccessfully fends off Ella Friend. Picture: Michael Klein

“At the moment the top sides, if their two best players dominate, they win the game, especially against the bottom sides. If you start again and redraft everyone it’s fair on every single facet and then all of a sudden you have got an equal competition.

“This is the one chance they have got potentially to do it.”

AFLW started with eight teams in 2017 before it expanded to 10 with the addition of Geelong and North Melbourne in 2019.

Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast joined the league in 2020.

Siekman said the competition had expanded too quickly and feared people might start turning off if the talent pool was further diluted and the widening gap not addressed.

“That Geelong-West Coast game Friday a week ago, although the contest was close, it was a very average game of football to watch from a skill standard,” Siekman said.

“There is going to be heaps of that (when it expands to 18 teams). I would hate for people to turn it off.

“The standard doesn’t have to be great if the competition is even. I think that’s very important though … when you start getting those mismatches, it is very hard to watch.”

AFLW slammed over ridiculous ‘circus’ schedule

GWS coach Alan McConnell has lashed the AFLW fixture after his side’s embarrassing loss to Melbourne by 37-points, labelling elements a “circus”.

The Giants had their game against St Kilda postponed due to Covid last round with 19 of their players suffering the virus.

The constant fixture adjustments have left a handful of teams having only played one or two home games this season.

The Giants have had just one home game through six rounds – enraging coach Alan McConnell. Picture: Getty

The Giants have played just one, to the frustration of McConnell.

“We’re in Rd 6 and we’ve played one home game … I don’t need to say any more do I,” McConnell said.

For context, after Rd 6 Fremantle will have played one more home game than the Giants, while West Coast will join the Giants having played one despite both Western Australian teams being in a Victorian hub for four weeks because of Western Australia’s strict border restrictions.

Teams have been given short notice of adjustments and travel requirements on a number of occasions, adding to the Giants coach’s frustration.

“If you add a couple of those being a bit of a circus in terms of our travel … shit happens,” he said.

The Giants will play their second home game of the season next Saturday against ladder-leaders Adelaide.

FOUR GAMES IN 15 DAYS: LIONS’ BRUTAL SCHEDULING SLAMMED

Brisbane has been delivered a curveball in its quest for back-to-back AFLW premierships, with the Lions being asked to play four games in 15 days in a gruelling schedule.

Brisbane has won three of its first four matches this season but has now been caught in a fixture jam as the competition looks to make up games lost to Covid-19 earlier in the season.

Brisbane’s postponed Round 3 match against Gold Coast will now be played at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night ahead of Round 7.

Emily Bates is congratulated by teammates after kicking a goal against Collingwood at Maroochydore last week. Picture: Getty Images

It will make for back-to-back four-day breaks for the Lions, who face St Kilda in Melbourne on Sunday and then play Melbourne in Round 7 at Metricon Stadium four days after their clash with the Suns.

Brisbane is then scheduled to make a trip to Perth for a match against West Coast off a six-day break.

Former Brisbane midfielder Lauren Arnell, who played in last year’s AFLW premiership, hit out at the AFLW’s scheduling.

“The fourth game in 15 days is a flight to Perth,” Arnell wrote on Twitter.

“Don’t try and tell me a male AFL team who are paid full time would be expected to do this.

“What level of athlete and staff wellbeing are we reaching or even aiming for here?”

Greater Western Sydney and St Kilda have both been scheduled to play three games across nine days during Round 7 and 8, while the Western Bulldogs have three games in 10 days.

In a statement, the AFL thanked clubs for their understanding and commitment to the season “while the ongoing pandemic continues to impact and challenge our competition”.

Players set to swelter as AFLW safety concerns grow

AFL Women’s players are expected to play in sweltering heat on Sunday after the league opted against changing game times.

The forecast in Melbourne is for 34C at 1.10pm when St Kilda takes on Brisbane, Perth is tipped to reach 34C for West Coast’s 3.10pm clash with Collingwood, while Adelaide is expected to be 33C at 5.10pm when the Crows tackle the Western Bulldogs at 5.10pm.

St Kilda, which is set to liaise further with the league on Friday in relation to the match, intends to use water mist fans on the sideline of Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham, in a bid to combat the extreme conditions.

Under the league’s heat policy — which is in place for the entire AFLW season — teams can also employ extra water carriers. Extended breaks can also be implemented to allow players more recovery time between quarters.

Collingwood coach Steve Symonds has conceded this weekend’s conditions are not ideal. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Collingwood coach Steve Symonds — who will travel to Perth in a fly-in fly-out arrangement approved by the Western Australian government — conceded that the blistering conditions are “not ideal” for players.

“It’s not ideal for any athletes doing that,” he said on SEN.

“We also train in those conditions as well … we’re smart about our training (times).

“We’re asking a lot of it. The grounds are a little bit harder.”

He suggested that summer evenings could be a prime timeslot that AFLW could capitalise on and “specialise in”.

The league said it continued to monitor weather, and maintained that “the health and safety of everyone remains paramount”.

“Specifically for the 2022 AFLW competition, at all matches there are additional water carriers, extended breaks, an increase to the number of team trainers and unlimited bench rotations,” it said.

Daisy Pearce says she loses sleep over playing in the hot weather. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Melbourne star Daisy Pearce spoke last week about the “horrendous” nature of playing in such hot weather and admitted it was something she lost sleep over in the lead-up to games.

“It’s horrendous, I won’t mince my words,” she told 3AW recently.

“You have to convince yourself that it’s fine. You know it what it’s like – you can’t concede that its going to be tough, the opposition is in the same conditions, all that.

“I lose sleep over it.

“When you run out on a 35 degree day and it’s humid, it is a tough game to play over the course of a couple of hours. It’s what we have to deal with at the moment … but it’s tough going.

“From a player comfort point of view – give me a 15 degree rainy Melbourne day any time.”

The AFL Players’ Association has also previously expressed concerns to the league about players returning after recovering from Covid and being required to play off short breaks to get matches completed.

TEAMS

Gold Coast v Geelong

Friday, Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm

SUNS

B: Saad, Ahrens

HB: D’Arcy, Dunn, Keaney

C: Watson, Drennan, Hammond

HF: Hampson, Surman, Whitfort

F: Bohanna, Dupuy

Foll: Bella, Rowbottom, Stanton

Inter: Heslop, Danckert, Groves-Little, Yorston, Perkins

Em: Randell, Perry

In: Dupuy, Groves-Little

Out: Howarth (Injured), Perry (Omitted)

CATS

B: McMahon, Keryk

HB: Emonson, McDonald, Rankin

C: Morrison, Prespakis, Van De Heuvel

HF: Crockett-Grills, McWilliams, Kearns

F: Scheer, Darby

Foll: Caris, Webster, McDonald

Inter: Friswell, Featherston, Maguire, Gardiner, Ivey

Em: Clarke, Higgins

In: Caris, Maguire, Gardiner

Out: Johnson (injured), Fuller (omitted), Moloney (suspension)

Saturday, February 12

Richmond v North Melbourne

Swinburne Centre, 2.10pm AEDT

TIGERS

B: S.D’Arcy 12 R.Miller 15

HB: A.Makur Chuot 34 J.Hosking 11 K.Dempsey 19

C: T.Lavey 37 S.Hosking 7 M.Shevlin 35

HF: B.Lynch 32 M.Brancatisano 5 E.Yassir 27

F: E.McKenzie 22 G.Seymour 28

Foll: P.Kelly 14 K.Brennan C 3 M.Conti 4

I/C: S.Sansonetti 18 T.Stahl 24 M.Kiely 31 M.Macdonald 38 K.Jacques 10

Emerg: S.Molan 1 S.Dargan 17

In: A.Makur Chuot, M.Kiely

Out: L.McClelland (injured), H.Burchell (injured)

NORTH

B: J.Ferguson 20 S.Wright 17

HB: B.Brown 36 E.Kearney C 9 A.Gilroy 8

C: N.Bresnehan 12 J.Bruton 35 I.Eddey 3

HF: A.O’Loughlin 6 E.King 60 E.Gavalas 22

F: T.Randall 16 S.Abbatangelo 1

Foll: K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7

I/C: D.Bateman 11 D.Bannister 2 M.King 23 A.Smith 15 J.Duffin 27

Emerg: T.Craven 5 G.Campbell 43

No changes

Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney

Casey Fields, 4.10pm AEDT

DEMONS

B: L.Birch 9 G.Colvin 32

HB: S.Goldrick 23 S.Lampard 8 S.Heath 30

C: L.Mithen 14 T.Hanks 5 E.McNamara 22

HF: S.Scott 12 K.Hore 10 M.Fitzsimon 24

F: D.Pearce C 6 T.Harris 7

Foll: L.Pearce 15 K.Paxman 4 E.Zanker 29

I/C: L.Magee 26 E.West 11 M.Caris 21 J.Parry 19 A.Bannan 16

Emerg: B.Tarrant 20 A.Brown 28

In: T.Hanks

Out: C.Sherriff (injured)

GIANTS

B: J.Grierson 10 B.Stack 15

HB: A.Lister 14 P.Randall 21 T.Hetherington 9

C: E.Pease 33 A.Parker 3 K.Smith 4

HF: R.Privitelli 19 C.Staunton 13 J.Doyle 5

F: L.Stephenson 12 N.Barr 8

Foll: E.McKinnon 23 A.Eva C 2 K.Loynes 7

I/C: L.Graham 37 A.Dallaway 30 C.Dalton 11 H.Zreika 24 A.Morphett 22

Emerg: L.Steane 20 E.Lorenzini 25

In: P.Randall, R.Privitelli, K.Loynes, C.Dalton, H.Zreika

Out: E.Lorenzini (omitted), G.Fowler (omitted), B.Mowbray (omitted), C.Simmons (omitted), L.Steane (rested)

Fremantle v Carlton

Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST

DOCKERS

B: E.O’Driscoll 3 L.Pugh 32

HB: S.Verrier 5 A.Tighe 10 J.Low 30

C: E.Antonio 12 A.Stannett 4 S.Cain 20

HF: A.Runnalls 22 K.Antonio 15 R.Roux 17

F: G.Houghton 27 M.Tuhakaraina 13

Foll: M.Strom 21 H.Miller C 19 G.O’Sullivan 9

I/C: T.Toth 33 J.Stewart 7 M.Hyde 28 D.East 8 M.Morrison 11

Emerg: S.Wielstra 24 B.Webb 26

In: J.Stewart

Out: A.McMahon (omitted)

BLUES

B: C.Wilson 20 P.Trudgeon 26

HB: J.Dal Pos 2 K.Harrington C 9 D.Walker 23

C: N.Plane 32 E.O’Dea 46 G.Pound 6

HF: G.Gee 19 N.Stevens 21 B.Walker 7

F: L.McEvoy 13 D.Vescio 3

Foll: B.Moody 16 M.Prespakis 4 A.McKay 5

I/C: M.Hill 10 V.Laloifi 8 J.Good 15 L.Brazzale 12 G.Egan 1

Emerg: A.Lee 11 C.Hammans 17

In: B.Moody, L.Brazzale

Out: C.Jones (HS protocol), B.Vickers (injured)

Sunday, February 13

St Kilda v Brisbane

Trevor Barker Oval, 1.10pm AEDT

ST KILDA

B: T.Lucas-Rodd 18 R.Ott 20

HB: B.Jakobsson 8 J.Van Dyk 36 H.Priest C 14

C: M.McDonald 1 T.White 29 C.Phillips 35

HF: D.Guttridge 5 K.Shierlaw 12 R.Watt 7

F: I.Shannon 11 C.Greiser 17

Foll: L.Cutting 26 A.Richards 22 N.Xenos 27

I/C: T.Meyer 34 A.Burke 3 R.Saulitis 13 J.Matin 19 E.Friend 16

Emerg: A.Woodward 4 L.Burke 30

In: A.Burke, R.Saulitis

Out: R.Dillon (injured), J.Vogt (omitted)

BRISBANE

B: I.Tahau 26 S.Webb 4

HB: B.Koenen C 3 P.Monahan 11 N.Grider 10

C: O.O’Dwyer 9 E.Bates 1 S.Conway 12

HF: L.Yoshida-Martin 19 D.Davidson 14 G.Bodey 15

F: J.Wardlaw 30 C.Hodder 21

Foll: T.Hickie 2 A.Anderson 18 C.Svarc 25

I/C: L.Pullar 24 J.Ellenger 5 I.Dawes 17 R.Svarc 29 T.Smith 31

Emerg: M.Moloney 28 Z.Farquharson 22

In: S.Webb, L.Yoshida-Martin

Out: S.Campbell (injured), Z.Farquharson (illness)

West Coast v Collingwood

Mineral Resources Park, 12.10pm AWST

WEST COAST

B: M.Collier 8 E.Gooch 31

HB: C.Thomas 3 B.Smith 14 H.Bullas 24

C: N.Kelly 12 E.Swanson C 13 M.Bowen 1

HF: A.Schmidt 7 C.Rowley 5 I.Cameron 19

F: S.Lakay 23 A.Atkins 9

Foll: P.Laurie 25 I.Lewis 6 D.Hooker 17

I/C: K.Gibson 2 S.Davison 28 G.Kelly 15 A.Hill 16 C.Guard 4

Emerg: E.Bennett 27 A.Gilmore 22

In: C.Rowley, I.Cameron, C.Guard

Out: S.McDonald (injured), A.Gilmore (omitted), A.Ward (injured)

COLLINGWOOD

B: L.Butler 23 B.Smith 19

HB: A.Velardo 5 R.Schleicher 18 A.Porter 9

C: S.Rowe 7 J.Lambert 13 J.Allen 6

HF: S.Alexander 24 C.Molloy 2 S.Livingstone 12

F: E.James 20 A.Sheridan 14

Foll: A.Downie 30 B.Bonnici C 8 E.O’Dea 50

I/C: I.Barnett 4 E.Chaston 32 E.Fowler 15 M.Cann 25 S.Casey 22

Emerg: I.Purcell 11 A.Newman 16

In: B.Smith, E.O’Dea, I.Barnett

Out: S.Frederick (HS Protocol), T.Brown (managed), S.Chiocci (Achilles)

Adelaide v Western Bulldogs

Norwood Oval, 4.40pm ACDT

ADELAIDE

B: N.Allen 8 M.Rajcic 32

HB: C.Biddell 12 S.Allan C 39 S.Thompson 14

C: R.Martin 5 A.Hatchard 33 E.Jones 2

HF: A.Considine 16 E.Phillips 13 J.Mules 23

F: A.Woodland 24 D.Ponter 15

Foll: C.Gould 1 E.Marinoff 10 T.Charlton 25

I/C: M.McKinnon 21 H.Munyard 20 H.Button 6 M.Newman 17 L.Whiteley 22

Emerg: M.Dowrick 9 N.Gore 7

In: T.Charlton

Out: N.Gore (omitted)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: N.Ferres 16 K.Lynch 10

HB: I.Grant 3 E.Brown 9 S.Hartwig 15

C: I.Pritchard 20 E.Blackburn C 2 E.Georgostathis 17

HF: B.Lochland 1 B.Toogood 8 B.Gutknecht 18

F: N.Morris-Dalton 25 A.Smith 24

Foll: C.Moody 13 J.Fitzgerald 23 K.Lamb 27

I/C: A.Guest 19 B.Hunt 21 A.Edmonds 33 R.Cranston 30 E.Snell 26

Emerg: J.Woods 28 E.Gamble 14

In: A.Smith

Out: J.Woods (omitted)

Originally published as AFLW news: Former Pies coach says reset switch is the answer to saving struggling AFLW