Carlton captain Kerryn Peterson says the AFLW’s condensed fixture put “strain on players and clubs”, joining calls for a review of the controversial season.
Ten AFLW players from different clubs gathered at Melbourne Museum’s Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre on Monday to launch the league’s Indigenous round and discuss the season, which has two home-and-away rounds left.
AFLW players gathered at Melbourne Museum’s Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre to launch the league’s Indigenous round.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I don’t think the condensed fixture is probably the way to go,” Peterson told this masthead.
“I think it puts a lot of strain on players and on the clubs to be able to facilitate the best football throughout that time.”
This year, the league extended each team’s AFLW season by one match, condensing the fixture to fit the new 11-game home-and-away season into the same 10-week stretch of time.
Peterson said she wasn’t sure when the AFLW season should start and end, but had confidence the AFL would make “the right call”.
“I think what’s really important, is that fans get to see some really great football,” she said.
Peterson supported statements by Melbourne coach Mick Stinear who last week called for a “thorough review” of the fixture ahead of next year’s competition.
“I’d like to see it reviewed and just see the impacts of everything – were there injuries to come out of it? Was there unnecessary stress from condensing it with the shorter lists,” Stinear said.
The AFLW has previously faced criticism for the condensed fixture and the heightened risk of injury, with stars including North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney now missing after hurting her hamstring during the opening minutes of her third match in nine days.
Essendon’s Stephanie Cain wants to see greater consistency in the AFLW calendar. Credit: AFL Photos
Essendon co-captain Stephanie Cain said she did not want to see the 2024 condensed fixture replicated next season.
The Bombers won four consecutive games during the stretch where the fixture was condensed, but suffered a record-breaking loss against North Melbourne on Sunday, losing by 51-points at Windy Hill and managing to score just 1.1 (7).
Cain wanted greater clarity and consistency about when next year’s competition would start and finish.
“I think it [the condensed fixture] has some merits, but in some cases … for us, we played four games in 14 days, so that does take its toll,” she said.
Paxy Paxman has been plagued by a recurring foot injury.Credit: Getty Images
“We’ve seen a lot of players either injured – it takes a lot on your body trying to try to play that amount of football – let alone the mental load.
“We are still part-time athletes, so trying to do all that plus training, plus have outside interests, it’s really difficult.”
Demons star Paxy Paxman – who is recovering from a recurring foot injury – said there were pros and cons to this year’s fixture.
“For me, I’m just happy we’re not playing over the summer any more because when we first started… it was quite warm,” she laughed.
“Eventually, it would be nice to see the competition obviously expand – which is in the planning– and maybe mirror the AFL season, where you’re playing each team.”
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