THE START OF the new AFLW season has been pushed back to January 2022, as Covid-19 cases continue to soar in Australia.
Earlier today, Australia reported more than 1,000 new local coronavirus cases for the first time during the pandemic.
And with cases rising in the country, the AFL, together with the AFL Players’ Association, has confirmed that the 2022 AFLW competition will now commence on the weekend of 6-9 January 2022, rather than then previously scheduled December start date.
An AFL statement said the move is aimed at “maintaining the priority of protecting the health and safety of the competition and the wider community.”
Nicole Livengtone, the AFL’s general manager for women’s football, said: “The 2021 season was the most challenging yet due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic affecting all but two rounds of the Competition.
The @AFL, together with the @aflplayers Association, has today informed Clubs that the start of the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s Competition will be delayed. #AFLW
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) August 26, 2021
“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 NAB AFLW Competition to commence in January next year.
“We will continue to listen to and work closely with the players and their clubs to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game.
“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 ground-breaking season.
“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 NAB AFLW season in a safe manner led by respective governments and public health officials.”
Lockdowns in the country have also delayed the start of pre-season training, with a number of Irish players yet to travel to Australia to begin preparations for the new season.
AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh said: “The AFLPA and players understand the challenges that Covid is currently presenting to society and our industry.
“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.”
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He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though