AFL Commission green-lights two new AFLW teams for 2027 expansion amid grassroots boom

26 September 2026

The AFL Commission has approved the addition of two new AFLW teams for the 2027 expansion, a move that reflects the ongoing growth and increased participation in women's Australian Rules football.

The approval marks the latest stage in a rapid expansion of the AFL Women's competition, which has grown from an eight-team league in 2017 to 10 in 2019, 14 in 2020, and 18 by season 7. The AFL reported more than 600,000 women and girls participating in the sport nationally, a surge that has driven the need for increased competition capacity.

Why is the expansion significant?

The expansion of the AFLW from 14 to 18 to 20 teams has aligned with a reported jump in grassroots participation from 318,000 in 2018 to 390,000 in 2020 to over 600,000 in 2021. The league's growth reflects the sport's broader popularity and opportunities for women and girls.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan stated that the expansion was intended to accelerate the sport's growth and provide more elite opportunities for women, by engaging all 18 AFL men's teams and their supporter bases. In an AFL press conference, McLachlan asserted: "Giving all of the boys' clubs the opportunity to have a women's team is obviously a huge moment for the game. It's the last bit of the jigsaw for women's football."

What criteria did the AFL use in the expansion?

The four clubs that were recently approved had to meet key criteria, including resourcing, facilities, corporate support, investment in the women's arm, fan-base growth and list build strategies, the AFL said.

AFL general manager of women's football, Nicole Livingstone, said the AFLW's primary objective is to give women equal opportunities to play elite Australian football and to increase female participation in the game. "This is another step in advancing our objectives of clear pathways from grassroots to the elite, with an overarching goal of having an equal number of AFL state-based men's and women's competitions soon," Livingstone said.

David Sanderson, general manager of legal and commercial at the AFL, added that the League was assessing expansion proposals from other interested clubs as separate processes. "If we have other clubs coming to us asking about the possibility of entering women's football, we'll look at them on their own merits and work with them to ensure we're creating the best possible version of the women's competition," he said.

Where does the expansion leave the AFLW competition?

The approval of four new clubs, officially entrants for season 7, takes the number to 18, the same as the AFL men's competition, inclusive of Tasmania's addition via its license. There will be 288 players in the 18-team competition by 2023/24, compared to 280 in 2022 teams.

With the approval in principle, the women's competition reaches 18 teams, still with the four new clubs to come. "With each club committing to the best possible version of the women's competition, and the support we've seen across the league, we believe that we will be in a strong position to grow the women's game," said Livingstone.

Looking to 2028

Tasmania's AFLW preparations have already begun, and the women's program is now scheduled to enter in 2028. Tasmania's advantages include access to eligible father-daughter picks, additional funding of around $800,000, and the possibility of signing up to 18 priority players.

Additionally, the AFL has introduced supplementary First Nations list spots for the 2027 season, underlining the league's broader emphasis on Indigenous talent and community engagement.

The AFL has decided to integrate Tasmania as the 18th team, coinciding with its men's AFL debut in 2027. With Tasmania joining at 18 teams, it suggests the league envisions further expansion in the future.

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