The end of footy as we know it? AFL bosses say they are considering changing the name of the league to match the women's competition
- AFL head of football operations said the name of AFL could change to AFLM
- He said as women's league AFLW reached potential name change could follow
- AFL released a statement saying no name change would happen in near future
The Australian Football League is considering making a drastic change to its name.
The management of the AFL says it is open to discussing the possibility of changing the name of the league to the AFLM to match the women's league, known as the AFLW.
The fourth women's season began earlier in February with 14 teams now taking part after the Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda, and West Coast included included teams for the first time this year.
The only AFL clubs that now have only men's teams and no women's teams are Port Adelaide, Sydney, Essendon, and Hawthorn.
The AFL's head of football operations Steve Hocking, speaking to the Outer Sanctum podcast, said that when the AFLW reaches its full potential a name change for the AFL could likely follow.
The AFL says it is open to discussing the possibility of changing the name of the league to the AFLM to match the women's league the AFLW (pictured is AFLW player Taylah Harris)
AFL management said there were no plans in the near future to change the name (pictured is AFL player Alex Rance)
'There's a whole range of things that we're unpacking that have just been the way they've been because of 160 years of football and I think that's okay,' he said.
'I don't think we need to necessarily be looking over the fence at one another and saying whether we need to add another initial to something. But if in time it's something that emerges, we're all ears at AFL.'
A statement from the AFL on Tuesday said there were no plans to change the name in the near future, reports 7 News.
'We had a great first round to season four of the AFL Women's competition,' it read.
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'AFLW has built its own powerful identity in the community & we will continue to promote its message & celebrate the league & women's football.
'There are no plans to change the name of the AFL competition.'
Hocking praised the clubs for the grassroots growth of the AFLW from semi-professional to a league in its own right.
AFL management has been increasingly vocal in its defence of the AFLW after it has been subject to criticism from some fans.
After a picture of AFLW player Taylah Harris received derogatory comments online in 2019 AFL Chief Exectuive Gillon McLachlan spoke out against the behaviour.
As recently as this month the league's account hit back after a fan questioned online: 'Why is AFL posting about AFLW?'
'Because AFLW is part of the AFL,' the league's official account responded.
AFLW women's player Taylah Harris (right) pictured with Sarah Dargan as they arrive during the 2019 Kennedy Brownlow Red Carpet arrivals at Crown Palladium on September 23, 2019
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