Inaugural AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard will coach the Allies team in the first women's state of origin match against Victoria early next month.

The influence Irish male players have had on the AFL over the decades is clear, and there is no reason not to think this won't stretch into AFL Women's competition.

AFL players are bombarded by negative, personal and vitriolic feedback on social media, but there's an app that's helping them wrestle back control of their online lives.

Essendon are hopeful of returning to play games at their spiritual home of Windy Hill if the club successfully lands an AFLW licence for 2019.

Up to eight clubs could submit bids for an AFLW license later this month.

Thirteen years after Chelsea Roffey became the AFL's first female goal umpire, Eleni Glouftsis became the first female field umpire. As American rock band R.E.M. sang, "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine."

Carlton midfielder Nat Exon and forward Bella Ayre emerged as the links that ensured Tayla Harris joined the Blues on Thursday as part of a massive four-way deal.

Melbourne are in the hunt to land forward Bianca Jakobsson from Carlton in a deal that places the move of Tayla Harris to the Blues in doubt.

Melbourne look to have emerged as a serious player for Tayla Harris' services after the Brisbane Lions turned down Carlton's offer for the marquee forward.

Some of the startling impact of the AFL womens competition was planned, some surely serendipitous.

Erin Phillips' next step is uncertain after she was released by US basketball club Dallas Wings.

• Rohan Connolly

Will the AFL's new video game AFL Evolution help win back some of those gamers being lost to soccer through the spectacular success of the FIFA series? Our own guinea pig takes the new game for a spin.

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Geelong and St Kilda are unhappy that the AFL has put the brakes on their push for an AFL Women's team, with Cats chief executive Brian Cook declaring: "We are probably more ready to join the competition than some teams already in [it]."

The AFL Women's competition looks set to welcome two more clubs by 2019, according to CEO Gill McLachlan.

Monique Conti, international basketballer and inaugural AFL women's academy member, wants to play both sports at the top level.

The AFLW premiership coach has heard plenty of insults, but one almost made her walk away from football.

Canberra's Bec Goddard might've just created history in the AFL Women's, but her SANFL club has turned their back on her.

Lace up some rainbow laces next weekend and help kick prejudice out of sport.

Speaking as an Australian, there was sadness – heartbreak really – to watch AFLW best and fairest winner Erin Phillips pay tribute to her partner in the knowledge that the couple have returned to a country that still bans them from getting married.

Daisy Pearce has been named captain of the first female AFL All-Australian team.

Adelaide premiership co-captain Erin Phillips has capped her outstanding AFLW season by winning the best and fairest award.

The prospect of a showdown between the Women's Big Bash League and AFLW next summer is becoming more realistic, and Cricket Australia hopes its beefed-up pay offer to female players will help sway them to choose cricket over football

The list size of AFL Women's clubs will increase by three and the marquee concept is likely to be scuttled under plans outlined to players.

The AFL will look at extending the women's footy season next year following the hugely successful inaugural campaign this year.

When Erin Phillips accepted her third major gong in 48 hours, she gave insight into how she's managed to mother, train and, in the past two months, blitz on footy fields.

Erin Phillips has been voted by her peers as the most valuable player in the first AFLW season.

The Adelaide premiership coach has a bit of Luke Beveridge about her, and she belted out a rendition of a Tina Turner classic at the Crows' AFLW premiership function.

Adelaide hung on to make history in the AFLW grand final, with five Canberrans lifting the trophy at the end.

Erin Phillips had 28 possessions to lead Adelaide to the first AFL Women's premiership, while the Brisbane Lions were inconsolable at the grand final being their first defeat.