Six new clubs have been granted entry to the burgeoning AFL women's competition but the two clubs that missed out - Hawthorn and Essendon - have lashed out about the lack of clarity on further expansion of women's footy beyond 2020.

The Darebin Falcons walked off at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, having claimed their fifth consecutive premiership, but not knowing whether they'd have a chance to make it six.

Matildas veteran Heather Garriock says players must commit to one sport if women are to become fully professional.

The stakes are higher and the ground bigger but Darebin Falcons and Diamond Creek believe their rivalry is as strong as ever heading into this Sunday's VFLW grand final.

Monique Conti is a world class junior basketballer and an elite AFLW prospect - she plans to keep playing both at the elite level.

Transgender ACT footballer Hannah Mouncey is hoping to become the first AFLW transgender player.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has warned the AFL it would be denying the game "an enormous opportunity" by blocking the Tigers from entering the AFL Women's competition.

Premiership-winning coach Bec Goddard has warned against expanding the AFLW too quickly.

It was the Daisy Pearce show. The Victorian captain put on a master class in Saturday night's inaugural AFLW State of Origin match.

Bec Goddard and Debbie Lee were there in women's football's dark ages.

They played for the Giants but only one of Ella Ross and Britt Tully will stand tall on Saturday.

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Having been true to his word and installed a proven football executive from one of the game's most successful clubs, Gillon McLachlan should not stop with the appointment of Steve Hocking.

AFLW stars Daisy Pearce and Chelsea Randall believe the upcoming women's state of origin match between Victoria and the Allies will be the highest quality game of women's footy ever seen.

The AFL Commission has put off a decision on the distribution of new licences until grand final week.

AFL Women's players are set to receive a significant pay rise despite being just one year into their two-year collective bargaining agreement.

At the close of this year's inaugural AFLW season, everyone was pretty darn happy with how the eight weeks had unfolded.

A knee injury has forced Carlton star Darcy Vescio out of the Victorian team for the AFLW State Of Origin match.

The AFL wants next year's women's grand final to played in the weekend before the men's season starts but is weighing up whether the benefits of ensuring the AFLW season finishes in clear air against the risk the start of the competition will be swamped by Australian Open tennis finals.

Every remarkable moment from the debut AFLW season has been memorialised in paper and ink as the first Women's Footy Almanac hits shelves.

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.