AFL boss Gillon McLachlan yesterday announced plans to expand the women’s league, increasing the total number of teams from 14 to 18. If the plan goes ahead, it will mean every existing AFL club will have an AFLW team, with Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, and the Sydney Swans expected to sign up for the 2023 season. “AFLW has significant momentum, and we want to keep that momentum and bring the power and the supporter base behind all 18 clubs before the end of 2024,” McLachlan said. Next season’s competition – which will start in December – will be increased from 9 rounds to 10. And there will be 3 weeks of finals after the league scrapped its controversial conference system last year. Not so happy about the announcement was Hawthorn President/former premier Jeff Kennett, who called the club’s exclusion from the upcoming season a “disgrace” and said the club hasn’t ruled out taking legal action.