Fast AFLW expansion a worry

WESTERN Bulldogs premiership coach Paul Groves has voiced his concern at the rapid expansion of AFLW.

Four new teams will join the competition next season, after North Melbourne and Geelong joined the ranks for the 10-team AFLW this year.

But Groves said he was anxious as to where another 120 elite players were going to be unearthed.

“I am (worried). Com- pletely. We’re allowing more girls to play at the elite level, which is great, but we’re also chasing another 120 in the next 12 months and there’s four teams that need to come in,” Groves said.

“And look, granted, I understand why they do want to come in, the clubs, because of what the product is and what AFL Women’s is.

“We’ve just got to fast-track them now. That’s our job, that’s the academy’s job, so we’ll get there.”

Groves said a stripped-back approach and even turning to players unfamiliar with Australian rules football could be key to luring enough talent.

“We have to go back a few (steps) — we’ve got the laws of the game (information that we implement) … that’s where we’re at with it, and that’s where the comp’s at with it,” he said.