Top Dog’s anxiety

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

Four new teams will join the burgeoning competition next season, after North Melbourne and Geelong joined the ranks for the 10-team AFLW this year. But Groves admits he is “completely” anxious as to where another 120 elite players are going to be unearthed.

“I am [worried]. Completely. 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,” he 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. We need more girls to play footy because we’re going to bring in more teams. It’s concerning, but we’re getting there.”