AFLW GIVEN START DATE

THE next AFLW season will start during the AFL pre-finals bye as the league inches towards securing a new pay deal for its female players.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan (pictured) and AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh met on Monday as the league attempts to douse rising anxiety from clubs and players over the lingering uncertainty.

AFLW players have hit out at the league for leaving them in limbo only weeks before they could be due to start preseason training.

“The season will be starting in that last weekend of August,” McLachlan told 3AW.