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The AFLW risks becoming a gimmick by keeping the season the same length despite adding two more teams, Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce says.
Pearce says reported plans for the next AFLW season are creating angst among players.
Two clubs, Geelong and North Melbourne, will be added to make the AFLW a 10-team competition next year.
But News Corp is reporting clubs will play six games each before two weeks of finals – last season had seven games before a sole grand final.
“It doesn’t sit well with me or a lot of the players,” Pearce told SEN radio on Friday.
“I get there is a commercial reality that they want to keep this competition within the … eight-week timeslot.
“(But) I thought when those two new teams came in … we are going to get a legitimate competition here, will play everyone once and head into a final series.
“It seems not to be the case.”
The AFL has been contacted for comment.
Pearce, among the AFLW’s highest-profile stars, said players were unhappy with the suggested fixture.
“The reason I guess it annoys me is this is presented as the female elite professional offering by the AFL,” she said.
“It has been lauded as that, finally there is an elite women’s competition, but with the AFL presenting it as that, it comes with a level of expectation that everyone within the sport … that this is going to be a professional, elite competition.
“In reality, this is a gimmicky tournament.”
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