Fans will make the game in AFLW second season

The AFL's new Head of Women's Football Nicole Livingstone is expecting fans to back the second season of the AFL Women's competition.

The three-time Olympic swimmer, seven weeks into the job, points to how far AFLW has come since kicking off in February last year, looking forward to the possibility of players one day becoming full-time professional footballers.

Livingstone told AFL.com.au during today's AFLW season launch "when people are talking to me about the girls and their pay, part of that is, 'well, it can't just be the AFL and corporate Australia's responsibility'.

"The fans that want to see women be compensated better for playing elite football – I need them to be involved as well."

Critics suggested the $2 tickets for the inaugural AFLW match at Perth's Optus Stadium on 10th February devalued the product despite all proceeds going to charity.

AFL.com.au surveyed all eight captains on Tuesday about potential ticket prices, with suggestions ranging from a gold-coin donation to $10 for an adult and $20 for a family.

Sam Mostyn, the AFL's first female commissioner and this year's AFLW premiership cup ambassador, echoed Livingstone's sentiments.

Mostyn stated "hopefully what I'll see is big crowds. I'd love to see people come out.

"(I want to) encourage people to watch games live, get out to every suburban ground and make this the great winner that it was in the first year."

Pre-season talking points included an apparent lack of promotion for the competition and Channel Seven's decision to broadcast most games on its secondary channels.

However, a new AFLW App will enable fans to stream every match, with Livingstone saying it was important the League was aware of viewing habits.

She added "I'm happy to see women's sport being broadcast. Let's actually be realistic about it; women's sport being broadcast is a rarit.

"It is happening more now – basketball has re-secured television, cricket is on TV more as well – but it is a rarity.

"We'll also have the app and I think whether it's on Seven or 7Two or 7Mate, it still takes the sport to people."

Livingstone also defended the League's promotional strategy, saying it had deliberately centred on digital and social media in recognition of the new audiences it was trying to attract.

Image: AFLW captains at today's season launch.

17th November 2017 - FORMER OLYMPIC SWIMMER NICOLE LIVINGSTONE NAMED AFL’S NEW HEAD OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL 

4th November 2017 - AFL WOMENS PLAYERS GET NEW PAY DEAL FOR 2018 SEASON

20th October 2017 - SWIMMING AUSTRALIA RE-ELECTS BERTRAND, LIVINGSTONE AND JOHNSON 

27th September 2017 - AFLW CONFIRM FURTHER EXPANSION PLANS OVER NEXT TWO YEARS

10th August 2017 - AFL ON TARGET TO BREAK 6.5 MILLION ATTENDANCE RECORD 

20th June 2017 - AFL PLAYERS AGREE SIX-YEAR PAY DEAL

25th May 2017 - AFL NAMED ‘ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR’ AT LGBTI INCLUSION AWARDS 

1st May 2017 - HAWTHORN MAKES HISTORY WITH APPOINTMENT OF TRACEY GAUDRY AS FIRST FEMALE CLUB CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN AFL

3rd April 2017 - AFL VICTORIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM COMMITS TO ‘GROWING THE HEARTLAND’

20th March 2017 - METRICON STADIUM TO HOST HISTORIC AFL WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL

5th February 2017 - VENUE CHANGES CONSIDERED FOR AFL WOMEN’S AFTER CAPACITY CROWD AT INAUGURAL FIXTURE 

8th December 2016 - LANDMARK STUDY FINDS SPORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED

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