Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Concerned by three clubs remaining winless midway through the AFLW season, competition boss Laura Kane won’t rule out assistance packages for battling Essendon, Collingwood and St Kilda.
Six games into the regular season, the trio are yet to fire a shot and their finals hopes are effectively over.
“Clearly we don’t want to see that in our competition,” Kane said on Wednesday.
“I’ve said this a number of times: we want the bottom to get better. The top is really good.
“We’ve seen obviously North Melbourne get knocked off their undefeated streak, but there’s unbelievable football being played in the top half of the ladder.
“We need to make sure that we continue to develop the bottom. We know the talent is really good, so we need to make sure that our programs are developing our players.”
Collingwood and Gold Coast both received assistance packages last year in the form of extra list spots.
Asked if the AFL would consider assistance packages for the Bombers, Magpies and Saints, Kane said: “Yeah, clubs can apply and they do.
“I mean, we gave special assistance out last year for a couple of clubs, and there’s a time and place for that.
“Like it’s not always just more players or different players … It’s the development that you put into the program too.”
Kane confirmed none of the winless clubs had sought assistance packages yet.
Essendon want to turn the tide against West Coast on Friday at Windy Hill.
The poor start has piled pressure on coach Natalie Wood but injured forward Sophie Alexander put responsibility back on the players to deliver better defending and skill execution.
“It’s what’s in our control. We don’t pick who our coach is,” Alexander said.
“If we have got someone there like Nat who is so caring for our group, then it is on us.
“They (coaches) can give us all the information but it is on us to perform.”
Friday night’s game at Ikon Park between unbeaten Melbourne and reigning premiers North Melbourne, which follows a clash between Carlton and Richmond, is the clear match of the round.
Demons skipper Kate Hore is wary of the wounded Kangaroos, who suffered their first loss since the 2023 grand final to Hawthorn last week.
“They’re a scary prospect, no matter coming off a win or a loss,” Hore said.
“Watched a little bit of that Hawthorn game, and they’ll obviously be pretty determined to get back on the winners’ list. Losing is a little bit foreign to them, so no doubt they’ve got to work this week.
“We want to get another W on the board this weekend, but we’ll be fighting for it.”
Friday will mark Hore’s 100th AFLW match.
“It’s really cool. It’s very special – to be the first Melbourne player as well,” Hore said.
