The AFLW has unveiled 10 new rules for the 2019 season.
The AFLW will adopt eight of the nine rule changes the AFL has implemented for the 2019 season, along with two rule changes specific for the women's league.
Two rule changes that will be implemented only in the AFLW is the last touch rule, which only applies to when the ball crosses the boundary within the 50 metre arc and throw-ins will take place 10 metres in from the boundary.
The only rule from the AFL's nine rule changers that will not be used is the ban on runners and water carriers from running onto the field.
With the season taking place during summer, the AFLW have allowed runners and water carriers onto the field to keep the players hydrated during the warm conditions.
Head of women's football Nicole Livingstone said the rule changers are expected to create a more free-flowing game.
“We hope that it [the rule changes] will encourage further scoring, but the thing that we are really looking for is for our players to showcase their skills and showcase their ability to play football," Livingstone told the media.
“We are still at the very early development stage of this league and our objective is to create free-flowing play.
“We think that it will move the ball more freely and if its moving more freely, we think that it will result in higher scoring.’’
The 2019 NAB AFLW season begins on February 2 with Geelong hosting Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium.
