AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone has announced that Sunday's grand final will be her final game at the helm, with the dual Olympian to step down from the role at season's end.
After being announced as the blossoming league's chief ahead of Season 2, Livingstone - a former backstroke champion - steered the competition through ups, downs and total expansion for seven campaigns.
However, ahead of Brisbane and North Melbourne's do-or-die date at Princes Park on Sunday, Livingstone alerted clubs that her time at the top would come to a close by the end of the week.
โAfter six years and on the eve of the completion of our best AFLW season to date, the time feels right for me to step away and support the AFLW competition from a different perspective,โ Livingstone within a league-released statement.
โWhen I sat with Gill [outgoing AFL chief Gillon McLachlan] and Steve Hocking and Andrew Dillion in 2017 before taking on this role, we spoke about aspirations for AFLW. We wanted a league that was pride of place in the Australian sporting landscape and was respected for what was being created.
โWe wanted to create an opportunity for every one of our 18 clubs to experience what having an AFLW program would bring to their club; athletically, culturally and commercially. Most importantly I wanted opportunities for girls and women to play, coach, umpire, administer and even broadcast our game.
โAustralian Football looks different from when I started. Women involved in all areas of our game is now normal and no longer a pleasant surprise.
โMy support and advocacy for AFLW won't change, and I'm looking forward to what the future of the competition brings. Thank you to Dills, Laura, everyone at the AFL for the opportunity to play a role in a sport that means so much to so many people.
โI want to thank all the players, the ones before my time, the ones during, and the ones yet to come, your drive, your passion, your relentless push to make our competition the best it can be is something I have admired and respected. You are an inspiration to everyone.โ
Livingstone will be on hand to watch the Lions and Roos fight it out for the ultimate honour, with the opening bounce scheduled for 2:30pm (AEDT) at Ikon Park.
Livingstone's successor is still to be announced.
