ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Chelsea Randall of the Crows and Brooke Walker of the Blues in action during the 2019 AFLW Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Adelaide Oval on March 31, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

The AFLW season has officially kicked off for 2020.

But according to dual premiership Kangaroo David King, and it’s come two or three weeks too late.

The season has always started in the first week of February in its first four seasons, with the Australian Open and at times the Big Bash wrapping up not long before. The A-League still runs throughout this time but is facing its own struggles with marketing and fan connection as is.

King believes the women's game has what it takes to go head-to-head with the Australian Open should the start date be brought forward in the future.

"I think this is a real opportunity for AFLW" he told SEN Breakfast.

"I would be surprised if we didn't look at that in the next couple of seasons... jump in and take the tennis on."

Most arguments against an earlier start date say the league would be forced to share the spotlight. But when looked at properly it's not a long term share of the Australian public's attention.

If the competition started around the time the Australian Open kicked off it would only need to compete with the tennis for two weeks. Yes, one of those weekends would be the finals, but then the tennis train departs the station.

The Big Bash without a doubt dragged on again this year. 14 games was too many and interest dwindled quickly. Come finals the Melbourne Stars only had 13,275 come out to a final, with a spot in the grand final on the line.

Another issue facing an earlier start is the potential heat of the Australian summer at that time, a red hot issue at the Australian Open every year.

Former Collingwood AFLW player Georgie Parker spoke to Zero Hanger about the possibility of moving the season forward.

"I think there is a huge advantage in moving the season forward and creating a separate space for AFLW," she said.

"I don't think the heat should affect the competition... it gives another dimension of difficulty, yes, however as an athlete you deal with whatever is put in front of you"

The former Olympian said that curtain raisers for the men's game won't work, believing a stand-alone season would be more beneficial.

"Trust the game, much like Cricket Australia has, give the girls their own time and time to grow their standard... There are nine AFL games a week, to add seven to that is too much."

She added that the Australian Open shouldn't be a major issue considering it's only based in Melbourne.

"It's important to note the Australian Open is only in Melbourne, there are four other states involved in the AFL... they seem to forget this.

"Over summer people have more time and are looking for things to do, to move the season forward would fill that void left for footy fans. To compete with the Open would be difficult but the only way you can know if it (AFLW) can compete is by giving it an opportunity to, but ultimately the AFL need to trust that it will and invest accordingly."

A worry for the AFL would be the drop off in attendances as the AFLW season rolls on.

Only once has the weekly average attendance raised after round one. This was in 2018 when round one averaged 11,143 per game before round two saw that number rise to 14,006.

However, it was somewhat of an anomaly, in large caused by Fremantle playing their first game at a sold-out Optus Stadium.

Aside from that, every week in the opening month of all three previous AFLW seasons has seen attendances drop away.

The AFL would be cautious to risk losing that opening round buzz that sees round one so heavily attended when compared to other rounds. A scheduling clash with the tennis and the Big Bash to a lesser extent may harm that number. And with the league in its infancy, the AFL are seemingly playing it safe.