COLLINGWOOD has received a massive boost for its bid to field a team in next season's AFL women's league.

Major corporate partners, car manufacturer Holden and insurance company CGU, have expressed their support for a proposed Magpies women's team.

With this support, the Pies can add further weight to their submission to be one of the eight clubs for the inaugural national league set to start next February.

This Friday is the deadline for AFL club applications to field a team in the 2017 women's competition.

A club must demonstrate suitability in administration, football operations, business development, strategic relevance and a broader commitment to the women's game.

Collingwood believes it's "ready to roll" with an affiliate team and Meg Hutchins, a decorated Victorian Women’s Football League defender, will start at the club next week as women's football operations manager.

Hutchins will continue with the Pies to foster the women's game even if the club doesn’t win a licence.

A significant part of Collingwood's application will be the facilities at its Olympic Park headquarters to accommodate a women's team.

The $25 million precinct has men's and women's dressing rooms and gym facilities. Super Rugby League club Melbourne Rebels started using the new gym this season.

The MCG-size training ground is equipped with lights, an electronic scoreboard and coaches' boxes to be an alternate home venue for a Collingwood women's team.

If granted a licence, the Magpies would push for the women's matches to be played either before or after Collingwood AFL games at the MCG.

And any scheduled games in the precinct would provide supporters with easy access to watch a Pies' doubleheader.

The AFL is considering playing the first season of the women’s league in January/February.

"Everything is in place. We don't have to spend a cent on facilities,'' a club official said.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has decided not to bid for a licence for 2017, preferring instead to focus on grassroots women's football.

CEO Stuart Fox said the club was excited by the development of a women's national league and wanted to ensure its commitment to women's football was a long-term one.

"Our focus is on encouraging females to participate in the game at a grassroots level and help develop clear talent pathways," he said.