The first AFLW Competition Committee meeting for 2025 took place on Wednesday, 7 May, with the AFL welcoming eight new members to the Committee and thanking three outgoing members for their service.

The new members joining the AFLW Competition Committee are:

  • Dave Barham, Essendon President
  • Jan Cooper, West Coast Eagles Board Member
  • Tom Harley, Sydney Swans CEO
  • Gemma Houghton, Port Adelaide AFLW player
  • Erin Lorenzini, North Melbourne General Manager AFLW
  • Kath McCann, Public Affairs and Social Impact Tasmania Football Club
  • Jordyn Pearson, AFLW Field Umpire
  • Craig Starcevich, Brisbane Lions AFLW Premiership Coach

AFL General Managers of Football Performance and Operations, Josh Mahoney and Nick Carah will also support the AFLW Competition Committee in 2025.

Following the end of their tenures, Brisbane Lions AFLW General Manager of Football Bree Brock, General Manager – Women's Football at Collingwood Jess Burger, and West Coast Eagles Head of Women's Football Michelle Cowan, have stepped down from their roles on the AFLW Competition Committee.

AFL Executive General Manager of Football Laura Kane thanked the outgoing members and welcomed the eight new representatives joining the Committee.

"I would like to thank Bree, Jess and Michelle for their immense contribution to the AFLW Competition Committee over several years. Throughout that time, we've seen incredible growth in our women's competition, which has also naturally helped boost participation numbers for women and girls around the country too," Kane said.

"All of the new committee members bring a wealth of experience from across the industry and we look forward to working with them as we continue to shape and drive the growth of AFLW both now and into the future."

The AFLW Competition Committee met today and was chaired by AFL Commissioner, Simone Wilkie AO.

Key topics covered in the meeting included:

  • The draft AFLW Growth Strategy, including a presentation on international women's sport
  • AFLW Talent Pathways
  • Reviewing Season 9, including game analysis, player movement and growth areas

The charter for the group is to ensure the overall progression of AFLW.

The AFLW Competition Committee members are:

  • Simone Wilkie AO (Chair, AFL Commissioner)
  • Laura Kane (AFL Executive General Manager Football)
  • David Barham (Essendon President)
  • Julia Chiera (AFLPA, Head of AFLW)
  • Jan Cooper (West Coast Eagles Board Member)
  • Tom Harley (Sydney Swans CEO) 
  • Gemma Houghton (Port Adelaide AFLW player)
  • Erin Lorenzini (General Manager AFLW North Melbourne)
  • Kath McCann (General Manager Marketing, Public Affairs and Social Impact Tasmania Football Club)
  • Emma Moore (General Manager AFLW)
  • Jordyn Pearson (AFLW Field Umpire) 
  • Erin Phillips (AFL Football Performance Lead)
  • Hannah Priest (St Kilda AFLW Captain)
  • Craig Starcevich (Brisbane Lions AFLW Senior Coach)