The AFL is expected to announce the successful bidders next month, having previously confirmed expansion to 10 teams for 2019.

Provisional licence holders St Kilda, Geelong, North Melbourne, Richmond and West Coast will have the benefit of priority weighting, having been unsuccessful in bids for the inaugurals eason.

Essendon Captain Dyson Heppell personally delivered the application to AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan at AFL headquarters on Friday.

“It was a historic and proud moment to officially hand over our submission for an AFLW license on behalf of the Club,” Heppell said. “AFLW is our next frontier and it’s an honour to be a part of it.”

Essendon’s bid was launched last week with talented female footballers Michaela Long and Georgia Patrikios detailing how their very different pathways have led them to the Bombers.

The Club’s submission is underpinned by a commitment to grow the game in remote Northern Territory communities.  As part of this Essendon plans to stage the first ever AFLW game in a remote indigenous community.

 

North Melbourne managing director and CEO Carl Dilena made the following statements regarding the club's AFLW bid: “On behalf of the club, Brad Scott, Jack Ziebell and Lacie Harvey, Daughter of Brent, today hand delivered our submission for an AFLW licence to AFL football operations manager, Simon Lethlean, and head of female football, Josh Vanderloo. 

“Competition between AFL clubs is fierce, with only limited licences available. Only two to four AFL clubs are expected to receive licences. The AFL has also reiterated that it will only issue licences to existing AFL teams.

"A critical success factor for our proposal is the development of female football talent in Tasmania and sustained growth of the national AFLW talent pool. We are already a long way down the path to achieving this."

Hawthorn’s submission outlines the financial strength of the club and the power of its vast and engaged audience across three key areas: Melbourne and Victoria’s East, Tasmania and Katherine.

With strong talent pathways, already in place at a grassroots level, the application highlights Hawthorn’s readiness to establish a competitive playing list for the 2019 season and beyond.