Updated November 4, 2026 — 5:17pm, first published November 4, 2026 — 7:18am
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news: Laura Kane said she is satisfied all clubs are taking their women’s programs seriously – including the lowly Saints, Magpies and Bombers. Zach Merrett has been one of the game’s most prolific accumulators for more than a decade but coach Sam Mitchell has a new message for him at Hawthorn. North Melbourne have added delisted free agents Elijah Tsatas and Samson Ryan to their list during the delisted free agency period. Jake Stringer is now a Saint. St Kilda have consulted with AFLW boss Laura Kane in their search for a new coach after they parted with club great Nick Dal Santo in a disastrous one-win season.
Speaking at the AFLW finals launch on Wednesday, Kane said she is satisfied all clubs are taking their women’s programs seriously – including the Saints, and lowly Magpies and Bombers – and confirmed the league is considering bringing the start of the season forward.
Players from each of the Victorian AFLW finals teams: Georgie Rankin (Geelong), Mikala Cann (Bulldogs), Eliza West (Hawks), Harriet Cordner (Blues), Jasmine Garner (Kangaroos) and Mia Austin (Demons). AFL Photos On Wednesday afternoon, St Kilda released a statement announcing they had consulted several “experienced football figures” to help “identify key attributes required in its next AFLW senior coach”.
Those figures included Kane, St Kilda AFLW/AFL general managers Jessie Mulholland and Lenny Hayes, experienced coach (and newly announced Western Bulldogs AFL assistant) Dale Amos and consultant Brad Lloyd – who is also conducting St Kilda’s independent review.
Kane and Amos are not on the interview panel.
Ahead of the AFLW finals beginning this weekend – starting with a double-header on Saturday at Ikon Park, with Geelong taking on Melbourne and reigning premiers North Melbourne facing Carlton in qualifying finals – Kane was asked about the struggling clubs who all parted with their senior coaches. The Magpies and Saints notched just one win this season, while the Bombers and Giants finished with two.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, premiership cup ambassador and Adelaide great Chelsea Randall and AFLW boss Laura Kane at the AFLW finals launch. AFL Photos Last week, Collingwood announced an “independent external expert” would be involved in a review into their women’s program a fortnight after CEO Craig Kelly declared the club did not need one.