RICHMOND AFLW player Rebecca Miller believes making plans to combat the December heat will be the major obstacle to overcome in the governing body's quest to give the competition some clear air.
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The AFL announced last month the start of the competition will be brought forward to December, with the grand final to be played in mid-March.
The 25-year-old is yet to officially sign a contract but has verbally agreed to stay at the Tigers for the next two seasons, which would be her first multi-year deal after making her debut in Richmond's maiden season in 2020.
The Tigers failed to win a game in her first year, but showed promising signs at the end of last season with three wins from five matches.
Miller said the move to summer could open up more exposure and marketing opportunities for the women's game, but hopes the scheduling takes the heat out of the equation.
"Hopefully we get a lot of air time, which is what the AFL wants bringing it forward to that date," Miller said.
"It will be interesting to see what they do on that Christmas week, it would be quite a unique experience to play around that space. (Teammate) Gab Seymour loves to put things out there and she really wants a Collingwood-Richmond Christmas Eve clash at Punt Road, I'm all for that.
"I like cricket, but there's others who absolutely hate it as well. To give them an alternative could be a smart move.
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"I guess I'm a bit worried being December that it might be a bit hot, which might reduce the product we can put out on the field as players.
"Footy isn't really meant for a 40 degree day, but hopefully the scheduling is later in the day which will combat that.
"It is a bit (of a concern) because we train after 5pm when the sting has gone out of the day. We're not conditioned to play at those earlier times because you don't train in them, but if they schedule it later in the day it might work."
Miller believes Richmond can take the next step and be a finals contender in 2022.
"Three wins from the season is a big step in the right direction and a big improvement on 2020," she said.
"I think we did surpass expectations, not in the win column but the way we were playing and the style out on the field.
"We had quite a consistent team and the new coach (Ryan Ferguson) was really good at keeping his messages simple and clear and giving us the directions we needed.
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