of new teams in 2019.

"Announcing the expansion teams later this year will allow the competition to finalise its list-build rules for the new clubs before this year's draft," he said.

The decision on whether to expand the competition in 2018 forced the AFLW free agency and trade period to be delayed. It will now start on Monday, May 15.

Almost 200,000 people attended the 29 AFLW matches this year, with a cumulative free-to-air and pay-TV audience of 5.64 million.

The Crows beat the Lions in the inaugural AFLW Grand Final.

Lethlean also said the AFL was still looking at how best to structure the finals series, the length of the season, start and finish dates, and rules potentially including a version of the nine-point "supergoal" currently used in the men's pre-season competition.

However,Independent senator Nick Xenophon wants the rules governing politicians' entitlements tightened to prevent former MPs who take up diplomatic postings from being able to simultaneously access their parliamentary superannuation.

Senator Xenophon said on Sunday that former treasurer Joe Hockey should not claim his parliamentary pension if he is appointed Australia's ambassador to Washington D.C., a move that is widely expected.

"I just want to help Joe Hockey achieve his dream of ending the age of entitlement," Senator Xenophon said in a reference to a speech Mr Hockey gave in London in 2012 when he called for the welfare system to be wound back.

Mr Hockey gave his final speech to Parliament on last Thursday in which he called on politicians to strike a bipartisan deal to end free education and healthcare