The AFLW's latest fixture change has placed a number of clubs facing an uphill battle to balance fitness and work outside of their part-time roles in the league, with the Lions among the sides facing a heavily-congested upcoming month.
The new schedule will see Brisbane play four games in 15 days after the AFLW fixture looked to reconfigure rounds seven and eight in order to play postponed matches from earlier in the season.
Across the two rounds, a total of 16 games will be played, with the Suns, Bulldogs and Giants joining the Lions in playing three matches within this timeframe given the four sides have only played a quartet of games so far.
The reshuffled fixture leaves the Lions to play the Saints, Suns, Demons and Eagles between this Sunday and February 27, which includes trips between Queensland, Victoria and Perth.
The AFL has been forced to constantly change the women's schedule given the ongoing strain the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the summer competition, with every side having their squad numbers compromised.
Ongoing battles with fitness, hubs and part-time work outside of the AFLW has already placed a tolling level of fatigue on players, coaches and staff.
The most recent fixture changes are only set to add to the arduous impacts, with former Lions and Carlton midfielder Lauren Arnell calling for greater caution from league officials
“One game is travel to Melbourne and the fourth game in 15 days is a flight to Perth,” Arnell posted to social media on Friday.
“Don't try and tell me a male AFL team who are paid full-time would be expected to do this.
“What level of athlete and staff well-being are we reaching or even aiming for here?”
Having had two of their matches postponed earlier in the season, the Bulldogs are also set to feel the effects of the new fixture, playing four matches between February 13 and 27.
Nathan Burke's squad has already been heavily hit with COVID cases, while a number of key figures have had their season's cut short with injury.
The AFLW confirmed an extensive range of changes to the upcoming rounds of the season, which has altered the run home for almost every club.
ROUND SEVEN ALTERATIONS:
ROUND EIGHT ALTERATIONS:
Despite the congested fixture, the AFL has stated they have placed the health and wellbeing of the community at the forefront of their thinking.
"While the ongoing pandemic continues to impact and challenge our competition and our wider community, we want to thank every AFLW Club, players and the AFLPA, umpires, venues, governments, ticketing agents and all supporters for their understanding and commitment to the season," AFL general manager competition management Laura Kane said in a league statement.
"We look forward to a festival of football from round seven with nine games across seven days while round eight, the NAB AFLW Indigenous Round, is a truly significant round that provides further opportunity for the competition to continue to celebrate and learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and staff in our game.
"The health and safety of the community remains the highest priority for the AFL and we will continue to work closely with respective state governments and health authorities on arrangements that both protects that and allows us to progress the NAB AFLW season."
The AFLW home and away season is set to conclude in mid-March before the top six sides progress to the finals.