It also includes how much elite-level action should be staged, with a men's pre-season game and an AFLW match a possibility and held either on the same day or over a weekend. Both competitions are held through February and March. Thomas said a pre-season clash within the next five years could work. "We are starting to think about the future of Australian football in China ... how does the game develop in China? They are very significant discussions that are starting to be held based on the enthusiasm everyone had coming out of the Shanghai game in 2017," Thomas said. "There certainly is an argument for a pre-season game and the Shanghai game. I think, at some point, we would want to have that conversation. One of the things that we are interested in as a game is ensuring we are present in China as often as we can be. Another major event if it was in the pre-season would be just another way of making sure our commitment to being in China was obvious. There would be regions outside of Shanghai that we would be aware of that would be interested in that. I think that requires good consideration." Thomas said an AFLW clash would work well in terms of the "ground zero" process in China where the AFL was appealing to boys and girls to take up the sport.

"Taking AFLW to China as part of the build process is absolutely something we should seriously consider and do, so you don't have the same scenario as we have got in Australia where the girls are coming from a long way back. Here is the chance to show Australian football is for girls and boys right from the start," he said. The Power do not have an AFLW licence but have not ruled out joining beyond 2020. The AFL has yet to confirm the Suns will be the Power's opponent next year but Suns chief executive Mark Evans continues to work on a detailed plan with league bosses. We are starting to think about the future of Australian football in China ... how does the game develop in China? They are very significant discussions that are starting to be held based on the enthusiasm everyone had coming out of the Shanghai game in 2017. - Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas The Suns' inability to secure sponsors, their frustration over their flights and later a delay on the tarmac in Singapore, and their on-field performance when thumped by 72 points by the Power concerned the AFL but the experienced Evans had only just taken charge of the club.