A review of women's football commissioned by the AFL may lead to a national women's competition.

The Herald Sun newspaper reports the AFL's male teams could have sister sides soon, with Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett about to announce a female Hawks team through a partnership with an existing women's club.

The Melbourne Football Club has established links with the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), and North Melbourne is exploring options, the newspaper said on Monday.

AFL Victoria consultant David Code will conduct the review and present it to the league later this year, it said.

The review aimed to revamp women's football from junior to state level but a national league could result, AFL community development manager Dean Warren said.

"Down the track there's no doubt there could be the possibility of a national competition," he said. "The demand for young women wanting to play the game is growing. There are some exciting opportunities ahead for them."

More than 80,000 females were registered Australian rules football players last year, from Auskick to senior level.

VWFL president Debbie Lee said she would like to see AFL-affiliated women's sides playing curtain-raisers at AFL matches.

"Initially it might be a Melbourne-based competition with four or five AFL clubs supporting women's footy, and then develop into a national competition where each state is represented. That's my dream," she said.

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