Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman lamented the lack of consistency in applying the guidelines in the league's infamous memo to AFLW clubs after his side slumped to the bottom of the ladder.
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The Pies were the clear loser out of the third round of the season that saw Fremantle end Melbourne's undefeated start, Brisbane move to the top of the ladder and Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney notch their first wins.
Collingwood are the only club without a win following the Giants' 7.6 (48) to 5.5 (35) victory in front of 3600 fans at Olympic Park on Sunday.
After a good start, the Pies found themselves under siege in the second quarter, but Siekman declined to put numbers behind the ball, as per the memo from AFL footy boss Steve Hocking issued after an underwhelming first round.
Siekman said that shifting of the goalposts had proved difficult to adjust.
"We've sort of been hit with a roadblock and we need to change what we're doing and come up with a new plan," he said.
"It's just disappointing in a competition that is only seven weeks long.
"It makes it hard."
Siekman cited the Carlton-Brisbane game at Ikon Park on Saturday where one goal was scored in the first half as an example of the confusion around the changes.
"It's hard because you go to a game like (that) trying to see the patterns evolving around the changes and what you think you can implement," he said.
"You see things start a different way and then the umpires adjudicate it differently and then the next day it's back to a different way.
"It's hard to get consistency and our players are trying to learn the game ... it's so hard to keep adjusting.
"You feel sorry for them but it's a competition and everyone else is in the same boat.
"There are no excuses - we need to get better."
The Dockers caused the boilover of the round when they recorded a 6.0 (36) to 4.7 (31) win over the wasteful Demons at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.
The Lions are one of five teams with a 2-1 record after their 6.4 (40) to 2.6 (18) to win over Carlton, and sit atop the ladder on percentage.
In her first game of the season, superstar Erin Phillips kicked four goals in the Crows' 6.5 (41) to 5.4 (34) win over the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are sweating on scans to star skipper Katie Brennan, who suffered an ankle injury during the match and was on crutches after.
Carlton star Tayla Harris is one of several players who will come under scrutiny after she lashed out at Lion Leah Kaslar.
Australian Associated Press
