The AFLW has released its season seven fixture, starting Thursday August 25.
With Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney joining the competition, it'll be the first time the AFLW will have 18 sides, as it continues to grow and expand throughout the nation.
The opening round begins with a clash between arch-rivals Collingwood and Carlton at Ikon Park followed by a Grand Final rematch at Norwood Oval where Adelaide hosts Melbourne on Friday August 26.
The Bombers and Hawks play their first game against each other at ETU Stadium in a historically significant match-up, while the Power and Swans get their inaugural contests underway.
The AFLW has put on Indigenous rounds in three and four, honouring the contributions made by Indigenous people both past and present to the game. Essendon and Richmond will also partake in the first ever AFLW Dreamtime Match.
The Toyota Good For Footy Round returns in round six and Pride Round will be celebrated in round eight.
Round 10 is a floating round, with times confirmed closer to the date to optimise key games heading into the finals.
With 18 teams now vying for premiership success, the AFLW Finals series will increase to a top eight, similar to the men's competition.
AFLW GM of Football Nicole Livingstone is excited for the introduction of the four new teams and the ability to expand the league in such a short time.
“Season Seven is shaping up to be a thrilling fourteen weeks of elite football. We have 540 athletes ready to do battle, with new and old rivalries ignited, the next generation of talent ready to shine, and our game’s superstars preparing for our biggest season yet," Livingstone said.
“History will be made with Hawthorn, Sydney Swans, Port Adelaide, and Essendon entering the competition – and we’re challenging every footy fan and supporter of women’s sport to show up and support our athletes.
“With the 18-team competition now whole I want to acknowledge the role of every woman’s football pioneer – player, administrator, umpire, coach, volunteer, supporter – whose commitment and passion to women’s football has accelerated the development of the AFLW since its inception in 2017.”
AFLW GM of Competitions, Laura Kane, said the mix of games in metro and rural areas will continue to grow the game, reaching all corners of the nation and making it accessible for everyone to go watch.
“We’ve fixtured some of the biggest matches at metro stadiums, with the Gabba, SCG, Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval set to host local derbies in Season Seven,” Kane said.
“We’re also playing at suburban grounds, bringing the game closer to even more fans, with matches in Ballarat, Warrnambool, Mildura, and Mackay,” said Kane.
Want more AFL? Watch Warriors On The Field celebrating Aboriginal Australia and its long history and association with the AFL. Streaming on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.
