AFLW will feature heavily on a jam-packed AFL grand-final weekend, with four matches scheduled in Victoria on the public holiday before the men’s premiership decider.
The women’s fixture, released by the league on Thursday, features six matches in Victoria around the men’s grand final.
The league hopes to cash in on the Friday public holiday (September 25) in Melbourne by pulling in crowds after the traditional men’s grand-final parade.
A women’s double-header at Princes Park is the highlight, with Carlton hosting Richmond, and defending back-to-back premiers North Melbourne taking on Melbourne.
Geelong plays Hawthorn on the Thursday night, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs will host West Coast and Port Adelaide respectively on the Friday, and Collingwood do battle with GWS on the Sunday.
The men’s grand final is on September 26, with no women’s matches scheduled that day.
The Lions face the Kangaroos in a grand final rematch as early as round two. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
As previously confirmed, the AFLW season will start when St Kilda host Carlton on August 9 as part of a double-header with a men’s match between the clubs.
The remaining eight round-one fixtures will be played the following week, starting with a Hawthorn versus Melbourne match on the Thursday night.
Two more AFL/AFLW double-headers will feature in round one: North Melbourne versus Geelong, and GWS versus West Coast.
The fourth confirmed AFL/AFLW double-header is a Sydney versus Essendon women’s match at the SCG in round two ahead of a Swans versus Kangaroos men’s encounter.
“The inclusion of AFL/AFLW double-headers during the season crossover period will provide a unique experience for fans and clubs alike,” AFL head of scheduling Josh Bowler said.
Brisbane hosts North Melbourne in an AFLW grand final re-match in round two, while Indigenous Round (rounds three and four) and Pride Round (rounds nine and 10) will both be celebrated across two weeks.
The season will again span 12 home-and-away rounds, followed by a four-week finals series, culminating in the grand final on the last weekend of November.
AAP
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