AFLW 2025 Fixture

[Teen Wolf]

It goes to my point I've been making all along about the AFLW, we should have never gone with the model of "copy-paste" from the Men's league.

It should have been brand new clubs/identies created, and a slow expansion. Expansion happening when there's depth (allowing 40 player squads per team), when stadiums were developed to a satisfactory standard, when umpiring depth got to a better standard, and when audience demand (sell-outs, TV audience) dictacted a new club(s) be placed in a state.

Instead, the league is stuck. Stuck between stadiums not up to scratch and not enough crowd demand to play at the bigger stadiums. Stuck with what to do with player development, when 20, 21, 22 year olds get de-listed because they may not be up to AFLW standard, but can't get in-season game time to improve. Stuck because AFL House can't tell us what the competition is meant to look like 10 years from now, let alone next year.

Ohplease. The clubs would riot if money from men's TV rights was being spent on an unaffiliated women's league.

The minimum salary is already ~$70k precisely because all 18 clubs are involved and directly benefitting from AFLW.

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and North have shown how to run proper programs post-covid. Port, WB, StK and Hawthorn have shown how to get proper ground re/developments done.

But for some reason it's all a bit too hard for the biggest Vic clubs.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Ohplease. The clubs would riot if money from men's TV rights was being spent on an unaffiliated women's league.

The minimum salary is already ~$70k precisely because all 18 clubs are involved and directly benefitting from AFLW.

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and North have shown how to run proper programs post-covid. Port, WB, StK and Hawthorn have shown how to get proper ground re/developments done.

But for some reason it's all a bit too hard for the biggest Vic clubs.

First of all, men's clubs investing in unaffiliated women's clubs is exactly what the NBA did with the WNBA which is now (a long-term investment) finally starting to play dividends, big time.

The 70k is because that's what the AFLPA negotiated with the AFL. Nothing to do with any clubs 'because they benefited' - just look at the poor situation for all the assistant coaches and behind the scenes staff.

WB, proper redevelopment? Have you even been to Whitten Oval? The home team running out of the giant garage door instead of a proper race. A good 25 metres between the fence and the Barkly Street goals. The coaches boxes and faded seats with no cover from the elements on the broadcast side wing. No proper media facilities. Yes, the new grandstand looks nice, and some nice terraces and lights, but still sub-par.

Likewise RSEA Park. Very little cover for spectators - like Craigieburn - and no media facilities.

Hawthorn... Dingley hasn't been conpleted yet, so can't comment.

 

[Teen Wolf]

First of all, men's clubs investing in unaffiliated women's clubs is exactly what the NBA did with the WNBA which is now (a long-term investment) finally starting to play dividends, big time.

It has dramatically increased in popularity because of one player, be serious. Not a shred of evidence says it would be less popular right now if the Indiana Fever had been the Indiana Pacers Women's team all along.

And btw, Caitlin Clark is a direct result of Title IX, which facilitates equal treatment of men's and women's college teams, rather than inventing ways to discriminate.

The 70k is because that's what the AFLPA negotiated with the AFL.

The significant, unparalleled jump in salaries took place between 2022 S6 (14 teams) and 2022 S7 (18 teams). It wasn't because the AFLPA asked nicely or slammed fists.

WB, proper redevelopment? Have you even been to Whitten Oval? The home team running out of the giant garage door instead of a proper race. A good 25 metres between the fence and the Barkly Street goals. The coaches boxes and faded seats with no cover from the elements on the broadcast side wing. No proper media facilities. Yes, the new grandstand looks nice, and some nice terraces and lights, but still sub-par.

Likewise RSEA Park. Very little cover for spectators - like Craigieburn - and no media facilities.

They did this thing called added seats. And resurfaced their grounds to eliminate craters and ravines. Oh and they can actually use their grounds when they want.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Piss poor for October games to be scheduled at Windy Hill.
Even worse that the AFLW and Essendon FC have combined for a big F.U to the division of seasons.

Poor old Essendon C.C.
Deserve a lot better.

 

[jatz14]

It goes to my point I've been making all along about the AFLW, we should have never gone with the model of "copy-paste" from the Men's league.

It should have been brand new clubs/identies created, and a slow expansion. Expansion happening when there's depth (allowing 40 player squads per team), when stadiums were developed to a satisfactory standard, when umpiring depth got to a better standard, and when audience demand (sell-outs, TV audience) dictacted a new club(s) be placed in a state.

Instead, the league is stuck. Stuck between stadiums not up to scratch and not enough crowd demand to play at the bigger stadiums. Stuck with what to do with player development, when 20, 21, 22 year olds get de-listed because they may not be up to AFLW standard, but can't get in-season game time to improve. Stuck because AFL House can't tell us what the competition is meant to look like 10 years from now, let alone next year.

My issue with that is, I honestly believe the timeframe for a slow cook method is, Never.

We would be in a situation of, the league will come, when the time is right, and it would never ever be right.

 

[Teen Wolf]

No men's games on for half the afternoon today. Somehow Fox Footy and Ch7 are surviving.

The clubs need to get on the same page and push for stable AFLW timeslots which don't clash with men's games:



Simple as that. 4-5 AFLW games per weekend during winter and September. Then 9 AFLW games per weekend once the men's season is done.

And people might say 12pm is too early, but it will work as something that is committed to, and promoted, over the long haul.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

People turn up to VFL in 11:30am/12pm timeslots (including me) so I don’t mind that layout of space.

 

[AussieNick1999]

People turn up to VFL in 11:30am/12pm timeslots (including me) so I don’t mind that layout of space.

I'll turn up that early if my club is playing, but only reluctantly. Personally I think 12pm is the absolute earliest a game should start, unless it's being played as part of a double header.

 

[The Nostradamus]

when can we expect practice matches announced?

 

[Teen Wolf]

Practice match details have been announced with 18, 21 and 35 days notice, in recent years (35 being last year).

This year's practice matches are likely to be played August 1-3, with match sim the weekend before. So the details will be announced at the start of July, if not a little sooner.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Distance to be travelled (km) by each club throughout the home & away season:

Fremantle: 33,124
West Coast: 27,425
Gold Coast: 23,761
Brisbane: 19,491
Richmond: 16,432
Essendon: 15,140
GWS Giants: 13,816
Adelaide: 11,380
Sydney: 11,317
North Melb.: 10,987
Melbourne: 10,479
Port Adelaide: 10,373
Carlton: 10,099
Hawthorn: 9,817
Geelong: 9,029
Collingwood: 8,369
St Kilda: 7,773
W. Bulldogs: 6,440

Each journey, including home games, begins and ends at the club's training base (Gosch's for Melbourne, Waverley for Hawthorn). Distances assume a straight line between airports, and clubs always returning home before playing next match.

By round:



(Already corrected a few mistakes so there may be more I haven't caught yet, but for now I think this is right)

 

[Teen Wolf]

Looking at the men's fixture for R24, there seems a strong chance WB v Frem at Marvel will be a Sunday 1.10pm game (and thus finishing at ~4pm). This creates a problem for Dogs supporters wanting to attend the Rich v WB women's game on the same day (currently scheduled for 3pm at Ikon Park).

The likely solution would be to push the AFLW game back to Sunday 5pm... Not only is such a solution asking too much of Dogs supporters, but it's also guaranteed to deter plenty of potential Richmond attendees.

That's just one example of the issues involved with squeezing 18 games into a weekend. Even if that WB-Frem men's game doesn't get the Sunday 1.10pm slot, it's going to create a clash somewhere else. So yeah, expect a change to R2 of the AFLW fixture.

 

[timokane]

with the vflw is it free entry or do i need to buy a ticket thinking of going to pies and blues sat morning at vic park

 

[AussieNick1999]

with the vflw is it free entry or do i need to buy a ticket thinking of going to pies and blues sat morning at vic park

From my understanding, Victoria Park doesn't have fencing around it anymore and therefore they're not able to charge an entry fee. And the game isn't being played as a double-header with the VFL men's game. So I think you'll be safe.

 

[timokane]

feeling its free no food drink outlets there only a couple of water taps and toilets now the portal ones.
so all in all basic and byo and securty gaurd there at main gate to check as no alcohol is allowed only water and soft drinks only even tho soft drinks i think are banned as well only water and bring sandwiches this kind of thing only other things there are a few people who do the streaming the game but they dont comment on the game only show it very basic these games as long as the ground is there to play on thats all players some umps some coaches thats about it
normally finishes around midday as well thinking they get around 30 people there

 

[Teen Wolf]

Pending good weather, I think the AFL will be expecting the following crowds for R1 at a minimum:

Carl-Coll, Thu 7.15pm
6000 to justify taking the season-opener away from Sydney. The Blues and Pies only drew 4128 for the 2022 S7 opener, so 6k could be a tall order. That said, Melb-Coll opened the season in 2023 with 8412 (albeit on a Friday night).

WCE-GC, Thu 7.15pm
3000. The Eagles started last year in the same slot, but with new coach hype, and drew just 2k vs Richmond. However, this year their night games are at Leederville (supposedly more popular than Lathlain).

Syd-Rich, Fri 6.15pm
3000. Early start should prove a bit of a hindrance.

Geel-NM, Sat 3.35pm
4000. The Cats had 3838 in R1 last year vs Melbourne on a Saturday night. Mid-afternoon start should help crack 4k.

GWS-Ess, Sat 5.35pm
2500. The Giants and Bulldogs had 2k for last year’s early Saturday arvo opener, also in Canberra. Bombers should bring a few more, hard to say what impact a 5.30pm start will have.

WB-Melb, Sat 7.35pm
4000 to justify the FTA spot on Saturday night. The Bulldogs drew 4k against Essendon on a Friday night in R7 last year.

BL-Haw, Sun 12.40pm
3500. Brisbane unfurled the flag in front of 3395 last year, but that was on a stinker of a day against a smaller club.

StK-Ade, Sun 2.10pm
2500. St Kilda drew 2694 to a R2 Sunday arvo game against Sydney, so they shouldn’t be getting much less against the Crows in a similar timeslot.

PA-Frem, Sun 3.40pm
4000. Port managed just 2k vs Freo in R3 last year, but by season’s end were getting 4k vs GWS and then 5k vs Richmond in a final (about the same as the R1 Showdown)—was this just because the team was on a roll, or that people are more likely to attend in October and November?

All up comes to 32,500 at an average of 3611.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Looking at the men's fixture for R24, there seems a strong chance WB v Frem at Marvel will be a Sunday 1.10pm game (and thus finishing at ~4pm). This creates a problem for Dogs supporters wanting to attend the Rich v WB women's game on the same day (currently scheduled for 3pm at Ikon Park).

The likely solution would be to push the AFLW game back to Sunday 5pm... Not only is such a solution asking too much of Dogs supporters, but it's also guaranteed to deter plenty of potential Richmond attendees.

That's just one example of the issues involved with squeezing 18 games into a weekend. Even if that WB-Frem men's game doesn't get the Sunday 1.10pm slot, it's going to create a clash somewhere else. So yeah, expect a change to R2 of the AFLW fixture.

Talked about this more in the Round 24 thread, concluding the optimal solution would be to put the WB-Frem men's game on the Saturday night at Marvel.

I didn't think of that initially because NM-Adel men's also has to be at Marvel on the Saturday*, but then I remembered they've done Marvel double-headers a couple times this year, so perhaps they'll do it again.

*Explanation:

Floating timings, AFL overlap, more: All you need to know about the AFLW fixture

A return to normal timeslots, men's season overlap and a floating fixture for round 12 - this is everything you need to know about the 2025 NAB AFLW fixture

www.afl.com.au

if a club is hosting two home games over one weekend, these will fall on different days to ensure the club can operationally deliver the best possible match-day experience for fans across two venues.

NM hosts AFLW on the Sunday, therefore the AFL game has to be on Saturday.

The article does say AFLW games might shift to accommodate the men's fixture, though Josh Bowler's words were "a slight time change" which would imply a matter of hours rather than by an entire day.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Can't see behind the Newscorp paywall, but apparently Cricket Victoria pushing back against the Essendon AFLW games being played at Windy Hill in October.

Premier Cricket have gone ahead and scheduled Essendon Cricket Club to play at Windy Hill in Ocfober.

 

[Teen Wolf]

AFLW Crowds pick up in October as the weather improves, but it's not like a 5k difference per game. So although I suspect football would win a full-on legal battle over Windy Hill access, it wouldn't be surprising if EFC still give in as it's just less effort to move 2 games to Carlton/Footscray.

Every other AFL club shook off cricket like a bad case of fleas 15-30 years ago so of course the Bombers, already bruised and beaten by the Bowls menace, would be the exception.

Small picture stuff anyway. Along with Collingwood, Essendon should be leading the charge to bring about the CBD-adjacent "AFLW Park" by 2032 rather than waiting around a couple decades.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Nothing* about Windy Hill/October in the eight thousand articles published following yesterday's global press tour. But the AFL says having certainty around fixturing is vewwy impordent!!

We are certainly changing times of matches at short notice:

Following the confirmation of the dates and times for Round 24, a time change has also been made for two matches in Round 2 of the 2025 NAB AFLW Season.

We are certainly going to piss this match off from the main channel in favour of AFL WB-Frem (even though we initially carved out the timeslot for AFLW by agreeing to a Sunday night AFL match):

We are certainly raising prices to the Grand Final by at least another $15 this year:

The AFL won't budge on AFLW venues as comp searches for certainty

The AFL has locked in the AFLW grand final venues for each state and is not open to moving to a larger stadium, regardless of home and away crowd numbers or demand.

www.abc.net.au

*Well there was one mention of Windy Hill, wherein Laura Kane made a comment that directly contradicted reports from a fortnight ago about ground rationalisation (though I did previously mention, can't remember where, those reports weren't accurate... like every AFLW article).

 

[Teen Wolf]

And adding to the steaming pile of certainty, an unprecedented* 11th hour venue change:

Mineral Resources Park to host West Coast Eagles Season Opener

The Round One NAB AFLW match between the West Coast Eagles and the Gold Coast SUNS on Thursday night has been moved to Mineral Resources Park

www.afl.com.au

*Ignoring all the times it's happened before.

Hopefully this will ensure West Coast play early season home games at the WACA next year.

 

[Teen Wolf]

We are certainly going to piss this match off from the main channel in favour of AFL WB-Frem (even though we initially carved out the timeslot for AFLW by agreeing to a Sunday night AFL match):
View attachment 2390191

I'll make a note of it in the Round 2 thread when created, but Seven has ended up ditching Adel-Geel and switched to covering Melb-StK on Saturday instead.

Bit of dumb luck as they didn't know the Casey game would be 1st v 4th when deciding that.

SA will still get Adel-Geel on FTA of course, it'll just be a Fox produced game now.

 

[pattymalone00]

I know that double headers are abit of a controversial topic but might just be me but feels like the (channel 7) sunday arvo slot might be a perfect time for it if they continue to show a aflw womens game before the afl(m) game anyways....

 

[The Nostradamus]

When will they lock in the final round fixture times?

 

[CURVE]

Not sure if the Frankston ground has lights, but I would like to see the North v Hawthorn game played on the Friday night, we haven't played a night game yet this season and the only one we have at this stage is the Richmond game in Round 9.