AFLW 2026 AFLW Season

[TigermanM2]

The new way AFLW teams can add players to their lists​

The AFLW's first pre-season draft is on the horizon, with players needing to meet one key criteria in order to be eligible

By Sarah Black

THE LEAGUE is close to locking in details for the AFLW's first pre-season draft, with the new recruiting mechanism to be introduced for the first time in 2026.

A new mechanism for clubs to build their lists, it's understood the draft's date is close to being finalised and will be held just before pre-season begins on May 11.

The pre-season draft will replace the slew of injury replacement signings that occur in the lead up to pre-season, and the ability to have a full squad able to hit the ground running in May is vital.

Players may be ruled out for the entirety of a season for a number of reasons, including injury, pregnancy, mental health or work commitments.

Which teams will make a selection?​

Gold Coast, Hawthorn and Sydney all have a vacant list spot each, after passing on their final selections in last year's Telstra AFLW Draft.

Clubs will be able to make players inactive up until a certain date before the draft.

How is the order determined?​

Picks are allocated on a reverse-ladder basis on last year's results.

Currently, Gold Coast hold pick one, then Sydney and finally Hawthorn. As more teams free up list spots, their picks will fall into place around these three teams depending on their finishing position in 2025.

Who is eligible?​

Players who nominated for the 2025 Draft but were not selected. In previous years, injury replacement players have commonly been 19-year-olds who were just overlooked in the draft (e.g. likely to be selected if there were a further 10 picks) or top-rated state league players.

Clubs occasionally opt for players who have been "train-ons" with the team in the past. Train-ons work with the team once a week to boost numbers for match simulation-type drills, and are already familiar with the game plan and set-up of the club.

Why has it been implemented?​

The pre-season draft will act both as a small equalisation measure, and also as a way of harnessing the rush of injury replacement signings that occur before the start of pre-season.

The reverse ladder order of the picks ensures that the weakest-performing side of the previous year gets access to the best possible unsigned talent.

Clubs may indeed opt to go down a needs-base path when it comes to their pre-season selections (e.g. a ruck to replace an injured ruck, rather than best overall talent), but the reverse order ensures that if a weak team is in the market for a ruck, they can have first access.

Who might be in the mix?​

A lot will depend on which clubs have list spots available, and their relevant needs.

Undrafted players have another few months to work on their areas of improvement, with a clear trend to athleticism among those who were drafted in December.

Exposed form may be an issue depending on the player's home league – the shifted VFLW season won't kick off till May 16, after the beginning of AFLW pre-season.

The SANFLW and QAFLW seasons begin mid-April, while the WAFLW starts at the end of March.

South Australian forward Eloise Mackereth, Vic Country key back Ella Stoddart and GWS academy midfielder Isla Wiencke were arguably the highest credentialed potential draftees to be overlooked, with all three having been in the national academy.

Eloise Mackereth celebrates a goal for the AFL Academy against the All Stars on April 20, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos
Gold Coast academy midfielder Annabelle Foat missed out on the draft, as was West Australian ball-winner Juliet Kelly.

When it comes to recently delisted AFLW players, it's more likely to be a needs-based selection, given the exposed form at the national level or in scrimmages, and injury history is likely to be an issue for some players.

Denby Taylor (ex-Melbourne) can plug multiple holes across the field, as can Gabby Biedenweg-Webster (Fremantle) and Gabbi Featherston (Geelong), while Indi Williams couldn't crack a tough Brisbane team.

 

[toenail63]

Who might be in the mix?​

Exposed form may be an issue depending on the player's home league – the shifted VFLW season won't kick off till May 16, after the beginning of AFLW pre-season.

I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too at least until the seasons get longer.

The SANFLW and QAFLW seasons begin mid-April, while the WAFLW starts at the end of March.

Sat 11th April the same weekend the QAFLW kicks off there is also a State game on that day VFLW vs SANFLW at gather round. 2 players from this same fixture last year later got onto lists, Christina Leuzzi and Lauren Brazzale.

 

[toenail63]

 

[toenail63]

 

[TigermanM2]

Well not officially. Probably a reason they are not in club gear. Totally up to the players. CBA doesn't allow for an official return until May.

 

[TheTassieHawk]

I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too at least until the seasons get longer.


Sat 11th April the same weekend the QAFLW kicks off there is also a State game on that day VFLW vs SANFLW at gather round. 2 players from this same fixture last year later got onto lists, Christina Leuzzi and Lauren Brazzale.

So if a preseason draft is held Thursday 16th April the WAFLW will have had 3 weeks, QAFLW 1 week and SANFLW/VFLW would be a state game only with selection for that based on 2025 form unless they hold trials?

If the AFLW clubs care about seeing State League form (excl VFLW) they will hold the draft as late as possible which would then make it tough for players to re-locate quickly to out of state teams so it will be interesting to say the least.

 

[toenail63]

So if a preseason draft is held Thursday 16th April the WAFLW will have had 3 weeks, QAFLW 1 week and SANFLW/VFLW would be a state game only with selection for that based on 2025 form unless they hold trials?

If the AFLW clubs care about seeing State League form (excl VFLW) they will hold the draft as late as possible which would then make it tough for players to re-locate quickly to out of state teams so it will be interesting to say the least.

Ideally clubs would want all their players to complete a full pre-season, especially new ones.

I don't recall the VFLW team last year holding trial games but they did have a lager squad of 50 training before being cut to the final team. Last year though they did have club v club trial games that were already underway some weeks earlier to help form based selection.

The later start this year by a month means that trial games will be also pushed out, no scheduled practice games have been announced as yet, and with this interstate game scheduled for the 11th April will make decision making tougher.

 

[toenail63]

'We cop it a lot': AFLW's Monique Conti and NRLW's Jaime Chapman reflect on being trailblazers in women's sport as they go head-to-head in new TV series, Rivals​

By: Megan Watts

The footy duo are not only appearing in a much-anticipated Kayo reality show, but they're both paving the way for women hoping to make it big on the field.

Monique Conti and Jaime Chapman are set to star in Kayo's upcoming TV show, Rivals, to determine which football code reigns supreme in Australia.

However, the Aussie Rules star and Rugby League ace, while going head-to-head in the series, both share a common goal when it comes to their respective sports: to inspire other women to take the leap.

Speaking on women's sport and some of the milestone moments she has experienced on the field, Conti, 26, admitted that just having the chance to play the sport at a professional level was an achievement in itself.



I think just the introduction of AFLW on its own is huge," she told Sky News Australia. "To become a part of that was pretty special."

"I don't think I’d even really expect myself to be in this position if you asked me 20 years ago," she added.

But Conti didn't mince words when discussing some of the obstacles that came with being a woman in a male-dominated sport.

"We get a lot of hate," she confessed, and learning to "block out" the negative people is a lesson a lot of sportswomen are forced to face head on.

"But I guess, at the end of the day, we're at the point where if you don't want to watch, you don't have to watch it. We don't really care," Conti stated.

"We've got a lot of support and a lot of people in our corner, and I think it's cool that every single day we can go out there and do what we love."

Chapman, 23, chirped a similar tune, adding: "We’re playing in a male-dominated sport, it's something that was built and made for males.

"People still have their views on it - we cop it a lot - but we just go out there and show them who's boss."

For Chapman, inspiring a generation of young girls to take to the pitch rises way beyond the pitfalls that come with the sport.

"For me, I was one of the only girls playing in [the] all-boys footy team from the ages of under 5s to under 12s.

"Looking down now, these kids, I look at under 5 teams of all girls," she gushed.

"It's pretty amazing to see how far the women's game has grown so fast and I'm really excited to see how we keep growing," she said, adding that it's her "proudest" moment seeing young girls have the opportunity to have a career in footy, just like her.


Monique Conti (second from left) and Jaime Chapman (third from right) during filming of Rexona Rivals on November 28, 2025 on Hamilton Island, Australia. Picture: Albert Perez for Octagon Australia
Conti and Chapman will both be appearing in Kayo's exclusive new series in partnership with Rexona, Rivals, which hits screens on March 1.

The world-first sport-vs-sport reality competition sees some of the best players across AFL, NRL and Rugby Union battle it out on Hamilton Island to see which sporting code comes out on top.

 

[Phar Ace]

'We cop it a lot': AFLW's Monique Conti and NRLW's Jaime Chapman reflect on being trailblazers in women's sport as they go head-to-head in new TV series, Rivals​

By: Megan Watts

The footy duo are not only appearing in a much-anticipated Kayo reality show, but they're both paving the way for women hoping to make it big on the field.

Monique Conti and Jaime Chapman are set to star in Kayo's upcoming TV show, Rivals, to determine which football code reigns supreme in Australia.

However, the Aussie Rules star and Rugby League ace, while going head-to-head in the series, both share a common goal when it comes to their respective sports: to inspire other women to take the leap.

Speaking on women's sport and some of the milestone moments she has experienced on the field, Conti, 26, admitted that just having the chance to play the sport at a professional level was an achievement in itself.

View attachment 2522806

I think just the introduction of AFLW on its own is huge," she told Sky News Australia. "To become a part of that was pretty special."

"I don't think I’d even really expect myself to be in this position if you asked me 20 years ago," she added.

But Conti didn't mince words when discussing some of the obstacles that came with being a woman in a male-dominated sport.

"We get a lot of hate," she confessed, and learning to "block out" the negative people is a lesson a lot of sportswomen are forced to face head on.

"But I guess, at the end of the day, we're at the point where if you don't want to watch, you don't have to watch it. We don't really care," Conti stated.

"We've got a lot of support and a lot of people in our corner, and I think it's cool that every single day we can go out there and do what we love."

Chapman, 23, chirped a similar tune, adding: "We’re playing in a male-dominated sport, it's something that was built and made for males.

"People still have their views on it - we cop it a lot - but we just go out there and show them who's boss."

For Chapman, inspiring a generation of young girls to take to the pitch rises way beyond the pitfalls that come with the sport.

"For me, I was one of the only girls playing in [the] all-boys footy team from the ages of under 5s to under 12s.

"Looking down now, these kids, I look at under 5 teams of all girls," she gushed.

"It's pretty amazing to see how far the women's game has grown so fast and I'm really excited to see how we keep growing," she said, adding that it's her "proudest" moment seeing young girls have the opportunity to have a career in footy, just like her.

View attachment 2522807
Monique Conti (second from left) and Jaime Chapman (third from right) during filming of Rexona Rivals on November 28, 2025 on Hamilton Island, Australia. Picture: Albert Perez for Octagon Australia
Conti and Chapman will both be appearing in Kayo's exclusive new series in partnership with Rexona, Rivals, which hits screens on March 1.

The world-first sport-vs-sport reality competition sees some of the best players across AFL, NRL and Rugby Union battle it out on Hamilton Island to see which sporting code comes out on top.

"The world-first sport-vs-sport reality competition sees some of the best players across AFL, NRL and Rugby Union battle it out on Hamilton Island to see which sporting code comes out on top."


Like that matters!!!!!

 

[toenail63]

Like that matters!!!!!

It's a bit of naff concept copying the one the guys did years ago, Lids and Hodgey I think were the AFL two.

What would be nice is with Mon Conti rooming with Matilda Scholz, the salary cap coming in 2028 and a chance to play in footy's homeland. Sell her the dream Mon

 

[TigermanM2]

It's a bit of naff concept copying the one the guys did years ago, Lids and Hodgey I think were the AFL two.

What would be nice is with Mon Conti rooming with Matilda Scholz, the salary cap coming in 2028 and a chance to play in footy's homeland. Sell her the dream Mon

Wouldn't that be nice.

Seriously, the ground Matilda covers for he size is staggering. Mon Conti covers more ground than most and Matilda is up there with her. Covered 710m in R3 and averaged 439m in her last 5 rounds of 2025. Mon averaged 370m during these rounds. A serious talent. Comes from her mothers side, Peta Scholz who was a more than a handy Australian netballer.

 

[aflw_w]

Chocco williams
Ty Vickery

 

[TigermanM2]

Chocco williams
Ty Vickery

Interesting.

Didn't think of Ty but he is creating a bit of a CV in the Junior Girls footy space.

Coached Oakleigh Chargers in 2024 (Premiership) and 2025 as well as being Vic Metro coach.

Fun fact: it would also continue the upward trend in regards to our coaching heights. Tom Hunter 185cm, Ryan Ferguson 197cm, Ty Vickery 200cm.

Nice call.


Not sure Williams has held any official roles in women's footy but as a footy nut I'm sure he has provided some mentorship along the way.

 

[Cdog71]

Williams would be great to have around a first year Coach

 

[Stigmata]

It's a bit of naff concept copying the one the guys did years ago, Lids and Hodgey I think were the AFL two.

What would be nice is with Mon Conti rooming with Matilda Scholz, the salary cap coming in 2028 and a chance to play in footy's homeland. Sell her the dream Mon

I remember when dermi did it back in the late 80s

I think it got cut cause Alan Jeans went mental when he saw some of the events.

 

[Stigmata]

Interesting.

Didn't think of Ty but he is creating a bit of a CV in the Junior Girls footy space.

Coached Oakleigh Chargers in 2024 (Premiership) and 2025 as well as being Vic Metro coach.

Fun fact: it would also continue the upward trend in regards to our coaching heights. Tom Hunter 185cm, Ryan Ferguson 197cm, Ty Vickery 200cm.

Nice call.


Not sure Williams has held any official roles in women's footy but as a footy nut I'm sure he has provided some mentorship along the way.

Ty also be handy if some of the sponsors aren’t fulfilling their contracts

 

[TigermanM2]

Was really interested to read that Brisbane don't operate with the four-tier payment system.

EVERY player is paid tier 3. No matter if you are the best player or used sparingly off the bench (or don't play at all). Pay is the same.

I admire it enormously because it shows extreme confidence and player buy in in the team first philosophy but it it would still make me nervous.

In any case the proof is in the eating as they remain strong year after year despite losing good players along the way. Says a lot.

 

[toenail63]

In any case the proof is in the eating as they remain strong year after year despite losing good players along the way. Says a lot.

Often it's quoted how physically advanced the Lions women's team was as the reason for their longevity but their depth of talent is strong thanks to a strong QAFLW, and increasingly now through their academy, as good as any club nationally.

They have their big names on their list and lost player to expansion in Wardlaw, Bates & Bodey but just keep replacing them.

Their local talent from QAFLW that would have been considered depth players in 2020 are now keeping them up there, players like Bella Dawes, Jade Ellenger, Tahlia Hickie who were top 4 in their B&F with Charlie Mullins not far behind them.

This tactic of equal pay for everyone has probably helped them keep players who otherwise may have been pried out by others

 

[Yze does it]

Ty also be handy if some of the sponsors aren’t fulfilling their contracts

Jake King for General Manager then.

 

[toenail63]

Jake King for General Manager then.

And his mate Brett Deledio as the GM's assistant so that he can finally get that premiership.

 

[Cdog71]

13 weeks till start of preseason still no Coach

 

[toenail63]

13 weeks till start of preseason still no Coach

Yeah it's certainly dragging on for us and also Melbourne and Port Adelaide are in the same boat. Obviously the sooner the appointments made the better as the footy world doesn't wait for anyone. You have to wonder about Blaithin Mackin's decision to opt out of her final year at Melbourne that if a lack of a coach contributed to this .

Also Irish 2026 season is underway and its apparent that the Irish situation of playing dual leagues is coming more to a head with expectation on players, and like Vicki Wall has done opting out of Gaelic footy altogether. Aoibhin Cleary would also benefit her AFLW development if she follows suit.

‘What other sport would say nothing if they lost 50 of their biggest stars’​

‘What other sport would say nothing if they lost 50 of their biggest stars’ | Meath Chronicle

Wayne Freeman, the manager of the Meath ladies football team, says something has to be done about the way Aussie Rules clubs are signing up female Gaelic footballers from Ireland.

www.meathchronicle.ie

UPDATE, Actually reported this week that Aoibhin Cleary is out.

‘Where are their heroes? They’re all in Australia’ – Meath boss Wayne Freeman slams AFLW player drain

Meath ladies football boss Wayne Freeman is adamant that the departure of many top county stars to the AFLW is a “massive problem which is threatening the game”.

www.independent.ie

"Freeman, who stepped up from the role of head coach to manager this season, will be without star players like Vikki Wall, her younger sister Sarah and last year’s captain Aoibhín Cleary this year as the Royals bid to go one better in 2026 having lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Dublin".

 

[TigermanM2]

Also Irish 2026 season is underway and its apparent that the Irish situation of playing dual leagues is coming more to a head with expectation on players, and like Vicki Wall has done opting out of Gaelic footy altogether. Aoibhin Cleary would also benefit her AFLW development if she follows suit.

‘What other sport would say nothing if they lost 50 of their biggest stars’​

‘What other sport would say nothing if they lost 50 of their biggest stars’ | Meath Chronicle

Wayne Freeman, the manager of the Meath ladies football team, says something has to be done about the way Aussie Rules clubs are signing up female Gaelic footballers from Ireland.

www.meathchronicle.ie

UPDATE, Actually reported this week that Aoibhin Cleary is out.

‘Where are their heroes? They’re all in Australia’ – Meath boss Wayne Freeman slams AFLW player drain

Meath ladies football boss Wayne Freeman is adamant that the departure of many top county stars to the AFLW is a “massive problem which is threatening the game”.

www.independent.ie

"Freeman, who stepped up from the role of head coach to manager this season, will be without star players like Vikki Wall, her younger sister Sarah and last year’s captain Aoibhín Cleary this year as the Royals bid to go one better in 2026 having lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Dublin".

Meath Ladies manager Wayne Freeman wants better communication between the AFL clubs and Irish governing body. What is that going to do? The AFL clubs are perfectly entitled to do absolutely nothing. They have no obligation to communicate with anyone bar the players and their managers.

Bottom line is that an Irish player will earn the equivalent of the average annual wage in Ireland for coming here for 6 months, enjoy the best of Aus and play AFLW and still have time to study or do whatever. Up until recently it was costing them to play in Ireland. Even now I think they are just reimbursed some expenses.

By 2027 $$ be considerably more... and they get to do it with over 50 other Irish women who are on the same journey.

I sympathise with the dilemma facing the LGFA. Talented athletes are ripped from their sport in their prime. Not sure anything can be done about it though. Their league certainly can't afford to start paying players and the AFL will laugh in the LGFA's faces if they try and bring up transfer fees or the like.

Sure its a big problem, but its not OUR problem and it has zero negative effect on us. That's the way the AFL will be viewing all of this.

 

[toenail63]

Meath Ladies manager Wayne Freeman wants better communication between the AFL clubs and Irish governing body. What is that going to do? The AFL clubs are perfectly entitled to do absolutely nothing.

Spot on. He's barking up the wrong tree. I can sympathise with Freeman as having player movement occur mid to late season makes his job harder and he has various stakeholders to keep happy. If I was him I'd bite the bullet and look to fast track their youth. What is happening in Ireland is similar to what is happening here with our cross coders but has been expedited through Gaelic's readiness to convert quickly and in numbers.

On Freeman he will only have recent signings in Sarah Wall (Nth Melb) and Mary-Kate Lynch (Swans) who both may continue to play league this season and possibly an All Ireland stint at end of their summer but by next year they'll both be gone. I think he feels strongly because along with Vikki Wall, Orlagh Lally and Aoibhin Cleary that's five top line players gone.

 

[TigermanM2]