Get ready for an earlier-than-usual start for the 2024 AFLW season, with the league announcing a new commencement date for the upcoming season.
Entering into the ninth year of its existence, the AFLW will begin its season during the final week of August, expected to be during the AFL finals bye round.
It was confirmed in mid-February that the start of AFLW Season Nine would be brought forward a week in 2024, differing from the September 1 start date in 2023, meaning the opening round will coincide with Men’s competition’s pre-Finals week off.
As explained by Laura Kane, the AFL’s Executive General Manager of Football, the league is committed to launching its new season during the break in Men’s footy once again.
“After a record-breaking season eight and the best finals campaign in our history, the NAB AFLW competition is poised to go from strength to strength this year,” Kane said.
“We’re pleased to launch the NAB AFLW season during the pre-finals bye once again, which gives the competition a clear window to get off to a great start and build momentum ahead of another incredible season.”
The fixtures for the upcoming AFLW season haven’t been announced just yet, as of early March, but here’s what we do know about the ninth year of the women’s competition.
When does the 2024 AFLW season start?
August 30, 2024
No official date has been set for the start of the 2024 AFLW but that’s not stopping us from giving our best educated guess on when it could commence.
Considering previous seasons have started on a Friday, and that the AFLW has announced it will start during the pre-finals bye in the AFL, August 30 seems likely to be the date the ninth season will begin.
Where can you watch the AFLW?
As per usual with the AFL, both the Men’s and Women’s competitions will be shown on both free-to-air TV and paid services for all Australians to enjoy.
Foxtel via Fox Footy will show all games live and ad free from siren to siren, which can then be watched on demand on its streaming service, Kayo.
Free-to-air viewers get a similar luxury, with Channel 7 showing select games in certain regions along with a ‘watch anywhere’ feature through 7Plus.
Pre-season details
All AFLW teams are aiming for a June 3 return, for a whopping 12-week pre-season training schedule.
The luxury for most Victorian based sides is that there is an established reserve grade program, the VFLW, that allows for players to enter the season in great form.
For the first time ever, both the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants Women’s teams will participate in the VFLW, playing in games from rounds 3-7. This means both New South Wales-based teams are not officially in the competition, but their matches count for the VFLW sides.
Executive Manager of AFLW Football at the Sydney Swans, Kate Mahony, said that they are excited to play the five games in that competition and that it gives a great opportunity for the development of the playing group.
Who won the premiership last year?
Brisbane Lions
For the second time in three years, the Brisbane Lions took home the AFLW premiership in a stunning Grand Final win 44-27 over North Melbourne.
They lost three games during the regular season, finishing fourth on the ladder to enter the finals, before going on an incredible run through the post-season to win the flag.
They scrapped past premiership favourites Adelaide in the first week of the finals 39-37, earning a week off. And following that performance, they held off Geelong by just four points to qualify for the decider.
