The AFLW has reverted to a classic clash for the 2021 season opener, with Carlton and Collingwood to kick off proceedings at Ikon Park on January 28.
The Blues and Magpies played off in the first ever AFLW game for premiership points in 2017 and also opened the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
This year newcomers Richmond were given the chance to open round one against Carlton, but were comprehensively beaten.
Richmond have been scheduled to play Brisbane at Punt Road in the opening round.
It will be the Tigers’ first game at the ground for AFLW premiership points, after they played their home games at Ikon Park and in Bendigo in 2020. They will play all four of their home games at the venue.
The 2021 AFLW season will be the first to feature an Indigenous round, while there will also be a full Pride round for the first time – expanding upon previous Pride games.
The Pride round will take place in round two, with the Indigenous round held in round five.
“Celebrating Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander players is incredibly important to those involved in the women’s competition and to Indigenous communities across the country,” AFL inclusion manager Tanya Hosch said.
“We have seen the celebration and storytelling of Indigenous culture through specially-designed AFLW guernseys over the years and we are looking forward to this being shared across a dedicated round.
“The creation of Pride round is another step towards being a more inclusive game, welcoming diversity and ensuring our game is a place of welcome for everyone.”
There will be a Western derby between West Coast and Fremantle in round four, while Brisbane and Gold Coast will face off in round five.
There are games in every state and territory bar the NT.
On Thursday, the AFL scrapped the controversial conference system in favour of having one 14-team ladder.
The competition will be divided into bands of the top four, middle six and bottom four – based on last season’s ladder positions.
There will be nine regular-season rounds, then a six-team, three-week finals series.
Brian
Guest
Why can't they just play a 13 week season?
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Where is Mary K when you want a comment about women's football?
Maxy
Roar Rookie
No probs mate,not on here to argue with people,I like the Banter side of the roar
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Don't take it personally. I was writing for others besides yourself.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I was joking with Trent Thomas,to much to read,if she is great thats great,dont watch it so dont really care
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The statue was never about Tayla Harris. It was about raising awareness of the discrimination women and girls face in sports, particularly the vulgar online trolling that reached its tipping point when the award winning picture of Tayla booting an amazing long range goal was trolled viciously. The statue represents women saying that enough is enough after years of men (sad excuses for men) imposing their poorly informed opinions of the fledgling women's comp on every available social media platform. Blind Freddy could tell you that the game was slow, low scoring and lacked the skill of the men's comp back when AFLW started. That's what you get when you don't have any development of girls footy between the ages of 13 and 18. U13s girls used to just be chucked in with the boys and told to sod off when they reached high school. How do you think the men's comp would go if there was zero development or funding for teenaged boys? In this season to come, there will be 18yo draftees absolutely lighting up the track who have benefited from 5 years of intensive development in schools with sports excellence programs. At the Suns, there are 3 draftees who were taught in school by 2 of the Suns current players, in addition to coaches like Andrew Swallow and Darryl White in the first class facilities at Metricon stadium. This pathway to top level footy is the reason that Queensland got a 2nd women's team because of the number of female players the state is producing (including Tayla Harris). Just this past season I read stories criticising AFLW because of the low scoring. 16 minute quarters are normal for AFLW, and we discovered in the men's comp this year that shortened quarters leads to lower scoring. The players have a 6 week preseason and an 8 week season (now 9 weeks) so you're never going to get the aerobic capacity from part-time players that you will with men's footy where they train from 12 years of age with the goal of being drafted. Go watch some highlights. Watch Caitlin Greiser (AKA G Train) punt goals from 55m. Watch Anne Hatchard gather 30+ touches like it's nothing. Watch Irish Camogie player Orla O'Dwyer doing outrageous manouevres wishing she had a stick. Watch Kalinda Howarth kicking impossible goals from around her body. Millions of people watching aren't wrong.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
I hope your daughter was in the kitchen or doing laundry while you were teaching her
WCE
Roar Rookie
Spot on Hub anyone who sees it differently I would seriously question.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Tayla Harris is not a No Hope!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
You were right the first time. Mo Hope revisited. A lot of talk, no substance!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
News.com.au says the Pies are paying $1.5m and Dogs $3m. The Age confirms Dogs are paying $3m but says the Pies are paying $1m in their salary cap and seems to suggest (although it is not clear) the Pies have agreed to a further $0.5m via "separate contracts" in a "complex deal". Is there a bigger story here? I thought the only way to pay a player outside the salary cap was via AFL-sanctioned marketing endorsements? Surely the AFL haven't approved Treloar being paid $0.5m by Collingwood across the next 5 years for marketing on behalf of a club he no longer represents!!!? Or is he marketing the Bulldogs now and Collingwood has agreed to pay $0.5m of the Dogs marketing costs (which conveniently sit outside the TPP and the AFL has accepted this in order to help resolve Collingwood's salary cap issues. I've asked these questions of The Age and they responded they are investigating these questions.
RT
Roar Rookie
The Age is reporting Collingwood is paying $1 mill over 5 years, not $1.5 mill. I'm not sure the Dogs actually got what they expected.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Its reported today in news.com.au and The Age that Pies and Dogs have agreed to terms on Treloar's contract and Collingwood has agreed to fund $1.5m over 5 years and Dogs $3m, which is what the Dogs were saying all along - which suggests once again that Collingwood and Eddie were lying. Mind boggling incompetence, dishonesty and unprofessionalism from Collingwood. Well done Dogs on sorting this mess out without chest-beating.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Just having some Banter with Trent Thomas,he is a bluebagger,I have no idea whatsover if she can play or not because I have never seen her play
Maxy
Roar Rookie
More of a Tongue in cheek comment Col,with the statue thing and press coverage she receives,cant really judge her as I have never seen her play a game,seems to me they chose her to be the face of AFLW
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
It works awkwardly.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Pretty poor comment Hub. Can’t disagree what you say about Phillips but your “sideshow Bob type player” has been All-Australian twice in 3 years - pretty good.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
How does a 3 week finals series work? NFL style, with 3rd playing 6th and 4th playing 5th, then winners play 1st and 2nd, then winners play off in the GF. Or all six play and a lucky loser makes it through to preliminaries. Seen both in AFL before or similar. I’m guessing the first.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Tayla Harris is far from a sideshow. She’s led her teams to 2 of the 3 GFs and copped tall poppy syndrome all along the way. One of the best AFLW players to come out of Queensland.
Shinboner 1971
Roar Rookie
The Grand Final we should have had in March, North Melbourne vs Fremantle, is on in Round 3.