AFLW players have once again been excluded from playing at major stadiums like the MCG, Marvel Stadium, SCG, Adelaide Oval, and the Gabba, following the release of the 2025 fixture.
The upcoming 12-week season will be held at smaller venues but scheduled in more traditional timeslots. While the compressed fixture from last year — which included mid-week games — has been scrapped, officials’ decision to pull back from aligning the AFLW schedule with AFL games in the final rounds came as a surprise.
AFLW general manager Emma Moore had previously highlighted the potential for double-headers under a “one-club, two-team approach,” suggesting crossover opportunities between the men’s and women’s competitions. However, no such double-headers appear in the fixture. Instead, the league has opted for flexible scheduling to avoid overlap with AFL finals matches involving the same club.
The season begins on Thursday, August 14, featuring two games, including a Carlton vs. Collingwood match-up. Several games are also scheduled around the men’s grand final weekend, with four matches on both the Friday and the Sunday.
Josh Bowler, AFL’s head of strategy and scheduling, stated that the fixture is designed to boost rivalries and increase fan engagement. He acknowledged the difficulty of assembling the schedule and thanked all involved parties for their contributions.
Instead of premier stadiums, AFLW games will continue at AFL training facilities such as Moorabbin, Whitten Oval, and Alberton Oval, and other grounds like Norwood. Some exceptions include Hawthorn hosting a match in Cairns, the Kangaroos playing in Tasmania, and home games for Geelong and Gold Coast at their usual AFL venues.
Bowler added that if a club’s AFL and AFLW games are scheduled close together, game times may be adjusted. He also noted that clubs hosting two home matches in one weekend will have them on separate days to manage logistics and fan experience effectively.
The season will conclude with a floating round in week 12, with match times to be announced later to help structure the finals series.
