AFL Women's

{{Short description|Female Australian rules football league}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox sports league | title = AFL Women's | upcoming_season = 2026 AFL Women's season | current_season = | last_season = | logo = AFL Women's logo.svg | pixels = 175px | caption = | Formerly = | sport = Australian rules football | founded = {{Start date and age|15 September 2016}} | fame = | motto = | inaugural = 2017 | teams = 18 | promotion = | relegation = | levels = | domestic_cup = | country = Australia | venue = | premiers = {{AFLW|NM}} (2nd premiership) | prem_season = | most_prems = {{AFLW|Ade}} (3 premierships) | qualification = | headquarters = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | website = {{URL|womens.afl}} | singles = | owner = | ceo = Emma Moore | Director = | President = | TV = Seven Network Fox Footy | streaming = 7plus (Australia) Kayo Sports (Australia) WatchAFL (Overseas) | sponsor = NAB | related_comps = AFL AFLW Under 18 Championships QAFL Women's SANFL Women's VFL Women's WAFL Women's | Founder = | footnotes = }}

'''AFL Women's''' ('''AFLW''') is Australia's national professional Australian rules football competition for female players. The first season of the league in February and March 2017 had eight teams; the league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 14 teams in 2020 and 18 teams in 2022. The league is run by the Australian Football League (AFL) and is contested by each of the clubs from that competition. The reigning premiers are the North Melbourne Kangaroos.

The AFLW is the second most attended women's football competition in Australia (behind A-League Women) and one of the most popular women's football competitions in the world. Its average attendance in 2019 of 6,262 per game made it the second-highest of any domestic women's football competition. Its record attendance of 53,034 for the 2019 AFL Women's Grand Final was until 2020 the highest match attendance for women's sport in Australia.

Since launch, the AFLW has attracted an audience of more than 1 million attendees<ref name="womens.afl">{{Cite web |date=Jan 11, 2022 |title=AFLW passes the million mark as crowds keep growing |url=https://www.womens.afl/news/79647/aflw-passes-the-million-mark-as-crowds-keep-growing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609083943/https://www.womens.afl/news/79647/aflw-passes-the-million-mark-as-crowds-keep-growing |archive-date=Jun 9, 2023 |website=AFLW}}</ref> and 2 million viewers<ref name="roymorgan.com">"[http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8674-aflw-afl-back-on-our-screens-march-2021-202103290731#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIn%20the%2012%20months%20to,split%20of%2061%25%20men%20cf Over 2.6 million Australians watch AFLW on TV]", from Roy Morgan, 29 March 2021, Finding No. 8674.</ref> and has managed to maintain high interest while moving to primarily ticketed and subscription broadcasting models since the 2021 season. It consistently ranks in the top three (alongside cricket and netball) most-watched women's sporting competitions in Australia.<ref name="mediaweek.com.au">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=Fox Sports research shows women's sport gaining popularity in Australia |url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/fox-sports-research-shows-womens-sport-gaining-popularity-in-australia/ |website=Mediaweek |language=en-AU |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220308121911/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/fox-sports-research-shows-womens-sport-gaining-popularity-in-australia/ |archive-date= Mar 8, 2022 }}</ref> The league receives international interest, particularly in Ireland, where it has begun to attract a significant television audience due to the ongoing recruitment of Irish Gaelic football stars.<ref name="The Cora effect: What's behind the">{{cite web |url=https://www.womens.afl/news/119578/the-cora-effect-what-s-behind-the-explosion-of-irish-aflw-interest- |title=The Cora effect: What's behind the explosion of Irish AFLW interest |website=AFLW |first1= Gemma |last1=Bastiani |date=4 May 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510101432/https://www.womens.afl/news/119578/the-cora-effect-what-s-behind-the-explosion-of-irish-aflw-interest- |archive-date= May 10, 2023 }}</ref> However, it was reported in mid-2023 that data revealed a significant drop in attendances for the seventh season of the women's league compared to the first season.<ref name="ABC Radio Melbourne">{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/programs/mornings/aflw-attendance-and-ratings-numbers-dont-tell-full-story/102575086 |title=AFLW attendance and ratings numbers don't tell full story|date=6 July 2023|publisher=ABC Radio Melbourne |access-date=21 October 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230730191101/https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/programs/mornings/aflw-attendance-and-ratings-numbers-dont-tell-full-story/102575086 |archive-date= Jul 30, 2023 }}</ref>

==History==

===Earlier women's participation in Australian football===

While men playing Australian rules football is documented back to 1858, women's games have only been documented back to 1917, and the first lasting women's league was formed in 1981. Women's participation in the sport and the prevalence of women's leagues continued to grow into the 21st century.<ref name="Burke">{{cite journal |last1=Burke |first1=Michael |last2=Klugman |first2=Matthew |last3=O'Halloran |first3=Kate |title=‘Why now’ for AFLW? Providing a new affirmative narrative for women’s football in the post-Covid world |journal=Sport in Society |date=2022 |volume=26 |doi=10.1080/17430437.2022.2041600 |url=https://vuir.vu.edu.au/43170/6/SiS%20October%206%202021%20Clean%20Copy-%20Why%20now%20for%20AFL%20Draft%20Accepted%20Version.pdf |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

===Establishment=== In 2010, the AFL commissioned a report into the state of women's football around the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=Review could lead to AFL women's league|url=https://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-sport/review-could-lead-to-afl-womens-league-20100322-qocn.html|access-date=6 October 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax|date=22 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170910131217/https://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-sport/review-could-lead-to-afl-womens-league-20100322-qocn.html |archive-date= Sep 10, 2017 }}</ref> Following the report, the AFL Commission began working toward the establishment of a national women's league, choosing to establish women's teams in AFL clubs rather than form separate clubs.<ref name="NMA">{{cite web |title=First AFL women's game |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/first-afl-womens-game |website=National Museum of Australia |access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

The first on-field step towards the competition took place in early 2013, when the AFL announced an exhibition match to be played between women's teams representing {{AFLW|Mel}} and {{AFLW|WB}} in June of that year. On 15 May 2013, the first women's draft was held, establishing the playing lists for the two clubs in the forthcoming exhibition match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-16/daisy-plucked-first|title=Pearce the first pick in AFL's inaugural women's draft|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=16 May 2013|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=6 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112214633/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-16/daisy-plucked-first|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The match played on 29 June 2013 marked the first time two women's sides had competed under the banners of AFL clubs. A crowd of 7,518 watched the historic match, which Melbourne won by 35 points.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-29/daisy-ready-to-go-again|title=Daisy 'ready to go again' |date=Jun 29, 2013 |first1= Kate |last1=O'Halloran |work=afl.com.au|access-date=19 October 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181019121848/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-29/daisy-ready-to-go-again |archive-date=19 October 2018 }}</ref> The exhibition match became a series between the clubs, with another game played in 2014 and two played in 2015, the last of which – on 16 August 2015 – was the first women's AFL game to be broadcast on free-to-air television. It attracted an average audience of 175,000, surpassing the 114,000 average audience for the AFL men's clash of the previous day, between Adelaide and Essendon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/more-watched-womens-footy-on-tv-than-bombers-demise-20150817-gj0zbj.html|title=More watched women's footy on TV than Bombers' demise|last=Ward|first=Roy|date=17 August 2015|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref>

The success of these exhibition matches prompted the AFL to accelerate its plans for a nationwide women's competition, announcing a preferred start date of 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gorr|first1=Libbi|last2=Goswell|first2=Gus|title=AFL promises 2017 women's competition as eager starters call for more details|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-18/womens-afl-2017-competition-call-for-more-details/7180052|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 February 2016}}</ref> Prior to this, the league had announced only aspirational plans to have the women's competition established by 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/women-kicking-on-in-all-fields-20130629-2p47w.html|title=Women kicking on in all fields|last=O'Halloran|first=Kate|date=29 June 2013|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The already-planned 2016 exhibition series was expanded at this time, with a total of ten matches to be played in venues across the country and featuring a range of new temporary representative teams.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 February 2016|access-date=18 June 2016|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-20/afl-announces-10-match-women27s-exhibition-series-for-2016/7186586|title=AFL announces 10-match national women's exhibition series to be played in 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, the AFL opened a process for existing clubs to tender applications to join the new competition. The 18 clubs in the men's league had until 29 April 2016 to place a bid for a licence, with 13 clubs making bids: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast, and Western Bulldogs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-15/afl-womens-team-announced|title=AFL women's teams announced – AFL.com.au|work=afl.com.au|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The AFL's preferred distribution of clubs was four clubs from Victoria and one each from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Matthews|first1=Bruce|title=Decision time as 13 clubs want women's team|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-29/decision-time-as-afl-works-to-make-13-go-into-eight-for-womens-league|publisher=Australian Football League|date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

The inaugural teams were announced on 8 June 2016. {{AFLW|Ade}}, {{AFLW|Bri}}, and {{AFLW|GWS}} were the only teams to bid in their respective states and were granted licences to compete in 2017.<ref>[http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-30/afl-womens-league-has-big-clubs-scrambling-for-a-team/7457120 Women's league bidding heating up, with teams scrambling for licenses]</ref> Both Western Australian clubs made bids, with {{AFLW|Fre}}'s bid chosen ahead of the bid from {{AFL WC}}. Eight Victorian clubs made bids: {{AFLW|Mel}}, {{AFLW|WB}}, {{AFLW|Car}} and {{AFLW|Col}} were successful, with {{AFL Gee}}, {{AFL NM}}, {{AFL Ric}} and {{AFL Stk}} being unsuccessful but granted provisional licences.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Matthews|first1=Bruce|title=Eight teams named for inaugural women's league|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-15/eight-teams-named-for-inaugural-womens-league|publisher=Australian Football League|access-date=15 June 2016|date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

Details about the branding of the league were released in the second half of 2016. On 15 September 2016, the AFL announced that the league would be named "AFL Women's" or AFLW for short, with the logo being unveiled on 19 September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=AFL announces name for inaugural women's competition|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-15/afl-announces-name-for-inaugural-womens-competition|website=Australian Football League|access-date=2 October 2016|date=15 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="AFL-19sept16">{{cite web|title=Logo revealed for new AFL Women's competition|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-19/logo-revealed-for-afl-womens-competition|website=Australian Football League|access-date=2 October 2016|date=19 September 2016}}</ref> The logo is a stylised rendition of an Australian rules football ground goal square and goal posts, drawn from a perspective that resembles a "W".<ref name="AFL-19sept16"/> On 10 October 2016, the National Australia Bank was named as the league's naming rights sponsor.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gaskin|first1=Lee|title=NAB signs on as AFL Women's League naming-rights sponsor|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-10/nab-signs-on-as-afl-womens-league-namingrights-sponsor|website=Australian Football League|access-date=10 October 2016|date=10 October 2016}}</ref>

thumb|Carlton and Collingwood players contesting the first ball-up in the inaugural AFL Women's match in February 2017. The match was played before a lockout crowd of 24,568 – the highest attendance of the inaugural season. The first premiership game was played at Ikon Park on Friday, 3 February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://researchdata.ands.org.au/friday-february-aflw-audio-collection/1330488/|title=First Friday in February|work=AFLW audio collection|access-date=15 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> The AFL had initially planned to host the game at Melbourne's Olympic Park Oval, with a capacity of just 7,000, but was forced to change to Ikon Park due to overwhelming interest and a need for more seating.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-01-23/piesblues-aflw-opener-moved-to-ikon-park|title=Pies-Blues AFLW opener moved to Ikon Park – AFL.com.au|work=afl.com.au|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The match was deemed a "lockout" with a capacity crowd of 24,568 in attendance, with estimates of a few thousand left outside.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-03/aflw-carlton-v-collingwood-princes-park/8239848|title=Maiden AFL Women's match thrills packed house in Melbourne|date=3 February 2017|work=ABC News|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en-AU}}</ref> Gillon McLachlan, the AFL's CEO, personally apologised to those who missed out. The game was also a great success on TV, attracting a national audience of 896,000, including 593,000 metropolitan free-to-air viewers, 180,000 regional free-to-air viewers, and 123,000 on Fox Footy.<ref name="afl.com.au">{{Cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-04/tv-ratings-bonanza-for-aflw-opener|title=TV ratings bonanza for AFLW opener – AFL.com.au|work=afl.com.au|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The Melbourne metropolitan audience of 424,000 was on par with that of Friday-night AFL men's matches.<ref name="afl.com.au"/>

The inaugural season concluded with the Grand Final held on Saturday, 25 March 2017. The {{AFLW|Ade}} Crows were crowned the league's first premiers after defeating the minor premiers, the Brisbane Lions. The scoreline read Adelaide 4.11 (35) def. Brisbane 4.5 (29).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/mar/25/aflw-grand-final-brisbane-lions-v-adelaide-crows-live|title=AFLW grand final: Adelaide Crows beat Brisbane Lions – as it happened|last=O'Halloran|first=Kate|date=25 March 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Expansion (2019–present)=== The remaining AFL clubs would join the league in the follow years, with two clubs added in the 2019 season, four in 2020, and the last four in 2022.

The 10 AFL clubs not originally participating in the competition were invited to bid for inclusion, with priority given to the five clubs that had submitted unsuccessful bids to participate in the inaugural season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Phelan|first1=Jennifer|title=AFL Women's set for expansion in 2019|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-09/afl-womens-set-for-expansion-in-2019|publisher=Australian Football League|date=9 May 2017}}</ref> The deadline to lodge submissions was 16 June 2017. The only clubs not to bid were {{AFL PA}} and {{AFL Syd}}.<ref name="bids for 2019">{{cite web|title=Eight clubs submit bids for AFLW in 2019|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-16/eight-more-clubs-submit-bids-for-aflw-|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Australian Football League|date=16 June 2017}}</ref> {{AFL NM}} worked with AFL Tasmania to craft its bid, with the club aiming to play home matches in Melbourne, Hobart, and Launceston, and also to select half of its playing list from Tasmania.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McGowan|first1=Marc|title=Roos and Tasmania combine for AFLW bid|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-16/roos-and-tasmania-combine-for-aflw-bid|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Australian Football League|date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=North's AFLW proposal|url=http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2017-06-16/north-submits-aflw-proposal|website=nmfc.com.au|publisher=North Melbourne Football Club|date=16 June 2017}}</ref>

A final decision on which clubs would be admitted to the competition was expected by the end of July 2017, but was delayed several times.<ref name="bids for 2019" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Can you believe it? Less than 48 hours until AFLW makes its next little piece of history! Get set for new teams in 2019!!!|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BYS_YNkgjXE/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BYS_YNkgjXE |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram|publisher=Australian Football League|access-date=28 August 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Schmook|first1=Nathan|title=Decision on AFLW expansion delayed|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-29/decision-over-aflw-expansion-delayed|publisher=Australian Football League|date=29 August 2017}}</ref> On 27 September 2017, the AFL announced that {{AFL Gee}} and North Melbourne had been selected to enter the competition in 2019.<ref name="ExpansionAFLDecisionAFLwebsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-27/afl-set-to-reveal-new-womens-teams-for-2019|title=North and Geelong win AFLW expansion race|publisher=Australian Football League|date=27 September 2017}}</ref> North Melbourne retained its commitment to playing matches in Tasmania.<ref name="ExpansionABCNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-27/tasmania-nth-melb-geelong-win-new-aflw-licences-for-2019/8992508|title=AFLW: Tasmania-North Melbourne and Geelong win licenses to field teams in 2019|work=ABC News|date=27 September 2017}}</ref> The league then added four teams in 2020, with the AFL selecting {{AFL GC}}, {{AFL Ric}}, {{AFL StK}} and {{AFL WC}} to join the competition.<ref name="ExpansionAFLDecisionAFLwebsite"/><ref name="ExpansionABCNews"/> The growth in clubs for the 2019 season was accompanied by the introduction of an American-style conference structure, which was abandoned after the 2020 season in favour of the traditional single ladder.<ref name=2021format>{{cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/54456/aflw-2021-season-conferences-out-10-tickets-start-date-revealed|title=AFLW 2021 season: Conferences out, $10 tickets, start date revealed|work=womens.afl|date=10 December 2020}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was curtailed and eventually cancelled without a premiership awarded.<ref>{{cite news|last=Canil|first=Jourdan|title=No premiership in 2020: AFLW season ends immediately|url=https://womens.afl/news/49993/no-premiership-in-2020-aflw-season-ends-immediately|work=womens.afl|date=22 March 2020|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>

On 12 August 2021, the final four AFL clubs ({{AFL Ess}}, {{AFL Haw}}, Port Adelaide and Sydney) were granted licenses,<ref>{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title='Changing forever and for the better': Final four clubs complete AFLW|url=https://womens.afl/news/73539|work=womens.afl|date=12 August 2021|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> and the league's seventh season in 2022 was the first to feature all 18 AFL clubs.<ref name="Women's agenda">{{cite web |title=A look back at AFLW’s impressive history in the lead up to its biggest season yet |url=https://womensagenda.com.au/life/sport/a-look-back-at-aflws-impressive-history-in-the-lead-up-to-its-biggest-season-yet/ |website=Women's Agenda |author=Brianna Boecker|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref>

{{AFL NM}} became the first expansion team, founded after the inaugural season, to win a premiership, when the Kangaroos defeated Brisbane by 30 points in the 2024 decider<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-30/aflw-grand-final-live-blog-kangaroos-vs-lions/104668606|title=North Melbourne wins AFLW grand final over Brisbane by 30 points, completing undefeated premiership season for Kangaroos|work=AAP|author=Dean Billton|publisher=ABC News|date=30 November 2024}}</ref>, following this up with a 40 point victory in the 2025 Grand Final rematch.<ref>https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/2025-aflw-grand-final-live-undefeated-north-melbourne-chase-the-perfect-season-in-clash-with-brisbane-lions-20251129-p5njee.html</ref>

==Clubs== {{AFL clubs map}} The competition's 18 teams are based across five states of Australia. Ten are based in Victoria (nine in the Melbourne metropolitan area), and New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have two teams each, while a team from Tasmania will enter the AFLW at a date to be confirmed.{{efn|North Melbourne currently have a formalised partnership with Tasmania, which enables the club to draft players from and play home games there.}} The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are the only states or territories not to have AFLW teams.

===Current clubs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style=text-align:center ! rowspan=2 | Club ! rowspan=2 class=unsortable | Colours ! rowspan=2 | Moniker ! rowspan=2 | State ! rowspan=2 | {{Tooltip|Home venue|Primary venue for home games}} ! rowspan=2 | {{Tooltip|Exhibition games|Year that the club first participated in the women's exhibition games (if applicable)}} ! rowspan=2 | {{Tooltip|Est.|Year of formal women's team establishment}} ! colspan=2 | Seasons ! colspan=2 | Premierships |- ! First ! data-sort-type=number | Total ! data-sort-type=number | Total ! Most recent |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Ade}} | 20px || align=left | Crows || align=left | South Australia || align=left | Norwood Oval || — || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 3 || 2022 (S6) |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Bri}} | 20px || align=left | Lions || align=left | Queensland || align=left | Springfield Central Stadium || 2016 || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 2 || 2023 |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Car}} | 20px || align=left | Blues || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Princes Park || — || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Col}} | 20px || align=left | Magpies || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Victoria Park || — || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Ess}} | 20px || align=left | Bombers || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Windy Hill || — || 2022 || 2022 (S7) || 2 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Fre}} | 20px || align=left | Dockers || align=left | Western Australia || align=left | Fremantle Oval || 2016 || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Gee}} | 20px || align=left | Cats || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Kardinia Park || — || 2018 || 2019 || 6 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|GC}} | 20px || align=left | Suns || align=left | Queensland || align=left | Carrara Stadium || 2016 || 2019 || 2020 || 5 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|GWS}} | 20px || align=left | Giants || align=left | New South Wales || align=left | Various{{efn|Hosting home games at Blacktown ISP Oval, Henson Park and Manuka Oval during the 2023 season<ref name=2023fixture/>}} || 2016 || 2016 || 2017+ || 8 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Haw}} | 20px || align=left | Hawks || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Frankston Park || — || 2022 || 2022 (S7) || 2 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Mel}} | 20px || align=left | Demons || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Casey Fields || 2013 || 2013* || 2017+ || 8 || 1 || 2022 (S7) |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|NM}} | 20px || align=left | Kangaroos || align=left | Victoria & Tasmania^ || align=left | Arden Street Oval || — || 2018 || 2019 || 6 || 2 || 2025 |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|PA}} | 20px || align=left | Power || align=left | South Australia || align=left | Alberton Oval || — || 2022 || 2022 (S7) || 2 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Ric}} | 20px || align=left | Tigers || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Punt Road Oval{{efn|Hosting home games at Princes Park during the 2023 season while Punt Road Oval undergoes redevelopment<ref name=2023fixture/>}} || — || 2019 || 2020 || 5 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|StK}} | 20px || align=left | Saints || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Moorabbin Oval || — || 2019 || 2020 || 5 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Syd}} | 20px || align=left | Swans || align=left | New South Wales || align=left | Henson Park || 2016 || 2022 || 2022 (S7) || 2 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|WC}} | 20px || align=left | Eagles || align=left | Western Australia || align=left | Lathlain Park || 2016 || 2019 || 2020 || 5 || 0 || — |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|WB}} | 20px || align=left | Bulldogs || align=left | Victoria || align=left | Whitten Oval || 2013 || 2013* || 2017+ || 8 || 1 || 2018 |- class=sortbottom | colspan=11 style="font-size:8pt; text-align:center" | ^ denotes that the club has a formalised partnership with this state or territory <nowiki>*</nowiki> denotes that the club had a foundation women's team + denotes that the club was a founding member of the AFLW |}

'''Notes''' {{Notelist}}

===Future clubs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style=text-align:center ! Club ! Colours ! Moniker ! State ! {{Tooltip|Home venue|Primary venue for home games}} ! Joining league |- ! scope=row style=text-align:left | {{AFLW|Tas}} | 20px || align=left | Devils || align=left | Tasmania || align=left | Macquarie Point Stadium || 2027 |}

==Venues== Below are the venues that hosted during the 2025 season.<ref name=2023fixture>{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=AFLW fixture: Match-ups revealed, GF venues locked in|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/120490/aflw-fixture-match-ups-revealed-gf-venues-locked-in|website=womens.afl|date=17 July 2023|access-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Venue ! data-sort-type=number | Matches ! Location ! data-sort-type=number | Capacity ! Host club(s) |- | Alberton Oval || align=center | 6 || Adelaide, South Australia || align=center | 11,000 || {{AFLW|PA}} (6) |- | Arden Street Oval || align=center | 4 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 4,000 || {{AFLW|NM}} (4) |- | Bond University|| align="center" | 1 || Gold Coast, Queensland|| align="center" | 3,000 || {{AFLW|GC}} (1) |- | Blacktown ISP Oval || align=center | 2 || Sydney, New South Wales || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|GWS}} (2) |- | Carrara Stadium || align=center | 4 || Gold Coast, Queensland || align=center | 22,500 || {{AFLW|GC}} (4) |- | Casey Fields || align=center | 5 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 9,000 || {{AFLW|Mel}} (5) |- | Cazalys Stadium || align=center | 1 || Cairns, Queensland || align=center | 15,000 || {{AFLW|Haw}} (1) |- |Coffs Harbour International Stadium | align="center" |1 |Coffs Harbour, New South Wales | align="center" |10,000 |{{AFLW|Syd}} |- | Eureka Stadium || align=center | 1 || Ballarat, Victoria || align=center | 11,000 || {{AFLW|WB}} (1) |- | Frankston Oval || align=center | 5 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 5,000 || {{AFLW|Haw}} (5) |- | Fremantle Oval || align=center | 6 || Perth, Western Australia || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Fre}} (6) |- | Great Barrier Reef Arena || align=center | 1 || Mackay, Queensland || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|GC}} (1) |- | Henson Park || align=center | 8 || Sydney, New South Wales || align=center | 30,000 || {{AFLW|GWS}} (4), {{AFLW|Syd}} (4) |- | Kardinia Park || align=center | 6 || Geelong, Victoria || align=center | 40,000 || {{AFLW|Gee}} (6) |- | Lathlain Park || align=center | 4 || Perth, Western Australia || align=center | 6,500 || {{AFLW|WC}} (4) |- |Leederville Oval | align="center" |2 |Perth, Western Australia | align="center" |15,000 |{{AFLW|WC}} (2) |- | Manuka Oval || align=center | 2 || Canberra, Australian Capital Territory || align=center | 16,000 || {{AFLW|GWS}} (2) |- |Marrara Stadium | align="center" |1 |Darwin, Northern Territory | align="center" |12,500 |Richmond (1) |- | Moorabbin Oval|| align="center" | 6 || Melbourne, Victoria|| align="center" | 8,000 || {{AFLW|StK}} (6) |- |North Hobart Oval | align="center" |1 |Hobart, Tasmania | align="center" |10,000 |{{AFLW|NM}} (1) |- | North Sydney Oval|| align="center" | 1 || Sydney, New South Wales|| align="center" | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Syd}} (1) |- | Norwood Oval|| align="center" | 4 || Adelaide, South Australia|| align="center" | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Ade}} (4) |- | Princes Park|| align="center" | 12 || Melbourne, Victoria|| align="center" | 12,000 || {{AFLW|Car}} (6), {{AFLW|Mel}} (1), {{AFLW|Ric}} (5) |- | Springfield Central Stadium || align=center | 6 || Brisbane, Queensland || align=center | 8,000 || {{AFLW|Bri}} (6) |- |University of Tasmania Stadium | align="center" |1 |Launceston, Tasmania | align="center" |19,000 |{{AFLW|NM}} (1) |- | Unley Oval || align=center | 2 || Adelaide, South Australia || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Ade}} (2) |- | Victoria Park || align=center | 6 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Col}} (6) |- | Whitten Oval || align=center | 5 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|WB}} (5) |- | Windy Hill || align=center | 6 || Melbourne, Victoria || align=center | 10,000 || {{AFLW|Ess}} (6) |}

==Players== {{See also|List of current AFL Women's team squads}} thumb|Melbourne's Elise O'Dea evaded Hannah Scott of the Western Bulldogs in Round 3, 2017. The club's playing lists were constructed from scratch through the later stages of 2016. All participants in the 2017 season were required to be over the age of 17.

Initially, clubs were asked to nominate a list of desired players, with the AFL assigning two of these "marquee" players to each club. In addition, clubs were able to sign a number of players with existing connections to the club, or with arrangements for club-sponsored work or study.<ref name="Mattews21March2016">{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-21/national-womens-league-for-2017-unveiled|title=Women to kick-off 2017 with two-month season|date=21 March 2016|access-date=18 June 2016|author=Bruce Matthews}}</ref><ref name="BakerSeweell18June2016">{{cite news|newspaper=Herald Sun|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=AFL National Women's League: Marquee system aims to spread the talent across eight licensed clubs|access-date=18 June 2016|date=15 June 2016|author1=Grant Baker|author2=Eliza Sewell|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-national-womens-league-marquee-system-aims-to-spread-the-talent-across-eight-licensed-clubs/news-story/cc9e0a207e6ee5a2919a2b9bf0f625cd}}</ref><ref name="Matthews20aug2016">{{cite web|last1=Matthews|first1=Bruce|title=Meg Hutchins joins Pies under new women's priority pick rules|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-20/meg-hutchins-joins-pies-under-new-womens-rules|website=Australian Football League|access-date=10 September 2016|date=20 August 2016}}</ref> This number varied for each club, in an attempt to equitably spread talent across the teams. In addition, clubs were required to recruit two "rookies" – people with no Australian rules football experience in the previous three-year period. The majority of players were later recruited through the 2016 AFL Women's draft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's draft nominations open|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-05/womens-draft-nominations-open|website=Melbourne Football Club|access-date=6 September 2016|date=5 September 2016}}</ref> The remaining list spots were filled with free-agent signings in the week following the draft. In total, clubs have 27 active listed players in addition to injury replacements signed to take the spot of long-term injury-affected players.

===Salary=== Player salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement with each club's total payments being determined by a salary cap. A significant gender pay gap exists between AFL and the AFLW, with the average wage in the women's league being only 16% of that in the men's league as of 2023.<ref name="Glazbrook">{{cite journal |last1=Glazbrook |first1=Mackenzie Rose |last2=Webb |first2=Stephanie Newton |title=AFLW and the gender gap: an analysis of public attitudes towards the Women’s Australian Football League |journal=Australian Journal of Psychology |date=2024 |volume=76 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/00049530.2024.2315949 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00049530.2024.2315949 |access-date=13 November 2025|pmc=12218464 }}</ref>

Players are split into four tiers as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" ! Tier<ref name=CBA2019>{{cite web|url=https://womens.afl/news/18518/landslide-yes-vote-ensures-2020-aflw-season-will-go-ahead|title=Landslide yes vote ensures 2020 AFLW season will go ahead|work=AFL Women's|date=28 October 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://aflnz.co.nz/news/locked-in-aflw-set-for-august-start/ LOCKED IN: AFLW set for August start]</ref> ! 2017 ! 2018 ! 2019 ! 2020 ! 2021 ! 2022 ! 2023 ! 2024 ! 2025 |- | 1 | | | | $29,856 | $32,077 | $37,155 | $71,935 | $95,331<ref name="2025 salaries">[https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263810/the-big-change-coming-for-aflws-top-earners-in-2025 The big change coming for AFLW's top earners in 2025] By Riley Beveridge 19 December, 2024</ref> | $109,760<ref name="2025 salaries" /> |- | 2 | | | | $23,059 | $24,775 | $28,697 | $55,559 | | $89,559<ref name="2025 salaries" /> |- | 3 | | | | $19,661 | $21,124 | $24,468 | $47,372 | | $76,091<ref name="2025 salaries" /> |- | 4 | | | | $16,623 | $17,473 | $20,239 | $39,184 | | $67,337<ref name="2025 salaries" /> |- | Total Player Payments (TPP) (per club)<ref name="How much do AFLW players get paid">[https://thewomensgame.com/news/how-much-do-aflw-players-get-paid-533116 How much do AFLW players get paid?] 29 October 2019</ref> | | | | $474,800 | $576,240 | $619,109 | $717,122 | | |- | Total Player Payments (TPP) (league)<ref name="How much do AFLW players get paid"/> | $2,300,000 | $2,752,000 | $4,748,000 | $8,121,000 | $8,722,000 | $25,000,000<ref>Two seasons were run in 2022, Season Six salary cap was $10,200,000)</ref> | $32,300,000 | | |}

==Rules==

The rules are mostly the same as those used in the AFL, with a few exceptions: * The use of a slightly smaller ball, in line with other women's competitions. * Quarters last 17 minutes (15 prior to 2023)<ref name="NMA" /> instead of 20, with time-on only in the last two minutes. * Teams have 16 players on the field at a time instead of 18, and have 60 player rotations (unlimited prior to 2023) instead of 75 total rotations.<ref>[https://womens.afl/discover/aflw/the-game New Rules for 2019], AFL, 7 November 2018</ref> * Throw-ins are executed 10 metres in from the boundary line, except within the 50-metre arcs, instead of on the boundary line. * A "last touch" out-of-bounds rule applies, except within the 50-metre arcs: during 2018, this "last touch" rule applied everywhere.<ref>[https://womens.afl/news/16123/aflw-insight-new-season-new-rules AFLW Insight: New season, new rules], AFL, 6 February 2019</ref>

==Season structure== ===Pre-season=== Prior to the commencement of the home-and-away season teams are paired off to play an exhibition trial match. In 2017, these matches took place during varying weeks of January.

===Premiership season and finals=== For the first two seasons of competition, the home-and-away season was operated on a single table, and seven matches were played by each of the eight teams. The two highest-placed teams at the conclusion of the home-and-away season qualified for the Grand Final match, in the absence of a longer finals series.

With the addition of two extra teams in 2019, the AFL Women's home-and-away season introduced conferences, a concept not common in Australian sports.<ref name=Conference1>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-07/aflw-to-be-played-in-two-conferences/10213438|title=AFLW introduces US-style conferences but teams still won't play every other team|date=7 September 2018|work=ABC News}}</ref><ref name=Conference2>{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-07/aflw-2019-all-you-need-to-know-about-system|title=AFLW 2019: How the conference system works|work=AFL.com.au|date=7 September 2018}}</ref> The top-two teams from the respective conferences qualified to the preliminary finals, with the first-ranked team in Conference A meeting the second-ranked team in Conference B and the opposite employed for the other preliminary final. The winners of those matches then met in the Grand Final.<ref name=Conference2/>

The use of conferences was retained in 2020, along with the inclusion of four additional teams. The 14 teams were split into two conferences of seven, with teams playing each other team in their conference once. The top-four teams in each conference qualified for the finals series. The first round of the finals consisted of four knockout finals, with teams from opposite conferences playing against each other, first in Conference A versus fourth in Conference B, and so on. This left a final four of North Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton, and Melbourne, with two rounds of finals to be played. At this point, the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no 2020 premier.

In 2021, the league reverted to a single 14-team ladder. Each team played 9 matches, with the top six qualifying for a three-week finals series. All finals are knockouts, with the top-two teams having a bye in the first round of the finals.<ref name=2021format/> Since 2022 (S7) the competition has been contested by 18 teams, and the finals series has expanded to eight teams and is played under the AFL final eight system that has been in use in the men's competition since the 2000 season.

On 21 August 2023, incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced that the AFLW will receive equal prize money to the AFL. The prize money for AFLW players will almost double, going from $623,922 to $1.1 million to split between the top 8 teams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=Equal prizemoney for AFL and AFLW competitions |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1015394/equal-prizemoney-for-afl-and-aflw-competitions |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=afl.com.au |language=en}}</ref>

====Themed rounds====  In 2018, the Western Bulldogs and Carlton women's teams held the first Pride game, to celebrate gender diversity, promote inclusion for LGBTIQA+ players, and to help stamp out homophobia. St Kilda and Melbourne held a Pride Match in 2020, and the first full AFLW Pride Round was held in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | title=History of AFLW Pride | website=Western Bulldogs | date=18 January 2022 | url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1048534/history-of-aflw-pride | access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=AFL welcomes first AFLW Pride Round | website=AFL NSW / ACT | date=4 February 2021 | url=https://aflnswact.com.au/afl-welcomes-first-aflw-pride-round/ | access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref>

An Indigenous Round was established in 2021.<ref name=ir2023honouree/> This round acknowledges the significant contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to Australian football and the broader community.<ref name=ir2022>{{cite web | title=NAB AFLW Season Seven Indigenous Round launched and AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree named | website=afl.com.au/aflw | date=5 September 2022 | url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1000896/nab-aflw-season-seven-indigenous-round-launched-and-aflw-indigenous-round-honouree-named | access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=ir2023>{{cite web | title=Every club's 2023 Indigenous Round guernsey | website=afl.com.au/aflw | date=13 October 2023 | url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1048513/every-clubs-season-eight-indigenous-round-guernsey | access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref> Each team wears a guernsey especially designed to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture,<ref name=ir2022/> and the Dreamtime match is played between {{AFLW|Ric}} and {{AFLW|Ess}}.<ref>{{cite web | last=Vivian | first=Steve | title=AFL in discussions to move AFLW Dreamtime game from Melbourne to Darwin | website=ABC News | date=1 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-01/aflw-dreamtime-game-richmond-essendon-darwin-northern-territory/103410198 | access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref> An AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree is announced for each season.<ref name=ir2023honouree>{{cite web | title=2023 AFLW Indigenous Round honouree named | website=afl.com.au/aflw | date=10 October 2023 | url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1051681/2023-aflwindigenous-round-honouree-named-ebony-abbott-mccormack | access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

==Awards== These major individual awards and accolades are presented each season:<ref>{{cite news|last1=Guthrie|first1=Ben|title=AFLW awards revealed ... but titles on hold|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-01/aflw-awards-revealed-but-titles-on-hold|access-date=2 February 2017|work=AFL Media|publisher=Bigpond|date=1 February 2017}}</ref> * Best and Fairest Trophy – to the fairest and best player in the league, voted by the umpires * Leading Goalkicker Award – to the player who kicks the most goals during the home-and-away season * All-Australian Team – a squad of 21 players deemed the best in their positions, voted by an AFL-appointed committee * Rising Star Award – to the fairest and best young player under the age of 21 as at the start of the calendar year, voted by the AFL-appointed All-Australian committee * Grand Final Best on Ground Award – the best player on the ground in the Grand Final, voted by a committee of media members

==Audience==

===Attendance=== The league peaked at an average attendance of 6,828 in its inaugural season and a record 53,034 attended the 2019 Grand Final. Admission was free prior to 2022, when the AFLW introduced reserved ticketing at $10 admission per match, which was later increased. In mid-2023, data revealed a significant drop in average attendances for the seventh season compared to the first season.<ref name="ABC Radio Melbourne"/> Taking into account the greater number of games played, total attendance was still growing, just spread over three times as many matches.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} The league's choice of venues has been criticised, with many of the AFL's premium venues, such as Victoria's Melbourne Cricket Ground and Docklands Stadium, not used for blockbuster AFLW matches. The league has been cited as preferring the atmosphere of fuller smaller venues rather than emptier larger venues, particularly for its television broadcasting.

The following are the most recent season attendances (record figures are bolded): {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Year || Matches Played || H&A Total || Average || Highest H&A || Grand final |- | 2025 || '''117''' || '''317,422''' || 2,713 || 8,042 || 12,741 |- | 2024 || 108 || 308,661 || 2,858 || 23,085<ref>Played as curtain raiser to AFL elimination final</ref> || 12,122 |- | 2023 || 99 || 284,122 || 2,870 || 8,722 || 12,616 |- | 2022 (S7) || 99 || 265,950 || 2,686 || 20,652 || 7,412 |- | 2022 || 75 || 144,271 || 1,924 || 5,533 || 16,712 |- | 2021 || 68 || 155,908 || 2,293 || 9,552 || 22,934 |- | 2020 || 46 || 205,050 || 4,458 || 35,185 || N/A<ref>No premiership awarded due to COVID-19 lockdown</ref> |- | 2019 || 38 || 251,792 || 6,626 || 18,429 || '''53,034''' |- | 2018 || 38 || 174,012 || 6,000 || '''41,975''' || 7,083 |- | 2017 || 29 || 198,020 || '''6,828''' || 24,568 || 9,400 |}

===Television=== In its inaugural 2017 season, all matches were televised live by affiliate partners the Seven Network and Fox Footy.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Australian Associated Press|title=Every AFL Women's game to be televised as 2017 fixtures are released|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/09/afl-womens-game-televised-2017-fixtures-released|access-date=11 December 2016|work=The Guardian|date=9 December 2016}}</ref> As part of the initial broadcast deal, the free-to-air carrier Seven broadcast one Saturday-night game per week as standard, in addition to the league's opening match and Grand Final. Pay TV network Fox Footy televised all premiership season matches, including simulcasts of the Seven-hosted matches other than the Grand Final.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Patrick|title=AFL women's competition: Fixture released, all games to be broadcast on TV|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-09/afl-womens-fixture-all-games-to-be-broadcast-on-tv/8106542|access-date=11 December 2016|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 December 2016}}</ref> The two television networks covered the costs of broadcasting these matches, with no licensing fee payable to the league in exchange.<ref name="broadcastdeal">{{cite news|last1=Schmook|first1=Nathan|title=First AFLW Grand Final to be held during round one|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-12-08/first-aflw-grand-final-to-be-held-during-round-one|access-date=11 December 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|date=8 December 2016}}</ref> ''Fearless: The Inside Story of the AFLW'' debuted on Disney+ in 2022, the docu-series followed several AFLW clubs through the course of the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/new-disney-series-fearless-gives-viewers-an-inside-look-at-the-lives-of-aflw-players-c-7973759 |title=New Disney+ series Fearless gives viewers an inside look at the lives of AFLW players |first=Jason |last=Davis |website=Sunrise |date=27 August 2022 |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref> In July 2023 ''The Age'' reported that AFLW viewer numbers were down 70% from the debut season, blaming a combination of scheduling, poor quality venues and broadcast quality, and "football fatigue".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vinall |first1=Marnie |title='The broadcast was almost unwatchable': The insiders' view on why Australia switched off AFLW |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-broadcast-was-almost-unwatchable-the-insiders-view-on-why-australia-switched-off-aflw-20230706-p5dm7b.html |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=The Age |date=10 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

The AFLW has attracted an audience of more than 1 million attendees<ref name="womens.afl"/> and 2 million viewers<ref name="roymorgan.com"/> and has managed to maintain high interest despite moving to primarily ticketed and subscription broadcasting models from the 2021 season. It consistently ranks in the top three (alongside cricket and netball) most watched women's sporting competitions in Australia.<ref name="mediaweek.com.au"/> The league receives international interest, particularly in Ireland where it has begun to attract a significant television audience due to the ongoing recruitment of Gaelic football stars.<ref name="The Cora effect: What's behind the"/>

===Online=== The official internet/mobile broadcast partner of the AFL is BigPond, part of Telstra. The company hosts the league website and those of each of the eight participation clubs. The AFL has retained digital broadcast rights to matches in the league's inaugural season and will stream all matches live and free on the league website and mobile app.<ref name="broadcastdeal"/> Since 2021, Kayo Sports has streamed all AFLW matches live and on demand in Australia.<ref>[https://kayosports.com.au/sports/sport!afl/series-aflw!4 Kayo Sports AFLW]</ref> Outside Australia, the inaugural season is available on Watch AFL.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aussie Rules TV Schedules for 2017 for USA, Canada, and Mexico|url=http://www.afana.com/drupal5/tvsched|website=www.afana.com|publisher=Australian Football Association of North America|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>

==Corporate relations==

===Sponsorships=== thumb|Logo used for the league since season 7 The National Australia Bank is the league's inaugural and (as of 2022) current naming-rights partner.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gaskin|first1=Lee|title=NAB signs on as AFL Women's League naming-rights sponsor|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-10/nab-signs-on-as-afl-womens-league-namingrights-sponsor|access-date=2 February 2017|work=AFL Media|publisher=Bigpond|date=10 October 2016}}</ref> All playing and training equipment, as well as all licensed apparel and hats for the league's clubs, are manufactured by Cotton On.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Navaratnam|first1=Dinny|title=New uniforms unveiled for AFL Women's comp|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-10/revealed-new-uniforms-for-afl-womens-league|access-date=2 February 2017|work=AFL Media|publisher=Bigpond|date=10 November 2016}}</ref> Other 2017 league sponsors included Wolf Blass, Chemist Warehouse, and Kellogg's.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Connolly|first1=Eoin|title=Wednesday's Daily Deal Round-Up: Boxing and much more|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wednesdays_daily_deal_round_up_boxing_and_much_more|access-date=2 February 2017|work=SportsPro|date=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wolf Blass to sponsor AFL Women's League|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/wolf-blass-sponsor-afl-womens-league-423735|access-date=2 February 2017|work=Mumbrella|date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Faloyin|first1=Dipo|title=Kellogg's to sponsor inaugural AFL Women's League|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/kelloggs-to-sponsor-inaugural-afl-womens-league|access-date=2 February 2017|work=SportsPro|date=31 January 2017}}</ref> The official ball supplier is Sherrin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sherrin.com.au/ |title=Home |website=sherrin.com.au}}</ref>

===Merchandising=== Official match-day attire, together with other club merchandise, is sold through the AFL's stores and website, as well through the clubs and some retailers.

== Women's exhibition games (2013–2016) == Prior to the creation of the league, the AFL ran four years of exhibition matches between sides representing {{AFLW|Mel}} and {{AFLW|WB}}. In 2016, the series was expanded to multiple teams from around the country.

{{AFLGameHeader|title=2013 exhibition game}} {{AFLGame|Sunday, 30 June|{{AFLW|Mel}}|8.5 (53)|H|{{AFLW|WB}}|3.3 (21)|MCG|7,500|[https://womensfooty.com/videos/afl-womens-round-melbourne-demons-vs-western-bulldogs Match report]}} {{AFLGameFooter|notes= * {{AFLW|Mel}} received the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, named in honour of women's football pioneers Barb Hampson and Lisa Hardeman, who developed the first women's championships in 1992.<ref>[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-24/first-bounce-for-women First bounce for women's footy at the MCG]</ref>}} {{AFLGameHeader|title=2014 exhibition game}} {{AFLGame|Sunday, 29 June|{{AFLW|WB}}|4.2 (26)|A|{{AFLW|Mel}}|10.12 (72)|Etihad Stadium|24,953 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-06-29/demons-too-good-for-dogs Match report]}} {{AFLGameFooter|notes= * {{AFLW|Mel}} retained the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.}} {{AFLGameHeader|title=2015 exhibition series}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 24 May|{{AFLW|Mel}}|4.13 (37)|H|{{AFLW|WB}}|4.5 (29)|MCG|29,381 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-24/demons-edge-out-bulldogs-in-womens-clash Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 16 August|{{AFLW|WB}}|5.6 (36)|A|{{AFLW|Mel}}|6.4 (40)|Etihad Stadium|27,805 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-16/womens-match-pearce-stars-as-demons-keep-perfect-record-in-tact-against-bulldogs Match report]}} {{AFLGameFooter|notes= * {{AFLW|Mel}} retained the Hampson-Hardeman Cup. * Both matches were aired live on the Seven Network, as part of their AFL coverage.}} {{AFLGameHeader|title=2016 exhibition series}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 2 March|{{AFLW|Mel}}|3.3 (21)|A|{{AFLW|WB}}|6.5 (41)|Highgate Recreational Reserve||[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-06/bulldogs-womens-team-secures-maiden-win-against-demons Match report]}} {{AFLGame|Saturday, 2 April|''SANFL Blue''|5.4 (34)|H|''SANFL Red''|5.2 (32)|Adelaide Oval|51,585 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-02/sa-blue-take-the-honours-in-womens-showdown Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Saturday, 9 April|{{AFL Syd}}|9.8 (62)|H|{{AFLW|GWS}}|5.3 (33)|SCG|37,045 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-10/swans-too-strong-for-giants-in-womens-match Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Saturday, 9 April|{{AFLW|WC}}|13.10 (88)|H|{{AFLW|Fre}}|3.5 (23)|Domain Stadium|40,555 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-09/west-coast-women-claim-derby-win-over-fremantle Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 10 April|''Northern Territory''|13.11 (89)|H|''Tasmania''|7.11 (53)|Peanut Reserve||[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-10/territory-women-surge-home-to-topple-tassie Match report]}} {{AFLGame|Saturday, 16 April|{{AFLW|Bri}}|5.8 (38)|H|{{AFL GC}}|3.6 (24)|Gabba|20,041 (D/H)|[http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2016-04-18/female-lions-take-qclash-bragging-rights Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 22 May|{{AFLW|Mel}}|14.7 (91)|H|{{AFLW|Bri}}|3.2 (20)|MCG|26,892 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-22/afl-womens-exhibition-series-melbourne-v-brisbane-live Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 5 June|{{AFLW|WB}}|8.5 (53)|H|''Western Australia''|5.10 (40)|Etihad Stadium|28,769 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-05/bulldogs-resolve-withstands-wa-fightback Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Sunday, 5 June|''South Australia''|4.3 (27)|H|''NSW/ACT''|3.7 (25)|Adelaide Oval|40,896 (D/H)|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-05/rev-up-sparks-sa-women-to-win-over-nswact- Match report]}} {{AFLGame| Saturday, 3 September|{{AFLW|WB}}| 14.6 (90)| H|{{AFLW|Mel}}| 7.9 (51)|Whitten Oval|6,365|[http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-03/moana-hope-kicks-dogs-to-glory-against-dees Match report]}} {{AFLGameFooter|notes= * Selected matches aired live on either on the Seven Network or Fox Footy, as part of their AFL coverage. * This series saw the introduction of a women's Sydney Derby, Western Derby, and QClash: these would take place again in 2022 and 2019 in the AFLW. * The SANFL Blue v SANFL Red match was originally meant to be a women's Showdown, but Port Adelaide's women's team went into recess at the end of their 2016 season. After plans for an Adelaide v Rest of South Australia match fell through, Adelaide, Port Adelaide and the AFL mutually agreed to arrange this fixture, which also served as a selection trial for the inaugural Adelaide AFLW squad: the first women's Showdown would take place in 2022. * Only the 3 September clash between {{AFLW|Mel}} and the {{AFLW|WB}}, which was played in the week's break before the 2016 AFL finals series, was contested for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup. The match was televised on Channel 7, attracting a peak of 1.05 million viewers nationally, with 387,000 viewers in Melbourne; it was the highest-rated match broadcast in Melbourne during the 2016 home and away season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Di Giorgio|first1=Giulio|title=Women's All-Stars game a ratings smash|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-09-04/womens-allstars-game-a-ratings-smash|website=Australian Football League|access-date=4 September 2016|date=4 September 2016}}</ref> }}

== Premiers and awards ==

=== Premiers === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Club !Seasons in competition !Premierships !Runners up !Premiership seasons !Runner-up seasons |- |Adelaide |2017–present |3 |1 |2017, 2019, 2022 (S6) |2021 |- |Brisbane |2017–present |2 |5 |2021, 2023 |2017, 2018, 2022 (S7), 2024, 2025 |- |Western Bulldogs |2017–present |1 |0 |2018 | |- |Melbourne |2017–present |1 |1 |2022 (S7) |2022 (S6) |- |North Melbourne |2019–present |2 |1 |2024, 2025 |2023 |- |Carlton |2017–present |0 |1 | |2019 |- |Collingwood |2017–present |0 |0 | | |- |Fremantle |2017–present |0 |0 | | |- |Greater Western Sydney |2017–present |0 |0 | | |- |Geelong |2019–present |0 |0 | | |- |Richmond |2020–present |0 |0 | | |- |St Kilda |2020–present |0 |0 | | |- |Gold Coast |2020–present |0 |0 | | |- |West Coast |2020–present |0 |0 | | |- |Essendon |2022 (S7)–present |0 |0 | | |- |Hawthorn |2022 (S7)–present |0 |0 | | |- |Port Adelaide |2022 (S7)–present |0 |0 | | |- |Sydney Swans |2022 (S7)–present |0 |0 | | |}

=== AFLW best and fairest === The best and fairest award determined in the same way as the Brownlow Medal for men, with umpires awarding three, two, and one votes to the best three players in each game, and suspended players are ineligible.

{| class="wikitable" |+ !Season !Player !Club |- |2017 |Erin Phillips |Adelaide |- |2018 |Emma Kearney |Western Bulldogs |- |2019 |Erin Phillips<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-02/all-conquering-erin-phillips-claims-second-aflw-best-and-fairest/10964666 Erin Phillips wins AFLW best and fairest for second time after Adelaide Crows premiership win], ABC, 2 April 2019</ref> |Adelaide |- |2020 |Maddy Prespakis<ref>[https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2020/04/29/indigenous-player-madison-prespakis-named-aflws-best-player Indigenous player Madison Prespakis named AFLW's best player], NITV, 29 April 2020</ref> |Carlton |- |rowspan="2"|2021 |Brianna Davey |Collingwood |- |Kiara Bowers<ref>[https://womens.afl/news/71748/history-makers-magpies-co-captain-dockers-superstar-share-aflw-b-f Womens.afl, 25 April 2021]</ref> |Fremantle |- |2022 (S6) |Emily Bates |Brisbane |- |2022 (S7) |Ally Anderson<ref>[https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/womens-afl/aflw-season-7-best-and-fairest-winner-ally-anderson-brisbane-lions-beats-monique-conti-in-thrilling-count-final-votes-tally-stats/news-story/50d9f318c40493267b046754c34e5cb3 Lions star Ally Anderson crowned AFLW best and fairest in comp’s most insane count yet], 23 November 2022</ref> |Brisbane |- |2023 |Monique Conti<ref>{{cite news|last=Vinall|first=Marnie|title=Cross-code superstar Conti wins the AFLW's biggest award; Garner 'officially invisible'|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/eight-of-the-best-how-kearney-matched-buddy-danger-and-gaz-20231127-p5en2j.html|newspaper=The Age|date=27 November 2023|access-date=27 November 2023|archive-date=27 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127154806/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/eight-of-the-best-how-kearney-matched-buddy-danger-and-gaz-20231127-p5en2j.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |Richmond |- |2024 |Ebony Marinoff<ref>{{cite news|last=Kennelly|first=Hannah|title=Marinoff crowned league best and fairest in thrilling count|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/marinoff-crowned-league-best-and-fairest-in-thrilling-count-20241125-p5ktb8.html|newspaper=The Age|date=25 November 2024|access-date=25 November 2024}}</ref> |Adelaide |}

=== AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player === The MVP award is voted on by the players' peers, in a similar method to the Leigh Matthews Trophy for men.

{| class="wikitable" |+ !Season !Player !Club |- |2017 |Erin Phillips |Adelaide |- |2018 |Courtney Gum |GWS Giants |- |2019 |Erin Phillips |Adelaide |- |2020 |Jasmine Garner |North Melbourne |- |2021 |Brianna Davey |Collingwood |- |2022 (S6) |Emily Bates |Brisbane |- |2022 (S7) |Monique Conti |Richmond |- |2023 |Jasmine Garner |North Melbourne |- |2024 |Ebony Marinoff |Adelaide |}

=== AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player === Each week, the senior coach of each club gives five votes to the player they consider to be best on ground in the game in which their team plays, four to the second-best, and so on to one for the fifth-best.

{| class="wikitable" |+ !Season !Player !Club |- |2017 |colspan="2"style="background:#ececec; text-align:center;"|''Not awarded'' |- |rowspan="2"|2018 |Chelsea Randall |Adelaide |- |Emma Kearney |Western Bulldogs |- |2019 |Erin Phillips |Adelaide |- |2020 |Jasmine Garner |North Melbourne |- |2021 |Kiara Bowers |Fremantle |- |2022 (S6) |Emily Bates |Brisbane |- |2022 (S7) |Jasmine Garner |North Melbourne |- |2023 |Jasmine Garner |North Melbourne |- |2024 |Ebony Marinoff |Adelaide |}

=== Leading goalkicker === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Season !Player !Club !Goals |- |2017 |Darcy Vescio |Carlton |14 |- |2018 |Brooke Lochland |Western Bulldogs |12 |- |2019 |Stevie-Lee Thompson |Adelaide |13 |- |2020 |Caitlin Greiser |St Kilda |10 |- |2021 |Darcy Vescio (2) |Carlton |16 |- |2022 (S6) |Ashleigh Woodland |Adelaide |19 |- |2022 (S7) |Jesse Wardlaw |Brisbane |22 |- |rowspan="2"|2023 |Kate Hore |Melbourne |rowspan="2"|20 |- |Eden Zanker |Melbourne |- |rowspan="2"|2024 |Aishling Moloney |Geelong |rowspan="2"|21 |- |Taylor Smith |Brisbane |- |2025 |Indy Tahau |Port Adelaide |25 |}

==See also== {{Portal|Sports|Australia}} * List of women's Australian rules football leagues

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{official website}} * [https://researchdata.ands.org.au/friday-february-aflw-audio-collection/1330488/ ''First Friday in February – AFLW audio collection'' This collection consists of the full audio documentary on the first AFLW Women's game, along with 35 complete audio interviews, and related transcripts.]

{{AFL Women's}} {{Australian Football League}} {{Women's Australian rules football}} {{Australian rules football}} {{Sports leagues of Australia}} {{Women's sport in Australia}}

Category:AFL Women's Category:Australian Football League Category:Women's Australian rules football leagues in Australia Category:2017 establishments in Australia Category:Sports leagues established in 2017 Category:Professional sports leagues in Australia