The 2026 AFL Women's season marks a new era of integration and professional growth
In short: The eleventh season of the AFL Women's competition arrives with significant structural shifts. From the end of a decade-long apparel partnership to the return of high-profile double-headers with men's matches, the league is embracing a unified club identity while introducing advanced technology to ensure precision on the field.
The 2026 season represents a pivotal transition for the AFLW. Following the conclusion of a ten-season league-wide apparel deal with Cotton On in 2025, clubs are now free to align with their existing AFL suppliers. This shift reflects a broader 'one-club approach' championed by the league, where AFLW players increasingly participate in off-field development and game-day hosting during the men's season. This integration extends to the fixture schedule, with the return of double-headers at major venues like Marvel Stadium, a move driven by player interest and a desire to move beyond the 'curtain-raiser' stigma of previous years.
On the field, the league has implemented a new vision-based score review system. Replacing the 2024 ball-tracking technology, this system utilizes four goal-post cameras at every venue, allowing officials to review scores using Hawk-Eye vision. Preparation for the season also saw an expanded pre-season schedule, with clubs agreeing to three match simulations and an official practice match to support the development of younger talent. The season officially kicked off on 9 August, featuring a twelve-round home-and-away structure that concludes on the final weekend of November.
Expectations for the season are high, particularly for North Melbourne. Having remained undefeated since the 2023 Grand Final, the club is the unanimous favorite among experts to secure a third consecutive premiership. Individual accolades are also highly contested, with Jasmine Garner of North Melbourne and Ella Roberts of West Coast entering the season as the primary favorites for the best and fairest award. The season's momentum was further bolstered by a successful representative match between Australia and Ireland on 1 August, which sold out at North Sydney Oval and showcased the rapid evolution of the competition to a national audience.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026 AFL Women's season
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