AFLW 2022: Hawks-Bombers set for round one clash, Swans to start season at North Sydney Oval

The AFLW fixture for season seven is set to be released early next week. Check out the expansion clubs’ likely round one opponents.

Amber Clarke and the Bombers will take on fellow newcomers Hawthorn in round one. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Melbourne’s ETU Stadium is set to be the venue for Hawthorn and Essendon’s AFLW entrance this August.

Meanwhile, picturesque North Sydney Oval has been earmarked to host Sydney’s inaugural match in the national women’s competition.

The bulk of the AFLW fixture for the expedited season seven is set to be released early next week.

Industry sources have indicated that traditional men’s rivals the Hawks and the Bombers will be pitted against each other at the 10,000 capacity ETU Stadium (formerly North Port Oval) in the opening round of the season.

Jasmine Fleming and the Hawks are set for their debut AFLW clash against Essendon in round one. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Fellow expansion side the Swans are scheduled to host St Kilda at North Sydney, better known as a cricket venue, according to an advanced draft fixture.

Port Adelaide will need to wait at least a week before playing at home however, with the Power slated to play their AFLW opener away to West Coast in Perth.

Round one is being played across the men’s bye round over the last weekend in August.

The finals for the second 2022 season are scheduled to begin in early November, while the grand final is set to fall over the weekend of November 25-27.

Not all teams will play each other, with the season remaining at 10 home and away rounds, a point of contention between the league and players.

North Sydney Oval will host the first Sydney Swans AFLW fixture against St. Kilda. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I think everyone knows we are at odds with certainly the playing cohort and others on that. I understand and respect the desire for players to play as many games as they can as soon as they can,” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said in May.

“We‘re going from 14 to 18 (teams), I feel and I think the scoreboard points to competitive balance issues in season six, and we want to make sure we have that structural integrity in the competition before we grow.

“What that looks like for seasons eight, nine and ten is to be determined, it‘s not we have to stay at 10, our desire is to see how we go this year, look at the way the competitive balance and the season plays out before we make that decision.”

Originally published as AFLW 2022: Hawks-Bombers set for round one clash, Swans to start season at North Sydney Oval