AFL confirms 2025 AFLW season start date as compressed fixture officially banished

The AFLW’s compression experiment is officially over with the league confirming the 2025 season will start two weeks earlier to accommodate 12 games in 12 weeks.

The AFLW’s compression experiment is officially over with the league confirming the 2025 season will start two weeks earlier to accommodate 12 games in 12 weeks.

The tenth season of the competition will commence in the week of August 11, coinciding with Round 23 of the AFL.

Previously, the AFLW has kicked off in the men’s pre-finals bye. Now, there’s scope for two weeks of double-headers as the AFL home and away season comes to a head.

The 2025 AFLW season will consist of 12 home and away rounds over 12 weeks, with no compression and four weeks of finals. It’s a big win for players and clubs following widespread backlash to this year’s condensed fixture.

The AFLW 2025 season will start two weeks earlier. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

However, the AFL is willing to continue exploring midweek football as a solution to the fixture crunch of scheduling 18 games per weekend when the two competitions overlap.

The AFLW grand final will be played on November 29, and with this season’s decider to be played at night for the first time, if successful, it’s expected the 2025 decider will follow suit.

AFLW general manager Emma Moore said it was important to provide certainty for clubs, players and fans before the 2024 season concludes. The AFL confirmed the start date of the 2024 season in February this year.

“We are pleased to be able to confirm the season structure for the 2025 AFLW season and wanted to provide these dates earlier than ever before, giving our clubs, players and fans stability and time to plan leading into next season,” Moore said.

“Work will continue on the fixture for 2025 following the completion of this season and we will have further information to share in the coming months.

“There are an exciting two weeks left of the 2024 AFLW finals series, as the race for the premiership comes down to four teams all vying for the flag.”

The AFLW pre-season will commence on May 19.

Originally published as AFL confirms 2025 AFLW season start date as compressed fixture officially banished