2019 AFLW fixture released: Carlton dumped from season opener as Geelong host Collingwood
CARLTON has been dumped from the AFLW season opener after a poor season last year but Collingwood will still feature in the first game of the new season alongside an expansion club. SEE THE FULL 2019 AFLW FIXTURE
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THE traditional AFLW season opener between Carlton and Collingwood has been ditched for season three as the league unveiled its new conference system for 2019.
The Magpies will still feature in the first game of the new season, but will play expansion club Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday February 2, before Adelaide host reigning premiers Western Bulldogs on the same night at Norwood Oval.
SEE THE FULL AFLW FIXTURE BELOW
Carlton and Collingwood opened the inaugural AFLW season in front of a lockout crowd in 2017 and drew another massive turnout this year.
But there will be no repeat in 2019 after the Blues struggled last season before claiming the wooden spoon.
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AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the decision to change the combatants in the opening round was about announcing Geelong’s arrival.
“Our first game celebrates Geelong and Geelong joining the competition and the very next day we have North Melbourne debuting,’’ Livingstone said.
“So our focus in year three is to make sure we do celebrate new milestones and one of those new milestones are our two new clubs.
“So we are really pleased to have Geelong opening season number three in 2019 and for those that are concerned that Carlton and Collingwood won’t meet, they do meet, just a little later in the season.
“We did also think about all those traditional rivals and blockbuster games.’’
The Blues said they understood the decision to move them out of the season opener and were looking forward to a historic Round 1 clash against expansion team North Melbourne in Hobart.
“As a team, we ... know we underperformed last year and with two new sides entering the competition, we understand the AFL’s decision to launch the season in Geelong – it’s really important to support our regional women and girls in the AFLW competition,” women’s football boss Nicole Graves said.
“To be part of another moment in the competition’s history is really exciting for the club and it will be a great opportunity for our playing group to hit the road in Round 1 and connect with our members and supporters in Tasmania.”
The AFLW competition has been split into two conferences to accommodate the expansion to 10 clubs.
The two conferences are:
Conference A — Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, North Melbourne.
Conference B — Brisbane Lions, GWS, Collingwood, Carlton, Geelong.
Each team will play seven home-and-away rounds, before a two-week finals series where the two top-ranked teams from each conference will play in preliminary finals. The winners will then play in the Grand Final the following weekend.
The top-ranked team from conference A will play the second-ranked team from conference B in a preliminary final and vice versa.
The Grand Final will be played on March 30 or 31.
The entire season will run for nine weeks.
The AFL used the final ladder positions from last season to determine the two conferences, with premiers Western Bulldogs and Brisbane split after finishing first and second, while wooden spooner Carlton and Fremantle, who finished seventh, have also been split into separate conferences.
Expansion clubs Geelong and North Melbourne are also in opposing conferences.
“We know that the conference system may take a bit of time for people to get used to, but we also know that it’s going to create excitement and discussion throughout our season,” Livingston said.
“Teams will play all of the teams in their own conference and they will also play three cross-conference matches.
“In determining those cross-conference matches, we considered that every team should play one team in the top two of the 2018 ladder, one team in the bottom two of the 2018 ladder and then reserved the right and the ability, for the third crossover game, schedule blockbusters, traditional rivals and unique AFLW experiences.
“While teams will earn points with every match they play, they will only be ranked against those teams in their conference.
“There will be two ladders throughout the 2019 AFLW season, the top two teams in each conference will qualify for the prelim finals.’’
Reigning premiers Western Bulldogs are set to unfurl their premiership flag at their first home game in Round 2, under lights at Whitten Oval against Geelong.
Collingwood will return to its spiritual home Victoria Park for the 2019 season, with the Magpies to play two games at the venue against old rivals Melbourne and Brisbane Lions.
The season will also feature a double-header at Marvel Stadium.
Entry to AFLW matches will be free again in 2019.
2019 AFLW FIXTURE
ROUND 1
Saturday February 2
Geelong v Collingwood, GMHBA Stadium, 6.40pm
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Norwood Oval, 8.10pm
Sunday February 3
Kangaroos v Carlton, North Hobart Oval, 1.05pm
Melbourne v Fremantle, Casey Fields, 3.05pm
Brisbane Lions v GWS Giants, Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, 4.05pm
ROUND 2
Friday February 8
GWS Giants v Kangaroos, Drummoyne Oval, 7.15pm
Saturday February 9
Collingwood v Melbourne, Victoria Park, 4.45pm
Western Bulldogs v Geelong, VU Whitten Oval, 7.15pm
Sunday February 10
Carlton v Adelaide, Ikon Park, 4.05pm
Fremantle v Brisbane Lions, Fremantle Oval, 3.05pm
ROUND 3
Friday February 15
Kangaroos v Western Bulldogs, University of Tasmania Stadium, 7.15pm
Saturday February 16
GWS Giants v Carlton, Blacktown International Sportspark, 4.45pm
Fremantle v Collingwood, Fremantle Oval, 4.15pm
Sunday February 17
Adelaide v Geelong, Norwood Oval, 2.05pm
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, Hickey Park, 3/35pm
ROUND 4
Saturday February 23
Geelong v Carlton, GMHBA Stadium, 4.45pm
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, VU Whitten Oval, 7.15pm
Adelaide v Fremantle, TIO Stadium, 8.05pm
Sunday February 24
Collingwood v GWS Giants, Morewell Recreation Reserve, 2.05pm
Melbourne v Kangaroos, Casey Fields, 4.05pm
ROUND 5
Saturday March 2
Brisbane Lions v Geelong, Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, 3.45pm
Carlton v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 7.15pm
Sunday March 3
GWS Giants v Melbourne, Blacktown International Sportspark, 2.05pm
Kangaroos v Adelaide, Avalon Airport Oval, 4.05pm
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Fremantle Oval, 3.05pm
ROUND 6
Saturday March 9
Geelong v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium, 2.35pm
Collingwood v Kangaroos, Marvel Stadium, 4.45pm
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7.15pm
Sunday March 10
Adelaide v GWS Giants, Unley Oval, 1.35pm
Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Ikon Park, 4.05pm
ROUND 7
Friday March 15
GWS Giants v Geelong, UNSW Canberra Oval, 7.15pm
Saturday March 16
Melbourne v Adelaide, Casey Fields, 4.45pm
Fremantle v Kangaroos, Fremantle Oval, 4.15pm
Sunday March 17
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions, Victoria Park, 2.05pm
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, VU Whitten Oval, 4.05pm
*All times are local
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