2018 AFLW fixture released with Carlton and Collingwood to open season

CARLTON and Collingwood will open the 2018 AFLW season after the roaring success of the inaugural season opener that drew 25,000 fans at Ikon Park. SEE THE FULL 2018 AFLW FIXTURE

Carlton and Collingwood could again kick off the AFLW season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

CARLTON and Collingwood will open the 2018 AFLW season for a second year running after the roaring success of last year’s season opener.

The Blues and Magpies will clash at Ikon Park, the same venue that saw 25,000 people pack into the stands in February and thousands locked out.

SEE THE FULL AFLW FIXTURE BELOW

The match is set for February 2 at 7.40pm and will be broadcast on Channel 7.

Brisbane won’t have to wait long for an opportunity to avenge its Grand Final loss to Adelaide, with the Grand Final re-match set for Round 1 at Adelaide’s Norwood Oval.

Fremantle will play the first match at the new Perth stadium when it hosts Collingwood in Round 2 on February 10.

As reported in the Herald Sun today, the second AFLW season will again feature seven rounds, with each team to play each other once before the top two sides on the ladder face off in the Grand Final.

The premiership decider will be played on Saturday March 24.

Carlton and Collingwood will again open the AFLW season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

There was a push for the AFL to introduce a semi-final weekend to decide the Grand Finalists but scheduling proved an issue as the league was unable to find space in its calendar for the extra round.

In a boom for the second season, women’s games are set to be played in prime time slots in the hopes of building on the competition’s strong start.

Six matches will be played on Friday night, kicking off with Carlton and Collingwood on opening night.

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The Blues will feature in three of the six Friday night slots.

Just one AFL men’s pre-season game is scheduled for a Friday night, with Sydney facing cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney on March 9.

AFLW matches will be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

This year’s inaugural season included several double-headers played either before or after AFL pre-season games but none have been scheduled for 2018.

Adelaide’s Chelsea Randal, Erin Phillips and coach Bec Goddard with the 2017 premiership cup. Picture: Getty

AFL fixture boss Travis Auld has confirmed on Thursday every AFLW game next year will be played as a standalone fixture.

“What’s important is that we provide the AFLW with enough clean air throughout the fixture,” Auld said on Thursday.

“We were overwhelmed with the level of support we received (last year), both in terms of the TV audience but also then the attendance on the day.

“And in some cases they’re different crowds, so we decided this year to keep the two separate and run them as two standalone competitions.”

AFLW FIXTURE

ROUND 1

Friday, February 2

Carlton v Collingwood, Ikon Park, 7.40pm EDT

Saturday, February 3

Melbourne v GWS, Casey Fields5.05pm EDT

Adelaide v Brisbane Lions, Norwood Oval, 6.45pm CDT

Sunday, February 4

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, VU Whitten Oval, 4.35pm EDT

ROUND 2

Friday, February 9

GWS v Carlton, Drummoyne Oval, 7.05pm EDT

Saturday, February 10

Melbourne v Adelaide, Casey Fields, 5.05pm EDT

Fremantle v Collingwood, Perth Stadium, 4.10pm WST

Sunday, February 11

Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs, South Pine Sports Complex, 3.35pm EST

ROUND 3

Saturday, February 17

Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs, Norwood Oval, 1.35pm CDT

Carlton v Brisbane Lions, Ikon Park, 7.40pm EDT

Sunday, February 18

Collingwood v GWS Giants, Olympic Park Oval, 4.35pm EDT

Fremantle v Melbourne, Fremantle Oval, 3.35pm WST

ROUND 4

Friday February 23

Western Bulldogs v Carlton, VU Whitten Oval, 7.05pm EDT

Saturday, February 24

Brisbane Lions v Fremantle, South Pine Sports Complex, 3.35pm EST

Melbourne v Collingwood, TIO Traeger Park, 5.40pm CST

Sunday, February 25

GWS Giants v Adelaide Crows, Blacktown ISP, 4.35pm EDT

ROUND 5

Friday, March 2

Melbourne v Brisbane Lions, Casey Fields, 7.05pm EDT

Saturday, March 3

Fremantle v GWS Giants, Fremantle Oval, 2.05pm WST

Adelaide Crows v Carlton, Norwood Oval, 6.40pm CDT

Sunday, March 4

Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, Ted Summerton Reserve, 2.35pm EDT

ROUND 6

Friday, March 9

Adelaide Crows v Fremantle, TIO Stadium, 5.35pm CST

Saturday, March 10

Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, 3.35pm EST

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs, UNSW Canberra Oval, 7.10pm EDT

Sunday, March 11

Carlton v Melbourne, Ikon Park, 4.35pm EDT

ROUND 7

Friday, March 16

GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions, Blacktown ISP, 7.05pm EDT

Saturday, March 17

Fremantle v Carlton, Fremantle Oval, 2.05pm WST

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, VU Whitten Oval, 7.10pm EDT

Sunday, March 18

Collingwood v Adelaide Crows, Olympic Park Oval, 2.35pm EDT