AFLW 2023: Fixture for eighth season finally locked in

The AFL and players have come to an agreement on the length of this year’s AFLW season with round 1 less than 50 days away.

Tayla Harris celebrates a goal in the 2022 AFLW grand final. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/Getty Images

The AFL will finally release its AFLW fixture on Monday afternoon after coming to an agreement with the playing group on a new 10-week home-and-away season.

The Herald Sun understands the upcoming season will start on September 1 after players agreed on a 10-week draw despite demands for 12 weeks or more.

The AFLPA agreed to that 10-week season to provide certainty for players and as part of negotiations on how the season length could expand over coming seasons.

The Herald Sun revealed last month the league was keen to free the fixture from ongoing pay negotiations so it could expand the season length under growth metrics agreed to by the league and players.

Under a rebranding of the AFLW the league is keen to incentivise scoring amid a worrying fall-off in attendances and TV ratings.

Ratings are down 70 per cent on the inaugural season and attendances are down 60 per cent after an expansion to 18 teams.

AFL clubs had been given draft fixtures that included only their own games for the upcoming season to allow them to plan for home matches.

The league is determined to finish the upcoming season in mid-December before cricket starts its Test series, to maximise the exposure for its athletes.

But negotiations continue on a pay deal for the men and women, with AFLW players wanting full-time contracts and a 17-game season in future years.

At one stage Western Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke said players might be prepared to strike to secure a longer season.

The four expansion clubs and many AFLW coaches are happy with the 10-week length given there are so many new players in the league after four new teams played their first season.

MORE TO COME