AFLW ultimate guide: Everything you need to know

THE best female players will break new ground when the first AFLW season kicks off, which includes some significant rule changes. Take a look at our ultimate guide + expert tips

THE best female footballers in the country will break new ground when the first AFL Women’s season begins this weekend.

Eight teams will take part in a seven-week season with the new competition to bring with it some significant rule changes.

Here’s is everything you need to know.

AFLW TEAMS: ROUND 1 LINE-UPS

AFLW FIXTURE: EVERY ROUND, EVERY GAME

TEAMS

Click on each club for player profiles

Adelaide

Brisbane

Carlton

Collingwood

Fremantle

Greater Western Sydney

Melbourne

Western Bulldogs

— Each team has a squad of 27 players, including two marquee players and two rookies

SEASON

— Will run from February 3 to March 25

— Eights teams to play each other once in the seven-week season

— Top two teams to play off in the grand final

— There will be six ­games as part of double-headers — five as curtain-raisers to AFL pre-season matches and one as a “curtain closer”.

— Entry to games is free unless they form part of a double-header

— All matches will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, with Channel 7 to show eight games plus the grand final

RULES

Teams:

— 16 a side on the ground plus 6 interchange

— Unlimited rotations

Quarters:

— 17-20 minute quarters: 15-minutes with time-on after goals or injury

— 8-minute breaks at quarter and three-quarter time; 16 minutes at half time

Bounce:

No bounce; umpires throw the ball up at all times

Players contest a ball-up at last week’s practice match. Picture: Stuart Walmsley

Ball:

— AFL Women’s ball is two sizes smaller than men’s ball and one size smaller than ball used in premier VFL Women’s competition

— Kicks carry longer with the smaller ball and it’s easier to handle

— Officially, it’s a size 4: short circumference 49cm — 5cm shorter then men’s ball; long circumference 67cm, also 5cm shorter

Heat:

When bureau forecasts excessive heat (wet bulb reading 28 or higher):

- Length of breaks or quarters may be altered

— Additional water carriers on field

MRP/Tribunal:

— No fines; reprimands and suspensions only

— Dedicated match review panel

— AFL/AFLW tribunal shares same members

— Low-level offence will attract a reprimand, not a fine; repeat offence automatically triggers ban

— Contact graded body or high/groin/chest

TIPS

Marcus Bontempelli

Collingwood 4

Adelaide 15

Western Bulldogs 24

Melbourne 17

Chris Cavanagh

Carlton 8

Adelaide 16

Western Bulldogs 4

Melbourne 12

Bianca Chatfield

Collingwood 3

Adelaide 7

Western Bulldogs 10

Melbourne 14

Patrick Dangerfield

Carlton 20

Adelaide 12

Western Bulldogs 20

Melbourne 25

Moana Hope

Collingwood

Adelaide

Fremantle

Melbourne

David King

Collingwood 2

Adelaide 5

Western Bulldogs 14

Melbourne 1

Matthew Lloyd

Carlton 2

Adelaide 14

Western Bulldogs 8

Melbourne 24

Glenn McFarlane

Collingwood 1

Adelaide 15

Western Bulldogs 10

Melbourne 18

Mark Robinson

Carlton 12

Adelaide 14

Fremantle 8

Melbourne 24

Eliza Sewell

Carlton 5

Adelaide Crows 10

Western Bulldogs 2

Melbourne 8

Bill Shorten

Collingwood 14

Adelaide 18

Western Bulldogs 23

Melbourne 33

Malcolm Turnbull

Collingwood 21

GWS Giants 7

Western Bulldogs 18

Melbourne 15

Darcy Vescio

Carlton

Adelaide

Western Bulldogs

Melbourne

Rebecca Williams

Collingwood 10

Adelaide 17

Western Bulldogs 5

Melbourne 16

Lauren Wood

Carlton 16

Adelaide 11

Western Bulldogs 21

Melbourne 35

Originally published as AFLW ultimate guide: Everything you need to know