After being panned by coaches and players the AFLW has dropped the condensed fixture

Several coaches were adamant their AFLW campaigns were derailed by a controversial fixture move which has been scrapped for 2025.

The complaints, and injuries, which came from the AFLW’s controversial compressed fixture will be a thing of the past after confirmation of an earlier start in 2025 for a full 12 week season.

Coaches and players alike protested against the impact the compressed fixture in 2024, with some teams playing up to four games across 1o days, had on their campaign.

Some players missed multiple games with minor injuries as a result, with games played midweek and on weekends including during the AFL finals.

Crowds were also down as were TV viewing figures with matches lost amid the finals news cycle.

But the AFLW will start on August 11 in 2025, two weeks earlier than the previous season and coincides with Round 23 of the 2025 men’s AFL season.

The AFLW season will encompass 12 home and away rounds over 12 weeks, with no compression and four weeks of finals.

The 2025 AFLW grand final will be played on Saturday 29 November..

“We are pleased to be able to confirm the season structure for the 2025 NAB 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,” General Manager of AFLW, Emma Moore said.

The 2025 NAB AFLW season will begin the week of August 11, with 12 rounds to be played over 12 weeks.

Full details: https://t.co/p62r8PQHpcpic.twitter.com/GCm9VZksDw

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 18, 2024

“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 NAB AFLW Finals Series, as the race for the Premiership comes down to four teams all vying for the flag.”

The AFLW continues this weekend with preliminary finals before the firs-ever night grand final.