Whitten Oval to host AFL women’s exhibition game on September 3

THE final home-and-away game could be played on a Monday night as a lead-in to the AFL’s “celebration of football” bye round with women’s footy the showcase event.

Daisy Pearce will play for Melbourne in the exhibition game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

THE AFL is considering closing the home-and-away season with a Monday night match as a lead in to the “celebration of football” bye round, where Saturday night women’s football will be the showcase event at Whitten Oval.

The league has also discussed starting the finals series on Thursday September 8, bridging the gap between the controversial bye and the finals.

The original plan would have seen fans wait 12 days between the end of the season and finals, this new fixture option makes it 10.

A match on Monday, August 29 would be scheduled only if it had bearing on the composition of the top eight.

The floating Round 23 fixture is due to be finalised in the next four weeks, with the Adelaide v West Coast game at Adelaide Oval an attractive option for a Monday night game.

A Thursday night first final would mean no football on the Sunday and allow the league to be flexible with its fixture for the following weekend of finals.

It’s likely to feature a Thursday night game, one Friday night game and two games on Saturday (afternoon and night).

The women’s game on September 3 will be broadcast live on Channel 7 with the first bounce at 7.20pm. It is the first game to be played under lights at the Whitten Oval.

Whitten Oval to host Sept 3 women's exhibition game. Sat night. Live on 7 @superfooty pic.twitter.com/8rWT3EG7HD

— eliza sewell (@ElizaJSewell) July 13, 2016

AFL general manager game development Simon Lethlean said the league would make announcements in coming weeks, but he assured fans there will be “plenty of content” in the week leading up to the bye weekend and during it.

“We might be able to find a Monday night game potentially, if the relevant matches are there,” Lethlean said of Round 23.

“We tend to want to make that announcement of Round 23 with about four weeks to go, which is not far away.

“Whether we can do a Monday night, we’re not sure. It would need to be the right match with the right effect on the final eight to come.

“It’s hard to pick that straight away now so that’s a work in progress.”

Lethlean said the league was expecting up to 10,000 fans to attend the women’s match, with the boutique stadium set to host fixtures in the inaugural national women’s league, which starts in February.

“This match will be a preview of the amazing talent that will be on display next year,” Lethlean said.

Originally published as Whitten Oval to host AFL women’s exhibition game on September 3