The 2026 AFLW fixture will feature four double-header games with AFL matches, including at least one at Marvel Stadium.
The AFLW’s aims to shift away form smaller suburban venues to stadiums to get the women’s game in front of existing AFL fans
Speaking at an AFL Axiom event, Laura Kane, the competition’s executive general manager, said the double-headers would be played early in the women’s season, and would usually feature the same host team for both the men’s and women’s games.
“One way we can be bold is to play double headers in our big stadiums,” Kane said of the AFLW’s growth.
“So this season we’ll play double headers, having men’s and women’s games played on the same day in the same bigger stadiums.”
While the times and dates of AFL rounds 23 and 24 are not yet confirmed, the venues and home sides have already been locked in, opening the door for AFLW teams to potentially play at any of Marvel Stadium, the MCG, Adelaide Oval, Optus Stadium, the Gabba, Engie Stadium and the SCG.
Kane was tight-lipped on which venues and clubs would be involve, but confirmed Marvel Stadium would host at least one double header.
Asked whether women’s games would be played as curtain raisers or after men’s games, Kane replied: “A combination, I think. We’ll see what works best. We’ve got the benefit of the floating men’s fixture and we can make sure we optimise the scheduling of both the men’s and women’s competitions. So we’re open to both.”
She added one game could start as soon as one hour after the other.
The AFLW season is set to start in the week of August 10, which coincides with round 23 of the men’s competition, with the 12-round home and away season running concurrently with the final two rounds of the men’s fixture, as well as the newly introduced Wildcard Round and the entire Toyota AFL Finals Series.
Only six AFL/AFLW double-headers have been played in the nine-year history of the women’s competition, however AFLW practice matches have commonly been played before or after men’s matches. The MCG has hosted three double-headers, while the Gabba, People First Stadium and Engie Stadium have all hosted one.
While most AFL venues have rarely hosted AFLW games, Geelong’s AFLW side plays its home games at GMHBA Stadium, as does Gold Coast at People First Stadium.
Kane said the return to big stadiums was part of an AFLW “reset”, which has included a restructure of roles that will see Kane oversee a new-look team.
“We took stock on AFLW generally, we recently announced a reset to our structure and executive responsibility with my role,” she said.
“It’s not the evolution of W, it’s still the revolution. This game has changed footy, it’s changed it forever, and we felt the right time is now to have a go and see what happens when we put these games up in big stadiums.”
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