West Coast has been rewarded for their rapid rise under coach Daisy Pearce, chosen to feature in the AFLW’s return of select double headers in the season’s opening round.
They have also caught a handy break in the season fixtures, that were released on Thursday, the only one of last year’s finalists to avoid a home-and-away season date with the might of North Melbourne, who haven’t lost a game in two seasons.
Fremantle weren’t so lucky, travelling to Arden Street in round nine, while they will also face Adelaide, who have ended their past two campaigns, in South Australia in round seven. The fixtures sit either side of the round eight western derby at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
The Dockers will start the season at home against Port Adelaide in their first clash for points at Cockburn ARC, with all six of their home clashes played at the club’s Cockburn headquarters, including back-to-back games in rounds five and six against Western Bulldogs and Essendon.
The Eagles’, who have risen from second last in 2023 to their maiden finals campaign last year, season opener will likely prelude the men’s rematch with Greater Western Sydney, who they upset last weekend, at ENGIE Stadium. However, with the men’s fixture for the backend of the season still floating, the exact date and time of the women’s clash will be locked in at a later date, but it will be on the weekend of August 15.
“To open the season with a double-header alongside our AFL team is something that’s really exciting from a whole-of-club perspective,” West Coast’s Head of Women’s Football Michelle Cowan said. “It’s a great opportunity to fly together and create a big occasion to kick off our season.”
The Eagles get back-to-back home fixtures in rounds four and five in a treat for WA footy fans who could potentially watch both women’s sides on the same weekend the Dockers men host a final. Pearce’s squad will also get the chance to show the competition how far they’ve come in round seven, given a marquee Friday afternoon clash with Essendon at Windy Hill on Grand Final eve.
The Eagles are one of only two non-Victorian teams to be given one of the Grand Final week fixtures, alongside the Power. Overall, the AFLW has confirmed there will be four double-header fixtures, with another three to be locked in. All games in rounds two to five will be played on Saturdays and Sundays to avoid clashes with the end of the men’s season and finals.
The season gets underway with St Kilda and Carlton on August 9 with a Spud’s Game double header before the rest of the opening round kicks off on August 13.
