What is the AFLW?
The AFLW, or AFL Women's, is the national professional women's Australian rules football competition. It began in 2017 with eight teams and has expanded to 18 teams, matching every AFL club.
The first AFLW match was played in February 2017 between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park in Melbourne. The crowd was so large that thousands of fans were turned away.
Adelaide won the first premiership in 2017. The competition grew rapidly, with new clubs joining in several stages.
Growth and stars
By 2022, every one of the 18 AFL clubs had an AFLW team. The season has been moved to the second half of the year so that it runs from late winter to spring, separate from the men's competition.
Stars such as Erin Phillips, Daisy Pearce, Tayla Harris and Ebony Marinoff have helped raise the profile of women's football. A famous photograph of Tayla Harris kicking the ball became a symbol of strength after online abuse in 2019, and the image was later turned into a bronze statue.
AFLW players have pushed for better pay and longer seasons, and the AFL has committed to developing the league. Participation in women's football has grown strongly at community level.
Did You Know?
The AFLW best and fairest award is called the AFLW League Best and Fairest.