The 2026 AFL Women's season is the eleventh season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season features 18 clubs and will run from 9 August until the final weekend of November, comprising a twelve-round home-and-away season.
Background
The 2025 season marked the end of a ten-season, league-wide partnership between the AFL Women's and Cotton On, which had supplied apparel for all 18 clubs since the competition's inception, meaning that clubs could partner with their existing Australian Football League (AFL) suppliers for the first time; by October 2025, midway through the season, was the first club to announce such a partnership, with its new deal with Kookaburra covering all four of its teams. was the only club to partner with a separate supplier for its AFLW team, opting for Jaggad, owned by former AFL players Steve Greene and Chris Judd.
In April 2026, AFLW executive general manager Laura Kane announced that the 2026 season would feature four double-headers with AFL matches, including at least one at the AFL-owned Marvel Stadium, after several clubs asked for double-headers as part of their fixture requests; only six AFL/AFLW double-headers had been held previously, with the league prioritising smaller venues in recent seasons. Kane later elaborated that opinions of double-headers in the competition had changed over the years; clubs had previously wanted to avoid AFLW matches being seen as curtain-raisers to AFL matches, but there had been growing interest from players to play in double-headers and at larger venues, and clubs had started to take a "one-club approach". This approach was further reinforced by a growing number of AFLW players assuming roles as game day hosts for their clubs during the AFL season, both to upskill their public speaking and off-field development and cross-promote the AFLW season at men's matches.
The competition's first pre-season draft was held on 4 May, with players returning to their clubs for pre-season training a week later. Earlier in the year, the AFL pitched the concept of an expanded pre-season schedule to clubs to further assist in the development of younger and inexperienced players, giving clubs the option of playing up to five unofficial match simulations and an official practice match; clubs had previously only played one of each, with some also utilising state leagues to varying degrees. Clubs eventually agreed to a schedule of three match simulations and a practice match beginning in early July. A vision-based score review system was introduced for the season, replacing the seldom-used ball-tracking technology introduced in 2024, with four goal post cameras installed at each AFLW venue; the new review system was similar to the one used in the AFL, where an official would review every score based on Hawk-Eye vision, but did not give the option for goal umpires to call for a score review.
A representative Australian rules football match between the competition's best Australian and Irish players was held at North Sydney Oval on 1 August, the first AFLW representative match since the 2017 State of Origin match; the league chose not to schedule a twilight match in the AFL on that day to avoid an overlap with the representative match, which was broadcast live on Fox Footy, Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies and Binge. The match sold out weeks in advance, but the AFL resisted calls from players to move it to the larger Sydney Cricket Ground, preferring to keep the match at a sold-out smaller venue rather than a partially-filled larger venue; the league instead set up a ticket waitlist for tickets that became available closer to the match and partnered with several venues in Sydney and Melbourne to host watch parties. Australia won the encounter by 50 points, in a match described by afl.com.au as "a thrilling exhibition of international football" and by Fox Sports as "an entertaining clash full of highlights" that showcased the competition's evolution.
Leading into the season, North Melbourne, which had not lost a match since the 2023 AFL Women's Grand Final, was predicted unanimously by experts from Fox Sports and ESPN, and by all but one expert from the Herald Sun, to win a third consecutive premiership; 15 club captains tipped North Melbourne as the club most likely outside their own to reach the grand final, with and the other clubs tipped to feature. North Melbourne's Jasmine Garner and 's Ella Roberts were the two pre-season favourites to win the AFL Women's best and fairest award.
Coach appointments New coach Club Date of appointment Previous coach Ryan Davis 2 December 2025 Matthew Clarke Mick Stinear 10 December 2025 Dan Lowther Colin O'Riordan 17 December 2025 Scott Gowans Jarrad Donders 24 February 2026 Ryan Ferguson Glenn Strachan 11 March 2026 Lauren Arnell Tom Wilson 7 April 2026 Mick Stinear
Club leadership Club Coach Leadership group Captain(s) Vice-captain(s) Other leader(s) Ryan Davis Ebony Marinoff Eloise Jones Jess Allan, Chelsea Biddell, Grace Egan, Grace Kelly, Niamh Kelly Craig Starcevich Breanna Koenen Belle Dawes, Nat Grider Ally Anderson, Sophie Conway, Jennifer Dunne, Jade Ellenger, Cathy Svarc, Ruby Svarc Mathew Buck Abbie McKay Mimi Hill Tara Bohanna, Harriet Cordner, Erone Fitzpatrick Sam Wright Ruby Schleicher Jordyn Allen Lucy Cronin Natalie Wood Bonnie Toogood Maddi Gay Steph Cain, Amy Gaylor, Steph Wales Lisa Webb Ange Stannett Gabby Newton Emma O'Driscoll (), Megan Kauffman, Jess Low, Hayley Miller, Mim Strom Mick Stinear Nina Morrison, Rebecca Webster Rhyce Shaw Niamh McLaughlin, Lucy Single Maddy Brancatisano, Meara Girvan,Charlie Rowbottom Cam Bernasconi Rebecca Beeson Tarni Evans, Georgia Garnett, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Cambridge McCormick, Alyce Parker Daniel Webster Emily Bates Eliza West Jasmine Fleming, Áine McDonagh, Tamara Smith, Lucy Wales Tom Wilson Kate Hore Tyla Hanks Maeve Chaplin, Tahlia Gillard, Eliza McNamara Darren Crocker Jasmine Garner Ash Riddell Libby Birch, Nicole Bresnehan, Jasmine Ferguson Glenn Strachan Justine Mules-Robinson Amelie Borg, Sachi Syme Ella Heads, Maria Moloney, Julia Teakle Jarrad Donders Ellie McKenzie, Gabby Seymour Monique Conti Sarah Hosking, Beth Lynch, Rebecca Miller Nick Dal Santo Serene Watson Tyanna Smith Molly McDonald, Georgia Patrikios, Paige Trudgeon Colin O'Riordan Lucy McEvoy Cynthia Hamilton, Sofia Hurley Daisy Pearce Bella Lewis, Charlie Thomas Mikayla Western Jaide Britton, Emma Swanson, Lauren Wakfer Tamara Hyett Deanna Berry, Isabelle Pritchard Alice Edmonds, Jess Fitzgerald, Isabella Grant
Pre-season
Practice matches All starting times are local time. Source: afl.com.au (results, reports)
Australia v Ireland
Starting time is local time. Source: afl.com.au
Overview
The season will feature a twelve-round home-and-away season and conclude with the 2026 AFL Women's Grand Final on the final weekend of November. The season began on 9 August with a double-header at Marvel Stadium, with hosting before the same clubs' AFL teams played in the sixth annual Spud's Game, held to honour former St Kilda AFL captain Danny Frawley and raise funds for mental health; the remaining round 1 matches will take place the following weekend, including two more AFL/AFLW double-headers, while will host in round 2 at the Sydney Cricket Ground before its AFL match against . For the third consecutive season, the Dreamtime match between Essendon and will be held in Darwin and Sydney will host a match in Coffs Harbour, this time against St Kilda, with both matches to take place in round 3. The season will also three AFLW double-headers, in rounds 4, 7 and 10. Two clubs shifted their primary home venues to their training facilities, with moving its home matches to Cockburn ARC and Hawthorn moving most of its home matches to the newly-built Kennedy Community Centre, while moved all of its home matches to Thomas Farms Oval, having previously played some of its home matches at Norwood Oval.
Home-and-away season All starting times are local time. Source: afl.com.au
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Ladder Updated to the end of round 8.
Progression by round Updated to the end of round 8.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Source: Australian Football
Home match attendance Updated to Melbourne v North Melbourne (round 7).
The following table includes all home match attendance figures from the home-and-away season.
Team Hosted Total Highest Lowest Average 2025 2026 Change 3 8,964 3,640 2,560 2,805 2,988 3 8,574 2,983 2,655 3,629 2,858 3 8,023 4,032 1,979 3,144 2,674 3 6,261 2,604 1,616 2,530 2,087 4 9,712 4,017 1,781 2,545 2,428 4 8,752 2,752 1,628 2,239 2,188 3 21,558 15,266 2,862 2,609 7,186 3 4,480 1,838 1,170 1,281 1,493 3 4,014 2,299 1,902 1,624 2,104 4 10,784 3,424 2,118 2,163 2,696 5 9,918 3,105 1,505 2,037 1,984 3 19,635 14,573 1,014 2,081 6,545 3 8,234 3,247 2,281 2,584 2,745 3 5,500 2,146 1,423 2,492 1,833 3 23,881 20,455 1,594 2,101 7,960 3 26,721 16,672 2,709 4,498 8,907 3 4,340 1,511 1,332 1,919 1,447 3 6,784 2,431 2,142 2,400 2,261 Total/overall 59 198,434 20,455 1,014 2,482 3,363
Source: Australian Football
Win–loss table Updated to the end of round 8.
The following table can be sorted from biggest winning margin to biggest losing margin for each round. If two or more matches in a round are decided by the same margin, these margins are sorted by percentage (i.e. the lowest-scoring winning team is ranked highest and the lowest-scoring losing team is ranked lowest). Home matches are in bold, and opponents are listed above the margins.
Team Home-and-away season Finals series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 F1 F2 F3 GF RIC GC NM MEL 12(3–5–0) HAW PA STK CAR 14(2–6–0) SYD WB GWS BRI 5(6–2–0) STK SYD PA ESS 17(1–7–0) WB NM HAW COL 16(1–7–0) NM STK GEE SYD 8(4–4–0) GWS WC FRE WB 3(7–1–0) MEL ADE RIC GWS 4(6–2–0) GEE HAW CAR GC 15(1–7–0) BRI GWS ESS WC 9(4–4–0) GC RIC WB ADE 2(7–1–0) FRE ESS ADE RIC 1(7–1–0) WC BRI COL STK 13(3–5–0) ADE MEL GC NM 11(4–4–0) COL FRE BRI PA 18(0–8–0) CAR COL WC FRE 7(6–2–0) PA GEE SYD HAW 10(4–4–0) ESS CAR MEL GEE 6(6–2–0)
Source: Australian Football
Leading goalkickers Updated to the end of round 8.
! rowspan=2 style=width:2em | # ! rowspan=2 | Player ! rowspan=2 | Team ! colspan=12 | Home-and-away season(AFL Women's leading goalkicker) ! colspan=4 | Finals series ! rowspan=2 | Total ! rowspan=2 | Games ! rowspan=2 | Average |- ! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! F1 !! F2 !! F3 !! GF |- ! scope=row style=text-align:center rowspan=2 | 1 | align=left | Áine McDonagh || align=left | || 33 || 36 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 39 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 312 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 416 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 016 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 218 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 018 || || || || || || || || || 18 || 8 || 2.25 |- | align=left | Chloe Scheer || align=left | || 00 || 22 || 35 || 27 || 29 || 413 || 215 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 318 || || || || || || || || || 18 || 8 || 2.25 |- ! scope=row style=text-align:center rowspan=3 | 3 | align=left | Mia Austin || align=left | || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 44 || 15 || 27 || –7 || 29 || 110 || 313 || 316 || || || || || || || || || 16 || 7 || 2.29 |- | align=left | Jackie Parry || align=left | || 11 || bgcolor=C9F0FF | 67 || 07 || 29 || 211 || 112 || 315 || 116 || || || || || || || || || 16 || 8 || 2.00 |- | align=left | Tahlia Randall || align=left | || 33 || 25 || 16 || 511 || 112 || 012 || 113 || 316 || || || || || || || || || 16 || 8 || 2.00 |- ! scope=row style=text-align:center rowspan=2 | 6 | align=left | Chloe Molloy || align=left | || 11 || 12 || 13 || 36 || 410 || 313 || 013 || 013 || || || || || || || || || 13 || 8 || 1.63 |- | align=left | Olivia Wolmarans || align=left | || 11 || 34 || 04 || 26 || 17 || 310 || 212 || 113 || || || || || || || || || 13 || 8 || 1.63 |- ! scope=row style=text-align:center rowspan=3 | 8