What Is AFLW? The Women’s Competition Explained

Two young Australian women in AFLW graphic tees at a suburban oval on AFLW match day
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What Is AFLW? The Women’s Competition Explained

AFLW is the national women’s Australian Rules competition, launched in 2017. The history, the format, the clubs, and what makes it distinct from the men’s game.

AFLW (AFL Women’s) is the elite national competition for women’s Australian Rules football, established by the AFL to provide a professional pathway for female footballers and to formalise a competitive structure that had existed in various amateur and semi-professional forms for decades prior.

The History

Pre-2017 — Amateur Foundations
Women’s Australian Rules football existed in various state-based amateur and semi-professional leagues for decades, with growing participation and increasing public interest in the years leading up to the AFL’s formal national competition.
2017 — AFLW Launches
The inaugural AFLW season begins with eight foundation clubs. The opening match between Carlton and Collingwood at Princes Park draws an unexpectedly large crowd, signalling significant public appetite for the competition from its very first game.
2019–2022 — Expansion
The competition progressively expands to include all 18 AFL-affiliated clubs, with the full alignment between men’s and women’s club brands completed across the competition.
Present Day — Established Competition
AFLW operates as an established part of the AFL’s national footprint, with a growing season length, increasing professionalism in player conditions, and a dedicated finals series culminating in its own Grand Final.

How It Differs From the Men’s Competition

Feature AFLW
Season timing Played in the Australian summer months, separate from the men’s winter season
Match length Shorter quarters than the men’s competition, reflecting the developmental stage and physical conditioning differences of the league
Clubs All 18 AFL clubs field AFLW teams under the same branding
Rules The core rules — scoring, marking, handballing, holding the ball — are the same as the men’s game

Why It Matters

AFLW represents a significant expansion of professional pathways for women in Australian sport and has produced its own distinct culture, rivalries, and standout players within a relatively short history. The competition has also driven broader participation growth in junior girls’ Australian football, with the existence of a clear professional pathway changing the calculus for young female athletes considering the sport.

AFLW’s rapid early growth — from eight clubs in 2017 to full 18-club alignment within several years — reflects both genuine public demand and a deliberate AFL strategy to establish women’s football as a permanent and integrated part of the league’s national structure, rather than a separate or peripheral product.
Related Pages
AFL Slang & Culture — The Complete Guide
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AFL for Beginners: The Complete Guide
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The History of Australian Rules Football
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