AFLW returns to tradition with Blues-Magpies season opener
They have included one pundit saying they would like to see the game moved to a bigger stadium.
The AFL is set to announce on Tuesday afternoon that the Blues and Magpies will open the season on August 14 at Princes Park, coinciding with round 23 of the men's competition and reflecting the inaugural women's game in 2017 between the two sides.
Former AFLW All Australian and now expert commentator Kate McCarthy said she loved that the AFL was leaning into tradition.
However, she also understood why not all fans were stoked with the decision, noting some would prefer the game to be between more competitive sides or unique rivalries in the AFLW.
Collingwood finished last on the ladder last year with just one win and Carlton came 14th after four wins.
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"I love the nostalgia of having the original match-up that we had to kick off the first-ever AFLW season, so I love that the AFL have decided to go back to that," McCarthy told ABC Sport.
"I think we all very vividly remember the iconic footage of the packed stands and then seeing Gil McLachlan having to tell the crowds outside that there had been a lockout.
"I also understand other more successful clubs and supporters of those clubs feeling like they had earned the right to kick the season off … .
"I do feel like this is a moment in our short history that is important to honour and having this match-up is reflective of that."
Carlton and Collingwood opened the AFLW inaugural season in 2017.
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Getty: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos
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Last year, Sydney and Collingwood kicked off the season at North Sydney Oval, rewarding the Swans for having the highest average attendances the following year at home games.
McCarthy said she would also like to see people encourage the AFL to consider a larger and more easily accessible venue for fans, such as Docklands.
Princes Park has a capacity of about 12,500. Last year's grand final there sold out within hours for the second year in a row.
In 2022 Essendon and Hawthorn's inaugural clash was moved to Docklands from North Port Oval after a strong public push. Tickets for the original venue sold out within 24 hours, in what the AFL called "unprecedented ticketing demands" in the women's game, following a campaign by Hawks then-coach Bec Goddard and
Essendon and Hawthorn's inaugural AFLW clash was moved to Docklands after public demand.
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Getty: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
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McCarthy said she would like to see a similar push for the opener.
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"It would be great if the entire AFLW community made a strong statement and got behind making this season opener one of the biggest ever to force the hand of the AFL to potentially move this to a larger stadium," McCarthy said.
"I encourage fans that as soon as tickets go on sale, we purchase them, sell the venue out and see what people power can achieve. This would show truly how far the AFLW has come in 10 years."
While the remainder of the fixture is yet to be released, the league has confirmed there will be no condensed fixture, after significant negative feedback last season when a majority of teams played four games within a 16-day window.
The season will expand to 12 games as part of an agreement struck in last year's collective bargaining agreement causing the opener to be pushed ahead of the AFL men's pre-finals bye weekend.
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