The AFLW's uncertainty around key season dates has significant implications for the league's growth and player experience. This lack of clarity is a stark contrast to the men's AFL, where key dates are announced well in advance, providing clubs and players with crucial information for planning. The 2026 men's season is already set, with the grand final date known months ahead of time, allowing for strategic pre-season training and off-season planning. This level of certainty is crucial for player performance and club management.
Former AFLW player and coach Lauren Arnell emphasizes the importance of this predictability. She highlights how a week's difference in pre-season timing can significantly impact performance and program planning. The current situation, where the AFLW grand final is announced just before the start of round three, 13 weeks before the date, creates challenges for clubs and players. This uncertainty affects not only high-performance strategies but also the overall education and development of the football program.
The AFLW's fixture announcement on May 21, providing only 80 days' notice, is significantly less than the men's league's 196 days. This shorter notice period impacts players who often have full-time jobs outside football, making it harder for them to inform their employers and plan their schedules. Rebecca Miller, an AFLW player, underscores the benefits of an earlier fixture, noting that it would allow for better promotion and attendance, as well as providing players with a clearer sense of motivation and purpose during the pre-season.
The comparison with the NRL is particularly striking. The NRL announced its 2026 fixtures over a year in advance, giving clubs and fans ample time to plan. This has resulted in higher attendance figures for the women's league, with an average of 4,915 fans attending matches this year. In contrast, the AFLW's standalone matches have an average attendance of 2,293, which includes double-headers with men's games. This disparity highlights the potential for improved promotion and engagement if the AFLW had more notice and a clearer fixture.
Arnell suggests that the next step for the AFLW should be ensuring all teams play each other once, followed by a more detailed calendar and grand final date. This approach would provide a more stable foundation for the league's growth and development, addressing the current challenges posed by the lack of certainty around key dates.
