AFLW launches season fixture list, with Carlton-Collingwood and West Coast-Gold Coast on opening night
Daisy Pearce's West Coast side will host Gold Coast on the opening night of the AFLW season, while premiers North Melbourne will begin its title defence away to Geelong.
The Eagles-Suns clash, confirmed in Friday's fixture release, immediately follows the previously announced season opener between traditional foes Carlton and Collingwood on Thursday, August 14.
It is the first time the AFLW season will start during the AFL home-and-away campaign, coinciding with the final two rounds of the men's competition.
Also in round one, old rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will do battle for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, and GWS host Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides.
Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in round five, in their first encounter since the Kangaroos' breakthrough grand-final triumph under Darren Crocker last year.
AFLW fixtures boss Josh Bowler said the league was looking to celebrate iconic moments, grow rivalries and create traditions with this season's fixture.
"It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend," Bowler said.
Geelong's Kardinia Park is the only major AFL venue where AFLW matches will be played in 2025. None have been scheduled at premier venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide.
Unpopular mid-week fixtures have been dropped in 2025, except for Thursday night features in rounds one, seven and eight, with the latter two falling either side of the AFL grand final.
The fixture change has been partially based on last season's ladder, divided into three groups of six, and is weighted towards ensuring more match-ups within each group.
AFLW's two major themed rounds will both be played over two weeks; Indigenous Round in rounds three and four and Pride Round across rounds nine and 10.
Intrastate rivalries are littered throughout the fixture, starting in round five when Fremantle host West Coast at the port.
Sydney and GWS clash in round six, Gold Coast take on Brisbane in round eight and Adelaide do battle with Port Adelaide in round 11.
The schedule for the final round of the home-and-away season has been left floating, to be confirmed closer to the date.
AFLW grand final hosting rights will fall to the highest-ranked preliminary final winner.
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‘Most generous assessment of the year': AFL's call on Hawk's hit that left Pie concussed
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Tempers flared as Lipinski's head hit the turf, with the in-play umpire awarding a 50 metre penalty to the former Bulldog. The 26-year-old wandered into an open goal to kick his second major for the night, before quickly running from the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) test; one that he later failed as his side wen on to beat Hawthorn by 51 points. Speaking on Fox Footy at three-quarter time, reporter Jon Ralph was understandably at the time adamant that Meek will be dealt a punishment worth multiple weeks by the Match Review Officer (MRO) come Saturday evening. 'I think it's a three-week ban for Lloyd Meek, I don't think there's any way where he gets off this one,' Ralph said. 'He hits Lipinski high, he's responsible for that contact — even if he hits his head on the ground there. I just don't think that he actually tried to contest that football.' 'I don't think there's any chance he gets off it unfortunately for the Hawthorn fans and the Hawthorn coach in Sam Mitchell.' "I don't think there's any way he gets off this one" @RalphyHeraldSun discusses a potential suspension for Lloyd Meek. ðŸ'° Watch #AFLPiesHawks LIVE on ch.504 or stream on @kayosports: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 30, 2025 Ralph elaborated on the incident after the match. 'The problem is ... it was late, and it was high. It doesn't really matter whether it was caused by the late fist to the head, or it was caused by Lipinski's head hitting the ground. He is responsible for all that contact,' he continued. 'I do think it's late enough for a 'rough conduct' (charge). So the concussion means it has to be three weeks, it has to be severe impact. 'If Lipinski gets up, that's probably a low level, $1,500 fine. I think all of us understand that's a real flaw in the system, but that is the system that Michael Christian (MRO) has to operate under. 'I think he's in strife there.' 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Readers are advised this story contains an image that some people may find distressing. A Sunshine Coast-based snake catcher was called for assistance to relocate a red-bellied black snake on a resident's property. By the time the crew arrived, the snake was dead. They say it had been chopped in half. The incident has been reported to the Queensland Environment Department, which confirmed to the ABC it is investigating, and wasn't able to provide further comment. It's prompted a warning from Stuart McKenzie from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, who described the killing of any snake as unnecessary. "Snakes don't need to be killed, and there's always an alternative," Mr McKenzie said. A post on social media about the incident prompted a massive response and divided opinions. A spokesperson for the Environment Department said it would be "inappropriate" to make any further comment on this specific matter. But under state law, it's an offence to kill a snake, and doing so can attract a fine of more than $16,000. According to the department, Queensland is home to about 120 species of snakes, with about 65 per cent of these being venomous. It advises against killing a snake not only because it's illegal to do so, but because it "places you at a higher risk of being bitten if you force the snake to defend itself". Its official advice is: If you encounter a snake, don't panic. Back away to a safe distance and allow the snake to move away. Snakes often want to escape when disturbed. When left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people. Mr McKenzie said people placed themselves in more danger of being bitten if they tried to kill a snake. "People think that … you know, chopping the snake in half is protecting everybody," he said. He advises keeping a safe distance and letting it move on, or, calling for help if needed. Commercial snake catchers are licensed to remove and relocate snakes that are found on people's properties. As urban sprawl continues, Mr McKenzie said interactions between snakes and humans were becoming increasingly common in south-east Queensland. His main piece of advice was for people to stay as calm as possible and try not to interact with the snake. If it's in the house, Mr McKenzie advised getting everyone out of the house until someone could get there to help. "In the time it takes you to run outside to the shed, find a shovel, run back in and try and chase after the snake, you could have got all your family and pets outside in that time," he said. "[That way] you're not putting yourself in danger. You're not putting your kids in danger." And if it's outside, he advises going inside and shutting the door as well as keeping pets in. "It's honestly that simple," he said. Queensland's Health Department advises that in the event of a snake bite, people should call triple-0, and the person who has been bitten should lie down while awaiting an ambulance. The department says all snake bites should be treated as dangerous.
