A new era in women’s football in Victoria begins this year with the launch of the first Victorian Football League Women’s (VFL Women’s) season.
The fixture has now been released for the inaugural 10-team state league women’s competition, with the season to kick-off on Sunday April 3. The six clubs from the 2015 Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL) Premier Division (Darebin, Diamond Creek, Eastern Devils, Melbourne Uni, VU Western Spurs, St Kilda) will be joined by the top four teams last year from Division 1 (Cranbourne, Knox, Geelong, Seaford) to make-up the VFL Women’s structure.
The 18 round season will feature 12 double header games with the Peter Jackson VFL men’s competition, starting with the VWFL Premier Division Grand Final rematch between Darebin and Diamond Creek in Round 2 at Coburg’s Piranha Park.
AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer Steven Reaper said it is an exciting time for women’s football in Victoria.
“The rapid growth and development of the VWFL competition over recent years means a women’s state league in Victoria is now a reality,” Reaper said.
“AFL Victoria now has the ability to showcase our two senior state competitions under the one banner of the VFL, with the 12 double header games planned for this season just the beginning.
“Fans of both competitions will have the opportunity to see some of the best male and female footballers at venues like North Port Oval, Ikon Park and Box Hill City Oval across the season, which will help showcase the great standard of football in both competitions.”
A host of talented players will be on show in the VFL Women’s competition, with over 80% of the 120 players in the new AFL Victoria Women’s Academy set to take centre stage each week.
“The establishment of the VFL Women’s competition will help further develop talent across Melbourne and regional areas, providing the next step in the female talent pathway,” Reaper said.
“Players will be able to compete at a high standard on a weekly basis, helping to press their case for selection in the AFL national women’s competition next year.”
The fixture features three bye weekends, allowing for the AFL Exhibition games between Melbourne / Queensland (MCG, Sunday May 22, 10:10am), Western Bulldogs / Western Australia (Etihad Stadium, Sunday June 5, 12:40pm) and Melbourne / Western Bulldogs (September 2 or 3, venue TBC).
The top four teams at the end of the home and away season will compete in finals, starting on August 27/28. The VFL Women’s Grand Final will be played on the weekend of September 17/18.
The VWFL will remain in its current divisional structure (Premier, Division 1 etc), with the 10 state league clubs to continue to field their second and third teams in that competition. The VWFL fixtures will start to be release next week on www.vwfl.com.au
Click the link below to download the VFL Women’s fixture.
Peter Jackson VFL & VFL Women’s double headers
Sat April 9:
11am Darebin v Diamond Creek / 2pm Coburg v Nth Ballarat
Sat May 14:
11am St Kilda v Melbourne Uni / 2pm Port Melbourne v Footscray
1pm Geelong v Collingwood/ 3:45pm Geelong v Knox
Sun May 15:
11am Darebin v Eastern Devils / 2pm Coburg v Essendon
Sun June 5:
11:40pm Coburg v Richmond / 2:30pm Geelong v Seaford
Sun June 12:
11:40pm Sandringham v Essendon/ 2pmKnox v Seaford
Sun June 19:
11am Seaford v VU Western Spurs / 2pm Frankston v Footscray
Sun July 3:
11am VU Western Spurs v Geelong / 2pm Williamstown v North Ballarat
Sun July 9:
11am Diamond Creek v Melbourne Uni / 2pm Northern Blues v Geelong
Sat August 6:
4:25pm Cranbourne v Seaford / 7pm Casey Scorpions v Essendon
Sat August 20:
10am Eastern Devils v Diamond Creek / 12pm Box Hill Hawks v Collingwood
Sun August 21:
12pm Werribee v Footscray / 3pm Melbourne Uni v Darebin
Last Modified on 01/04/2016 16:14
