The AFL have today announced that the 2025 NAB AFLW season will officially kick off on Thursday 14 August, with Collingwood and Carlton set to headline.

In what will be the 10^th AFLW season, the two Clubs will mirror the inaugural season opener, where more than 24,000 people packed out IKON Park for the historic event.

The Round 1 opener is set to take place during Round 23 of the men’s fixture, with no Thursday night footy to take place in the AFL that week.

While the two Clubs have come head-to-head in every AFLW season to date, it will be the sixth time the Pies and Blues have faced in Round 1. Collingwood are currently leading the tally with five wins to Carlton’s four.

Inaugural Magpie Brit Bonnici has played all but one of the match ups between the two Clubs, while Ruby Schleicher missed the 2020 and 2023 clashes. Carlton’s Brea Harrington (née Moody) is the only player to feature in all nine matches.

The AFLW preseason officially kicks off Monday 12 May, with a full 2025 season set to be announced in the coming weeks.

AFLW – ROUND 1
Carlton v Collingwood
Thursday, 14 August (time TBC)
IKON Park, Carlton (Wurundjeri)