The full 2026 fixture is due out this week however we know that Australia vs Ireland is on 1 August 2026 (Men's round 21) and the Saints vs Carlton is the first AFLW match on August 9 (Men's Round 22). Sarah Black has later confirmed a 1-8 Split Round 1 format across Men's Rounds 22 and 23. Ideally we will commence discussion in early July about whether both our ORFFW and Premier League preseason drafts will be held in the week prior to the Saints vs Carlton clash. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1522651...off-aflw-season-with-spuds-game-double-header
For Melbourne based folks it looks like an Ikon Park AFLW doubleheader on Father's Day Sunday September 6 (Men's finals week 1), another Ikon Park AFLW doubleheader on (Men's) Grand Final eve as well as a Windy Hill AFLW doubleheader on Sunday October 18 (Round 10).
The Rep games starting to take shape https://x.com/aflwomens/status/2068471263224553907?s=46&t=ki4sFC7shSwnXV5h2Vd_qg
Preseason dates are confirmed 9-12 July match sim 1 16-19 July match sim 2 23-26 July Practice match 30 July - 2nd August final match sims (excluding Australia and Ireland rep players playing on Aug 1) If 2026 mens origin is a guide players will most likely want at least one practice match or match sim before the rep game to make sure their bodies are conditioned. I would be hopeful that AFLW fantasy will open before the second match sim week or preferably earlier to allow us to get our TS player list aligned with the official one ahead of our drafts. @Len do you reckon it is feasible (in real life) to get the new players added to the DB on or before 1 July as well as reactivate any redrafted players ?