10 reasons to watch AFLW in its 10th season

The men’s finals might grab the headlines in September, but there’s another competition kicking off that deserves your attention – and if we’re being honest, being true to your club surely means supporting all its teams.

AFLW is closing in on its historic first decade, and the game has never been faster, sharper, or more compelling. Whether you’re a lifelong footy tragic or someone who’s never been to a women’s game, here’s why this year is the one to jump on board with your family and friends.

1. A new hope

For some fans, the men’s season ends in heartbreak – missed opportunities, what-ifs, and a long wait for next year. But in AFLW, September is a fresh start. Your club’s women’s side is about to launch into a new season, with clean slates, untested combinations and stories waiting to be written. Backing your women’s team means you get to carry the colours and the pride for another three months, ride the highs and lows and maybe even watch your club lift a premiership cup. If you think you’ve experienced the thrill of finals, imagine doing it all over again – twice in one year. There is no better example than my team, North Melbourne, whose fans truly have a one-club mentality and all enjoyed our maiden flag last year.

2. Rule changes

The AFL has heard the calls for more speed and scoring, and this year’s rule tweaks are all about creating a free-flowing game. No more long pauses waiting for ruck nominations – as soon as each team’s ruck is identified, play will restart. Umpires will be cracking down harder on players who don’t make a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball when tackled, ensuring the game moves quickly and doesn’t get bogged down in scrappy contests. And the new dive/drag interpretation means players can’t sit on the ball or hold it in; they’ve got to knock it clear, which opens up space and keeps the momentum alive. The result? More end-to-end action, more goals, and more heart-in-mouth moments for fans of all ages.

3. Fitter, stronger, better

It wasn’t so long ago that AFLW players had to rush from their day jobs to training under lights, juggling careers and families with the demands of elite sport. Now, thanks to better resourcing and more paid training hours, players can prepare like the professionals they are. Six months of off-season is dedicated to building endurance, strength, and speed; three months of pre-season is spent sharpening skills, refining tactics, and building team chemistry. The result is a standard of footy we’ve never seen before in the women’s game – cleaner skills, sharper decision-making, and a level of athleticism that makes every contest a show of speed, power, and precision. As a player in my 10th season, I can tell you we have never been fitter, stronger, or more thoroughly coached. Game plans are now more intricate, and players can execute with incredible delivery.

4. Fountain of youth

A decade of AFLW has built a genuine pipeline for talent. Girls who once dreamed of playing footy can now start in Auskick, progress through junior pathways and land on an AFLW list. The difference is clear – these players arrive at the elite level hardened, skilled and fearless. Watch Ash Centra at Collingwood or Havanna Harris at Gold Coast, and you’ll see ready-made footballers. Then there are the rising stars who’ve already made their mark – Matilda Scholz (Port Adelaide), last year’s mark of the year winner, and Montana Ham (Sydney), whose presence and game-winning ability grow every season. These players aren’t just the future – they’re already reshaping the present. When I was growing up, I looked to St Kilda’s Lenny Hayes as my childhood hero, but now you and your family can have a genuine female superstar to follow from any of the 18 clubs.

5. It starts at the top

This season’s coaches are a fascinating mix of tactical nous and lived experience. Former AFL names such as Rhyce Shaw (Gold Coast), Toby McLean (Bulldogs), Ben Brown (Essendon), and Brendan Fevola (Richmond) bring with them the sharpness and strategy of the men’s game – Fevola even declaring Ellie McKenzie the best kick he’s seen in either competition. There’s also the influence of AFLW pioneers now moving into coaching, such as Daisy Pearce at West Coast and Lauren Arnell at Port Adelaide. And don’t forget Darren Crocker at North Melbourne, who knows a thing or two about winning, having played in a premiership side in 1996. These voices are shaping a faster, more sophisticated brand of AFLW footy.

6. Fastest-growing female sport

The numbers tell the story: since the AFLW began, female participation in footy has exploded by nearly 200 per cent, from 42,000 players to more than 125,000. More than 2500 new women’s and girls’ teams have sprung up around the country, and the AFL is now the largest employer of female athletes nationwide. Every girl who laces up her boots today has a clearer, straighter path to the elite level than ever before, and AFLW is the stage where those dreams can become reality. When you watch, you’re not just seeing a game – you’re seeing the result of a generational shift. Our newest draftees started their pathway when they were eight or nine years old — 10 years ago!

7. Community heartbeat

AFLW still has something the men’s competition has mostly lost: the community feel that makes you feel part of the game, not just a spectator. Many games are played at local grounds, where you can stand on the boundary, hear the on-field calls, and be close enough to see the players’ facial expressions. It’s football in its purest form – close to the action, surrounded by families and fans, with a post-match kick-to-kick on the oval. For those who love the romance of suburban footy, AFLW is a time machine back to the game’s grassroots charm. Head down to Arden Street, back to the Kennel, or off to Moorabbin to take a time warp in the best possible way.

8. Milestones with meaning

This year, some of the league’s trailblazers are closing in on 100 games, all consecutive. In the men’s competition, 100 games is a solid achievement; in AFLW, it’s monumental. Shorter seasons mean it has taken almost a decade to reach, and these players have carried the league through its formative years – playing in the heat of summer, the chill of winter, and often in front of smaller crowds before the momentum built. Every milestone game this season will be a celebration not just of individual endurance, but of the resilience of the entire competition. Watch out for Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide) and Ally Anderson (Brisbane Lions) to be the first ones to hit it. Me and Bre Koenon (Brisbane Lions) are currently two games behind them on 91. This is the equivalent of a man playing 250 consecutive games in the AFL – a feat only reached by greats such as Jim Stynes and Jack Crisp.

9. A welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere

At AFLW games, the footy is fierce, but the atmosphere is warm. Tickets are affordable, seating is relaxed, and the stands are filled with people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s a space where kids can see their heroes up close, where parents don’t have to worry about rowdy crowds, and where first timers are embraced as quickly as long-time members. It’s the game you love, wrapped in a sense of community and belonging that’s hard to find anywhere else. There are always plenty of activities for kids to enjoy, and the surroundings are really intimate.

10. Every supporter helps grow the game

AFLW is still building, and every eyeball, every ticket, every shout from the boundary line matters. Growth in crowds and TV audiences directly strengthens the league’s ability to push for longer seasons, better pay and greater exposure. The current target is moving from 12 games a year to 14, and eventually to a full home-and-away fixture. The more support we give now, the sooner that vision becomes reality – for today’s players and for every young girl dreaming of one day pulling on an AFLW jumper. What’s exciting is that many of our men’s heroes now have children, often girls, and many of these will play for your club under the father-daughter rule. Imagine watching a mini Matthew Richardson kick a goal for the Tigers after a lace-out kick from one of Trent Cotchin’s daughters!

Ten reasons are more than enough. Now it’s over to you to vote with your feet and by watching on TV. This season is shaping up to be the best we’ve ever seen, and we want you there with us.

Come and watch us play, follow your team’s journey, and join in the fun from the first bounce to the final siren. Every cheer from the stands, every clap, every new face in the crowd helps us grow the game and inspire the next generation. It’s not the intimidating noise of 100,000 bullish people at the MCG, but it doesn’t need to be.

Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or have never been to a game, this is the year to consider a refreshing alternative.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.