The NAB AFLW Competition – previously scheduled to begin in December 2021 – has been delayed due to the significant impacts of COVID-19.
To allow for greater flexibility and the least disruption possible, the season will now begin on the weekend of January 6 – 9 2022.
This decision was made in accordance with the AFLPA and aims to maintain the priority of protecting the health and safety of the competition and wider community.
The official induction period and pre-season period will both be delayed by four weeks, in line with the alteration of the season commencement date.
The induction period will begin on 29 September 2011 and the pre-season period will start on 13 October.
The AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh told AFL the following:
“The AFLPA and players understand the challenges that COVID is currently presenting to society and our industry. The decision to push back the season is a sensible one in the current circumstances and has been worked through with the AFLW player leaders.
“The players’ ongoing flexibility is to be commended and we appreciate the AFL’s willingness to in turn work with us to recognise the impact of these changes on the players’ non-football lives in the agreement we have reached with them.”
Key Dates
29 September 2021 – AFLW induction period commences
13 October 2021 – AFLW pre-season period commences
6 – 9 January 2022 – AFLW season commences
