West Coast’s rivalry with Collingwood will extend to the AFLW when the club’s inaugural women’s team takes on the Magpies in its first official outing next year.
The Eagles will make their official debut in Melbourne with a clash against the Pies at Victoria Park on Sunday, February 9.
Round one is set to be a huge occasion for the club’s AFLW side, as will the round two fixture.
West Coast will run out at Optus Stadium to take on crosstown rivals Fremantle on Saturday, February 15 for the first ever AFLW Western Derby.
That will be the first of four home games for the Eagles.
The club will lock horns with 2018 AFLW premiers the Western Bulldogs in a bout at Leederville Oval on Saturday, February 29 before hosting fellow expansion clubs Gold Coast and St Kilda at the club’s new home, Mineral Resources Park, on Sunday, March 15 and Sunday, March 29 respectively.
West Coast will be put to the test in its other away fixtures against three of the competition’s strongest outfits.
The Eagles will take on Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown International Sportspark Oval on Sunday, February 23; clash with Melbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday, March 15; and play its final road game against 2019 grand finalists Carlton at IKON Park on Saturday, March 21.
West Coast Eagles general manager of community and game development Richard O’Connell said the AFLW side was eager for the season to get underway.
“We have a brand new team of 30 players, many who have never played together, so games in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia are exciting steps in the squad understanding what it takes to excel in a national competition,” O’Connell said.
“The majority of our players balance football with full time employment, so we are appreciative that most of our interstate games are on a Sunday, thus avoiding the need to take time off work as we fly out the day before games and back immediately after the final siren sounds.
“All games will present challenges with every team working incredibly hard to achieve success. I’m certain our players are appreciative of the opportunity to pull on the Eagles jumper as we enter this exciting competition.”
