CARLTON and Collingwood will still kick off the 2021 NAB AFLW competition on Thursday night, amid changes to rounds one and two of the AFLW fixture.
Just two alterations have been made to round one, but wholesale changes have occurred to the round two fixture as a response to the hard West Australian border due to COVID-19.
>>Check out the revised fixture for rounds one and two below
The AFL will continue to monitor the changing border situation, with further alterations to the fixture expected in the coming weeks.
Gold Coast was due to meet West Coast in round one, but will instead play Melbourne, with the Dees' original opponent Adelaide to now play the Eagles.
The open border between South Australia and Western Australia has allowed this to happen.
Just two games remain exactly the same in round two, with Western Bulldogs and Carlton to still host the first game of Pride Round, and Brisbane and Geelong to still face off.
North Melbourne and St Kilda will also still play each other, but have been pushed from Saturday to Sunday.
"The adjustments made to the first two rounds provides certainty into the early part of the season and allows the competition to remain as adaptable as possible as the season progresses in a constantly changing environment," AFL head of women's football Nicole Livingstone said.
"Throughout the planning process we listened to and worked closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game.
"We openly acknowledge there are unique challenges and recognise the non-football commitments of both AFLW players and staff, and through this open dialogue, we know the AFLW community remains determined to work through them to achieve a full season."
As previously announced, a single ladder will be in place for the 2021 season (as opposed to conferences, which were used in 2019 and 2020) and matches will be ticketed for the first time.
Round one
Thursday, January 28
Carlton v Collingwood at Ikon Park, 7.15pm AEDT
Friday, January 29
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at RSEA Park, 7.10pm AEDT
Saturday, January 30
Gold Coast v Melbourne at Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
West Coast v Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park, 2.10pm AWST
Sunday, January 31
Geelong v North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium, 12.10pm AEDT
Richmond v Brisbane at Swinburne Centre, 2.10pm AEDT
Fremantle v GWS Giants at Fremantle Oval, 1.10pm AWST
Round two
Friday, February 5
Western Bulldogs v Carlton at VU Whitten Oval, 7.45pm AEDT
Saturday, February 6
GWS Giants v West Coast at Norwood Oval, 12.40pm ACDT
Collingwood v Gold Coast at Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT
Melbourne v Richmond at Casey Fields, 5.10pm AEDT
Sunday, February 7
North Melbourne v St Kilda at Arden Street, 1.10pm AEDT
Brisbane v Geelong at Hickey Park, 2.10pm AEST
Adelaide v Fremantle at Norwood Oval, 4.40pm ACDT
