THERE will be a Western Derby in round one of the NAB AFLW season after the AFL made a number of fixture changes due to Western Australia's new border restrictions.
Fremantle and West Coast will now lock horns next Saturday night before spending time on the road with both clubs to head to Victoria for round two.
The Dockers and Eagles will both host games in round two at VU Whitten Oval as part of a double header on Sunday, while they have both given a home game in round eight when the Derby was originally scheduled.
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In total there are seven changes across four different rounds with a rematch of the 2021 NAB AFLW Grand Final to take place on the opening Sunday of the season with Adelaide hosting Brisbane at Flinders University Stadium (Noarlunga Oval).
AFL General Manager Women's Football Nicole Livingstone said the adjustments made to the fixture 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.
"While COVID-19 continues to impact our community, we will continue to make changes that best manage the current environment, progresses our season and protects the health and safety of those in our game and the wider community," Livingstone said.
"We’re really looking forward to the season kicking off next Friday night in what shapes up to be a blockbuster opening round. With this fixture update, round one will now see a WA Derby at Fremantle Oval and a re-match of the 2021 Grand Final between the Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions at Flinders University Stadium.
"We continue to work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game. As we have done over the course of the pandemic, we will be led by and work closely with respective governments, all AFL Clubs and other key stakeholders while ensuring the health and safety of the community remains paramount."
ROUND ONE
Friday, January 7
St Kilda v Richmond at SkyBus Stadium, 7.15pm AEDT
Saturday, January 8
North Melbourne v Geelong at Arden Street, 5.10pm AEDT
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval, 7pm AEDT
Fremantle v West Coast at Fremantle Oval, 5.50pm AWST
Sunday, January 9
Adelaide v Brisbane at Flinders University Stadium, 1.40pm ACDT
Carlton v Collingwood at Ikon Park, 4.10pm AEDT
Gold Coast v GWS Giants at Great Barrier Reef Arena, 5.10pm AEST
ROUND TWO
Friday, January 14
Richmond v Melbourne at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval, 7.10pm AEDT
Saturday, January 15
Collingwood v St Kilda at Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT
Brisbane v Carlton at Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex, 4.10pm AEST
Geelong v Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT
Sunday, January 16
West Coast v Gold Coast at VU Whitten Oval, 12.40pm AEDT
Adelaide v North Melbourne at Norwood Oval, 2.40pm ACDT
Fremantle v GWS Giants at VU Whitten Oval, 5.10pm AEDT
ROUND THREE
Friday, January 21
Geelong v Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT
Saturday, January 22
West Coast v Adelaide at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval, 12.40pm AEDT
Melbourne v St Kilda at Casey Fields, 3.10pm AEDT
Richmond v Fremantle at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval, 5.10pm AEDT
Gold Coast v Brisbane at Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
Sunday, January 23
North Melbourne v GWS Giants at 1.10pm AEDT
Western Bulldogs v Carlton VU Whitten Oval, 3.10pm AEDT
ROUND EIGHT
Friday, February 25
GWS Giants v Carlton at Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT
Saturday, February 26
Richmond v Geelong at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval, 5.10pm AEDT
Melbourne v North Melbourne at Casey Fields, 7.10pm AEDT
West Coast v Brisbane at Mineral Resources Park, 6.10pm AWST
Sunday, February 27
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at Victoria Park, 1.10pm AEDT
Fremantle v Adelaide at Fremantle Oval, 12.10pm AWST
Gold Coast v St Kilda at Metricon Stadium, 4.10pm AEST