STATE of Origin is officially back, with the NAB AFL Women's competition's best 40 players to feature in a stand-alone game pitting Victoria against the rest of the country.
The venue and starting time are yet to be confirmed, but the match will be held on Saturday, September 2, coinciding with the AFL's bye week before finals starting on September 7.
It follows last year's women's exhibition game at Whitten Oval, which preceded the inaugural AFLW season, attracted a crowd of 6365 and averaged 746,000 viewers nationally for Channel 7.
The AFL has released the schedule for its Celebration of Football week, with the key events as follows:
Tuesday, August 29 – Coach and captain media conferences for teams 1-4 playing in the finals.
Wednesday, August 30 – Announcement of the 2017 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian Team, Palais Theatre, 6.30pm.
Thursday, August 31 – 2017 NAB AFL Women's State of Origin media launch
Friday, September 1 – Announcement of the 2017 NAB AFL Rising Star at Peninsula, time tbc. Chemist Warehouse EJ Whitten Legends Game at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm.
Saturday, September 2 – State League finals. NAB AFL Women’s State of Origin, venue and time tbc, featuring the NAB AFL Women's Under-18 State of Origin curtain raiser.
Sunday, September 3 – State League finals.
Monday, September 5 – AFL Launch of the 2017 Toyota AFL Finals Series. AFL to receive Premiership Cup from Cash's and announce Grand Final Day key presenters. Coach and captain media conferences for teams 5-8 in finals.
"The nine matches of the finals series are our showpiece games of the season, culminating in the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final," AFL General Manager Clubs Travis Auld said.
"The introduction of the bye week last year enabled the excitement of the finals to build and build, while clubs were able to prepare their best players with a valuable break, which culminated in a memorable September.
"The 2017 season has been one of the tightest in memory, with constant changes to the ladder order, and we are looking forward to the chance of finals being played in most parts of the country."
