The 2017 AFL Women's season was the inaugural season of the AFL Women's competition, the new highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured eight clubs, ran from 3 February until 25 March, and comprised a 7-game home-and-away season followed by a grand final featuring the top two clubs.
2017 AFL Women's season | |
---|---|
Date | 3 February—25 March 2017 |
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | Adelaide 1st premiership |
Runners-up | Brisbane 1st runners-up result |
Minor premiers | Brisbane 1st minor premiership |
Best and fairest | Erin Phillips Adelaide) 14 votes |
Leading goalkicker | Darcy Vescio (Carlton) 14 goals |
Attendance | |
Matches played | 29 |
Total attendance | 198,020 (6,828 per match) |
Highest | 24,568 (round 1, Carlton v Collingwood) |
The new league was established featuring the women's teams of eight Australian Football League (AFL) clubs – Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne, and Western Bulldogs.
The inaugural premiership was won by Adelaide, after it defeated Brisbane by six points in the 2017 AFL Women's Grand Final.
The full fixture was released on Friday 9 December 2016.[1][2] Notable features of the draw include:
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 3 February (7:45 pm) | Carlton 7.4 (46) | def. | Collingwood 1.5 (11) | Ikon Park (crowd: 24,568) | Report |
Saturday, 4 February (4:35 pm) | Adelaide 7.6 (48) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 1.6 (12) | Thebarton Oval (crowd: 9,289) | Report |
Saturday, 4 February (7:35 pm) | Western Bulldogs 6.8 (44) | def. | Fremantle 1.6 (12) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 10,100) | Report |
Sunday, 5 February (5:05 pm) | Melbourne 1.4 (10) | def. by | Brisbane 4.1 (25) | Casey Fields (crowd: 6,500) | Report |
|
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 10 February (7:35 pm) | Western Bulldogs 2.11 (23) | def. by | Adelaide 7.6 (48) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 7,669) | Report |
Saturday, 11 February (3:35 pm) | Carlton 7.5 (47) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 5.4 (34) | Ikon Park (crowd: 7,884) | Report |
Saturday, 11 February (7:40 pm) | Collingwood 4.1 (25) | def. by | Melbourne 7.2 (44) | Ikon Park (crowd: 6,916) | Report |
Sunday, 12 February (4:05 pm) | Fremantle 3.5 (23) | def. by | Brisbane 5.6 (36) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10,000) | Report |
|
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 February (12:05 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 7.1 (43) | drew with | Fremantle 6.7 (43) | Blacktown ISP Oval (crowd: 4,000[11]) | Report |
Saturday, 18 February (3:35 pm) | Brisbane 4.3 (27) | def. | Collingwood 3.5 (23) | South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 5,500) | Report |
Saturday, 18 February (7:35 pm) | Western Bulldogs 4.5 (29) | def. by | Melbourne 6.7 (43) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,000) | Report |
Sunday, 19 February (11:35 am) | Adelaide 2.5 (17) | def. | Carlton 2.2 (14) | Thebarton Oval (crowd: 9,006) | Report |
|
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 February (11:35 am) | Melbourne 6.6 (42) | def. | Carlton 5.6 (36) | Casey Fields (crowd: 3,965) | Report |
Saturday, 25 February (3:35 pm) | Brisbane 6.7 (43) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 1.3 (9) | South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 3,500) | Report |
Saturday, 25 February (7:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs 3.7 (25) | def. by | Collingwood 5.2 (32) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 6,733) | Report |
Sunday, 26 February (4:05 pm) | Fremantle 3.5 (23) | def. by | Adelaide 6.10 (46) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4,578) | Report |
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 3 March (5:05 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 3.2 (20) | def. | Melbourne 1.9 (15) | Blacktown ISP Oval (crowd: 2,000) | Report |
Saturday, 4 March (11:35 am) | Carlton 8.6 (54) | def. | Western Bulldogs 7.6 (48) | Ikon Park (crowd: 6,833) | Report |
Saturday, 4 March (10:35 am) | Fremantle 4.7 (31) | def. by | Collingwood 5.2 (32) | Rushton Park (crowd: 2,800) | Report |
Saturday, 4 March (6:40 pm) | Adelaide 4.6 (30) | def. by | Brisbane 5.3 (33) | Norwood Oval (crowd: 12,108) | Report |
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 10 March (3:05 pm) | Fremantle 6.7 (43) | def. | Carlton 4.3 (27) | Domain Stadium (crowd: 1,200) | Report |
Saturday, 11 March (10:05 am) | Brisbane 2.11 (23) | def. | Western Bulldogs 2.4 (16) | South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 4,200) | Report |
Saturday, 11 March (5:40 pm) | Adelaide 5.2 (32) | def. by | Melbourne 5.4 (34) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 5,100) | Report |
Sunday, 12 March (11:05 am) | Collingwood 7.13 (55) | def. | Greater Western Sydney 3.1 (19) | Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,700) | Report |
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 18 March (4:35 pm) | Melbourne 11.4 (70) | def. | Fremantle 2.4 (16) | Casey Fields (crowd: 2,500) | Report |
Saturday, 18 March (7:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney 3.2 (20) | def. by | Western Bulldogs 7.10 (52) | Manuka Oval (crowd: 6,460) | Report |
Sunday, 19 March (1:35 pm) | Collingwood 7.4 (46) | def. by | Adelaide 10.10 (70) | Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,500) | Report |
Sunday, 19 March (3:35 pm) | Carlton 6.1 (37) | drew with | Brisbane 5.7 (37) | Ikon Park (crowd: 5,801) | Report |
+ | Win | Qualified for finals | |
- | Loss | X | Bye |
Draw | Eliminated |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
This table can be sorted by margin, winners are represented in the first half of each column, and losers are represented in the second half of each column once sorted
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | GF | Ladder |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide | GWS 36 |
WB 25 |
Car 3 |
Fre 23 |
BL 3 |
Mel 2 |
Col 24 |
BL 6 |
1 |
Brisbane | Mel 15 |
Fre 13 |
Col 4 |
GWS 34 |
Ade 3 |
WB 7 |
Car 0 |
Ade 6 |
2 |
Carlton | Col 35 |
GWS 13 |
Ade 3 |
Mel 6 |
WB 6 |
Fre 16 |
BL 0 |
X | 4 |
Collingwood | Car 35 |
Mel 19 |
BL 4 |
WB 7 |
Fre 1 |
GWS 36 |
Ade 24 |
X | 5 |
Fremantle | WB 32 |
BL 13 |
GWS 0 |
Ade 23 |
Col 1 |
Car 16 |
Mel 54 |
X | 7 |
Greater Western Sydney | Ade 36 |
Car 13 |
Fre 0 |
BL 34 |
Mel 5 |
Col 36 |
WB 32 |
X | 8 |
Melbourne | BL 15 |
Col 19 |
WB 14 |
Car 6 |
GWS 5 |
Ade 2 |
Fre 54 |
X | 3 |
Western Bulldogs | Fre 32 |
Ade 25 |
Mel 14 |
Col 7 |
Car 6 |
BL 7 |
GWS 32 |
X | 6 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brisbane | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 224 | 148 | 151.4 | 26 | Grand Final |
2 | Adelaide (P) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 291 | 185 | 157.3 | 20 | |
3 | Melbourne | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 258 | 183 | 141.0 | 20 | |
4 | Carlton | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 261 | 232 | 112.5 | 14 | |
5 | Collingwood | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 224 | 262 | 85.5 | 12 | |
6 | Western Bulldogs | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 237 | 232 | 102.2 | 8 | |
7 | Fremantle | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 191 | 298 | 64.1 | 6 | |
8 | Greater Western Sydney | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 157 | 303 | 51.8 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brisbane | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 26 |
2 | Adelaide | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
3 | Melbourne | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
4 | Carlton | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
5 | Collingwood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
6 | Western Bulldogs | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
7 | Fremantle | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
8 | Greater Western Sydney | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
In the absence of a finals series, the two teams who finished the highest on the ladder at the end of the home and away season played in the AFL Women's Grand Final.[12] Brisbane finished as the minor premiers and secured a spot in the grand final at the end of round six; Adelaide's round seven win over Collingwood saw them secure the second spot in the grand final over Melbourne due to a higher percentage.[13] It was confirmed in February by AFL Chief Executive Officer, Gillon McLachlan, that the team finishing highest on the ladder at the end of the season would earn the right to host the grand final in their home state.[14] The match was originally planned to be held at the Gabba, however due to its ground surface being in a dangerous state, the grand final was moved to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast as a curtain raiser to the Gold Coast versus Brisbane Lions AFL match.[15]
2017 AFL Women's Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 25 March (12:55 pm) | Brisbane 4.5 (29) | def. by | Adelaide 4.11 (35) | Metricon Stadium (crowd: 15,610) | Report |
By club edit
|
By ground edit
|
Club | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brisbane | Inaugural coach | Craig Starcevich[16] | 22 June 2016 | ||
Carlton | Inaugural coach | Damien Keeping[17] | 29 June 2016 | ||
Fremantle | Inaugural coach | Michelle Cowan[18] | 1 July 2016 | ||
Greater Western Sydney | Inaugural coach | Tim Schmidt[19] | 23 July 2016 | ||
Collingwood | Inaugural coach | Wayne Siekman[20] | 26 July 2016 | ||
Western Bulldogs | Inaugural coach | Paul Groves[21] | 23 August 2016 | ||
Adelaide | Inaugural coach | Bec Goddard[22] | 24 August 2016 | ||
Melbourne | Inaugural coach | Mick Stinear[23] | 15 September 2016 | ||
Greater Western Sydney | Tim Schmidt | Resigned | 21 July 2017 | Alan McConnell[24] | 21 July 2017 |
Club | Coach | Captain(s) | Vice-captain(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide | Bec Goddard | Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall | Ange Foley, Sally Riley | [25] |
Brisbane | Craig Starcevich | Emma Zielke | — | [26] |
Carlton | Damien Keeping | Lauren Arnell | Brianna Davey, Madeline Keryk | [27] |
Collingwood | Wayne Siekman | Steph Chiocci | Alicia Eva | [28] |
Fremantle | Michelle Cowan | Kara Donnellan | Kirby Bentley, Kiara Bowers | [29] |
Greater Western Sydney | Tim Schmidt | Amanda Farrugia | Emma Swanson | [30] |
Melbourne | Mick Stinear | Daisy Pearce | Melissa Hickey, Elise O'Dea | [31] |
Western Bulldogs | Paul Groves | Katie Brennan | Ellie Blackburn | [32] |
Club | Award name | Player | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Adelaide | Club Champion | Erin Phillips | [41] |
Brisbane | — | Emily Bates | [42] |
Carlton | — | Brianna Davey | [43] |
Collingwood | — | Nicola Stevens | [44] |
Fremantle | — | Dana Hooker | [45] |
Greater Western Sydney | Gabrielle Trainor Medal | Jessica Dal Pos | [46] |
Melbourne | — | Daisy Pearce | [47] |
Western Bulldogs | Susan Alberti Award | Ellie Blackburn | [48] |
Emma Kearney |
Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Darcy Vescio | 44 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 311 | 314 | 014 | 14 |
2 | Sarah Perkins | 11 | 23 | 03 | 14 | 26 | 17 | 411 | 11 |
3 | Kate McCarthy | 11 | 01 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 18 | 18 | 9 |
Alyssa Mifsud | 00 | 11 | 34 | 26 | 06 | 17 | 29 | ||
5 | Erin Phillips | 33 | 03 | 14 | 15 | 05 | 05 | 38 | 8 |
6 | Moana Hope | 00 | 11 | 01 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 27 | 7 |
Phoebe McWilliams | 11 | 12 | 24 | 04 | 04 | 26 | 17 | ||
8 | Jess Cameron | 00 | 11 | 12 | 03 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 6 |
Ellie Blackburn | 11 | 01 | 01 | 12 | 35 | 05 | 16 |
The final All-Australian team was announced on 28 March. Grand finalists Adelaide and Brisbane had the most representatives with five each, and every team had at least one representative.[49] Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce was announced as the All-Australian captain and Adelaide co-captain Erin Phillips was announced as the vice-captain.[50]
B: | Nicola Stevens (Collingwood) | Courtney Cramey (Adelaide) | |
HB: | Chelsea Randall (Adelaide) | Brianna Davey (Carlton) | Karen Paxman (Melbourne) |
C: | Elise O'Dea (Melbourne) | Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) (captain) | Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs) |
HF: | Erin Phillips (Adelaide) (vice-captain) | Sabrina Frederick-Traub (Brisbane) | Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs) |
F: | Sarah Perkins (Adelaide) | Darcy Vescio (Carlton) | |
Foll: | Emma King (Collingwood) | Kara Donnellan (Fremantle) | Emily Bates (Brisbane) |
Int: | Jessica Dal Pos (Greater Western Sydney) | Kate McCarthy (Brisbane) | Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide) |
Tayla Harris (Brisbane) | Melissa Hickey (Melbourne) | Sam Virgo (Brisbane) | |
Coach: | Bec Goddard (Adelaide) |
In mid-July the AFL announced a State of Origin representative match would be held for AFL Women's players during the AFL season pre-finals bye.[51] A team of players born in Victoria would play a single exhibition match against a team of players from the rest of Australia at Etihad Stadium on the evening of Saturday 2 September. Initial squads for the match were announced on 25 July including that Melbourne AFLW football operations manager Debbie Lee would coach Victoria, while Adelaide premiership coach Bec Goddard, would coach the Allies.[52]
AFLW State of Origin | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 2 September (7:40 pm) | Victoria | def. | Allies | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 9,400[53]) | Report |
0.2.2 (14) 0.8.5 (53) 0.11.7 (73) 0.17.11 (113) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
0.1.1 (7) 0.2.2 (14) 0.2.2 (14) 0.2.4 (16) |
Umpires: Bryce, Cheever, Rodger Best on ground: Daisy Pearce Television broadcast: Network Seven, Fox Footy | ||
Super goals: Nil Garner 5, Blackburn 3, Ashmore 2, Eva, Lambert, Paxman, Kearney, Pearce, D'Arcy, Hope |
Goals | Super goals: Nil Harris, Wuetschner | |||
Pearce, Paxman, Donnellan, Garner, Eva, Kearney, Blackburn | Best | King, Bates, Antonio, Brennan, Marinoff | |||
Lambert (hip) | Injuries | Harris (knee), Zielke (ribs), Randall (thigh), Bentley (knee) | |||
Nil | Reports | Nil | |||
It was reportedly the highest crowd ever for a women's sporting event in Australia outside of the Olympic or Commonwealth Games.
Around 4000 people attended