AFL forced to reassess women's venues

The AFL will consider moving another Collingwood women's home game to Ikon Park after the stunning success of Friday night's AFLW opener.

AFLW Live Scores: Carlton v Collingwood

• Live

It's an historic night for Australian football. We're about to see the first game of the new AFLW competition, featuring two heavyweights of the old VFL - Carlton and Collingwood.

The best moments of an unforgettable night

The Blues' ball movement was considerably slicker than that of the Pies.

AFLW: Crowds flood in, Blues take the honours

It was a memorable opening night for the AFL Women's competition, with the crowd catching everyone by surprise.

Hurley hurts ankle in Essendon's intra-club match

Essendon defender Michael Hurley was a casualty of Friday's intra-club hit out but the Bombers insist he will miss little training.

Anderson defies Giant odds to become a Crow

Six months ago, Canberra's Heather Anderson was told she could never play football again.

AFL apologises to crowd locked out of Princes Park for historic women's match

The AFL has apologised to more than one thousand disappointed fans locked out of Princes Park for the historic first game of the new AFLW competition.

AFL heading into uncharted territory of serious industrial dispute

It must be a source of great concern to Gillon McLachlan that. in a season in which he is leading the best women footballers across the country onto their field of dreams, he is simultaneously taking the AFL competition into the uncharted territory of a serious industrial dispute.

Canberra United stars go from rivals to teammates

Ellie Brush and Jenna McCormick will put their AFL rivalry on hold to join forces for Canberra United's W-League title bid.

How the world's biggest LED system will light up Perth Stadium

15,000 LEDs walk into a stadium, and 60,000 spectators light up.

AFLW: Bulldogs ready to chase an early bite

As Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said at the launch of the Dogs' AFLW season, this is the week when "aspirations" get realised.

AFLW: It's game on as Blues, Pies ready for historic clash

The moment has finally arrived, with the AFLW league to spring to life on Friday night when Carlton and Collingwood clash at Ikon Park from 7.45pm.

AFL acts on Etihad safety concerns

The patch of artificial turf at Etihad Stadium blamed for an ankle injury to Geelong forward Daniel Menzel in a game last year is set to go as the AFL acts on concerns from its players' union.

Listen: Outer Sanctum podcast on AFLW

The Age has partnered with the Outer Sanctum podcast for the historic AFL Women's season.

Giants recruit the ultimate player-manager

GWS Giants back pocket Alex Saundry is the Jerry Maguire of the AFL Women's competition.

Leigh Matthews quits as football director of Brisbane Lions

AFL legend Leigh Matthews has quit his role as Brisbane Lions' football director, saying he doesn't have time for the job due to his media commitments.

Pendlebury would sit down to make a stand

In a week in which boxer Anthony Mundine has vowed to sit during the playing of the Australian national anthem, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury says AFL players would also consider sitting as a form of protest.

Giants look to have won the battle for Riverina

• EXCLUSIVE

Greater Western Sydney have scored another victory against the AFL and now look certain to retain their contentious Riverina academy zone and, specifically, Albury.

Where some traditions mean nothing, brave new world starts now

​The Australian Football League picked its most famous foes to boot it into a brave new world.

No signs that Eade is feeling Suns contract heat

Gold Coast co-captain Steven May says coach Rodney Eade is showing no signs of a man in the last year of his contract.

Carlton, Cripps scoff at Fremantle trade rumour

Carlton have poured cold water on speculation linking star West Australian Patrick Cripps with a return to his home state.

Wells was out of shape on arrival: Buckley

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says that high-profile recruit Daniel Wells was out of shape when he first arrived at the Holden Centre.

AFL players set to be under the pump in 2017

Off season? What off season? Everyone is under pressure in the AFL. But some players start the season under the pump more than others ...

Nat Fyfe on the move again as Dockers chase Patrick Cripps: Kane Cornes

The Fremantle Dockers are gearing up for life without Nat Fyfe and will throw "a bucket load of cash" at Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps to lure him back west, according to football commentator Kane Cornes.

Netball legend McMahon joins AFLW MRP

Former Australian netball captain Sharelle McMahon has joined the AFL Women's match review panel for its inaugural season, which starts on Friday night.

Giants well-placed for 2017 flag tilt: Davis

Greater Western Sydney co-captain Phil Davis believes his team is better placed than last year to have a tilt at a maiden premiership.

Premiership cup narrows the focus: Pearce

Amid all the uncertainty of what is about to happen, seeing the AFL Women's premiership cup was a potent reminder for Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce.

Pies won't take backwards step against Blues on Friday

It was only a practice match, but that didn't matter to Meg Hutchins.

Message to the doubters: Let the AFLW grow - it's important beyond the game

• COMMENT

The inaugural AFLW season begins on Friday, and I am pretty excited. But I'm also nervous, because there are people just waiting to tear this competition down.

AFL's secret trials have the potential to revolutionise the game

The AFL has conducted further secret trials in a bid to eradicate congestion, with 16-a-side being tested in club practice matches in a bold move that could revolutionise the game. 

AFLW: Bulldogs captain vows ankle injury won't keep her out

Katie Brennan, still pained by an ankle injury, is adamant she will not miss captaining the Western Bulldogs in their landmark first women's league game, even if she needs assistance to run out. 

Murphy to stay top Dog in 2017

Bob Murphy has confirmed that he will remain captain of the Western Bulldogs as the club follows up its inspirational premiership of last season.

Captains tip Bulldogs as AFLW winners

AFL Women's captains are tipping the Western Bulldogs to match their men's team by taking out the premiership, while Melbourne's Daisy Pearce is favoured to win the inaugural best and fairest.

Women's Fremantle Dockers team named favourites on eve of inaugural season

The Fremantle Dockers Women's AFL team have been named favourites to win the league's inaugural season which kicks off on Friday.

Who got Lade? Port did

Brendon Lade is returning to Port Adelaide after seven years as an assistant coach at AFL rivals Richmond.

Dogs won't be hoodoo gurus

The Western Bulldogs won't look back at their painful history of preliminary final losses in the lead up to their Saturday night clash with GWS Giants.

Hogan departure won't be 'catastrophic': Schwarz

Melbourne great David Schwarz says the potential defection of Jesse Hogan would not be "as catastrophic" now as it would have been last year.

Football romance, or the road to the future?

There’s two very contrasting narratives developing heading into the penultimate weekend of the AFL season. And sentimentally, they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Chris Judd: It's time to deny the top four clubs access to free agents

The thing that AFL fans love about the game is risk and the unknown outcome accompanying it: the risk players take when they commit to a physical contest, when they launch three deep in a pack to stand on someone's shoulders in a marking contest, when they have a shot from the boundary. All are weekly features on highlights reels.