THE CARLTON Football Club is excited to launch into a summer of football following the release of the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s Fixture.

The season kicks off for the Blues in blockbuster fashion against traditional rivals Collingwood at IKON Park, in what will be the Club’s first home game in front of members and supporters in 183 days.

Saturday and Sunday afternoon fixtures will be a feature for the Game Changers this season – perfect for families, friends and kids looking for a day out at the home of women’s football.

This includes a stretch of four home games in six weeks at IKON Park, kicking off in Round 4 when the Kangaroos pay a visit to Royal Parade for the first time in AFLW history.

The AFL has confirmed ticket prices have been frozen at $10, while entry will remain free for kids under 18.

The Game Changers will travel to Maroochydore to play reigning Premiers Brisbane in Round 2, followed by the fifth annual Pride Game against Western Bulldogs.

All eyes will be on the Blues in the early rounds with four out of the first five games of the season to be broadcast free-to-air on Channel Seven.

After a memorable inaugural year, Indigenous Round is back again in Round 8 with the Blues to play the Giants in prime time under the Friday night lights in Canberra.

The Round 9 fixture against Gold Coast will be played at IKON Park, with a day and time to be released at a later date.

The 2022 season marks the first time the home and away season will be expanded to 10 rounds, with information for round 10 to be released by the AFL in the coming days.

Carlton CEO Brian Cook said the fixture released today gave Bluebaggers a number of reasons to get excited for an action-packed season from the Game Changers.

“The 2022 AFLW season will be the first time we get the chance to welcome our members and supporters back to IKON Park,” he said.

“By the time round 1 arrives it will have been almost 190 days since we have played a home game in front of the Carlton faithful, and it will be a fantastic moment to see a sea of Navy Blue there as we kick off an exciting season.

“Our Pride Game and Indigenous Rounds are always a highlight of the season, and it will be no exception this year. We look forward to seeing the designs for those respective guernseys launched in the near future, while details relating to our Carlton Respects game will be confirmed shortly.

“The opportunity to have our games feature prominently free-to-air on Channel Seven is terrific for the exposure of our AFLW program and we are looking forward to working closely with both broadcast partners Seven and Fox Footy to continue to take women’s football to the next level in 2022.

“To every Carlton person who has missed seeing your club in-person for a very long time, we encourage you to get down to IKON Park in January, show your support and enjoy a fun day out at the footy.

“It is time to get back together as one football club and connect at our spiritual home once again.”