IKON Park will be solidified as the home of AFLW as part of a history-making season seven.
The spiritual home of the Carlton Football Club will showcase a new look off the back of its redevelopment, kicking off the 18-team competition by hosting the season opener for the fifth time in AFLW history.
The Blues will host Collingwood in a Thursday night blockbuster, as part of a massive opening fortnight that will include a showdown with arch rivals and expansion side Essendon (away) in Round 2.
The new redevelopment at IKON Park, with state-of-the-art light towers, will be used to full effect in season seven with the Game Changers to host a total of three night fixtures from four currently scheduled home games, including a school holiday meeting with Melbourne in Round 5.
Carlton has a run of four out of five Friday night games in the back end of the season which puts the Game Changers firmly in prime time.
The home of AFLW will also take centre stage in Round 8, with the Blues hosting the opening Pride Game against Richmond on Friday night, followed by a double-header at the venue on Saturday between Essendon and Sydney before Geelong takes on West Coast.
The Game Changers will face two expansion sides this season, with the Blues facing the Bombers at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne in Round 2, and Port Adelaide travelling to Carlton for Indigenous Round a week later in Round 3.
An additional two interstate trips complete the Blues’ fixture with Fremantle in Round 4 to be one of three games the side will play against last season’s finalists while a trip to the Gold Coast will also be in Round 9.
Three of the Blues’ five away fixtures will be on free-to-air on Channel Seven, in a big win for the Navy Blue faithful, with Round 4 broadcast details against the Dockers still TBC.
The Round 10 fixture against Western Bulldogs will be played at IKON Park, with a day and time to be released at a later date.
Carlton CEO Brian Cook said the fixture released today reaffirmed that IKON Park is truly the home of AFLW.
“We are thrilled to be opening the AFLW season at IKON Park for the fifth time in seven years, under lights, and to have a total of three prime time home games,” Cook said.
“Our new facilities are coming together and we can’t wait to showcase our new broadcast quality lights which will enhance the experience not only for supporters in the stands, but those watching at home.
“We’ll also be hosting a double header in Round 8, and we encourage all AFLW supporters to head to the home of women’s football for back-to-back games.
“It is fantastic to be hosting the Pride Game as well as Indigenous Round, with those two fixtures always a highlight of the season. Details around another important match - 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 maximise the exposure and access to what will be an historic season for the competition.”
