THE WAIT is over. Now, the other wait begins.
The fixture for the 2023 AFLW season was confirmed on Monday, with just over six weeks to go until the ball is bounced at IKON Park.
So, what about the fixture? What can Carlton fans look forward to?
Of course, we’re excited about the whole thing — but here’s what we’re really excited about as Mathew Buck’s team embarks on a new era.
Blues fans, this is what you came for. 🙏
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) July 17, 2023
You don’t forget your first
It’s about damn time.
Back in 2020, Carlton was scheduled to play West Coast on 21 March in the Eagles’ first season in the competition. However, just days beforehand, the Round 9 clash was cancelled, with the finals series brought forward and ultimately cancelled hours after the Blues made a preliminary final.
Finally, in their fifth season of being in the competition together, the two teams will now finally face off in Round 3 when the Blues make the trip west.
West Coast isn’t the only team Carlton will clash with for the first time, as the Blues welcome Lucy McEvoy’s Swans a fortnight afterwards on the Grand Final Eve public holiday
Come the end of the home-and-away season, it’ll leave just Hawthorn as the only team Carlton hasn’t come up against.
Jesus of Suburbia
One of the best facets of the AFLW competition is the return to traditional suburban grounds, and that’s no different for Carlton. While playing their home games at IKON Park, the Blues will also head to North Melbourne, Footscray and Essendon in 2023.
Of course, the Game Changers are no strangers to Whitten Oval, having played there four times in the competition’s first five seasons.
While it won’t be in Pride Round (that comes in Round 10 when Carlton hosts St Kilda), the Blues will return to Whitten Oval to take on the Western Bulldogs in Round 6: a venue where the two sides have shared two victories apiece in their four encounters there.
It’s the other two grounds which will be new territory for the Blues, and a throwback to years of old.
Carlton hasn’t played a game at Arden Street for premiership points at the elite level since 1983, while the Blues enjoyed a memorable win in their final game at Windy Hill in 1990.
Time to make some new memories.
Collingwood in Indigenous Round
Mirroring the contests between the AFL sides in the last two years, the Blues and Magpies will meet in AFLW Indigenous Round for the first time.
Taking place at IKON Park, the Round 7 contest will see the Blues looking to make amends against the old enemy, who they have defeated since winning the opening three games between the two sides at the competition’s inception.
Once again, the AFLW Indigenous Rounds will take place over two weeks, giving every team across the competition to host this special occasion. As such, the Blues return to Henson Park in Sydney to take on GWS in Round 8.
IKON Park the centrepiece
All eyes will be on Royal Parade throughout the 2023 AFLW season.
As was always promised throughout the redevelopment of Carlton’s home ground, IKON Park will be front and centre in 2023 — and not just for games involving the Navy Blues.
Of course, all five of the Blues’ home matches will be at the venue, just as they have been since the first game back in 2017.
With certain home games for reigning premier Melbourne (two) and Richmond (four) being at the venue, it means 12 games in total will take place at IKON Park — there’ll be only two weekends where the famous ground isn’t hosting a game.
Further to that, it’s already been locked in: should any Melburnian team be the highest ranked team in the Grand Final, it will take place at the home of women’s footy. It means IKON Park could host the season opener and the decider in the same season.
