AFL Queensland has today announced the fixture for the 2020 Bond University QAFLW season.
At its centrepiece, the fixture features the opportunity for two AFLW-QAFLW double headers with the Brisbane Lions across the opening month of the season, in what will be a showcase of women’s football in Queensland.
For the first time since the inception of the AFLW competition in 2017, three QAFLW clubs will have the opportunity to feature adjacently to Brisbane following the confirmed new starting time of the Bond University QAFLW.
Brisbane’s Round 4 and Round 6 games at Hickey Park will be transformed into AFLW-QAFLW double headers.
AFL Queensland State Manager – Senior Football Operations, Barry Gibson, said the fixture was constructed with the primary aim of providing QAFLW clubs and its players a greater opportunity to align to the AFLW season.
“In bringing the fixture forward we not only cater for our two AFLW clubs and their players, but we also provide a great exposure opportunity for the QAFLW clubs to align to AFLW games, whilst also having access to those players not selected at AFLW level,” Gibson said.
The 2020 Bond University QAFLW season will begin on Saturday, February 29, with a host of rivals competing to commence the new campaign.
Reigning premiers Coorparoo will face traditional rivals Yeronga South Brisbane at the same venue they lifted the premiership trophy in Leyshon Park, while Gold Coast clubs Bond University and Coolangatta Tweed are also set to face off in the opening round.
Aspley and Maroochydore will reignite their rivalry at Voxson Oval, whilst the opening slate of fixtures will be rounded out when Wilston Grange host University of Queensland at Hickey Park as a curtain raiser to the Brisbane Lions’ Round 4 clash with the GWS Giants.
The new start date of the QAFLW has also paved the way for an extended allotment of games, with each team set to play 16 games across the season – up from 14 in 2019.
The 2020 fixture will encompass 64 games in total played across the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Brisbane regions and will also feature four competition-wide bye rounds, which coincide with the Queensland Under 18 State representative camp on May 16-17 and the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 National Championships on June 13-14 and July 4-5.
A number of marquee rounds will once again be a feature of the fixture.
ANZAC Round will take place in Round 8 and is headlined by the Grand Final rematch between Coorparoo and Bond University at Giffin Park on April 25.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will take place in Round 11 and will commence with the traditional matchup between Wilston Grange and Coorparoo at Hickey Park in a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and contribution to Australian rules football.
For the second consecutive season, all eight QAFLW clubs will take part in Pride Round to celebrate inclusiveness within the football community. Pride Round will take place in Round 14 of the fixture with all games to be played at Coorparoo’s Giffin Park.
In Round 15, Maroochydore will host Wilston Grange at Maroochydore Multisport Complex in a QAFL-QAFLW double header alongside the two clubs’ senior men’s teams in the Roos’ annual Domestic Violence Round game.
A four-team finals’ structure will commence following the home and away season and will culminate with the Grand Final scheduled for Sunday, August 2.
*Please note; times and venues are subject to change.
2020 Fixture QAFLW
