AFLW fixture 2025, compressed 2024 fixture, injuries, lack of breaks, shorter turnarounds, AFLW grand final

After being slammed by players and coaches alike for the condensed fixture, the AFLW has moved to make a change for the 2025 draw.

Next year, the fixture will see 12 home and away rounds, with no compression and four weeks of finals.

Beginning on August 11, the season will kick off two weeks earlier than the 2024 season.

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It also coincides with round 23 of the AFL competition, the second last of the regular season, after the Collective Bargaining Agreement guaranteed an extra round of football.

The AFLW grand final will be played on Saturday 29 November.

Ariana Hetherington of the Dockers handpasses the ball during the 2024 AFLW First Semi Final. AFL Photos via Getty Images

Clubs struggled through the 2024 regular season, with shorter breaks between games seeing more injuries and less time to recover and return to play.

It also resulted in depleted playing lists.

The AFL confirmed it consulted all 18 clubs for feedback on how their 2024 campaigns fared.

Nina Morrison of the Cats in action during the 2024 AFLW Round 8 match between the Geelong Cats and the Brisbane Lions. AFL Photos via Getty Images

"When I started, it became really apparent to me quickly that people said we need stability, we need routine and we need ritual," AFLW general manager Emma Moore told the AFL's podcast Credit To The Girls.

"There'll be no compression. That was a really worthwhile thing to investigate and understand what we could do and there were some good learnings out of that, but there were also some really clear learnings about a desire to not repeat that kind of approach again.

"I think I made that commitment really early on, when we would deliver stability."

Matilda Scholz celebrates Port Adelaide's semi final win over Hawthorn win fans. Getty

And while there's still two crucial weeks of AFLW finals to go to finish the 2024 season, the fixture overhaul will be completed in the off-season.

"Work will continue on the fixture for 2025 following the completion of this season and we will have further information to share in the coming months," Moore said.

Moore did not rule out the return of mid-week games in 2025.

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