2017 AFL Women's season

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2017 AFL Women's season
2017 AFL Women's logo.svg
Overview
Date3 February—25 March 2017
Teams8
Premiers Adelaide
1st premiership
Runners-up Brisbane
1st runners-up result
Minor premiers Brisbane
1st minor premiership
Best and fairest Erin Phillips (Adelaide)
14 votes
Leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
14 goals
Attendance
Matches played29
Total attendance198,020 (6,828 per match)
Highest24,568 (round 1, Carlton v Collingwood)
2018  

The 2017 AFL Women's season was the inaugural season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season ran from 3 February to 25 March, comprising a seven-round home-and-away season followed by a grand final contested by the top two clubs. Eight Australian Football League (AFL) clubs featured in the inaugural season: Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Contents

Adelaide won the inaugural premiership, defeating Brisbane by six points in the 2017 AFL Women's Grand Final. Brisbane won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 6–0–1 win–loss–draw record. Adelaide's Erin Phillips won the AFL Women's best and fairest award as the league's best and fairest player, and Carlton's Darcy Vescio won the AFL Women's leading goalkicker award as the league's leading goalkicker.

Home-and-away season

Players contest the first ball-up at the inaugural AFLW match. First AFLW Ball Up 03.02.17.jpg
Players contest the first ball-up at the inaugural AFLW match.

The full fixture was released on Friday 9 December 2016. [1] [2] Notable features of the draw include:

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 3 February (7:45 pm) Carlton 7.4 (46)def. Collingwood 1.5 (11) Ikon Park (crowd: 24,568) Report
Saturday, 4 February (4:35 pm) Adelaide 7.6 (48)def. Greater Western Sydney 1.6 (12) Thebarton Oval (crowd: 9,289) Report
Saturday, 4 February (7:35 pm) Western Bulldogs 6.8 (44)def. Fremantle 1.6 (12) VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 10,100) Report
Sunday, 5 February (5:05 pm) Melbourne 1.4 (10)def. by Brisbane 4.1 (25) Casey Fields (crowd: 6,500) Report
  • A lockout was declared during the first quarter of the Carlton and Collingwood match, with the Victorian Police requesting the gates to be closed for safety reasons. [8] The crowd of 24,568 set an all-time record for attendance at a stand-alone women's sports event in Australia, exceeded only by the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games for crowds at women's sports. [9]

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 10 February (7:35 pm) Western Bulldogs 2.11 (23)def. by Adelaide 7.6 (48) VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 7,669) Report
Saturday, 11 February (3:35 pm) Carlton 7.5 (47)def. Greater Western Sydney 5.4 (34) Ikon Park (crowd: 7,884) Report
Saturday, 11 February (7:40 pm) Collingwood 4.1 (25)def. by Melbourne 7.2 (44) Ikon Park (crowd: 6,916) Report
Sunday, 12 February (4:05 pm) Fremantle 3.5 (23)def. by Brisbane 5.6 (36) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10,000) Report

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 18 February (12:05 pm) Greater Western Sydney 7.1 (43)drew with Fremantle 6.7 (43) Blacktown ISP Oval (crowd: 4,000 [11] ) Report
Saturday, 18 February (3:35 pm) Brisbane 4.3 (27)def. Collingwood 3.5 (23) South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 5,500) Report
Saturday, 18 February (7:35 pm) Western Bulldogs 4.5 (29)def. by Melbourne 6.7 (43) VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,000) Report
Sunday, 19 February (11:35 am) Adelaide 2.5 (17)def. Carlton 2.2 (14) Thebarton Oval (crowd: 9,006) Report

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 25 February (11:35 am) Melbourne 6.6 (42)def. Carlton 5.6 (36) Casey Fields (crowd: 3,965) Report
Saturday, 25 February (3:35 pm) Brisbane 6.7 (43)def. Greater Western Sydney 1.3 (9) South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 3,500) Report
Saturday, 25 February (7:10 pm) Western Bulldogs 3.7 (25)def. by Collingwood 5.2 (32) VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 6,733) Report
Sunday, 26 February (4:05 pm) Fremantle 3.5 (23)def. by Adelaide 6.10 (46) Fremantle Oval (crowd: 4,578) Report

Round 5

Round 5
Friday, 3 March (5:05 pm) Greater Western Sydney 3.2 (20)def. Melbourne 1.9 (15) Blacktown ISP Oval (crowd: 2,000) Report
Saturday, 4 March (11:35 am) Carlton 8.6 (54)def. Western Bulldogs 7.6 (48) Ikon Park (crowd: 6,833) Report
Saturday, 4 March (10:35 am) Fremantle 4.7 (31)def. by Collingwood 5.2 (32) Rushton Park (crowd: 2,800) Report
Saturday, 4 March (6:40 pm) Adelaide 4.6 (30)def. by Brisbane 5.3 (33) Norwood Oval (crowd: 12,108) Report

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 10 March (3:05 pm) Fremantle 6.7 (43)def. Carlton 4.3 (27) Domain Stadium (crowd: 1,200) Report
Saturday, 11 March (10:05 am) Brisbane 2.11 (23)def. Western Bulldogs 2.4 (16) South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 4,200) Report
Saturday, 11 March (5:40 pm) Adelaide 5.2 (32)def. by Melbourne 5.4 (34) TIO Stadium (crowd: 5,100) Report
Sunday, 12 March (11:05 am) Collingwood 7.13 (55)def. Greater Western Sydney 3.1 (19) Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,700) Report

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 18 March (4:35 pm) Melbourne 11.4 (70)def. Fremantle 2.4 (16) Casey Fields (crowd: 2,500) Report
Saturday, 18 March (7:10 pm) Greater Western Sydney 3.2 (20)def. by Western Bulldogs 7.10 (52) Manuka Oval (crowd: 6,460) Report
Sunday, 19 March (1:35 pm) Collingwood 7.4 (46)def. by Adelaide 10.10 (70) Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,500) Report
Sunday, 19 March (3:35 pm) Carlton 6.1 (37)drew with Brisbane 5.7 (37) Ikon Park (crowd: 5,801) Report

Ladder

PosTeamPldWLDPFPAPPPtsQualification
1 Brisbane 7601224148151.426 Grand Final
2 Adelaide (P)7520291185157.320
3 Melbourne 7520258183141.020
4 Carlton 7331261232112.514
5 Collingwood 734022426285.512
6 Western Bulldogs 7250237232102.28
7 Fremantle 715119129864.16
8 Greater Western Sydney 715115730351.86
Source: AFL.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Progression by round

Team1234567
 
1 Brisbane 481216202426
2 Adelaide 481216161620
3 Melbourne 04812121620
4 Carlton 4888121214
5 Collingwood 000481212
6 Western Bulldogs 4444448
7 Fremantle 0022266
8 Greater Western Sydney 0022666

Grand final

In the absence of a finals series, the two teams who finished the highest on the ladder at the end of the home and away season played in the AFL Women's Grand Final. [12] Brisbane finished as the minor premiers and secured a spot in the grand final at the end of round six; Adelaide's round seven win over Collingwood saw them secure the second spot in the grand final over Melbourne due to a higher percentage. [13] It was confirmed in February by AFL Chief Executive Officer, Gillon McLachlan, that the team finishing highest on the ladder at the end of the season would earn the right to host the grand final in their home state. [14] The match was originally planned to be held at the Gabba, however due to its ground surface being in a dangerous state, the grand final was moved to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast as a curtain raiser to the Gold Coast versus Brisbane Lions AFL match. [15]

2017 AFL Women's Grand Final
Saturday, 25 March (12:55 pm) Brisbane 4.5 (29)def. by Adelaide 4.11 (35) Metricon Stadium (crowd: 15,610) Report

Win–loss table

+WinQualified for finals
-LossXBye
DrawEliminated
Team1234567GFLadder
Adelaide GWS
36
WB
25
Car
3
Fre
23
BL
3
Mel
2
Col
24
BL
6
1
Brisbane Mel
15
Fre
13
Col
4
GWS
34
Ade
3
WB
7
Car
0
Ade
6
2
Carlton Col
35
GWS
13
Ade
3
Mel
6
WB
6
Fre
16
BL
0
X4
Collingwood Car
35
Mel
19
BL
4
WB
7
Fre
1
GWS
36
Ade
24
X5
Fremantle WB
32
BL
13
GWS
0
Ade
23
Col
1
Car
16
Mel
54
X7
Greater Western Sydney Ade
36
Car
13
Fre
0
BL
34
Mel
5
Col
36
WB
32
X8
Melbourne BL
15
Col
19
WB
14
Car
6
GWS
5
Ade
2
Fre
54
X3
Western Bulldogs Fre
32
Ade
25
Mel
14
Col
7
Car
6
BL
7
GWS
32
X6

Attendances

Coach changes

ClubOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
Brisbane Inaugural coach Craig Starcevich [16] 22 June 2016
Carlton Inaugural coach Damien Keeping [17] 29 June 2016
Fremantle Inaugural coach Michelle Cowan [18] 1 July 2016
Greater Western Sydney Inaugural coach Tim Schmidt [19] 23 July 2016
Collingwood Inaugural coach Wayne Siekman [20] 26 July 2016
Western Bulldogs Inaugural coach Paul Groves [21] 23 August 2016
Adelaide Inaugural coach Bec Goddard [22] 24 August 2016
Melbourne Inaugural coach Mick Stinear [23] 15 September 2016
Greater Western Sydney Tim Schmidt Resigned21 July 2017 Alan McConnell [24] 21 July 2017

Club leadership

Table of club coaches, captains and vice-captains
ClubCoachCaptain(s)Vice-captain(s)Ref.
Adelaide Bec Goddard Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall Ange Foley, Sally Riley [25]
Brisbane Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke [26]
Carlton Damien Keeping Lauren Arnell Brianna Davey, Madeline Keryk [27]
Collingwood Wayne Siekman Steph Chiocci Alicia Eva [28]
Fremantle Michelle Cowan Kara Donnellan Kirby Bentley, Kiara Bowers [29]
Greater Western Sydney Tim Schmidt Amanda Farrugia Emma Swanson [30]
Melbourne Mick Stinear Daisy Pearce Melissa Hickey, Elise O'Dea [31]
Western Bulldogs Paul Groves Katie Brennan Ellie Blackburn [32]

Honours

Bec Goddard coached Adelaide in 2017, winning the inaugural AFLW premiership. Bec Goddard.jpg
Bec Goddard coached Adelaide in 2017, winning the inaugural AFLW premiership.
Erin Phillips won the league's best and fairest award for the season Erin Phillips 2019.1.jpg
Erin Phillips won the league's best and fairest award for the season
Darcy Vescio was the AFLW's leading goalkicker for 2017 Darcy Vescio 04.03.17.jpg
Darcy Vescio was the AFLW's leading goalkicker for 2017
Ebony Marinoff was named the inaugural AFL Women's Rising Star winner Ebony Marinoff 2018.jpg
Ebony Marinoff was named the inaugural AFL Women's Rising Star winner

Awards

Best and fairest

Table of club best and fairest award recipients
ClubAward namePlayerRef.
Adelaide Club Champion Erin Phillips [41]
Brisbane Emily Bates [42]
Carlton Brianna Davey [43]
Collingwood Nicola Stevens [44]
Fremantle Dana Hooker [45]
Greater Western Sydney Gabrielle Trainor Medal Jessica Dal Pos [46]
Melbourne Daisy Pearce [47]
Western Bulldogs Susan Alberti Award Ellie Blackburn [48]
Emma Kearney

AFLW leading goalkicker

  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the season's goal kicking tally at the end of that round.

All-Australian team

The final All-Australian team was announced on 28 March. Grand finalists Adelaide and Brisbane had the most representatives with five each, and every team had at least one representative. [49] Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce was announced as the All-Australian captain and Adelaide co-captain Erin Phillips was announced as the vice-captain. [50]

2017 AFL Women's All-Australian team
B: Nicola Stevens (Collingwood) Courtney Cramey (Adelaide) 
HB: Chelsea Randall (Adelaide) Brianna Davey (Carlton) Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
C: Elise O'Dea (Melbourne) Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) (captain) Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs)
HF: Erin Phillips (Adelaide) (vice-captain) Sabrina Frederick-Traub (Brisbane) Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs)
F: Sarah Perkins (Adelaide) Darcy Vescio (Carlton) 
Foll: Emma King (Collingwood) Kara Donnellan (Fremantle) Emily Bates (Brisbane)
Int: Jessica Dal Pos (Greater Western Sydney) Kate McCarthy (Brisbane) Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide)
Tayla Harris (Brisbane) Melissa Hickey (Melbourne) Sam Virgo (Brisbane)
Coach: Bec Goddard (Adelaide)

State of Origin

In mid-July the AFL announced a State of Origin representative match would be held for AFL Women's players during the AFL season pre-finals bye. [51] A team of players born in Victoria would play a single exhibition match against a team of players from the rest of Australia at Etihad Stadium on the evening of Saturday 2 September. Initial squads for the match were announced on 25 July including that Melbourne AFLW football operations manager Debbie Lee would coach Victoria, while Adelaide premiership coach Bec Goddard, would coach the Allies. [52]

Squads

Result

AFLW State of Origin
Saturday, 2 September (7:40 pm) Victoria def. Allies Etihad Stadium (crowd: 9,400 [53] ) Report
0.2.2 (14)
0.8.5 (53)
0.11.7 (73)
0.17.11 (113)
Q1
Q2
Q3
Final
0.1.1 (7)
0.2.2 (14)
0.2.2 (14)
0.2.4 (16)
Umpires: Bryce, Cheever, Rodger
Best on ground: Daisy Pearce
Television broadcast: Network Seven, Fox Footy
Super goals: Nil
Garner 5, Blackburn 3, Ashmore 2, Eva, Lambert, Paxman, Kearney, Pearce, D'Arcy, Hope
GoalsSuper goals: Nil
Harris, Wuetschner
Pearce, Paxman, Donnellan, Garner, Eva, Kearney, Blackburn Best King, Bates, Antonio, Brennan, Marinoff
Lambert (hip)Injuries Harris (knee), Zielke (ribs), Randall (thigh), Bentley (knee)
NilReportsNil

See also

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