2018 AFL Women's season | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Date | 2 February—24 March 2018 |
Teams | 8 |
Premiers | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 1st premiership |
Runners-up | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 2nd runners-up result |
Minor premiers | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 1st minor premiership |
Best and fairest | Emma Kearney ( ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs) 14 votes |
Leading goalkicker | Brooke Lochland ( ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs) 12 goals |
Attendance | |
Matches played | 29 |
Total attendance | 174,012 (6,000 per match) |
Highest | 41,975 (round 2, ‹See Tfd› Fremantle v ‹See Tfd› Collingwood) |
The 2018 AFL Women's season was the second season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured eight clubs and ran from 2 February to 24 March, comprising a seven-round home-and-away season followed by a grand final contested by the top two clubs.
The ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs won the premiership, defeating ‹See Tfd› Brisbane by six points in the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final. The Bulldogs also won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 5–2 win–loss record. The Bulldogs' Emma Kearney won the AFL Women's best and fairest award as the league's best and fairest player, and teammate Brooke Lochland won the AFL Women's leading goalkicker award as the league's leading goalkicker.
Three rules were changed heading into the 2018 season: [1] [2]
The full fixture was released on Friday 27 October 2017. [3] Notable features of the draw include:
Round 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 2 February (7:40 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 3.4 (22) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 2.2 (14) | Ikon Park (crowd: 19,852) | Report |
Saturday, 3 February (5:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 7.3 (45) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 6.3 (39) | Casey Fields (crowd: 5,100) | Report |
Saturday, 3 February (6:45 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 3.1 (19) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 4.7 (31) | Norwood Oval (crowd: 11,120) | Report |
Sunday, 4 February (4:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 3.5 (23) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,500) | Report |
Round 2 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 9 February (7:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 1.3 (9) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 3.12 (30) | Drummoyne Oval (crowd: 4,952) | Report |
Saturday, 10 February (5:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 8.8 (56) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 4.0 (24) | Casey Fields (crowd: 3,800) | Report |
Saturday, 10 February (4:10 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 6.4 (40) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 4.3 (27) | Optus Stadium (crowd: 41,975) | Report |
Sunday, 11 February (3:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 3.6 (24) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33) | South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 5,300) | Report |
|
Round 3 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 17 February (1:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 6.5 (41) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) | Norwood Oval (crowd: 4,900) | Report |
Saturday, 17 February (7:40 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 2.6 (18) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 6.4 (40) | Ikon Park (crowd: 6,200) | Report |
Sunday, 18 February (4:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 5.5 (35) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 7.6 (48) | Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 3,600) | Report |
Sunday, 18 February (3:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 6.0 (36) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 4.7 (31) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3,125) | Report |
Round 4 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 23 February (7:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 2.1 (13) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,987) | Report |
Saturday, 24 February (3:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 3.4 (22) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 2.3 (15) | South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 1,500) | Report |
Saturday, 24 February (5:40 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 3.6 (24) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 9.4 (58) | TIO Traeger Park (crowd: 2,000) | Report |
Sunday, 25 February (4:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 2.7 (19) | drew with | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 2.7 (19) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 2,409) | Report |
|
Round 5 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 2 March (7:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 4.10 (34) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 4.4 (28) | Casey Fields (crowd: 2,100) | Report |
Saturday, 3 March (2:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 3.3 (21) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 6.3 (39) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2,571) | Report |
Saturday, 3 March (6:40 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 8.7 (55) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 2.8 (20) | Norwood Oval (crowd: 5,970) | Report |
Sunday, 4 March (2:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 6.5 (41) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49) | Ted Summerton Reserve (crowd: 2,700) | Report |
Round 6 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 9 March (5:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 6.4 (40) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 5.6 (36) | TIO Stadium (crowd: 2,159) | Report |
Saturday, 10 March (3:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 5.9 (39) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 8.5 (53) | Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex (crowd: 2,600) | Report |
Saturday, 10 March (7:10 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 7.4 (46) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28) | UNSW Canberra Oval (crowd: 4,146) | Report |
Sunday, 11 March (4:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 3.4 (22) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 8.9 (57) | Ikon Park (crowd: 6,300) | Report |
Round 7 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friday, 16 March (7:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney 3.6 (24) | def. by | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 10.4 (64) | Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 2,253) | Report |
Saturday, 17 March (2:05 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle 9.5 (59) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Carlton 6.12 (48) | Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2,751) | Report |
Saturday, 17 March (7:10 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne 4.7 (31) | VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 7,593) | Report |
Sunday, 18 March (2:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood 8.5 (53) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide 4.8 (32) | Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,300) | Report |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Western Bulldogs (P) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 312 | 219 | 142.5 | 20 | Grand Final |
2 | Brisbane | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 248 | 196 | 126.5 | 16 | |
3 | Melbourne | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 278 | 240 | 115.8 | 16 | |
4 | Greater Western Sydney | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 224 | 242 | 92.6 | 14 | |
5 | Adelaide | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 230 | 249 | 92.4 | 14 | |
6 | Collingwood | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 281 | 254 | 110.6 | 12 | |
7 | Fremantle | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 230 | 256 | 89.8 | 12 | |
8 | Carlton | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 173 | 320 | 54.1 | 8 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs | 4 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
2 | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 |
3 | ‹See Tfd› Melbourne | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 16 |
4 | ‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
5 | ‹See Tfd› Adelaide | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
6 | ‹See Tfd› Collingwood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
7 | ‹See Tfd› Fremantle | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
8 | ‹See Tfd› Carlton | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
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. [9]
Grand Final | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, 24 March (12:35 pm) | ‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs 4.3 (27) | def. | ‹See Tfd› Brisbane 3.3 (21) | Ikon Park (crowd: 7,083) | |
+ | Win | Qualified for finals | |
- | Loss | X | Bye |
Draw | Eliminated |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | GF | Ladder |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
‹See Tfd› Adelaide | BL 12 | Mel 32 | WB 7 | GWS 0 | Car 35 | Fre 4 | Col 21 | X | 5 |
‹See Tfd› Brisbane | Ade 12 | WB 9 | Car 22 | Fre 7 | Mel 6 | Col 14 | GWS 40 | WB 6 | 2 |
‹See Tfd› Carlton | Col 8 | GWS 21 | BL 22 | WB 73 | Ade 35 | Mel 35 | Fre 11 | X | 8 |
‹See Tfd› Collingwood | Car 8 | Fre 13 | GWS 13 | Mel 34 | WB 8 | BL 14 | Ade 21 | X | 6 |
‹See Tfd› Fremantle | WB 26 | Col 13 | Mel 5 | BL 7 | GWS 18 | Ade 4 | Car 11 | X | 7 |
‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney | Mel 6 | Car 21 | Col 13 | Ade 0 | Fre 18 | WB 18 | BL 40 | X | 4 |
‹See Tfd› Melbourne | GWS 6 | Ade 32 | Fre 5 | Col 34 | BL 6 | Car 35 | WB 2 | X | 3 |
‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs | Fre 26 | BL 9 | Ade 7 | Car 73 | Col 8 | GWS 18 | Mel 2 | BL 6 | 1 |
Club | Total | Games | Avg. per game | Home total | Home games | Home avg. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
‹See Tfd› Adelaide | 32,658 | 7 | 4,665 | 24,149 | 4 | 6,037 |
‹See Tfd› Brisbane | 31,073 | 7 | 4,439 | 9,400 | 3 | 3,133 |
‹See Tfd› Carlton | 52,261 | 6 | 8,710 | 32,352 | 3 | 10,784 |
‹See Tfd› Collingwood | 75,027 | 7 | 10,718 | 8,600 | 3 | 2,867 |
‹See Tfd› Fremantle | 59,830 | 6 | 9,972 | 47,671 | 3 | 15,890 |
‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney | 25,031 | 7 | 3,576 | 13,760 | 4 | 3,440 |
‹See Tfd› Melbourne | 30,018 | 7 | 4,288 | 13,000 | 4 | 3,250 |
‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs | 42,126 | 7 | 6,018 | 25,080 | 3 | 8,360 |
Ground | Total | Games | Avg. per game |
---|---|---|---|
Blacktown International Sportspark | 2,409 | 1 | 2,409 |
Casey Fields | 11,000 | 3 | 3,667 |
Drummoyne Oval | 4,952 | 1 | 4,952 |
Fremantle Oval | 5,696 | 2 | 2,848 |
Ikon Park | 32,352 | 3 | 10,784 |
Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex | 2,600 | 1 | 2,600 |
Norwood Oval | 21,990 | 3 | 7,330 |
Olympic Park Oval | 5,900 | 2 | 2,950 |
Optus Stadium | 41,975 | 1 | 41,975 |
South Pine Sports Complex | 6,800 | 2 | 3,400 |
Ted Summerton Reserve | 2,700 | 1 | 2,700 |
TIO Stadium | 2,159 | 1 | 2,159 |
TIO Traeger Park | 2,000 | 1 | 2,000 |
UNSW Canberra Oval | 4,146 | 1 | 4,146 |
VU Whitten Oval | 25,080 | 3 | 8,360 |
Club | Award name | Player | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
‹See Tfd› Adelaide | Club Champion | Chelsea Randall | [16] |
‹See Tfd› Brisbane | Best and fairest | Kate Lutkins | [17] |
‹See Tfd› Carlton | Best and fairest | Katie Loynes | [18] |
Breann Moody | |||
‹See Tfd› Collingwood | Best and fairest | Chloe Molloy | [19] |
‹See Tfd› Fremantle | Fairest and best | Ebony Antonio | [20] |
‹See Tfd› Greater Western Sydney | Gabrielle Trainor Medal | Alicia Eva | [21] |
‹See Tfd› Melbourne | Best and fairest | Daisy Pearce | [22] |
‹See Tfd› Western Bulldogs | Susan Alberti Award | Emma Kearney | [23] |
Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brooke Lochland | 11 | 01 | 12 | 79 | 211 | 011 | 112 | 12 |
2 | Jess Wuetschner | 22 | 24 | 15 | 27 | 07 | 18 | 311 | 11 |
3 | Christina Bernardi | 00 | 22 | 02 | 13 | 14 | 37 | 29 | 9 |
Tegan Cunningham | 11 | 23 | 25 | 05 | 16 | 39 | 09 | ||
5 | Sabrina Frederick-Traub | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 33 | 14 | 48 | 8 |
Moana Hope | 00 | 00 | 22 | 24 | 04 | 37 | 18 | ||
7 | Phoebe McWilliams | 33 | 14 | 26 | 06 | 17 | 07 | 07 | 7 |
Erin Phillips | 00 | 00 | 44 | 04 | 04 | 37 | 07 | ||
Ruth Wallace | 11 | 12 | 02 | 13 | 36 | 06 | 17 | ||
10 | Katie Brennan | 33 | 03 | 25 | 05 | 05 | 05 | 16 | 6 |
Kate Hore | 11 | 01 | 01 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 16 | ||
Amy Lavell | 22 | 13 | 14 | 04 | 04 | 04 | 26 |
Club | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
‹See Tfd› Carlton | Damien Keeping | Mutual termination [24] | 20 March 2018 | Daniel Harford [25] | 23 April 2018 |
‹See Tfd› Adelaide | Bec Goddard | Resigned [26] | 13 April 2018 | Matthew Clarke [27] | 23 May 2018 |
‹See Tfd› Fremantle | Michelle Cowan | Resigned [28] | 19 April 2018 | Trent Cooper [29] | 7 June 2018 |
Brianna Iris Davey is an Australian footballer in both the Association football (soccer) and Australian rules football codes. In soccer, she was a goalkeeper for the national women's team the Matildas and played in the W-League for Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City. In 2016, she transitioned from soccer to Australian rules football, and was one of two initial marquee recruits for the Carlton Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She won the inaugural Carlton best and fairest award and was named in the 2017 AFL Women's All-Australian team. Davey served as Carlton captain from 2018 to 2019 before being traded to the Collingwood Football Club. She was appointed Collingwood co-captain alongside Steph Chiocci in 2021, and won the league best and fairest award for the 2021 season.
Tayla Harris is a professional Australian sportsperson best known for her careers in Australian rules football with the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) and in professional boxing. She is a highly successful boxer, being an Australian National Boxing Federation female middleweight title holder. As a footballer, she plays as a key forward and previously played with ‹See Tfd›Carlton and ‹See Tfd›Brisbane. Harris is an AFLW premiership player, 4 time women's All-Australian, as well as former Carlton leading goalkicker and Melbourne leading goalkicker.
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: ‹See Tfd›Adelaide, ‹See Tfd›Brisbane, ‹See Tfd›Carlton, ‹See Tfd›Collingwood, ‹See Tfd›Fremantle, ‹See Tfd›Greater Western Sydney, ‹See Tfd›Melbourne and the ‹See Tfd›Western Bulldogs.
Lauren Arnell is a retired Australian rules footballer and senior coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition, having previously played for Carlton and the Brisbane Lions. She served as Carlton's inaugural AFLW team captain in the 2017 season and won the 2021 premiership with the Brisbane Lions, before becoming ‹See Tfd›Port Adelaide's inaugural coach in 2022.
The AFL Women's Rising Star is an Australian rules football award given annually to the best young player in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for the year. Two eligible players are nominated each round of the home-and-away season; the players must have been under 21 at the beginning of the year and cannot have been previously nominated. Players suspended during the year cannot win. After the season's completion, an expert panel votes on the recipient.
Emma Michelle Kearney is an Australian rules footballer and former cricketer. A decorated midfielder in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, Kearney won the league's best and fairest award while playing for the ‹See Tfd›Western Bulldogs in 2018 and has captained ‹See Tfd›North Melbourne since 2019. She previously played cricket for the Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and for Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL).
Karen "Paxy" Paxman is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). A defender, 1.70 metres (5.6 ft) tall, Paxman plays primarily on the half-back line with the ability to push into the midfield. She first played football at sixteen years of age and won a premiership and league best and fairest in her first year. She played in the premier division of the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL) from the 2008 season and won three VWFL premierships with St Albans and Darebin, in addition to a VFL Women's premiership with Darebin. Her accolades in football include three league best and fairests, state representation on four occasions, best-on-ground in a grand final, and five-time AFLW All-Australian honours.
Nicola Stevens is an Australian rules footballer playing for St Kilda in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for Collingwood in 2017 and for Carlton in 2018–2022. Stevens was selected in the inaugural AFL Women's All-Australian team and was the inaugural Collingwood best and fairest winner during her only season with the Magpies in 2017.
Angela Foley is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Adelaide Football Club from 2017 to season 6. A defender, 1.73 metres (5.7 ft) tall, Foley plays primarily on the half-back line with the ability to push into the midfield.
Anne Hatchard is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition.
Sarah Allan is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition.
Jasmine Garner is an Australian rules footballer with ‹See Tfd›North Melbourne in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. Garner scored the AFLW's first-ever goal while playing for ‹See Tfd›Collingwood in the league's inaugural match in 2017.
Brooke Lochland is an Australian rules footballer and former speed skater. Lochland currently plays for the Sydney Swans in the AFL Women's (AFLW), having previously played for the Western Bulldogs from 2017 to 2022 season 6. In 2018, she played in the Bulldogs' AFL Women's premiership team, was the AFL Women's leading goalkicker for that season and was named in the 2018 AFL Women's All-Australian team.
Chloe Molloy is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Sydney Swans in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Collingwood Football Club from 2018 to season 7. Molloy is a three-time AFL Women's All-Australian, and won the AFL Women's Rising Star and Collingwood best and fairest awards in 2018. She also led Collingwood's goalkicking in 2021 and season 6, and Sydney's goalkicking in 2023. Molloy has served as Sydney co-captain since the 2023 season.
Isabel Huntington is an Australian rules footballer playing for Greater Western Sydney in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She was drafted to the Western Bulldogs with the first pick in the 2017 AFL Women's draft.
The 2019 AFL Women's season was the third season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured ten clubs and ran from 2 February to 31 March, comprising a seven-round home-and-away season followed by a two-week finals series featuring the top two clubs from each conference. Australian Football League (AFL) clubs ‹See Tfd›Geelong and ‹See Tfd›North Melbourne featured for the first time in 2019.
Madison Prespakis is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Carlton Football Club from 2019 to season 6. A midfielder who won multiple accolades at junior level and played in the VFL Women's (VFLW) as a teenager, Prespakis won the 2019 AFL Women's Rising Star award in her debut season and the 2020 AFL Women's best and fairest award in her second season. She is a three-time AFL Women's All-Australian, three-time Carlton best and fairest winner and was the inaugural Essendon best and fairest winner in season 7, and is Essendon's equal games record holder with 23 games.
The 2020 AFL Women's season was the fourth season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured 14 clubs and ran from 7 February to 22 March; it was intended to comprise an eight-round home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top three clubs from each conference, however the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March saw the season curtailed and finally abandoned without a premiership being awarded. Australian Football League (AFL) clubs ‹See Tfd›Gold Coast, ‹See Tfd›Richmond, ‹See Tfd›St Kilda and ‹See Tfd›West Coast featured for the first time in 2020.
The 2021 AFL Women's season was the fifth season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured 14 clubs and ran from 28 January to 17 April, comprising a nine-round home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top six clubs.
2022 AFL Women's season 6 was the sixth season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured 14 clubs and ran from 7 January to 9 April, comprising a ten-round home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top six clubs. It was the first of two seasons to take place in the 2022 calendar year, with the competition's seventh season held from August to November.