MELBOURNE will play its first match in the AFL Women’s competition against the Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields on Sunday, February 5.
On Friday morning, the AFL released the inaugural AFLW fixture, which will be played in February and March next year.
In rounds three and four, Melbourne will play double-headers against the Western Bulldogs (away) and Carlton (home) respectively.
On Saturday, February 18, the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs men’s match at Victoria University Whitten Oval will start at 4.40pm, followed by the women’s at 7.35pm.
It will be the men’s opening JLT Community Series match and the women’s round three clash.
The following Saturday, on February 25, Melbourne hosts Carlton at Casey Fields. The women's match will be first at 11.35am, followed by the men’s at 2.05pm.
Overall, the Melbourne women’s team will play seven matches in 2017.
It will play three home matches at Casey Fields against the Lions, Carlton and Fremantle, and four away games against Collingwood (Olympic Park Oval), Western Bulldogs (VU Whitten Oval), GWS Giants (Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney) and Adelaide Crows (TIO Stadium).
In round two, Melbourne will play Collingwood at the Holden Centre.
Melbourne’s first of two interstate trips is against the Giants in round five and it will back it up with another clash on the road against the Crows in Darwin in round six.
Its final round is against Fremantle at Casey Fields on Saturday, March 18.
If Melbourne makes it through to the top two, it will play in the inaugural AFLW Grand Final.
Melbourne will play one match on Friday night, three on Saturday during the day and two at night. It will also play a game on Sunday.
Four Melbourne matches will be broadcast on Foxtel and three on Channel Seven.
Melbourne’s AFLW fixture
Round 1 – Sunday, February 5
Melbourne v Brisbane Lions,
Casey Fields, Home, 5.05pm, Foxtel
Round 2 – Saturday, February 11
Collingwood v Melbourne
Olympic Park Oval, Home, 7.35pm, Seven
Round 3 – Saturday, February 18
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne
VU Whitten Oval, Away, 7.35pm, Seven
Round 4 – Saturday, February 25
Melbourne v Carlton
Casey Fields, Home, 11.35am, Foxtel
Round 5 – Friday, March 3
GWS Giants v Melbourne
Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney, Away, 5.05pm, Foxtel
Round 6 – Saturday, March 11
Melbourne v Adelaide Crows
TIO Stadium, Away, 5.40pm, Seven
Round 7 – Saturday, March 18
Melbourne v Fremantle
Casey Fields, Home, 4.35pm, Foxtel
