2018 AFL Women's season

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.

2018 AFL Women's season
Overview
Date	2 February—24 March 2018
Teams	8
Premiers	Western Bulldogs 1st premiership
Runners-up	Brisbane 2nd runners-up result
Minor premiers	Western Bulldogs 1st minor premiership
Best and fairest	Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs) 14 votes
Leading goalkicker	Brooke Lochland (Western Bulldogs) 12 goals
Attendance
Matches played	29
Total attendance	174,012 (6,000 per match)
Highest	41,975 (round 2, Fremantle v Collingwood)
← 2017 2019 →

The Western Bulldogs won the premiership, defeating 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.

Rule changes

Three rules were changed heading into the 2018 season:^[1][2]

• A free kick is paid against a player who last touches the ball before it goes out of bounds under the following conditions,

• A free kick will be awarded against a player who kicks or handballs the football over the boundary line without the football being touched by another player;
• Except where a player who does not have possession stops the football being touched by an opposition player by shepherding the football across the boundary line where the football could have otherwise been touched.
• If in doubt the umpires are instructed to throw the ball in.

• The interchange has been reduced to five players from six players in 2017.
• Time-on will occur during the last two minutes of each quarter.

Home-and-away season

The full fixture was released on Friday 27 October 2017.^[3] Notable features of the draw include:

• Unlike the previous season, there were no double-headers with men's preseason matches.^[4]
• Adelaide, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne each played four home games, while the other four clubs played three.
• Adelaide, Collingwood, GWS, and Melbourne each hosted matches at grounds outside of their home metropolitan area with trips to Darwin, Moe, Canberra and Alice Springs respectively.
• Carlton and Collingwood featured in the most free-to-air televised matches (three), Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs had two each, while GWS and Fremantle had one each.
• Many games were scheduled for the late afternoon to avoid the summer heat, especially in Brisbane and Western Australia.^[5]
• All starting times are local.

Round 1

	Round 1
Friday, 2 February (7:40 pm)	Carlton 3.4 (22)	def.	Collingwood 2.2 (14)	Ikon Park (crowd: 19,852)	Report
Saturday, 3 February (5:05 pm)	Melbourne 7.3 (45)	def.	Greater Western Sydney 6.3 (39)	Casey Fields (crowd: 5,100)	Report
Saturday, 3 February (6:45 pm)	Adelaide 3.1 (19)	def. by	Brisbane 4.7 (31)	Norwood Oval (crowd: 11,120)	Report
Sunday, 4 February (4:35 pm)	Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49)	def.	Fremantle 3.5 (23)	VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,500)	Report

Round 2

	Round 2
Friday, 9 February (7:05 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 1.3 (9)	def. by	Carlton 3.12 (30)	Drummoyne Oval (crowd: 4,952)	Report
Saturday, 10 February (5:05 pm)	Melbourne 8.8 (56)	def.	Adelaide 4.0 (24)	Casey Fields (crowd: 3,800)	Report
Saturday, 10 February (4:10 pm)	Fremantle 6.4 (40)	def.	Collingwood 4.3 (27)	Optus Stadium (crowd: 41,975)	Report
Sunday, 11 February (3:35 pm)	Brisbane 3.6 (24)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33)	South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 5,300)	Report
The Fremantle vs Collingwood match was the first football event played at the newly-constructed Perth Stadium.[6] It was also the only ticketed match of the season and all 54,000 available tickets were sold in advance of the match.[7]

Round 3

	Round 3
Saturday, 17 February (1:35 pm)	Adelaide 6.5 (41)	def.	Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34)	Norwood Oval (crowd: 4,900)	Report
Saturday, 17 February (7:40 pm)	Carlton 2.6 (18)	def. by	Brisbane 6.4 (40)	Ikon Park (crowd: 6,200)	Report
Sunday, 18 February (4:35 pm)	Collingwood 5.5 (35)	def. by	Greater Western Sydney 7.6 (48)	Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 3,600)	Report
Sunday, 18 February (3:35 pm)	Fremantle 6.0 (36)	def.	Melbourne 4.7 (31)	Fremantle Oval (crowd: 3,125)	Report

Round 4

	Round 4
Friday, 23 February (7:05 pm)	Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86)	def.	Carlton 2.1 (13)	VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 8,987)	Report
Saturday, 24 February (3:35 pm)	Brisbane 3.4 (22)	def.	Fremantle 2.3 (15)	South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 1,500)	Report
Saturday, 24 February (5:40 pm)	Melbourne 3.6 (24)	def. by	Collingwood 9.4 (58)	TIO Traeger Park (crowd: 2,000)	Report
Sunday, 25 February (4:35 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 2.7 (19)	drew with	Adelaide 2.7 (19)	Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 2,409)	Report
The Western Bulldogs' score of 12.14 (86) was, at the time, the highest score in a AFL Women's premiership match.[8] Brooke Lochland's seven goals in the match against Carlton is the most of any AFL Women's player in a single match to date.[8] Lauren Arnell kicked Carlton's entire score of 2.1 (13)[8]

Round 5

	Round 5
Friday, 2 March (7:05 pm)	Melbourne 4.10 (34)	def.	Brisbane 4.4 (28)	Casey Fields (crowd: 2,100)	Report
Saturday, 3 March (2:05 pm)	Fremantle 3.3 (21)	def. by	Greater Western Sydney 6.3 (39)	Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2,571)	Report
Saturday, 3 March (6:40 pm)	Adelaide 8.7 (55)	def.	Carlton 2.8 (20)	Norwood Oval (crowd: 5,970)	Report
Sunday, 4 March (2:35 pm)	Collingwood 6.5 (41)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 7.7 (49)	Ted Summerton Reserve (crowd: 2,700)	Report

Round 6

	Round 6
Friday, 9 March (5:35 pm)	Adelaide 6.4 (40)	def.	Fremantle 5.6 (36)	TIO Stadium (crowd: 2,159)	Report
Saturday, 10 March (3:35 pm)	Brisbane 5.9 (39)	def. by	Collingwood 8.5 (53)	Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex (crowd: 2,600)	Report
Saturday, 10 March (7:10 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 7.4 (46)	def.	Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28)	UNSW Canberra Oval (crowd: 4,146)	Report
Sunday, 11 March (4:35 pm)	Carlton 3.4 (22)	def. by	Melbourne 8.9 (57)	Ikon Park (crowd: 6,300)	Report

Round 7

	Round 7
Friday, 16 March (7:05 pm)	Greater Western Sydney 3.6 (24)	def. by	Brisbane 10.4 (64)	Blacktown International Sportspark (crowd: 2,253)	Report
Saturday, 17 March (2:05 pm)	Fremantle 9.5 (59)	def.	Carlton 6.12 (48)	Fremantle Oval (crowd: 2,751)	Report
Saturday, 17 March (7:10 pm)	Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33)	def.	Melbourne 4.7 (31)	VU Whitten Oval (crowd: 7,593)	Report
Sunday, 18 March (2:35 pm)	Collingwood 8.5 (53)	def.	Adelaide 4.8 (32)	Olympic Park Oval (crowd: 2,300)	Report

Ladder

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

Source: AFL.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Progression by round

• Numbers highlighted in green indicates the team finished the round inside the top 2.
• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place on the ladder in that round.
• Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.

	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1	Western Bulldogs	4	8	8	12	16	16	20
2	Brisbane	4	4	8	12	12	12	16
3	Melbourne	4	8	8	8	12	16	16
4	Greater Western Sydney	0	0	4	6	10	14	14
5	Adelaide	0	0	4	6	10	14	14
6	Collingwood	0	0	0	4	4	8	12
7	Fremantle	0	4	8	8	8	8	12
8	Carlton	4	8	8	8	8	8	8

Grand final

Main article: 2018 AFL Women's 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.^[9]

	Grand Final
Saturday, 24 March (12:35 pm)	Western Bulldogs 4.3 (27)	def.	Brisbane 3.3 (21)	Ikon Park (crowd: 7,083)

Win–loss table

+	Win		Qualified for finals
-	Loss	X	Bye
	Draw		Eliminated

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	GF	Ladder
Adelaide	BL 12	Mel 32	WB 7	GWS 0	Car 35	Fre 4	Col 21	X	5
Brisbane	Ade 12	WB 9	Car 22	Fre 7	Mel 6	Col 14	GWS 40	WB 6	2
Carlton	Col 8	GWS 21	BL 22	WB 73	Ade 35	Mel 35	Fre 11	X	8
Collingwood	Car 8	Fre 13	GWS 13	Mel 34	WB 8	BL 14	Ade 21	X	6
Fremantle	WB 26	Col 13	Mel 5	BL 7	GWS 18	Ade 4	Car 11	X	7
Greater Western Sydney	Mel 6	Car 21	Col 13	Ade 0	Fre 18	WB 18	BL 40	X	4
Melbourne	GWS 6	Ade 32	Fre 5	Col 34	BL 6	Car 35	WB 2	X	3
Western Bulldogs	Fre 26	BL 9	Ade 7	Car 73	Col 8	GWS 18	Mel 2	BL 6	1

Attendances

By club

2018 AFL Women's attendances

Club	Total	Games	Avg. per game	Home total	Home games	Home avg.
Adelaide	32,658	7	4,665	24,149	4	6,037
Brisbane	31,073	7	4,439	9,400	3	3,133
Carlton	52,261	6	8,710	32,352	3	10,784
Collingwood	75,027	7	10,718	8,600	3	2,867
Fremantle	59,830	6	9,972	47,671	3	15,890
Greater Western Sydney	25,031	7	3,576	13,760	4	3,440
Melbourne	30,018	7	4,288	13,000	4	3,250
Western Bulldogs	42,126	7	6,018	25,080	3	8,360

By ground

2018 ground attendances

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

Awards

• The league best and fairest was awarded to Emma Kearney.^[10]
• The leading goalkicker was awarded to Brooke Lochland of the Western Bulldogs, who kicked twelve goals during the home and away season.^[10]
• The Rising Star was awarded to Chloe Molloy.^[10]
• The best on ground in the AFL Women's Grand Final was awarded to Monique Conti.^[11]
• The goal of the year was awarded to Aliesha Newman.^[10]
• The mark of the year was awarded to Tayla Harris.^[10]
• The minor premiership was awarded to Western Bulldogs.^[12]
• AFLW Players Association awards
  • The most valuable player was awarded to Courtney Gum.^[13]
  • The most courageous player was awarded to Chelsea Randall.^[13]
  • The best captain was awarded to Daisy Pearce.^[13]
  • The best first year player was awarded to Chloe Molloy.^[13]
• Chelsea Randall was named the captain of the 2018 AFL Women's All-Australian team. The grand finalists, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions, along with Melbourne each had 4 players selected, with all eight clubs represented in the final team by at least one player.^[14]
• The wooden spoon was "awarded" to Carlton.^[15]

Best and fairest

Club	Award name	Player	Ref.
Adelaide	Club Champion	Chelsea Randall	[16]
Brisbane	Best and fairest	Kate Lutkins	[17]
Carlton	Best and fairest	Katie Loynes	[18]
		Breann Moody
Collingwood	Best and fairest	Chloe Molloy	[19]
Fremantle	Fairest and best	Ebony Antonio	[20]
Greater Western Sydney	Gabrielle Trainor Medal	Alicia Eva	[21]
Melbourne	Best and fairest	Daisy Pearce	[22]
Western Bulldogs	Susan Alberti Award	Emma Kearney	[23]

AFLW leading goalkicker

• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the season's goal kicking tally at the end of that round.
• Underlined numbers indicates the player did not play that round.

	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

Coach changes

Club	Outgoing coach	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Incoming coach	Date of appointment
Carlton	Damien Keeping	Mutual termination[24]	20 March 2018	Daniel Harford[25]	23 April 2018
Adelaide	Bec Goddard	Resigned[26]	13 April 2018	Matthew Clarke[27]	23 May 2018
Fremantle	Michelle Cowan	Resigned[28]	19 April 2018	Trent Cooper[29]	7 June 2018

Club leadership

Club	Coach	Captain(s)	Vice-captain(s)	Leadership group	Ref
Adelaide	Bec Goddard	Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall	Courtney Cramey, Ange Foley, Sally Riley		[30]
Brisbane	Craig Starcevich	Emma Zielke	Leah Kaslar	Emily Bates, Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Kate Lutkins, Sharni Webb	[31]
Carlton	Damien Keeping (Rds 1, 4–7)	Brianna Davey	Lauren Arnell, Sarah Hosking		[32]
	Nick Rutley (Rds 2–3)
Collingwood	Wayne Siekman	Steph Chiocci	Brittany Bonnici, Emma Grant	Christina Bernardi, Ashleigh Brazill, Emma King	[33]
Fremantle	Michelle Cowan	Kara Donnellan	Kiara Bowers, Amy Lavell		[34]
Greater Western Sydney	Alan McConnell	Amanda Farrugia	Alicia Eva	Jessica Dal Pos, Tanya Hetherington, Emma Swanson	[35]
Melbourne	Mick Stinear	Daisy Pearce	Melissa Hickey, Elise O'Dea		[36]
Western Bulldogs	Paul Groves	Katie Brennan		Ellie Blackburn, Nicole Callinan, Hannah Scott	[37]

See also

• 2017 AFL Women's draft