THE 2026 NAB AFLW Season has delivered one of the strongest starts in the competition's history, with attendance tracking 43 per cent ahead of the same point last year and scoring reaching all-time highs as the season approaches the halfway mark.
Across the opening five rounds, AFLW has continued to build momentum both on and off the field, with 166,013 fans turning out across the country and the competition producing some of the highest-scoring football in its history.
More than 97,000 fans attended the opening two rounds of the season – almost double the figure recorded across Rounds 1 and 2 in 2025 – after a capacity crowd of more than 9,000 packed North Sydney Oval for the inaugural NAB AFLW Australia v Ireland match ahead of the season. Round 1 attracted more fans than the first two rounds combined last season, with the two AFL/AFLW double-headers at Marvel Stadium proving a popular drawcard and attracting crowds of 20,455 and 14,573 respectively.
AFLW continues to evolve on the field, with all five rounds of the 2026 season currently sitting inside the top 12 highest-scoring rounds in AFLW history, while the season average for scoring is the highest on record.
The competition is also recording record levels of scoring shots, effective metres gained and metres gained by handball. More individual hauls of three or more goals have been recorded through the opening five rounds than at the same stage of any previous AFLW season.
Round 2 saw the Sydney Swans attract the largest crowd in their AFLW history, with 16,672 fans attending the club's AFL/AFLW double-header at the SCG, while the Geelong Cats played in front of their biggest AFLW crowd since their inaugural match in 2019, with 15,266 fans attending the club's AFL/AFLW double-header at GMHBA Stadium.
Round 5 delivered another significant attendance milestone for the competition, with records set at two of the AFLW's most iconic heartland venues.
A crowd of 7,340 attended the Sydney Derby at Henson Park, while 4,048 fans watched North Melbourne take on Carlton at Arden Street Oval, establishing a new benchmark for AFLW matches at both venues.
Over west, Fremantle has also enjoyed strong support at its new home ground Cockburn ARC, attracting near-capacity crowds across its first two home games of the season, while the Adelaide Crows have recorded consistent attendances at Unley Oval, averaging almost 3,000 fans across their first three home games.
AFL Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations Laura Kane said:
“It's been fantastic to see the way fans have embraced the 2026 NAB AFLW Season, with strong support for both double-headers at bigger stadiums and heartland AFLW venues right across the country.
“The growth we're seeing isn't limited to crowd numbers either – the game continues to evolve, with teams playing an attacking brand of football and the competition producing some of the highest-scoring football in AFLW history.
“There's still plenty of football to be played, including some exciting matchups and Pride Round in the weeks ahead, and we're looking forward to building on the momentum from the opening five rounds throughout the remainder of the season.”
Round 6 of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season kicks off on Friday, 18 September, as Hawthorn host undefeated ladder leaders North Melbourne at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.
