THE AFL is pleased to announce three matches for Round Two (Pride Round) of the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition have officially sold out with no further tickets to be released to Friday night's match between the Western Bulldogs and Carlton, Sunday’s match between North Melbourne and St Kilda and Sunday’s Q Clash between the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast SUNS.
Three games were sold out in Round One with the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park, St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs at RSEA Park, and Richmond vs. Brisbane Lions at the Swinburne Centre all reaching capacity.
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Supporters of AFLW are not only attending games in strong numbers – almost one million Australians tuned in to the broadcast of Round One (a 15 per cent increase compared to 2020) – witnessing the highest-scoring opening round in the competition’s five-year history.
Round One also delivered the highest-rating round of AFLW since 2018 and the third-highest in its history (behind Round One and Two of the inaugural season).
Carlton vs. Collingwood reached over 1.1 million viewers across the Seven Network and Foxtel while last Sunday’s Richmond vs. Brisbane Lions match at the Swinburne Centre, the first game for premiership points at the ground since 1964, drew an average audience of 197,000 – the highest audience for a Sunday home-and-away game in AFLW history.
AFL Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone expressed her thanks to clubs, players and football fans across the country, and thanked broadcast partners - the Seven Network, Foxtel and Telstra for their continued support of the game.
"I want to acknowledge the dedication of everyone in the football community in supporting the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition," Ms Livingstone said.
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"We are delighted in the strong start to the fifth season of AFLW which has seen high ratings, high scores and six matches across the first two rounds selling out across the country.
"On the field, all key statistics have pointed to a more open and attacking style of football, highlighting the continued progression of our AFLW competition."
Round One saw total scoring per game increase from an average of 48 in 2020 to 74 in 2021, up 26 per cent compared to the opening round of last season.
Less tackles were laid with an average of 112 per game in Round One compared to 124 at the same stage last year.
The number of ball ups and throw ins were also down five per cent and six per cent in comparison to 2020 averages, respectively.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said it is great to see the NAB AFL Women’s Competition continue to have a strong impact across the country.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT A snapshot of round one
"The NAB AFL Women’s Competition continues to go from strength to strength and that is a credit to everyone involved in the game - our clubs and our players, from the grassroots to the elite," Mr McLachlan said.
"To see the standard of footy on display in Round One and new emerging talent making an immediate impact on the competition is very exciting for football. We have an exciting season ahead of us.
"It is fantastic to see more people are watching AFLW, more supporters purchasing tickets to attend the matches, and more girls than ever before playing Australian Football.
"I want to thank our broadcast partners, the Seven Network, Foxtel and Telstra, for their ongoing support and commitment to bringing the fans from all over the country closer to the game."
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