THE CURRENT NAB AFLW season is the highest scoring on record, while crowds are also significantly higher than this time last year.

All five rounds of the 2026 season are within the top 12 highest-scoring rounds in AFLW history, with the average score the largest on record.

AFLW STATEMENT Attendance up and scoring at record levels

AFLW games are shorter than AFL men's matches, with 17-minute quarters – the last two of which are played under time-on conditions.

The average points for per team per game this year is sitting at 46.4. After five rounds last year, the average points for per team per game was 40.9.

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A number of teams have significantly increased their average points so far in 2026.

TEAM

2025 AVERAGE SCORE

2026 AVERAGE SCORE

Geelong

41.7

66.2

Gold Coast

26.6

43.8

Melbourne

57.0

72.8

Richmond

29.1

42.8

Sydney

45.2

57.0

Hawthorn

37.6

49.0


Conversely, Port Adelaide and St Kilda are among the big scoring sliders this year.

Scoring shots, effective metres gained and metres gained by handball are all at record levels, while more individual goal hauls of three or higher have been recorded in the opening five rounds than at the same stage of any other AFLW season.

Boosted by a number of double-headers with men's matches, AFLW crowds are 43 per cent higher than this time last year.

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Two AFLW grounds also saw record attendance over the weekend, with 7340 attending the Sydney Derby between Sydney and Greater Western Sydney at Henson Park, while a near-capacity crowd of 4048 watched a heavyweight battle between North Melbourne and Carlton at Arden Street Oval.

Fremantle has also approached capacity at its two matches at new home ground Cockburn ARC.

"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," AFL EGM AFLW, health and football operations Laura Kane said.

"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 (rounds nine and 10) 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."