AFLW season kicks off with North Melbourne premiership defence

The AFLW season features significant matchups and storylines as teams begin their campaigns. North Melbourne, the two-time reigning premiers with a 27-game winning streak, begins its premiership defence at Marvel Stadium against Geelong.

Geelong enters the season under new leadership with premiership coach Mick Stinear. The Cats are looking to rebound after finishing 13th last season, bolstered by the return of forward Chloe Scheer following two years of injury absence.

In another matchup, Richmond faces Collingwood at Ikon Park. Richmond is entering a new era under coach Jarrad Donders, while Collingwood looks to improve after a difficult 2025 season in which they won only three matches. Collingwood enters the season with approximately a dozen new players on their roster.

Additionally, Collingwood's Ash Centra continues to draw attention following her breakout debut season, which included the viral ‘Centra Bounce’ social media trend.