2021 AFL Women's season

Fifth season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition

The 2021 AFL Women's season was the fifth season of the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, the highest-level senior women's Australian rules football competition in Australia. The season featured 14 clubs and ran from 28 January to 17 April, comprising a nine-round home-and-away season followed by a three-week finals series featuring the top six clubs.

Brisbane won the premiership, defeating ‹See Tfd›Adelaide by 18 points in the 2021 AFL Women's Grand Final. Adelaide won the minor premiership by finishing atop the home-and-away ladder with a 7–2 win–loss record. ‹See Tfd›Fremantle's Kiara Bowers and ‹See Tfd›Collingwood's Brianna Davey tied for the AFL Women's best and fairest award as the league's best and fairest players, and ‹See Tfd›Carlton's Darcy Vescio won their second AFL Women's leading goalkicker award as the league's leading goalkicker.

Format

The previous two AFLW seasons were formatted with the assistance of conferences, which split the league's clubs into two ranking tables. The AFL elected to remove the conferences for the 2021 season and revert to a single ladder. Under the terms of the existing contractual bargaining agreement between the players and the AFL, teams will play nine regular season matches, before a three-week finals series for the top six teams occurs.^[1] Owing to the fact clubs will not get the opportunity to play all of their opponents once, the AFL placed the teams together in a single 2020 ladder and then broke them up into brackets to attempt a fair fixture for the 2021 season.^[2]

The season was played during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the season began, Australia had largely settled into a paradigm of most states maintaining zero COVID-19 cases outside of their international travel quarantine systems; this allowed football games to be played in front of crowds, usually with reduced capacity, and unhindered interstate travel was permitted without quarantine. However, the different state governments often responded quickly to small numbers or even single virus cases being discovered in the community; this meant border restrictions or quarantine periods were at times re-introduced at short notice, impacting interstate travel for games; and, in some cases, that city- or state-wide lockdowns could be imposed within the impacted states,^[3] precluding football activities altogether. The season's original nine-round fixture was discarded due to such restrictions after only one week, in favour of a floating fixture released around any restrictions in place at the time.

Home-and-away season

All starting times are local time.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Ladder

Updated to match(es) played on 17 March 2021. Source: Womens.AFL
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 6.
• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished in first place for that round.
• Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place for that round.

Finals series

Qualifying finals

Preliminary finals

Grand final

Win–loss table

Awards

League awards

• The league best and fairest was jointly awarded to Kiara Bowers of ‹See Tfd›Fremantle and Brianna Davey of ‹See Tfd›Collingwood, who polled 15 votes each.^[35]
• The leading goalkicker was awarded to Darcy Vescio of ‹See Tfd›Carlton, who kicked 16 goals during the home and away season.^[36]
• The Rising Star was awarded to Tyla Hanks of ‹See Tfd›Melbourne.^[37]
• The best on ground medal in the AFL Women's Grand Final was won by Kate Lutkins of Brisbane Lions.^[38]
• The goal of the year was awarded to Courtney Hodder of Brisbane Lions.^[39]
• The mark of the year was awarded to Danielle Ponter of ‹See Tfd›Adelaide.^[39]
• AFLW Players Association awards:
  • The most valuable player was awarded to Brianna Davey of ‹See Tfd›Collingwood.^[40]
  • The most courageous player was awarded to Chelsea Randall of ‹See Tfd›Adelaide.^[40]
  • The best captain was awarded to Ellie Blackburn of ‹See Tfd›Western Bulldogs.^[40]
  • The best first year player was awarded to Ellie McKenzie of ‹See Tfd›Richmond.^[40]
• The AFLW Coaches Association awards:
  • The champion player of the year was awarded to Kiara Bowers of ‹See Tfd›Fremantle.^[41]
  • The senior coach of the year was awarded to Craig Starcevich of Brisbane Lions.^[42]
• Brianna Davey was named captain of the All-Australian team. Twelve of the fourteen clubs had at least one representative in the 21-woman team.^[43]
• The minor premiership was won by ‹See Tfd›Adelaide.
• The wooden spoon was "won" by ‹See Tfd›Gold Coast.

Best and fairests

Leading goalkickers

• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the player led the season's goal kicking tally at the end of that round.

Source:^[45]

Coach changes

Club leadership

Notes

References

1. "AFLW scraps controversial conference system, introduces ticketed matches for 2021 season". ABC News. 10 December 2020.
2. "AFLW 2021 season: Conferences out, $10 tickets, start date revealed". womens.afl. 10 December 2020.
3. Tim Richards (8 February 2021). "Australia state border closures: Closing due to a single case feels like 'security theatre'". Traveller.com.au. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
4. Black, Sarah (5 February 2021). "It's on: Dockers and Eagles match to go ahead in R2". AFL Women's. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
5. "Brisbane Lions hold Gold Coast Suns to lowest score in AFLW history, North Melbourne beat St Kilda to stay unbeaten". ABC News. 7 February 2020.
6. "AFLW - Lowest Match Aggregates". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
7. "AFL Record – AFLW Finals Week 2". issuu. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
8. "R3 Update: Tigers to host Pies, Lions-Eagles on hold". AFLW. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
9. "AFLW: Adelaide Crows d Brisbane Lions". Austadiums. 21 February 2021.
10. "AFLW: Richmond d Geelong Cats". Austadiums. 26 February 2021.
11. "2021 AFL Women's Premiership Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
12. "AFLW: West Coast Eagles d Gold Coast Suns". Austadiums. 28 February 2021.
13. "Richmond scores historic first AFLW win with 47-point thrashing of Geelong". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
14. "AFLW: Collingwood d Western Bulldogs". Austadiums. 7 March 2021.
15. "Why the AFLW is kicking goals on and off the field". AFLW. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
16. "R6 fixture: Another WA derby, Lions head to Canberra". womens.afl. 27 February 2021.
17. "AFLW: Richmond d Gold Coast Suns". Austadiums. 12 March 2021.
18. "AFLW: GWS Giants d St Kilda". Austadiums. 13 March 2021.
19. "AFLW: North Melbourne d Western Bulldogs". Austadiums. 13 March 2021.
20. "AFLW: Melbourne d Adelaide Crows". Austadiums. 13 March 2021.
21. "AFLW: West Coast Eagles d Geelong Cats". Austadiums. 15 March 2021.
22. Laughton, Max (13 March 2021). "COVID case in Brisbane forces AFLW showdown to move to Victoria as state on high alert". Fox Sports.
23. "AFLW: Carlton d Gold Coast Suns". Austadiums. 19 March 2021.
24. "AFLW: Richmond d West Coast Eagles". Austadiums. 21 March 2021.
25. "AFLW: Adelaide Crows d Western Bulldogs". Austadiums. 21 March 2021.
26. "Carlton hands Gold Coast Suns 60-point AFLW thrashing as Darcy Vescio kicks five goals". ABC News. 19 March 2021.
27. "AFLW: Western Bulldogs d Richmond". Austadiums. 26 March 2021.
28. "Gold Coast WFC vs Geelong WFC". Australian Football. 27 March 2021.
29. "Adelaide WFC vs Collingwood WFC". Australian Football. 28 March 2021.
30. "Greater Western Sydney WFC vs Carlton WFC". Australian Football. 28 March 2021.
31. "West Coast WFC vs St. Kilda WFC". Australian Football. 28 March 2021.
32. "Australian Football - Match Details: 2021 2QF Melbourne WFC vs Fremantle WFC". Australian Football. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
33. "2021 AFL Women's Premiership Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
34. "2021 AFL Women's Premiership Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
35. "History makers: Magpies co-captain, Dockers superstar share AFLW B&F". AFL Women's. Telstra. 20 April 2021.
36. "Blues gun wraps up goalkicking title in Blacktown nail-biter". AFLW. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
37. Black, Sarah (20 April 2021). "This rise is official: 157cm Demon Tyla Hanks is the NAB AFLW Rising Star". AFL Women's. Telstra.
38. Naghten, Tom (17 April 2021). "AFLW grand final: Brisbane Lions defeat Adelaide Crows for maiden flag". Sporting News.
39. Black, Sarah (20 April 2021). "Grand Final livewires sweep Goal of the Year, Mark of the Year awards". AFL Women's. Telstra.
40. Black, Sarah (14 April 2021). "MVP Awards: Pie pips Docker for top gong, best captain revealed". womens.afl.
41. Waterworth, Ben (31 March 2021). "Kiara Bowers crowned coaches' 2021 AFLW champion player in thrilling finish". Fox Sports.
42. "Coaches pick Starcevich as their No.1 after Lions' GF run". womens.afl. 15 April 2021.
43. Zita, David (20 April 2021). "Two AFLW greats reach footy immortality as All-Australian squad revealed". Fox Sports.
44. Black, Sarah (9 April 2021). "Best and fairest club wrap 2021". womens.afl.
45. "AFL - Every Goalkicker". australianfootball.com.
46. "Suns coach quits after winless campaign". AFL Women's. Telstra. 11 April 2021.
47. Fair, Alex (2 June 2021). "Tasmania Devils coach Cameron Joyce signs as Gold Coast's new AFLW coach". The Advocate.
48. Black, Sarah (10 May 2021). "Cats coach steps down in wake of one-win season". AFL Women's. Telstra.
49. Harrington, Anna (29 June 2021). "Lowther named Geelong AFLW coach". Seven News.
50. "Peta Searle to depart Saints". St Kilda. Telstra. 24 June 2021.
51. McClure, Sam (2 August 2021). "'We're here to win': Former St Kilda champ Dal Santo unveiled as Saints' AFLW coach". The Age.
52. Healey, Catherine (7 September 2021). "Michael Prior replaces Daniel Pratt as West Coast Eagles AFLW coach". The West Australian.
53. "AFLW: Randall named as Adelaide's first standalone women's captain". Adelaide. Telstra Media. 18 January 2021.
54. "Zielke to captain AFLW side once again". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. 4 December 2020.
55. "Vescio added to AFLW leadership group". Carlton. Telstra Media. 21 January 2021.
56. "Davey, Chiocci named Magpies AFLW skippers". Seven News. 2 December 2020.
57. "Freo captaincy 'the best job in the world'". Fremantle. Telstra Media. 13 November 2020.
58. "Meghan McDonald Named Geelong AFLW Captain". Geelong. Telstra Media. 23 December 2020.
59. "SUNS Finalise 2021 AFLW Leadership Group". Gold Coast Suns. Telstra Media. 18 January 2021.
60. "Eva Continues to Lead". Greater Western Sydney Giants. Telstra Media. 7 January 2021.
61. Nobes, Caitlin (15 January 2021). "Pearce, Paxman to continue in new-look AFLW leadership group". Melbourne. Telstra Media.
62. "AFLW: Leadership group finalised". North Melbourne. Telstra Media. 15 January 2021.
63. "AFLW Tigers announce leadership group". Richmond. Telstra Media. 19 January 2021.
64. "AFLW Saints name four co-captains for 2021". St Kilda. Telstra Media. 20 January 2021.
65. Woodcock, Mitchell (19 November 2020). "Emma Swanson to captain West Coast Eagles AFLW team for a second-consecutive season". The West Australian.
66. "Blackburn to continue as captain". Western Bulldogs. Telstra Media. 15 January 2021.

External links

• Official AFL Women's website