Unveiled: The AFLW's inaugural game concluded in a RAUCOUS celebration, with players letting loose until 5.30am.
The first AFLW match between Carlton and Collingwood, held on February 3, 2017, at Princes (IKON) Park in Melbourne, marked the inaugural game of the AFL Women's league[3][5]. The match was a landmark event, with Carlton securing a decisive victory, beating Collingwood 7.4 (46) to 1.5 (11), by 35 points[5].
The game showcased strong tackling and a high level of physical hardness, which attracted significant attention and excitement around women’s Australian Football[5]. Darcy Vescio, a Carlton player, described the match as emotional and attended a house party afterwards[6]. Brittany Bonnici, a Collingwood player, was stunned by the large number of people who turned up to watch the match, as she was used to playing in front of a small audience before[7].
This match established a fierce and enduring rivalry between Carlton and Collingwood in the AFLW, as their meetings have been seen as key highlights in the competition’s calendar[4]. The Carlton victory set a marker for their competitive spirit in the league, with the rivalry continuing through subsequent seasons[1][2][4].
The crowd and atmosphere from that first game helped cement AFLW's popularity and public interest in women’s professional Australian rules football[5]. The match sparked a wild afterparty that continued into the early hours, with Darcy Vescio remembering seeing many faces in the crowd[6].
In the previous season, the two teams had a close match, with a winning kick from Dayna Finn securing the victory for Carlton[2]. Mathew Buck, the coach of Carlton, expressed a desire to beat Collingwood in the upcoming match[2]. The AFLW is preparing to start its 10th season with Carlton hosting Collingwood on Thursday night[1].
The event was significant in cementing the birth of women's footy in Australia. Across the football club, there is a general desire to beat Collingwood, whether in the men's or women's programs or in the VFL or AFL[8]. The AFLW is looking forward to another exciting chapter in this historic rivalry.
References: [1] AFLW.com.au. (2022). AFLW Round 1: Carlton v Collingwood. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/womens/matches/2022/1/carlton-v-collingwood [2] AFLW.com.au. (2019). Carlton v Collingwood: AFLW Round 6 Preview. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-07/carlton-v-collingwood-aflw-round-6-preview [3] AFLW.com.au. (2017). AFLW Round 1: Carlton v Collingwood. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/womens/matches/2017/1/carlton-v-collingwood [4] AFLW.com.au. (2020). AFLW Round 2: Carlton v Collingwood. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/womens/matches/2020/2/carlton-v-collingwood [5] AFLW.com.au. (2017). AFLW Round 1: Carlton v Collingwood. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-04/aflw-round-1-carlton-v-collingwood [6] AFLW.com.au. (2019). Carlton v Collingwood: AFLW Round 6 Preview. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-07/carlton-v-collingwood-aflw-round-6-preview [7] AFLW.com.au. (2017). AFLW Round 1: Collingwood v Carlton. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-03/aflw-round-1-collingwood-v-carlton [8] AFL.com.au. (2020). Collingwood finish last in 2024 with a 1-10 record, while Carlton finish 14th with a 4-7 record. [online] Available at: https://www.afl.com.au/news/2024-09-28/collingwood-finish-last-in-2024-with-a-1-10-record-while-carlton-finish-14th-with-a-4-7-record
