Fremantle will begin their 2024 NAB AFL Women’s campaign in an away clash with Essendon on Saturday 31 August before returning home for their first home game of the season.
Their first appearance at home will see Fremantle take on the Adelaide Crows in round 2, with the sides’ last clash three seasons ago.
The game is one of five Fremantle will play at their home ground, also facing Melbourne in round 4, Hawthorn in round 6b, Carlton in round 7 and the Western Bulldogs in round 10.
The AFL has included an additional game in 2024, making the competition an 11-game home and away season for the first time.
The extra game means that all teams will now play two games in round 6, with these games being referred to as rounds 6a and 6b.
Fremantle Chief Executive Officer Simon Garlick said the Club was pleased to have the AFLW season in reach, with pre-season officially beginning on Monday 3 June.
“We are thrilled the AFLW season is in our sights once again, and the fixture release only adds to that excitement,” Garlick said.
“All five of our home games will be played at our spiritual home in Fremantle again this year, and we cannot wait to put on a show for the Purple Army and make the Freo family proud.”
The RAC Derby will return, seeing the two Western Australian sides battle it out on the big stage at Optus Stadium in round 8, in front of a West Coast Eagles home crowd.
“The RAC Derby is always a huge highlight for our WA fans, and this year, we are thrilled the AFL has allowed us to showcase the best of WA female football on the big stage at Optus Stadium,” Garlick said.
“This will be the fourth AFLW RAC Derby held at Optus, and Fremantle, West Coast and RAC WA will come together to make this a memorable event for Western Australians, celebrating women in sport in a state rivalry like no other.”
Fremantle’s Head of AFLW Claire Heffernan said the Club is excited with the fixture line-up for the 2024 season.
“We love when we get to play at Fremantle Oval in front of our home crowd, presenting the chance to connect with the Purple Army and showcase the hard work the girls have put in during pre-season and off-season,” Heffernan said.
The five away games after round 1 will see Fremantle travel to Victoria, Adelaide and Sydney, taking on Port Adelaide in round 3, St Kilda in round 5, Geelong in round 6a, and the GWS Giants in round 9, as well as the RAC Derby.
“We have a well-travelled team who embrace the mentality of playing any team, anywhere and travelling to Sydney, Adelaide and Victoria offers a unique opportunity for the squad to connect with each other, and showcase their skills away from home,” Heffernan said.
“Last year, we had the opportunity to spend a week in Melbourne from two back-to-back games in Victoria during AFL’s Grand Final week, and this year we look to embrace a similar experience.”
Fremantle played six of the 11 teams in this year’s fixture last season; however, it will be the first time Fremantle take on Port Adelaide.
Indigenous rounds will be held in the final two fixtures of the season against the GWS Giants in round nine, and the Western Bulldogs in round 10, the Club is once again proud to announce it will be known as the Walyalup Football Club for games played in the AFLW Indigenous Rounds.
The Club would like to thank its Indigenous Program partner Woodside Energy for their support of the Club’s renaming, and its continued involvement in the delivery of its Reconciliation Action Plan.
“We are looking forward to facing Port Adelaide, who we have never played before, and also tackle clubs we haven’t matched up against in a while, in the Giants, Crows, Carlton and Bulldogs,” Heffernan said.
Fremantle finished 13th last season, and will face four teams who played finals, and seven teams that did not qualify in St Kilda (9th), Carlton (12th), Hawthorn (14th), Port Adelaide (15th), GWS Giants (16th), West Coast Eagles (17th) and the Western Bulldogs (18th).
