Source : ABC NEWS
As young Carlton star Poppy Scholz launched the ball into the stands at Docklands Stadium to kick the first goal of the 2026 AFLW season, fans were asking each other: “What do you think this crowd is?'”
The Blues were playing against St Kilda in the season opener in one of five double-headers between the men’s and women’s competitions this season.
Players, clubs and fans have been calling for regular double-headers to be introduced by the AFL to help grow the women’s game.
This was in a bid to increase exposure of the women’s game, try to adopt more fans across, give a unified club identity (one club, two teams approach) and allow the women to play on better conditions to allow for a better product.
St Kilda puts up a late challenge against Carlton but the Blues never give up their lead. (Getty: Morgan Hancock)
By half-time on Sunday evening there were 11,000 people in the crowd, 2,000 more than the sold-out Australia vs Ireland game at North Sydney Oval a week earlier.
Halfway through the final quarter, that number had ballooned to 20,455.
For St Kilda veteran and former captain Hannah Priest, they gave “a nice unity for an all-club approach”.
“I look at the idea of all of your teams playing on the same day and celebrating each other,” she told ABC Sport, acknowledging that a lot of club staff worked across both the men’s and women’s programs.
“To open the season at [Docklands] is a testament to every single AFLW supporter who has advocated for this sort of growth, and everyone who’s been on board since the start. It’s a celebration for all of us.”
Across the stadium and fan sections, fans enjoyed the pizzazz of the bigger stadium, crowd noise and being sheltered from the rain.
However, there were also some who missed the community element of the suburban grounds and felt like AFLW was the main event.
Carlton AFLW fan Asha Ziffer, who has a membership for the women’s team but not the men’s, said she probably wouldn’t have gone to the double-header had it not been the opener.
“I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings about it, but I don’t think that this showcases it as it should be,” Ziffer told ABC Sport.
“I think that it is presenting it as second to the men’s game, and certainly for a season opener, W should be the focus.”
There were 20,455 in the last quarter of the AFLW opener between St Kilda and Carlton. (Getty: Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Ziffer said her 14-year-old daughter, Lily, said “it’s like when you go to a concert and there’s a support act that only half the people come to and then there’s the main event”.
“I think even if a 14-year-old can identify that, then it does say something more broadly to the community about where the women’s game sits,” Ziffer said, during the third quarter.
“Look, it’s great and the game is going our way, which is great, even better. But it does feel, because it’s such a big venue, I think 11,000 turnout is great but it just doesn’t feel like a big crowd because the venue is so big. And you know, I’m sure it’s a great ground for them to play on. And you know, it’s nice to have a roof over our heads, given the weather’s average.”
Long time AFLW St Kilda fan Shae Williams said although her side didn’t come away with the win, she hoped the team left the evening with a few more fans.
“It was exciting walking in and the thought of W starting … [although it] felt weird not being in a more intimate setting like Moorabbin.
“Twenty thousand attendance was a great result [and a] good experience for the players to play on a bigger stage,” Williams told ABC Sport.
“The idea of double-headers are great, [although] I understand the need for W to have its own space as well.”
Carlton won its opening match against St Kilda at Docklands. (Getty: Morgan Hancock)
Another Saints supporter, Dylan Cross, who got into both the games with his men’s and women’s membership, was pleased with the early turnout for the women’s game.
“I heard a few people comment around me that haven’t watched much women’s footy that it was better than they expected,” Cross told ABC Sport.
“So, hopefully it [double-headers] grow the game.
“I will say personally I still prefer the AFLW games at smaller grounds like Ikon or Moorabbin due to the more local footy vibes and that it’s so family friendly. The crowd felt a bit reserved tonight.
“But all in all, I think it was a success and hopefully we see more double-headers in the future.”
