THE Carlton Football Club is excited to launch a new era for its AFLW program following the release of the 2023 fixture.
The run of games will see Carlton members and fans reap the benefits with three scheduled home games falling on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well as a Friday public holiday match-up against Sydney on AFL Grand Final Eve.
All Carlton home games will once again be held at the Club’s home, IKON Park.
The 2023 AFLW fixture has solidified the newly redeveloped IKON Park as the home of AFLW, with the famous ground to also host home games for Melbourne (two) and Richmond (four) throughout the season.
Contributing to the fan-friendly timeslots, each Carlton home game will feature the Junior ‘Baggers Zone set up for kids to enjoy inflatables, face painting, interactions with players, family activations and much more.
The Blues will kick off the new era for their AFLW program at home in a Saturday afternoon showdown against Gold Coast.
For the first time in Game Changers’ history, the side will play West Coast when they travel to Perth in Round 3, followed by back-to-back home games against Richmond and an inaugural match against Sydney.
The public holiday timeslot in Round 5 on AFL Grand Final Eve will give fans the perfect opportunity to come down to experience a festival of football, that will see an IKON Park double header with Richmond taking on Fremantle at 1:05pm, before the Blues and Swans lock horns at 4:05pm.
Round 7 marks the first of two rounds recognising and celebrating Indigenous players and culture. Carlton will play old enemy Collingwood at IKON Park, which will continue the storied rivalry between the two clubs.
In Round 8, the team will travel north for its second and final interstate match of the season, against the GWS Giants at Henson Park.
Carlton will also venture to traditional Melbourne suburban grounds with away clashes at Arden Street (Round 2), Whitten Oval (Round 6) and Windy Hill (Round 9) against North Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and arch rival Essendon respectively.
To conclude the season in Round 10, the Blues will play their annual Pride Game against the Saints at IKON Park, with the time and date to be confirmed.
The AFLW Carlton Respects Game will again be a feature on the calendar, with this round to be released at a later date.
Carlton CEO Brian Cook said the action-packed fixture gives Carlton fans prime opportunities to watch the AFLW side.
“To kick off the 2023 AFLW campaign with three home games in the first five weeks, all falling on a Saturday afternoon or public holiday, certainly gives our supporters every opportunity to come down to our home and support the AFLW team,” Cook said.
“Our AFLW program has undergone a significant transformation, and we are excited to continue to share the next step in that journey with our members and fans.
“To be able to play every home game here at IKON Park is something we don’t take for granted: our players understand what that means to represent this football club and the work they have done over the last six months to shape their direction as a team has given us a great platform to build from.
“The fixture highlights many important marquee games in the AFLW calendar, and we are honoured to be a part of the annual Pride Round and Indigenous Rounds once again.
“Our annual Carlton Respects Game is extremely important to the Club as we proudly continue to raise awareness of gender equality for the prevention of violence against women.
“Come September we cannot wait to see the start of a new era of this team, and we look forward to bringing every Carlton person along for the ride.”
