Inaugural AFLW Community Camps in action for 2024

AFLW clubs are getting out to communities as part of the first Community Camp program for the elite women’s competition during the pre-season in the lead up to the 2024 NAB AFLW season.

The program builds on the success of the AFL Community Camp program over the years and gives AFLW teams and players the opportunity to engage with and give back to women and girls in remote and regional communities across the country.

Richmond’s AFLW team were the first to kick off their camp, spending an enriching two days in the Wangaratta, Wodonga, Albury and Rutherglen regions on May 27 and 28. Over the two days, Richmond hosted two Come and Play football clinics in Wodonga and Wangaratta, with over 100 kids in attendance. The impact and reach these camps have can be profound.

The Tigers also visited over 1700 primary school students across 12 schools, and five youth and women’s community football clubs in Rutherglen, Wangaratta and Wodonga.

Whilst in Wodonga, the team also paid a visit to the Burraja Indigenous Discovery Centre and Richmond’s subsidiary business Aligned Leisure. The experience was deeply enriching for both the players and all the communities that were involved.

Later this week, the AFLW Community Camp program continues in Victoria with Casey Fields playing host to Melbourne. The Demons players will be guest coaches as part of mini-matches taking place at the venue involving clubs from local competitions for U8, U9 and U10 girls teams. There will also be a NAB AFL Auskick ‘come and try’ event.

Below is the program of remaining AFLW Community Camps in Victoria:

Melbourne – City of Casey, 14 June AND Alice Springs (dates TBC)

Carlton – Bendigo, 18 - 19 June

Geelong – Colac, 19 June

St Kilda – Mornington Peninsula, 24 - 25 June

Western Bulldogs – Ballarat/Ararat, 24 - 25 June

Essendon – Seymour/Nagambie/Shepparton, 24 - 25 June

Collingwood – Gold Coast (dates TBC)

North Melbourne – Tasmania (dates TBC)

Hawthorn – TBC

The 2024 NAB AFLW Season will kick off during the AFL pre-finals bye week, set for a blockbuster start with a Friday night double-header on August 30.

For the first time teams will play an 11-game NAB AFLW home and away season with an additional game on either a Tuesday or Wednesday as ‘Mid-Week Footy' is introduced during a four-week block across weeks four to seven in the draw.

The NAB AFLW Finals Series will feature across four weeks, culminating in the NAB AFLW Grand Final being played on 30 November.