‘Mouth-watering’ AFLW fixture option revealed; crowd call looms for league — Talking Points

With representative football confirmed for the 2026 AFLW season, one “mouth-watering” option for an international fixture has emerged with the full support of a star Hawk.

Meanwhile, the AFL has been queried on a potential location change ahead of one of the competition’s largest-ever home-and-away fixtures in recent memory.

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‘MOUTH-WATERING’: AUSTRALIA VS. IRELAND FIXTURE GAINS MOMENTUM

State of Origin is back for the AFL next February, but for the AFLW, they may just go one step greater than that.

The league’s recent confirmation that women’s representative football will be played in 2026 has sparked curiosity over the finer details of the fixture, such as whether or not the match would be played as state vs. state, or even Australia vs. Ireland.

Some of the AFLW’s best talents hail from the ‘Emerald Isle’, and given their prominent presence league-wide, an exhibition match between the two sides now looms as a genuine possibility.

“Can they play tomorrow? I would love that!” Herald Sun journalist Lauren Wood said on The W Debrief.

“At a Marvel Stadium, completely unhampered by wind or anything, just let these two teams so absolutely hard at it. You know what, I actually wouldn’t put it past the Irish team. These are the players that have taken this competition to the next level.

“I think we can start the campaign here ... I think this would be a huge exhibition event for the game. It would take the game global, and it would be a heck of a contest, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s mouth-watering!” Fox Footy commentator Kelli Underwood added when taking a look at the theoretical sides.

Within the current framework of the AFLW season, any fixture would likely come post-season given the number of Irish players with commitments to their Gaelic football counties back home.

When probed on a preferred time for any clash between the two countries, Hawks star Aileen Gilroy was in favour of seeing the match take place a couple of weeks after the grand final — which currently would align with around mid-December.

“It’s hard to know (when to play)... obviously if we were going to do it, we’d want to do it properly. Maybe towards the end of the season after the All-Australian, after the Grand Final,” Gilroy said. “I would definitely think at the end of the season is where you’d get best.”

‘SHOW A BIT OF INNOVATION’: CALL FOR AFL TO CATER FOR TOP-OF-TABLE BLOCKBUSTER

In one of the greater AFLW storylines in recent times, powerhouse North Melbourne will come up against rising force Hawthorn for the first time ever on Friday night.

The clash marks not only a historic first, but also a mouth-watering finals preview between the minor premiers and second-placed side respectively.

So great is the occasion, that calls for the Frankston Oval fixture to be moved up north to Carlton have been voiced.

“If we moved it to Ikon Park, you just sense this is the type of marquee clash that could, on a nice night, could draw 5-7,000 — even 8,000 fans at a bigger venue,” Fox Footy commentator Kelli Underwood told The W Debrief on Sunday.

Lauren Wood continued: “I think even greater than that. Why put a ceiling on it? We saw a record crowd at Arden Street last week, so we know that North fans are really behind this team.

“There’s so much to play for, people want to be there for history. I don’t think we should put a ceiling on this. I think moving it to somewhere like Ikon Park... let’s show people that the sky’s the limit.

“I’ve gone to the AFL today, no response thus far. I know clubs aren’t looking to buy into it just yet about whether they will look to get this game moved. But I think if we’re looking like we’re serious about growing the game, getting a new audience and greater attendances, I think it would be a huge clash — 1 v 2 on the eve of finals, 26 degrees.”

The Kangaroos registered a record-equalling 23rd consecutive victory on Sunday afternoon over St Kilda, leaving Hawthorn with a huge task ahead if they’re to win and secure a home qualifying final.

“Down at Frankston, it is our home ground, and we still love it. The crowd that comes out there, come out in numbers — and we are so thankful for that,” Aileen Gilroy added.

“The wind down there can be very, very strong. Obviously Ikon has great facilities and that desk is absolutely amazing. It’s more central to Melbourne, so you probably would get more numbers there. But either or, we don’t mind if we play in Frankston or at Ikon Park. Either or, we just hope that the crowd does come out.

Underwood ended by saying: “I’d just love the AFL to show a bit of innovation and foresight to say: ‘You know what, it is about the crowds, it’s about getting people there. Let’s go big, let’s think a little bigger than Frankston.’”

Should the Hawks fall short of a North Melbourne upset, they could slip to fourth on the ladder if both Melbourne and Brisbane win their matches as expected.

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