Blues, Pies to kick off AFLW season

The Blues and Magpies played off in the first ever AFLW game for premiership points in 2017 and also opened the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

This year newcomers Richmond were given the chance to open round one against Carlton, but were comprehensively beaten.

Richmond have been scheduled to play Brisbane at Punt Road in the opening round.

It will be the Tigers' first game at the ground for AFLW premiership points, after they played their home games at Ikon Park and in Bendigo in 2020. They will play all four of their home games at the venue.

The 2021 AFLW season will be the first to feature an Indigenous round, while there will also be a full Pride round for the first time - expanding upon previous Pride games.

The Pride round will take place in round two, with the Indigenous round held in round five.

"Celebrating Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander players is incredibly important to those involved in the women's competition and to Indigenous communities across the country," AFL inclusion manager Tanya Hosch said.

"We have seen the celebration and storytelling of Indigenous culture through specially-designed AFLW guernseys over the years and we are looking forward to this being shared across a dedicated round.

"The creation of Pride round is another step towards being a more inclusive game, welcoming diversity and ensuring our game is a place of welcome for everyone."

There will be a Western derby between West Coast and Fremantle in round four, while Brisbane and Gold Coast will face off in round five.

There are games in every state and territory bar the NT.

On Thursday, the AFL scrapped the controversial conference system in favour of having one 14-team ladder.

The competition will be divided into bands of the top four, middle six and bottom four - based on last season's ladder positions.

There will be nine regular-season rounds, then a six-team, three-week finals series.

Australian Associated Press