AFLW double-header season opener left fans with 'lots of mixed feelings'
The AFLW opened its 2026 season with a double-header at Docklands Stadium, with fans enjoying the pizzazz of the bigger stadium and being sheltered from the rain, while missing some of the community element of the suburban grounds.
The 2026 AFLW season opener between Carlton and St Kilda in a double-header at Docklands Stadium left fans with mixed feelings. The Blues, playing on a larger stage, saw a crowd of 20,455 by half-time, up from the previous week's Australia vs Ireland game. St Kilda veteran Hannah Priest praised the unity of the all-club approach, while Carlton fan Asha Ziffer expressed mixed emotions, feeling the women's game was being treated as secondary to the men's side.
Despite concerns about the venue's size, many fans appreciated the better conditions and higher turnout, with some believing the double-header would help grow the women's game.
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