The Victorian Football League seasons will get underway on the last weekend in March.
The AFL released the round one fixtures for both the VFL and VFLW competitions on Tuesday, with both competitions to start on the weekend of March 24.
The VFL season will again feature 21 teams from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with all teams that competed last season to be back on field.
The VFLW season will again be contested by 12 teams.
Hawthorn has transferred its VFLW licence to the Box Hill Hawks. The two clubs will remain aligned, with the team to compete under the Box Hill Hawks banner.
In round one, Williamstown and Werribee are on the road in the VFL competition, facing the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions respectively on March 25.
The Footscray Bulldogs will face the Casey Demons that same day and Essendon will host the GWS Giants the following day.
In the VFLW season opener, Williamstown will face Collingwood at Victoria Park on March 25, while Essendon will kick off its title defence against the Box Hill Hawks the following day.
The Western Bulldogs will play the Casey Demons.
AFL head of state league competitions Jennie Loughnan said this year shapes as a huge year for both competitions.
“There are many great matches scheduled across round one in both the Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW and we look forward to the opening round kickstarting fantastic seasons for both competitions.
Fixtures for the remaining rounds will be revealed shortly.
