When stepping into the world of a sport new to you, it can be daunting. But, at an AFLW game, there’s no need to worry—everyone’s welcome.
The 2024 NAB AFLW season has finally bounced off, with the first game—Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood Magpies—taking place at North Sydney Oval on August 30. I’d never been to an AFLW game before, but seeing the swathe of red and white flooding into North Sydney ahead of the game, I immediately got a sense that the vibes would be high.
Given the 2024 NAB AFLW season has only just started, there’s plenty of opportunities for you to head down and support your local team over the coming weeks. But, if you’ve been scared to dip your toes in and need the extra push, here’s a guide for what to expect at your first game (from someone who just experienced it).
Like I said, the vibes will be high
Sydney really turned it on for the first game of the season, with warm weather for the end of winter. That being said, it didn’t stop anyone from rocking their Swans or Pies scarves and beanies to show love for their fave team. The closer I got to getting my ticket scanned, the more electric the excitement felt. Besides the music blaring over the speakers, laughter and cheers echoed throughout the entire oval.
It felt like every person there was a die-hard fan, but not in an exclusionary way. The level of fandom was magnetic. You want to join in on the excitement because you see how much fun everyone else is having. It crossed team lines, too—we even spotted a couple that was wearing completely opposing march. Trust me: I felt like a complete novice walking into the game, but never felt isolated. And I was surrounded by screaming fans who had been looking forward to this for months.
And the food is unreal
Part of what makes an NAB AFLW game so special is how relaxed your set-up can be. You can post up in the grandstands for that traditional POV, but you can also bring a picnic rug and relax on the hillside. That’s what we did—it was like a picnic with some of the best possible entertainment.
Now, if you’re looking to spend the day or night at the AFLW, you might be nervy about the amount of food options. What’s a good picnic without good food, after all? Well, an AFLW game has enough options to get you through multiple meals if you need it. We opted for some delicious gozleme and, of course, chips on a stick. You literally cannot go wrong.
You will get caught up in the emotion of it all—embrace it!
As stressed by some friends of mine that were already AFLW die-hards, you couldn’t have asked for a better opener than this.
Packed crowd, great weather, and perhaps most importantly, absolute belter of a game.
As a first-timer, you might struggle to follow along with what’s happening on the field. Don’t be afraid to ask some fans nearby. More than anything, the overwhelming sentiment I got from talking to people at the game is that they want as many people excited about it as possible. And, once you’re in there, it’s hard not to.
With the game virtually equal after the second quarter, the tension was palpable throughout the oval. But it wasn’t a stressful tension—it was anticipation. A united feeling of not knowing what was going to happen next, but ecstatic to find out. Even in those high-stress moments on the field, being on the edge of your seat is much more fun when everyone else is on the edge of theirs.
It’ll fill you with hope
What struck me most about the crowd at the game is just how many kids were there. Obviously, a night at the footy is a great way to spend time together as a family. But the amount of kids, particularly young girls, decked out in Swans and Pies gear and absolutely screaming at the top of their lungs everytime their team would get one up was just awesome to see.
Women’s sport in Australia has been having such an incredible moment, and seeing so many little girls get so invested in AFLW—whether they want to play it down the line or not—is direct proof that this game is something special. And, thanks to its devoted fans, it will continue to be special for generations to come.
And, for what it’s worth, now I can count myself among those devoted fans.
The NAB AFLW 2024 season is underway, with the finals taking place in November. That’s plenty of time to see an AFLW game near you, for just $15 and under 18s free, and become a devoted fan yourself.
For more information and tickets head to the AFLW website.
