The 2026 AFLW season got underway at Docklands Stadium on Sunday evening with Carlton defeating St Kilda in front of more than 20,000 fans — but despite the impressive attendance, the double-header format that brought those crowds through the gates left many supporters divided.

As young Carlton forward Poppy Scholz launched the first goal of the new season into the stands, fans around the ground were already turning to one another with the same question: "What do you think this crowd is?" The Blues and Saints were playing in one of five scheduled double-headers between the men's and women's competitions this season — a format that has been widely called for by players, clubs and supporters as a way to grow the women's game.

Crowd Figures Tell an Encouraging Story

By half-time, 11,000 spectators had filled the venue — already 2,000 more than the sold-out Australia vs Ireland match at North Sydney Oval the previous week. That number surged as the evening wore on, reaching 20,455 by the final quarter, a figure that represented a significant milestone for the competition's season-opening fixture.

Supporters cited the benefits of a larger, covered venue — particularly with rain falling — along with the atmosphere generated by greater crowd noise and the sense of occasion a major stadium brings. For those within the sport, the double-header model is intended to increase exposure for the women's game, attract new supporters, reinforce a "one club, two teams" identity, and give players access to higher-quality playing surfaces.

Players Welcome the 'One Club' Spirit

St Kilda veteran and former captain Hannah Priest was enthusiastic about what the format represented, describing the double-header as giving "a nice unity for an all-club approach."

"I look at the idea of all of your teams playing on the same day and celebrating each other," Priest said, noting that many club staff work across both the men's and women's programs. "To open the season at [Docklands] is a testament to every single AFLW supporter who has advocated for this sort of growth, and everyone who's been on board since the start. It's a celebration for all of us."

Fans Raise Concerns the Women's Game Is Playing 'Support Act'

Not everyone shared that enthusiasm without reservation. Asha Ziffer, a Carlton AFLW member who does not hold a men's team membership, said she likely would not have attended the double-header were it not the season opener — and that the format risked sending the wrong message about the women's competition's standing.

"I've got a lot of mixed feelings about it, but I don't think that this showcases it as it should be," Ziffer said. "I think that it is presenting it as second to the men's game, and certainly for a season opener, W should be the focus."

Her 14-year-old daughter Lily put it in particularly stark terms, comparing the experience to attending a concert where the crowd only half-fills the venue for the support act before the main event begins. Ziffer said the observation carried weight: "I think even if a 14-year-old can identify that, then it does say something more broadly to the community about where the women's game sits."

Ziffer also noted that while an 11,000-strong half-time crowd was objectively strong, the sheer scale of Docklands made it feel sparse — an optical challenge that smaller suburban grounds do not present, even when packed to a lower absolute capacity. Fan experience and atmosphere remain central to how sports audiences connect with live events, and the mismatch between venue size and early crowd numbers was something several supporters commented on throughout the evening.

Carlton Win, But the Debate Is Just Getting Started

On the field, Carlton never surrendered their lead despite a late challenge from St Kilda. Long-time Saints supporter Shae Williams said that while her side didn't take home the points, she hoped the team left Docklands having picked up some new fans along the way.

With four more double-headers still to come this season, the format will continue to be tested — and the conversation about whether it elevates or overshadows the women's competition is far from settled.