Wagga will be the first regional centre to host an AFL double header next year after securing a women's competition game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The AFL Women's (AFLW) season fixture was announced on Tuesday and Wagga will host a fully-fledged competition game on Saturday March 7 at Robertson Oval.
Not only will it be Wagga's first taste of AFLW action, it will combine for a huge double header with an AFL pre-season game the following day.
Greater Western Sydney (GWS) will take on Richmond in both games.
GWS chief operating officer James Avery said the Giants are delighted to be able to bring two first-class games to Wagga.
"It's going to be a huge weekend," Avery said.
"For us to be able to play both a men's and women's game there over two consecutive days and have a range of activities in the community surrounding those two games, it's important for us.
"We were really keen to try and play our men's and women's teams on either consecutive days, or on the same day, and for there to be two games against Richmond across the men's and women's competitions is really significant and shows how far we've come as a code and is something we've been pushing pretty hard for as a club.
"It's pleasing to see that this is something that Wagga gets to experience first before anyone else."
The AFLW clash between the Giants and Tigers will be a round five encounter. It will be a twilight game with a 5.10pm start.
It will be Richmond's first season in the AFLW competition but already they have recruited established stars Katie Brennan, Monique Conti and Sabrina Frederick.
Former Wagga woman Rebecca Miller is on Richmond's list.
The Giants also boast Cookardinia's Alyce Parker and Hay's Jodie Hicks.
The double header marks a big return to Wagga for AFL football, with the games to be the first in the city for four years.
Avery said the Giants' decision to bring both games to Wagga only strengthens a close relationship with the city.
"It does. We've always enjoyed a really good relationship with the city and a good relationship with the region, with a number of players on our list, both men and women, from Wagga and the Riverina," he said.
"The connection is really deep and this just further cements it, which is why it was so important for us to bring a game to Wagga next year, which is something we've been pushing for for some time and this is the next step, or another stage, in what is a really strong relationship already and hopefully this is a sign on how it is going to continue in the years ahead."
READ MORE
