AFLW grand final pushed back as COVID-19 forces league to reschedule Collingwood and Brisbane clash

The AFLW grand final has been postponed and will now take place on Saturday, April 9, after originally being scheduled for the weekend of April 2 and 3. 

The preliminary finals have also been postponed, with both games set to be played on Saturday, April 2.

The finals fixture was thrown into disarray over the weekend with the Magpies unable to field a side for their qualifying final against the Brisbane Lions due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

As per AFLW health and safety protocols, a team must have at least 16 players and five train-on players available to play.

When this is not possible, games are either rearranged or postponed, or in the worst case scenario, cancelled.

The game has now been re-scheduled for Sunday, March 27, at 12:05pm local time, with Brisbane retaining the right to host at the Gabba.

The first of the qualifying finals was played over the weekend, with the Dockers easily accounting for the Kangaroos by 38 points at Arden Street.

This means the first preliminary final will see the Crows take on the Dockers, while Melbourne will meet the winner of the postponed Brisbane and Collingwood game.

The two victors will then face off in the grand final on the afternoon of Saturday, April 9.

«We are pleased to be able to provide certainty to the W community and confirm the arrangements for the qualifying final, the preliminary finals and the NAB AFLW Grand Final,» AFL general manager of women's football Nicole Livingstone said.

«The health and safety of everyone in the competition remains the highest priority – we have worked closely with Collingwood on the return to play for their program and with the Lions from a fixturing perspective.

Six teams have qualified for the AFLW finals and they each have a distinct way of playing.