As a co-ordinator role of the club’s Next Generation Academy – which includes the Tiwi Islands among its zones – Toogood is keen to see more female players from the country’s far north make it to the VFLW and AFLW.

“There’s so much love for the game up north, and I think that’s why it’s seen as such a good game … I think there’s been a huge growth also in the female space, as we know everywhere since AFLW has started, but particularly in the Territory, it’s grown a significant amount,” she said.

“And if we can help bring role models to the territory and play more football up there, it’s a no-brainer.”

The previous two AFLW Dreamtime matches were played at IKON Park and ETA Stadium in Port Melbourne. The AFLW currently has 19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, including Richmond’s Mackenzie Ford, who the Tigers recruited from Tasmania in last year’s draft.

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Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said it made sense to take the AFLW version of the Dreamtime match to Darwin, given both clubs’ connection to the Top End.

“The female game continues to grow, and the opportunity to showcase elite female talent in Darwin can only support that,” he said.

“To do that, while also celebrating the enormous contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have made to the game, will make this a really significant occasion and hopefully lay the foundation for future Dreamtime games to be played in Darwin.”

The 11-round AFLW season will run over 10 weeks, fast-tracked by a three-week burst mid-season during the school holidays where each club will play four games, including some scheduled mid-week.

“The AFLW is starting to see the establishment of traditional marquee games and club rivalries being cemented,” AFL scheduling boss Josh Bowler said.

“The mid-week matches will fall during the school holidays and provide great opportunities for fans to attend and watch at home on evenings that traditionally don’t have footy.

“We felt it was important for our fans to maintain the weekend timeslot structure we have seen in previous seasons, whilst also adding an additional game mid-week across the middle of the competition.”

Toogood is excited by the prospect it will create a “festival of footy vibe” that appeals to fans and helps grow the game. But she also acknowledged players would need to managed that stretch of games carefully, particularly in terms of their recovery and nutrition.

“Through COVID times, back when I was playing at the Dogs, we did three bouts of playing three games in 12 days and, look, it’s difficult. It’s a lot of pressure on your bodies. But we’ll be conditioned for it,” Toogood said.

In other fixture highlights, Daisy Pearce’s first AFLW derby as coach of West Coast will be held at the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium on October 19 in a standalone match.

There will be added interest at struggling West Coast after Pearce, an inaugural marquee signing with Melbourne, moved from Victoria to lead the Eagles.

The clubs and the league will be hoping to push the crowd figure of 41,975 set at the same ground when Fremantle hosted Collingwood in 2018.

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The AFLW is open to hosting other marquee games at big stadiums and will continue to work with clubs to make it happen.

The Brisbane Lions, the reigning premiers, will get their flag defence with a grand-final rematch against North Melbourne at Brighton Homes Arena on September 1.

The opening night of the season will consist of two matches – Sydney hosting Collingwood at North Sydney Oval, and West Coast up against Richmond.

This year’s grand final has been locked in for November 30 after a four-week finals series.