AFLW Practice Match Teams Confirmed: Eagles Host Magpies, Swans Take on Hawks

The AFLW practice match teams are confirmed for this weekend, with West Coast Eagles hosting Collingwood Magpies and the Sydney Swans squaring off against Hawthorn ahead of the 2026 NAB AFLW season.

Weekend Fixtures Breakdown

Two matchups headline the AFLW pre-season hit-outs. The Eagles take on the Magpies in what shapes as a genuine early-season temperature check for both clubs, while the Swans-Hawks clash adds another layer of interest with two sides looking to establish their combinations before the competition proper gets underway.

Practice matches carry more weight than their billing suggests. Coaches use the minutes to trial positional experiments, assess rookies pushing for Round 1 spots, and get key players back into match rhythm after the off-season. Selection calls made here often echo deep into the home-and-away schedule.

NAB AFLW Season Countdown

The confirmation of practice match squads signals the 2026 NAB AFLW season is nearly upon us. Clubs across the competition have been building through pre-season training, and this weekend gives supporters a first real look at how rosters have evolved since last season’s trade period.

For the Swans, continuity and cohesion will be the focus — a young group with genuine upside looking to cement structures early. Hawthorn, meanwhile, arrive with plenty to prove and the hunger of a side that knows this pre-season run matters.

Keep across all the AFL hub coverage as squads finalise and the AFLW season opener approaches. Form lines from this weekend’s practice matches will set the early narrative heading into the competition.

LF — Breaking news correspondent, australiafootball.com