Indigenous Round set for third week of AFLW season

Jarred Cross Published August 24, 2026 at 2.30pm (AWST)

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The league will celebrate First Nations players, people and culture in round three, with 'trailblazer' Bronwyn Davey named honouree. (Pictured) the 2024 Dreamtime Game in Darwin. Image: AFL

Bronwyn Davey was on the field in 2013 when the world got the first glimpse of what the AFLW would prove to be.

In 2026, she's the league's Indigenous Round honouree in recognition of her work on and off the field.

AFLW hosts its landmark celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, people and culture this weekend.

Kokatha woman Davey's connection to footy runs deep.

She ran out for the Demons in that exhibition match against the Bulldogs on the MCG, almost four years before the first AFLW match for premiership points saw fans turned away from a packed IKON Park when Collingwood and Carlton met.

Davey played state league football for Port Adelaide, Greenacres and Palmerstone in the NT, with her brothers Aaron and Alwyn, and nephews, all having careers at the top level.

In 2019, she and daughter Tesharna Mahe made history as the first mother and daughter to run out together in the SANFLW.

Post-playing career, she's contributed to the game as a coach and mentor.

Davey has worked with Adelaide Crows Indigenous Female Academy and also with broader community empowerment initiative STARS Foundation for Indigenous girls.

*2026 AFLW Indigenous Round honouree Bronwyn Davey. Image: Port Adelaide FC*

AFLW executive general manager of football operations and health Laura Kane said Davey is a trailblazer and powerful role model.

"The AFL is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for First Nations people across all levels of our game and ensuring their contribution continues to be recognised, celebrated and supported, and the next two weeks will continue to highlight this across the AFLW competition," Kane said.

"Bronwyn has been a trailblazer for women's football and a powerful role model for First Nations women across the country.

"From helping pave the way for the AFLW competition as a player, to her ongoing work as a mentor, coach and community leader, she has dedicated herself to creating opportunities for others to follow in her footsteps. Her story is one of leadership, resilience and giving back, and we are proud to recognise her contribution to our game across the next two weeks."

Davey joins Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Aunty Pam Pedersen, NT football pioneers Ebony Abbott-McCormack and Mary Dunn, and Dockers teammates Alicia Janz and Kirby Bentley as honourees to the round.

For the first time in either the women's or men's game, every state and territory will host a fixture during a weekend of football.

Indigenous Round comes during round three of the 2026 season.

Outside of major and standard host cities, regional centres Coffs Harbour and Launceston will host games.

The marquee Dreamtime games also return to Darwin for Essendon and Richmond's clash.

Kuwarna (Adelaide), Narrm (Melbourne), Walyalup (Fremantle), Waalitj Marawar (West Coast), Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) and Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) will adopt name traditional place and language name changes for the weekend.

*The AFLW Indigenous Round 2025 launch with honouree Kirby Bentley. Image: Michael Wilson/AFL Photos*

All clubs, umpires and half-time Auskickers will wear specially-designed kits.

Yamatji and Martu artist Emma MacNeill has designed the Sherrin to be used during games.

There are 22 First Nations AFLW players across the competition.

Part of wider Indigenous-focused strategy, the league is eyeing a target of 111 players at the top level between the AFL and AFLW.

There are currently just over 80, collectively with those in the men's game.

"AFLW Indigenous Round is a special time in the football calendar and provides an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultures, stories and contributions of First Nations peoples to our game. It is also a chance to recognise and promote the important role of First Nations women across football, and the role the game plays in connecting communities across the country," AFL general manager of First Nations and inclusion Tarryn Lee said.

Lee added AFLW Indigenous Round comes as they prepare to announce the inaugural recipients of the Senior First Nations Player Scholarships - an aspect of the league's First Nations Impact Fund launched during Sir Doug Nicholls Round earlier this year.

The fund is "one of many ways we are supporting that ambition with meaningful action and continuing to create opportunities for future generations to thrive in our game," Lee said.

Back-to-back premiers North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs kick off Indigenous Round on Saturday.

The Dreamtime Game on Larrakia Country finishes off the celebrations Sunday night.