The round three match will kick off at 7.15pm and will pit the Tasmania-aligned North Melbourne Kangaroos against the reigning premier – Paul Groves’ Western Bulldogs.

Coach Scott Gowans flew in on Friday for the announcement at North Hobart Oval, where the Roos will play a round 1 fixture against Carlton on February 3. 

Flanked by AFLW best and fairest winner Emma Kearney, star foward Mo Hope and Tasmanian trio Daria Bannister, Emma Humphries and Nicole Bresnehan, Gowans heralded the Bulldogs fixture as a boon for the North. 

“I think playing the Bulldogs is an absolute bonus for the people in Launceston – it’ll be a great event because the Bulldogs play a very fast style of footy,” Gowans said.

“Everyone watches what the premier does from the year before and we’ve followed what the Bulldogs did in that finals series ... they played with a sense of free spirit.

“So I’d imagine if you come along in round 3 you’re going to see a really fast-moving style of footy that’ll be really exciting for the people of Launceston to watch.”

The 2019 season marks North Melbourne’s first outing in the AFLW as the league expands from eight teams to 10.

The Kangaroos, who aimed to fill half their list with Tasmanians, added three more Apple Islanders to their ranks at the national draft on Tuesday, with North-West twins Libby and Chloe Haines and Clarence’s Nicole Bresnehan selected at picks 53, 56 and 61 respectively.

Daria Bannister, Emma Humphries, Britt Gibson, Jessie Williams and Maddy Smith all have Roos contracts for 2019.