THE brand new ultimate prize in women’s footy has been revealed.

On Wednesday the AFL unveiled the premiership cup for the inaugural season of the AFL Women’s competition, which begins this Friday night.

Media, football luminaries and the eight AFLW club captains assembled in Melbourne for a special launch event where long-time Western Bulldogs board member and women’s footy pioneer Susan Alberti presented the trophy.

“This is almost as good as (the Bulldogs) winning the premiership,” she said.

Round 18

The premiership cup will be presented to the winning club following the AFLW Grand Final which will be played on Saturday March 25, during the afternoon of Round 1 of the AFL season.

The AFLW premiership cup. Source: Supplied

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan called for patience with the new league at the launch.

“I want to be clear — this will be good for business, but, as compelling, it can be explained in two words — equality and aspiration,” McLachlan said.

“It will be football as we’ve always known it ... but it will also be very different. This group of women players will create their own game.

“I’d like to remind everyone this is year one ... I will ask today that we give them time and space to grow into the elite footballers that we know they can be.

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“We are here for the long haul ... I can guarantee you the AFLW in three years will be vastly different to year one.”

The eight clubs contesting the inaugural AFLW season are Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, GWS Giants, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs,

The first look at the @aflwomens premiership cup with cup ambassador Susan Alberti and our eight club captains. pic.twitter.com/93svbfw0d2 — AFL House (@AFL_House) January 31, 2017