It's a brave new world for the AFL, but it's likely to start in a very old-fashioned way. When the inaugural AFLW season begins early next month, most of the fans at the ground will be standing unless the league changes its plans.

The first match of the new women's competition will be held on Friday, February 3 under lights at Collingwood's Holden Centre training base, with the Magpies squaring off against traditional rivals Carlton.

Sitting adjacent to the club's training base, the Olympic Park Oval – Collingwood's home VFL venue and the ground on which the Pies train during the season – has almost no fixed seating.

The AFL says it has no plans to install temporary seating at the venue, meaning it will be virtually a case of standing room only for the historic clash. There are also no plans to close off roads around the venue.