THE AFL has decided to wait for the NAB AFL Women's competition to develop before attaching specific names or titles to the major awards.

The inaugural season was officially launched on Wednesday.

Brisbane Lions Women’s Captain Emma Zielke was in Melbourne for the event, with the League unveiling the AFLW premiership cup for the first time.

Women's football trailblazer, and retired Western Bulldogs director, Susan Alberti was revealed as the premiership ambassador.

The AFL also outlined the other accolades on offer, with the competition's best and fairest award – akin to the Brownlow Medal – to be presented following the eight-week season.

There will be a leading goalkicker award, a NAB AFL Women's Rising Star medal (handed to the best player under the age of 21), and an award for best-afield in the Grand Final.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan hailed the competition – which kicks off on Friday night with a clash between Collingwood and Carlton at Ikon Park – as an "historic" moment for the game.

"I'd like to remind everyone that this is year one and I'd like to ask today that we give them time and space to develop into the elite footballers we know they will become," McLachlan said.

(L-R) Emma Zielke, Lauren Arnell, Steph Chiocci, Chelsea Randall, Amanda Farrugia, Katie Brennan, Kara Donnellan and Daisy Pearce pose for a photograph during the 2017 AFLW Season Launch. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

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