The AFL has revealed AFL Women’s as the official name of the new national women’s league in a collaboration with Instagram.

Marne Levine, Instagram’s global chief operating officer, met with the new league’s marquee players and led the launch of the new name on the @AFLWomens platform.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Australia’s first ever AFL Women’s league on Instagram, home to a passionate global community of sports fans,” she said.

“The best sports moments have long been captured by enduring and powerful imagery. Now fans can easily access authentic, behind-the-scenes moments by AFL Women’s and support these trailblazers on their road to the inaugural 2017 season and beyond.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said women playing the game have always used social media platforms to build, organise and communicate with their sporting communities, and the launch of the name on Instagram shows the importance of social media to the future success of the league.

“We have been delighted with the public’s response to the establishment of AFL Women’s,” he said.

“Our women players have already become inspirations to a new generation of participants, and we know how important their stories are to the future success of the game.

“Instagram is a fantastic place to reach out to a broader audience and to build support, and I thank them today for their support of the women players, and their support of the new league.”

Instagram will also be providing ongoing support and education to the players on how to leverage and manage their own social media accounts.