Australian Football League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Australian Football League

AFL logo since 2000
Formerly	Victorian Football League (VFL) (1897–1990)
Sport	Australian rules football
Founded	2 October 1896; 128 years ago (1896-10-02)
Inaugural season	1897
CEO	Andrew Dillon
No. of teams	18
Headquarters	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Region	Australia
Current premiers	Brisbane Lions (4th premiership)
Most premiers	Carlton Collingwood Essendon (16 premierships)
TV partner(s)	Australia: Seven Network Fox Footy New Zealand: Sky Sport International: See list
Streaming partner(s)	7plus (Australia) Kayo Sports (Australia) WatchAFL (Overseas)
Sponsor(s)	Toyota
Domestic cup(s)	AFL Women's VFL SANFL WAFL SFL NTFA NWFL NTFL QAFL AFL Sydney AFL Canberra
International cup(s)	Australian Football International Cup
Official website	afl.com.au

The Australian Football League (AFL) is Australia's top professional competition for Australian rules football. It started in 1896 as the Victorian Football League (VFL). Its first season was in 1897.

The league changed its name to the Australian Football League in 1990. This happened after it grew to include teams from other Australian states in the 1980s. The AFL also creates the rules for Australian football, which other leagues use.

Currently, 18 teams from five Australian states play in the AFL. A new team from Tasmania will join in 2028, making it 19 teams. AFL games have been played all over Australia, and even in New Zealand and China.

The AFL season runs from March to September. Each team plays 23 regular season matches. The team with the best record wins the minor premiership. The top eight teams then play in a four-round finals series. This leads to the AFL Grand Final, usually held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Grand Final winners are called the premiers. They receive the premiership cup and a flag.

Carlton, Collingwood, and Essendon are the most successful clubs. Each has won 16 premierships. The Brisbane Lions are the current premiers, having won the 2024 AFL Grand Final.

History of the AFL

Early Years: VFL Era (1897–1989)

How the League Began

Some of the AFL's oldest clubs helped create Australian football. The Melbourne Football Club wrote the first rules in 1858. Geelong started in 1859.

The Victorian Football Association (VFA) began in 1877. It quickly became Victoria's main football competition. In the 1890s, stronger VFA clubs wanted more control. They felt they contributed more money to the game.

In 1896, six strong clubs left the VFA. These were Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, and South Melbourne. They invited Carlton and St Kilda to join them. Together, they formed a new league called the Victorian Football League (VFL).

First VFL Seasons and Growth

The VFL's first season was in 1897. It introduced new ideas to make games more exciting. These included a finals tournament, not just giving the premiership to the team with the best record. They also set up the modern scoring system: six points for a goal and one for a behind.

The VFL quickly became the most important football league in Victoria. In 1908, two more teams joined: Richmond and University Football Club. By 1911, clubs could pay players. University left the VFL in 1914 because its players stayed amateur.

The VFL premiers sometimes played against the South Australian Football League premiers. This was for the "Championship of Australia." South Australian clubs won most of these early championships.

New Clubs Join the VFL (1915–1945)

In 1916, "district football" started. This meant new players in Melbourne had to play for clubs based on where they lived. In 1925, the VFL grew from nine to twelve teams. Footscray, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne joined from the VFA.

North Melbourne and Hawthorn struggled for a long time. Footscray adapted more easily. From 1927 to 1930, Collingwood made history. They became the only VFL/AFL team to win four premierships in a row.

Post-War Golden Years (1946–1975)

In 1952, the VFL held a "national day." All six matches were played outside Melbourne. Footscray won its first premiership in 1954.

The Melbourne Football Club became very strong in the 1950s and early 1960s. They won five premierships, including three in a row.

Television coverage for the VFL started in 1957. At first, only the last quarter of games could be shown live. The VFL worried that TV would reduce crowds. So, in 1960, no TV coverage was allowed. In 1961, replays were introduced.

In 1959, the VFL planned to build its own large stadium, VFL Park. This would give them independence from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. VFL Park was designed to hold many fans.

Television had a big impact in the 1960s. Fans rushed home to watch replays. In 1970, VFL Park opened. The 1970 VFL Grand Final was a famous game. Carlton came back from 44 points down to beat Collingwood. A record crowd of 121,696 watched.

VFL Becomes More Powerful (1976–1981)

In 1976, the National Football League (NFL) started a "Night Series." This competition included teams from the VFL and other state leagues. Games were played at night and shown live on TV.

The VFL decided to start its own night competition in 1977. It offered better TV and sponsorship deals. This made the VFL much stronger. By 1980, clubs from other states joined the VFL's night competition. This was a big step in the VFL becoming a national league.

The VFL's night competition eventually became the pre-season competition. During this time, wealthier VFL clubs gained an advantage. They could recruit more players from outside their local areas.

Growth and Challenges (1982–1989)

The 1980s brought big changes to Australian football. The VFL was the most popular league. It started to expand into other states. This led to rising costs for clubs.

The South Melbourne Swans team moved to Sydney in 1982. They became the Sydney Swans. This helped the VFL expand its reach.

In 1986, the VFL allowed two new teams to join. These were the Brisbane Bears and the West Coast Eagles. They started playing in 1987. These new teams paid large fees to join. These fees helped struggling VFL clubs like Footscray and Fitzroy.

New game times also started in the 1980s. Sydney began playing home games on Sunday afternoons. North Melbourne started playing on Friday nights. These are now common times for all teams.

The first national draft was introduced in 1986. A salary cap was added in 1987. This helped control how much clubs spent on players.

AFL Era (1990–Present)

The league was renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990. This showed that it was now a national competition.

Becoming a National League (1990–2010)

In 1990, the AFL Players Association (the players' union) signed its first agreement. This set out wages and conditions for players. Football became a full-time job for many.

In 1990, the Port Adelaide Football Club wanted to join the AFL. Instead, a new team called the Adelaide Crows was formed. They joined in 1991. The West Coast Eagles became the first non-Victorian team to reach the Grand Final in 1991. They won premierships in 1992 and 1994. In 1995, Fremantle joined, becoming the second team from Western Australia.

In 1996, some Victorian clubs faced money problems. Fitzroy was too weak to continue alone. They merged with Brisbane to form the Brisbane Lions. This allowed Port Adelaide to join the AFL in 1997.

During the 1990s, Melbourne-based teams moved to larger stadiums. They left their smaller suburban grounds. By 2005, all Melbourne teams played at the MCG or Marvel Stadium. In 1999, the AFL sold VFL Park. The money helped build a new stadium at Melbourne's Docklands.

The 18-Team Era (2011–Present)

In the late 2000s, the AFL wanted to have a team on the Gold Coast. In 2008, the league decided to add two new teams. The Gold Coast Suns joined in 2011 as the 17th team. The Greater Western Sydney Giants, representing Western Sydney and Canberra, joined in 2012 as the 18th team.

On April 25, 2013, the first AFL game for premiership points was played outside Australia. It was at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. St Kilda played Sydney on Anzac Day.

A national women's league, AFLW, started in 2017. Eight AFL clubs had teams in the first season. All 18 AFL clubs now have women's teams.

On May 14, 2017, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast played the first AFL game for premiership points in Shanghai, China.

The 2020 AFL season was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Games were played without crowds. The season was shorter. The Grand Final was held in Brisbane, outside Victoria, for the first time. The 2021 Grand Final was played in Perth due to lockdowns in Melbourne.

AFL Clubs

The AFL has a single league table. There are no separate divisions. The league started with eight teams in Victoria in 1897. Over time, teams were added, moved, or merged. Now there are 18 teams.

In 1990, the league became the Australian Football League. This showed its national reach. Most teams (ten) are still in Victoria, mainly in Melbourne. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia each have two teams. Tasmania will get a team in 2028.

Current Clubs

Club	Colours	Moniker	State	Home venue	2024 members	Est.	Former league	VFL/AFL seasons		VFL/AFL premierships
								First	Total	Total	Most recent
Adelaide		Crows	South Australia	Adelaide Oval	75,477	1990	—	1991	34	2	1998
Brisbane Lions		Lions	Queensland	The Gabba	63,268	1996	—	1997	28	4	2024
Carlton		Blues	Victoria	Marvel Stadium	106,345	1864	VFA	1897+	128	16	1995
Collingwood		Magpies	Victoria	Melbourne Cricket Ground	110,628	1892	VFA	1897+	128	16	2023
Essendon		Bombers	Victoria	Marvel Stadium	83,664	1872	VFA	1897+	126†	16	2000
Fremantle		Dockers	Western Australia	Optus Stadium	62,237	1994	—	1995	30	0	—
Geelong		Cats	Victoria	GMHBA Stadium	90,798	1859	VFA	1897+	125†	10	2022
Gold Coast		Suns	Queensland	People First Stadium	26,157	2009	—	2011	14	0	—
Greater Western Sydney		Giants	New South Wales	Engie Stadium	36,629	2010	—	2012	13	0	—
Hawthorn		Hawks	Victoria	Melbourne Cricket Ground	83,823	1902	VFA	1925	100	13	2015
Melbourne		Demons	Victoria	Melbourne Cricket Ground	65,479	1858	VFA	1897+	125†	13	2021
North Melbourne		Kangaroos	Victoria	Marvel Stadium	50,628	1869	VFA	1925	100	4	1999
Port Adelaide		Power	South Australia	Adelaide Oval	66,015	1870	SANFL	1997	28	1	2004
Richmond		Tigers	Victoria	Melbourne Cricket Ground	98,489	1885	VFA	1908	117	13	2020
St Kilda		Saints	Victoria	Marvel Stadium	60,467	1873	VFA	1897+	126†	1	1966
Sydney		Swans	New South Wales^	Sydney Cricket Ground	73,757	1874	VFA	1897+	127†	5	2012
West Coast		Eagles	Western Australia	Optus Stadium	103,498	1986	—	1987	38	4	2018
Western Bulldogs		Bulldogs	Victoria	Marvel Stadium	62,328	1877	VFA	1925	100	2	2016
^ denotes that the club relocated from a different state at some point in its existence + denotes that the club was a founding member of the VFL † denotes that the club did not participate in one or more seasons due to one or both of the World Wars

Future Clubs

Club	Colours	Moniker	State	Home venue	Expected first season
Tasmania		Devils	Tasmania	Macquarie Point Stadium	2028

Former Clubs

Only one club, University, has left the league since 1897. It stopped playing in 1914. This was because it was an amateur club and couldn't compete with paid players. Two other clubs, Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears, merged in 1996 to form the Brisbane Lions.

Club	Colours	Moniker	State	Home venue	Est.	Former league	VFL/AFL seasons			VFL/AFL premierships
							First	Last	Total	Total	Last
Brisbane Bears		Bears	Queensland	Carrara Stadium	1986	—	1987	1996	10	0	—
Fitzroy		Lions	Victoria	Brunswick Street Oval	1883	VFA	1897+	1996	100	8	1944
University		Students	Victoria	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1859	MJFA	1908	1914	7	0	—
+ denotes that the club was a founding member of the VFL

Timeline of Clubs

Non-formal/junior competitions †
Victorian Football Association (1877) †
Victorian Football League (1897, later renamed AFL)
Australian Football League (1990, formerly VFL)
South Australian National Football League (1877) †

† Not all teams shown. These competitions are current.

AFL Venues

There have been 50 different grounds used in VFL/AFL history. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the largest. It can hold over 100,000 people. The MCG hosts the Grand Final every year.

Six teams use the MCG as their home ground. Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium) in Melbourne is used by five teams. Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium are used by two teams each. The AFL has owned Marvel Stadium since 2016.

Most early VFL grounds were in Melbourne suburbs. Now, AFL games are played in every state and territory of Australia. In 2013, the first AFL game for premiership points outside Australia was played in Wellington, New Zealand.

Current Venues

These venues are used for AFL matches in the 2025 AFL season.

Melbourne Cricket Ground	Optus Stadium	Marvel Stadium	Adelaide Oval
Melbourne, Victoria	Perth, Western Australia	Melbourne, Victoria	Adelaide, South Australia
Capacity: 100,024	Capacity: 61,266	Capacity: 56,347	Capacity: 53,500
Sydney Cricket Ground	GMHBA Stadium	The Gabba	People First Stadium
Sydney, New South Wales	Geelong, Victoria	Brisbane, Queensland	Gold Coast, Queensland
Capacity: 48,000	Capacity: 40,000	Capacity: 37,000	Capacity: 25,000
Engie Stadium	Ninja Stadium	University of Tasmania Stadium	Manuka Oval
Sydney, New South Wales	Hobart, Tasmania	Launceston, Tasmania	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Capacity: 23,500	Capacity: 19,500	Capacity: 15,000	Capacity: 15,000
TIO Stadium	Mars Stadium	Norwood Oval	TIO Traeger Park
Darwin, Northern Territory	Ballarat, Victoria	Adelaide, South Australia	Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Capacity: 12,215	Capacity: 11,000	Capacity: 9,700	Capacity: 7,200
Hands Oval	Barossa Park
Bunbury, Western Australia	Lyndoch, South Australia
Capacity: 8,000	Capacity: 5,000

AFL Players

Most AFL players join the league through the AFL draft. This happens at the end of each season. Some players come from other sports or from other countries. The best 22 players and coach each year are chosen for the All-Australian team.

The AFL has rules about how many players each club can have. Teams usually have 38 to 40 senior players. They also have 4 to 6 rookie players. Clubs can trade players after the season. They can also pick new players through drafts. The national draft is the main way to get new players.

Player Salaries

The AFL has a "salary cap" to keep teams fair. This limits how much money clubs can spend on players. In 2013, the salary cap was about $9.1 million. It has increased a lot since 1990.

Player salaries are usually not public. However, top players can earn over $1 million a year. In 2017, player salaries increased by 20%. This meant the average player earned about $371,000.

If clubs break salary cap rules, they can be fined. They might also lose draft picks or premiership points.

Player Backgrounds

In 2011, there were 801 players on AFL lists. They came from all over Australia. About 9% of AFL players are Indigenous Australians. This is higher than their percentage in the general Australian population.

In 2011, 12 players were recruited from outside Australia. Most were from Ireland, who used to play Gaelic football. The AFL has programs to find players from other countries.

Season Structure

Pre-season Games

Before the main season, teams play practice matches. These are called the Marsh Community Series. All 18 clubs play two matches each. These games happen in February and early March. They help teams get ready for the season.

Premiership Season

The AFL home-and-away season lasts for 24 rounds. It starts in mid-March and ends in late August. Each team plays 23 matches. They play 11 home games, 11 away games, and one neutral game. Teams get four points for a win and two for a draw.

Teams are ranked by points. If teams have the same points, "percentage" is used. This is calculated by dividing points scored by points conceded.

Special Rounds and Matches

Some teams play each other at special times each year. A big one is the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG. Other important games include the King's Birthday match and the Easter Monday clash.

Sir Doug Nicholls Round

The Indigenous Round is a very popular themed round. It started in 2007. The Dreamtime at the 'G match is a highlight of this round. It often draws over 80,000 fans.

In 2016, the round was named after Sir Doug Nicholls. He was a VFL player and a state governor. During this round, players wear special jerseys. These jerseys feature artwork by Indigenous artists. Some clubs even use Indigenous names for the round.

Finals Series

The top eight teams at the end of the season play in a four-week finals series. This happens in September. It ends with the AFL Grand Final. The Grand Final decides the premiers. It is usually played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The winning team gets a silver premiership cup and a navy blue flag. Each player on the winning team also gets a premiership medallion. The flag is traditionally shown at the team's first home game the next season.

AFL Awards

• Brownlow Medal – for the fairest and best player, voted by umpires.
• Coleman Medal – for the player who kicks the most goals in the regular season.
• All-Australian team – a team of 22 players chosen as the best in their positions.
• Rising Star Award – for the best young player (under 21 with few games played).
• Norm Smith Medal – for the best player in the Grand Final.
• Jock McHale Medal – for the coach of the premiership-winning team.
• Mark of the Year – for the best or most amazing mark (catch) during the season.
• Goal of the Year – for the best or most amazing goal during the season.
• Leigh Matthews Trophy – for the best player, voted by the players themselves.
• Ron Barassi Medal - for the winning captain in the Grand Final. This award started in 2024. It honors Ron Barassi, a famous player and coach.

Team of the Century

In 1996, the "AFL Team of the Century" was named. This celebrated 100 years of the VFL/AFL.

VFL/AFL Team of the Century

B:	Bernie Smith (Geelong, West Adelaide)	Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)	John Nicholls (Carlton)
HB:	Bruce Doull (Carlton)	Ted Whitten (Footscray) Captain	Kevin Murray (Fitzroy, East Perth)
C:	Francis Bourke (Richmond)	Ian Stewart (Hobart, St Kilda, Richmond)	Keith Greig (North Melbourne)
HF:	Alex Jesaulenko (Carlton, St Kilda)	Royce Hart (Richmond)	Dick Reynolds (Essendon)
F:	Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)	John Coleman (Essendon)	Haydn Bunton Sr. (Fitzroy, Subiaco, Port Adelaide)
Foll:	Graham 'Polly' Farmer (Geelong, East Perth, West Perth)	Ron Barassi (Melbourne, Carlton)	Bob Skilton (South Melbourne)
Int:	Gary Ablett Sr. (Hawthorn, Geelong)	Jack Dyer (Richmond)	Greg Williams (Geelong, Sydney, Carlton)
Coach:	Norm Smith (Melbourne, Fitzroy, South Melbourne)

Jack Elder was named the Umpire of the Century. Many AFL clubs have also named their own teams of the century. An Indigenous Team of the Century was chosen in 2005.

Representative Football

State Football Matches

State football matches in the AFL stopped in 1999. The idea was brought back in 2008 and 2020. A Victorian team played against "All Stars" teams.

History of State Games

VFL players first played for Victoria in 1897. Victoria was very strong in these games. This was because many of the best players were in the VFL. In 1977, "State of Origin" rules started. This meant players played for the state they were from. This made games more even.

The AFL took over state football in 1993. They held an annual "State of Origin" series. But after 1999, the AFL stopped these games. Clubs didn't want to release their star players. Also, fewer people were interested.

In 2020, a special "State of Origin" match was played. Money raised went to communities affected by bushfires. Victoria played an All-Stars team and won.

Global Reach of the AFL

No professional leagues exist outside Australia. But the AFL wants to show Australian rules football to other countries. This helps the sport grow worldwide.

In 2010, Melbourne and Brisbane played a game in Shanghai, China. This was the first professional AFL game in China. Since then, AFL games have been played in New Zealand and China.

International Rules Series

The AFL has gained interest in Ireland. This is because of the International Rules Series. In this series, an Australian team plays against an Irish team. The game uses rules from both Australian football and Gaelic football. This series is the only way for AFL players to represent their country.

This series has encouraged young Irish players to try AFL. The AFL is a professional sport, unlike Gaelic football. Some Irish players have become very successful in the AFL.

How the AFL is Run

The AFL is run by a group of directors called the AFL Commission. This group was created in 1985. It replaced the old system where clubs elected directors. The Commission helps make sure the league runs smoothly.

The chairman of the Commission is Richard Goyder. The CEO of the AFL is Andrew Dillon.

The AFL also helps promote and grow the sport in Australia. It gives money to local leagues. It also runs the Auskick program for young boys and girls. The AFL also helps grow the game in other countries.

Players are represented by the AFL Players Association. Coaches have the AFL Coaches Association. Umpires have the AFL Umpires Association.

AFL Audience

The AFL is one of the most popular sports in Australia. Many people attend games. It is also one of the most-watched sports on TV.

TV rights for the AFL are shared between the Seven Network (free TV) and Foxtel (pay TV). In 2019, a record 1,057,572 people were members of an AFL club. In 2022, over 125 million people watched AFL games on TV. The 2023 AFL Grand Final was watched by over 5.7 million people.

Attendance at Games

The following shows how many people attended games in recent seasons:

Year	Home and Away	Average	Finals1	Average1	Grand final
2024	7,753,2512	37,4552	533,520	59,280	100,013
2023	7,474,684	36,110	664,780	73,864	100,0242
2022	6,112,431	30,871	639,980	71,109	100,0242
20216	3,976,228	19,209	272,746	30,305	61,118
20206	826,458	6,665	206,579	22,953	29,7077
2019	6,954,187	35,122	563,460	62,607	100,014
2018	6,894,772	34,822	700,3932	77,8212	100,022
2017	6,734,062	34,010	553,818	61,535	100,021
2016	6,311,656	31,877	558,343	62,038	99,981
2015	6,367,302	32,321	518,694	57,663	98,633
2014	6,403,941	32,343	570,568	63,396	99,454
2013	6,372,784	32,186	558,391	62,043	100,007
2012	6,238,876	31,509	538,934	59,882	99,683
2011	6,533,138	34,937	614,250	68,250	99,537
2010	6,494,564	36,901	651,764	65,176	100,0164 and 93,8535
2009	6,375,622	36,225	615,463	68,385	99,251
2008	6,512,999	37,0062	571,760	63,258	100,012
2007	6,475,521	36,793	575,424	63,936	97,302
2006	6,204,056	35,250	532,178	59,131	97,431
2005	6,283,788	35,703	480,112	53,346	91,8983
2004	5,909,836	33,579	458,326	50,925	77,6713
2003	5,876,515	33,389	478,425	53,158	79,4513
2002	5,648,021	32,091	449,445	49,938	91,817
2001	5,919,026	33,631	525,993	58,444	91,482
2000	5,731,091	32,563	566,562	62,951	96,249
1999	5,768,611	32,776	472,007	52,445	94,228
1998	6,119,861	34,772	572,733	63,637	94,431
1997	5,853,449	33,258	560,406	62,267	99,645
1996	5,222,266	29,672	478,773	53,197	93,102
1995	5,119,694	29,089	594,919	66,102	93,678
1994	4,723,023	28,624	514,375	57,153	93,860
1993	4,185,388	27,903	472,101	67,443	96,862
1992	4,332,917	26,260	481,348	68,764	95,007
1991	3,797,177	23,013	381,707	54,530	75,2308
1990	3,587,495	23,295	475,790	67,970	98,944

¹ Finals total and Finals average include grand final crowds.
² Record.
³ Capacity reduced due to MCG refurbishment.
⁴ Crowd for the drawn grand final.
⁵ Crowd for the grand final replay, played one week after the drawn grand final.
⁶ Attendance reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
⁷ Capacity reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
⁸ Waverley Park was used for the Grand Final due to the Great Southern Stand at the MCG being under construction.

Watching AFL on TV

Australian TV Coverage

AFL matches are shown in Australia by the free-to-air Seven Network and pay TV provider Foxtel. This deal runs until 2031.

The Seven Network shows about three-and-a-half games each week. This includes Friday Night, Saturday Night, and Sunday Afternoon games. They also show the AFL Finals and the Grand Final. Foxtel shows every match live on its Fox Footy channels. They also stream games on Kayo.

History of TV Broadcasts

The first VFL season was shown on TV in 1957. At first, only delayed replays of the last quarter were allowed. The VFL worried that live TV would stop people from going to games.

From 1974 to 1986, the Seven Network and ABC had exclusive rights. Seven has been a main broadcaster for many years.

In 2001, a group including the Nine Network, Network Ten, and Foxtel bought the rights. Games were split between them. Foxtel started its own channel, the Fox Footy Channel, which showed every game.

In 2006, Seven and Ten teamed up to win back the rights. This was a huge deal at the time. The latest deal, from 2025 to 2031, is worth $4.5 billion. It is the biggest sports TV deal in Australian history.

International TV Coverage

AFL games are shown in many countries around the world.

Station/Channel	Countries	Free/Subscription	Home & Away	Finals	Grand final	Broadcasting since	Notes
ESPN Africa	Africa	Subscription	Three games per week (live/delay)	Live			See also Australian rules football in Africa
ABC Australia	East Asia Central Asia South Asia Southeast Asia Pacific Islands	Free (may require subscription by selected operators)	Six games per week	Yes	Live
TSN2	Canada	Subscription	Two games per week (live/replay)		Live		See also Australian rules football in Canada, AFANA
TSN5	Canada	Subscription	One game per week (live/replay)		Live		See also Australian rules football in Canada, AFANA
Star Sports (China)	China	Subscription	Three games per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in China
Premier Sports Asia	China	Subscription	Two games per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in China
SportDigital1+	Germany Austria Switzerland	Subscription	Two games per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in Germany
Sky Sport 3	New Zealand	Subscription	One game per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in New Zealand
Sky Sport 7	New Zealand	Subscription	Five games per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in New Zealand
TNT Sports	United Kingdom Ireland	Subscription	Nine games per week	Live	Live		See also Australian rules football in the United Kingdom
Fox Sports 2	United States	Subscription	Three games per week, some finals	Yes	Yes	2013	See also Australian rules football in the United States, AFANA
Fox Soccer Plus	United States	Subscription	Six games per week	Yes	Yes		See also Australian rules football in the United States, AFANA

Listening to AFL on Radio

The first VFL game was broadcast on radio in 1923. The AFL has been on radio every year since then. Many radio stations broadcast games.

The AFL's main radio partners are:

• National:
  • ABC Sport (across Australia)
  • Triple M (in major cities)
• Community & Local:
  • SEN SA Radio (Adelaide)
  • FIVEAA Radio (Adelaide)
  • 98.9FM Radio (Brisbane)
  • K-Rock Radio (Geelong)
  • 3AW Radio (Melbourne)
  • 1116 SEN Radio (Melbourne)
  • 6PR Radio (Perth)

Some Triple M stations focus on local teams. For example, Triple M Adelaide broadcasts only Adelaide and Port Adelaide matches.

Non-English Radio

Most radio broadcasts are in English. But some stations broadcast AFL in other languages. These include Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, and Spanish. Many also broadcast in Indigenous languages. This is because the sport is very popular among Indigenous Australians.

Station	Language	State/territory	Reference(s)
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA)	Arrernte	Northern Territory
Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA)	Tiwi	Northern Territory
Yolŋu Radio	Yolŋu	Northern Territory

AFL Online

The AFL's online partner is Telstra. The AFL website provides content for fans. Telstra also hosts the websites for all 18 AFL clubs.

Since 2012, Telstra has streamed live matches on its mobile network. Since 2019, Kayo has streamed almost every game live. For fans outside Australia, the Watch AFL service streams full games.

AFL Business and Fun

Sponsorships

The AFL has had different main sponsors over the years. Since 2004, Toyota has been the main sponsor.

The AFL Record is a magazine published on match days. About 225,000 people read it each week.

Memberships

The AFL sells memberships. These allow people to reserve seats at games in Melbourne. Members also get early access to finals tickets. There are different levels of memberships.

Merchandise

The AFL has stores that sell merchandise from all clubs. You can also buy merchandise from other shops.

AFL Video Games

There are many video games based on the AFL. Here is a list of some of them:

AFL and Community

Supporting Diversity

The AFL supports the LGBTIQ community. They organize "Pride Games" to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. The AFLW (women's league) has an official "Pride Round" each year. This round celebrates gender diversity and helps create a welcoming environment for everyone. The AFL has stated it will support any player who chooses to share their identity publicly.

The AFL also supported the creation of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This was to help recognize Indigenous Australians in the country's laws.

See also

In Spanish: Australian Football League para niños

• Australian rules football attendance records
• History of Australian rules football in Victoria (1859–1900)
• Rivalries in the Australian Football League
• Sports attendances

Lists

• List of VFL/AFL premiers
• List of VFL/AFL minor premiers
• List of VFL/AFL pre-season and night series premiers
• List of Indigenous Australian VFL/AFL and AFL Women's players
• List of VFL/AFL players born outside Australia
• List of VFL/AFL players by ethnicity
• List of current Australian Football League coaches
• List of Australian Football League grounds
• List of sports venues in Australia
• List of VFL/AFL presidents
• List of VFL/AFL records
• List of individual match awards in the Australian Football League