Australian Football League

The Australian Football League, or AFL, is the pre-eminent professional competition for Australian rules football.

It serves as the highest level of play for this unique sport. The league is a massive commercial success within the global sporting landscape. As of 2024, it is the richest Australian football and overall sports league in Australia. Furthermore, it ranks as the 16th richest sports league in the world by revenue. This financial strength supports a massive professional structure across the continent.

The AFL season follows a highly organized structure of matches and playoffs.

The premiership season begins in March and concludes in September. During this time, teams compete in a 23-match regular season known as the home-and-away season. The team that achieves the best record during these matches is awarded the minor premiership. Following the regular season, the top ten teams enter a five-round finals series. This series culminates in the AFL Grand Final, which is typically held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The victors of this final match are called the premiers. They receive the most prestigious prizes, which are the premiership cup and flag.

The league's history is rooted in a power struggle from the late 19th century.

It was originally founded in 1896 as the Victorian Football League, or VFL. This occurred when six strong clubs seceded from the Victorian Football Association (VFA). These clubs sought greater administrative control over their financial contributions and gate profits. The inaugural VFL season took place in 1897. Some member clubs have incredibly deep roots in the sport's history. The Melbourne Football Club helped write the first laws of the code. Geelong also dates back to 1859, making it one of the oldest clubs.

Early years of the VFL brought many important innovations to the sport. In 1898, a new finals system was implemented to ensure a grand final determined the champions. The league also established the modern scoring system used today. In this system, a goal is worth six points, while a behind is worth one point. Professionalism began to take shape during the 1911 season. This was when clubs were permitted to pay players beyond simple expense reimbursements. The league also grew through various expansions over the decades. In 1925, the VFL expanded from nine teams to twelve. This expansion included Footscray, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne joining from the VFA.

Throughout the mid-20th century, the league experienced a period of significant growth and change.

In 1957, television coverage of the VFL commenced. This changed how fans interacted with the game, as spectators began watching replays. The league also invested in major infrastructure during this era. In 1959, the VFL planned VFL Park, a purpose-built mega-stadium. While originally intended to hold 155,000 spectators, it was eventually built with a capacity of 78,000. The stadium officially opened in 1970 with a match between Geelong and Fitzroy. This era also saw the rise of legendary clubs and players who defined the sport's golden years.

The competition eventually transformed from a Victorian league into a truly national entity.

In the 1980s, the league began expanding its competition to other Australian states. This growth led to the official name change to the Australian Football League in 1990. Currently, the AFL consists of 18 teams spread across Australia's five mainland states. The league continues to grow, with a 19th team scheduled to join in 2028. To expand its global audience, the AFL has even played premiership season matches in New Zealand and China. This movement shows how the sport has moved far beyond its original Victorian borders.

The AFL remains deeply connected to the broader culture of Australian sport and society. It manages the official Laws of Australian football, which other organizations use with slight variations. The league's influence is seen in its massive crowds and high-profile matches. For example, a 1970 grand final between Carlton and Collingwood drew a record crowd of 121,696 people. The sport continues to evolve through new technologies, television rights, and sponsorship deals. From its beginnings as a breakaway group of six clubs, it has become a cornerstone of Australian identity.