Australian Football League

Many teams play a big game.

They run and play in Australia. There are 18 teams now. One new team will join soon.

Teams play many games each year. They play from March to September. The best teams play in a big final.

The winning team gets a big cup. They also get a flag. It is a very big prize.

It is a lot of fun to watch. Do you like sports?

The Australian Football League, or AFL, is a major sport.

It started in 1896. Back then, it was called the VFL. Six strong clubs left a group to start it. These clubs wanted to run their own games. Some of these clubs are very old. The Melbourne Football Club wrote the first rules. Geelong is also one of the oldest clubs.

The AFL has 18 teams across Australia. In 2028, a 19th team will join. The season runs from March to September. Teams play 23 matches in the regular season. The top ten teams then play in a finals series. This ends with the Grand Final. The big game is usually at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The winners are called the premiers. They win a big cup and a flag. The Brisbane Lions are the reigning premiers. They won the 2025 Grand Final. The AFL is a very rich league. It is the 16th richest sports league in the world.

The Australian Football League, or AFL, is the most important professional competition for Australian rules football.

It is a massive part of sports culture in Australia. The league is very successful and earns a lot of money. In fact, it is the 16th richest sports league in the world. Fans love the excitement of the games and the skill of the players. It brings people together through a shared love of the sport. Many people follow their favorite teams with great pride.

The way the season works is very organized.

The premiership season starts in March and ends in September. Teams play 23 matches during the regular home-and-away season. The team with the best record wins the minor premiership. After that, the top ten teams play in a five-round finals series. This leads to the AFL Grand Final, which usually happens at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The winners are called the premiers and receive a cup and a flag.

The history of the league goes back a long way. It began in 1896 as the Victorian Football League, or VFL.

It was formed when six strong clubs left the Victorian Football Association. These clubs wanted more control over their own money and rules. The first season of the VFL took place in 1897. Some clubs are very old, like Melbourne and Geelong. Melbourne even helped write the very first laws of the game.

Many interesting things have happened since those early days. In 1908, the league grew to ten teams. By 1925, it expanded again to twelve teams.

One famous team, Collingwood, won four premierships in a row from 1927 to 1930. In 1957, people could finally watch the games on television. The league also built huge stadiums like VFL Park. In 1990, the league changed its name to the Australian Football League. This happened because the competition grew to include other states.

Today, the AFL is a truly national sport. It has 18 teams spread across five mainland states.

A 19th team is even set to join in 2028. The league has even played matches in New Zealand and China. This helps more people around the world learn about the game. It connects different parts of Australia through football. Whether it is a local match or a huge Grand Final, the spirit of the game stays strong.

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.