The Australian Football League (AFL) is Australia’s premier professional competition for Australian rules football and one of the country’s most popular sporting competitions.

Often simply called the AFL or Australian football, the sport is known for its oval-shaped playing field, continuous movement, spectacular marks, long kicking, physical contests and unusual scoring system.

Although the modern AFL is a national competition, its history goes back to Melbourne in the 1850s. The competition was originally known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) before changing its name to the AFL in 1990 as Australian football developed into a truly national competition.

Today, the AFL oversees the men’s national competition, the AFLW women’s competition and broader development of Australian football at community and state levels.

What Is the Australian Football League?

The Australian Football League, commonly abbreviated as AFL, is Australia’s highest-level competition for Australian rules football.

Unlike association football, rugby or American football, Australian football has its own unique rules and style of play.

Players compete on a large oval-shaped field and can move the ball by kicking, handballing or carrying it. The game is designed to be fast and relatively continuous, with players able to move across much of the field rather than being restricted to fixed positions.

The AFL is also more than just a men’s competition. The organisation manages both the AFL and AFLW, while supporting state and community competitions throughout Australia.

When Was Australian Football Created?

Australian football dates back to the 1850s.

The AFL’s official history identifies the first organised match as taking place in 1858 between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College.

The development of the game was partly connected to cricket.

Tom Wills, one of the key figures in the early development of Australian football, wanted a winter sport that would help cricketers remain fit during the off-season.

On August 7, 1858, Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College began an organised football contest that eventually took place over three Saturdays.

The following year, the rules began to take formal shape.

The First Rules of Australian Football

On May 17, 1859, four influential figures met at Bryant’s Hotel in East Melbourne and established the first 10 rules of the Melbourne Football Club.

The group included Tom Wills, William Hammersley, Thomas Smith and James Thompson.

These rules became the foundation for the sport that would eventually develop into modern Australian football.

The early rules were much simpler than today’s regulations, but they established important principles concerning goals, boundaries, kicking and how players could contest the ball.

The AFL describes these early rules as the basis of what became the oldest codified form of football in the world.

How Did the VFL Become the AFL?

For much of its early history, Australian football was dominated by state-based competitions.

The Victorian Football League (VFL) was established in 1896 when several clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association.

The inaugural VFL season began in 1897, with eight clubs competing.

For decades, the VFL was primarily a Victorian competition.

That began to change dramatically during the 1980s.

The VFL expanded beyond Victoria, with clubs such as the West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Bears joining the competition in 1987.

Then, in 1990, the VFL officially changed its name to the Australian Football League.

The name change reflected the competition’s transformation into a national league.

AFL Expansion

The AFL continued to expand after becoming a national competition.

The Adelaide Crows joined in 1991, followed by Fremantle in 1995 and Port Adelaide in 1997.

The Brisbane Bears also merged with Fitzroy in 1996, creating the Brisbane Lions.

More recently, the league added:

• Gold Coast Suns in 2011
• GWS Giants in 2012

This expansion eventually produced the modern 18-team AFL competition.

How Many Teams Are in the AFL?

The AFL currently has 18 clubs.

The teams are:

1. Adelaide Crows
2. Brisbane Lions
3. Carlton Blues
4. Collingwood Magpies
5. Essendon Bombers
6. Fremantle Dockers
7. Geelong Cats
8. Gold Coast Suns
9. Greater Western Sydney Giants
10. Hawthorn Hawks
11. Melbourne Demons
12. North Melbourne Kangaroos
13. Port Adelaide Power
14. Richmond Tigers
15. St Kilda Saints
16. Sydney Swans
17. West Coast Eagles
18. Western Bulldogs

These clubs represent Australia’s major football markets, with teams spread across every mainland state.

The AFL’s history notes that the modern competition has two teams in each mainland state.

How Is an AFL Game Played?

Australian football is played between two teams on a large oval-shaped field.

At AFL level, each men’s team has 18 players on the field, along with interchange players. The AFL describes the playing surface as generally between 160 and 180 metres long and 90 to 120 metres wide.

The objective is straightforward:

Score more points than the opposition.

But the way teams achieve that is very different from most other football codes.

How Do You Score in AFL?

There are two main scoring methods:

Goal — 6 points

A goal is scored when a player kicks the ball completely between the two central goal posts without the ball touching another player.

Behind — 1 point

A behind is scored when the ball passes between a goal post and one of the smaller behind posts, or enters the scoring area in certain other circumstances.

The final score is normally displayed using the number of goals, followed by the number of behinds and then the total.

For example:

Western Bulldogs 12.10 (82)

This means:

• 12 goals = 72 points
• 10 behinds = 10 points
• Total = 82 points

How Do Players Move the Ball?

There are three major ways players move the football.

Kicking

Players can kick the oval-shaped ball with either foot.

Long kicks can travel significant distances and are particularly important when teams are moving from defence into attack.

Handballing

Players can use one hand to hold the ball while punching it with the other hand.

This is known as a handball.

It allows teammates to move the ball quickly without kicking it.

Running With the Ball

Players can also carry the ball while running.

However, they cannot simply run indefinitely.

A player carrying the ball must regularly bounce it on the ground or touch it to the ground.

What Is a Mark in Australian Football?

One of the most recognisable features of Australian football is the mark.

A player takes a mark by cleanly catching a kick from a teammate or opponent after the ball has travelled the required distance.

A spectacular high catch is often called a speccy or spectacular mark.

Marks are important because the player who takes one can stop play and prepare to kick without being immediately tackled.

This creates some of the sport’s most dramatic moments.

What Is a Tackle?

A tackle is used to legally stop an opponent who has possession of the football.

Australian football is a physical, body-contact sport, but the laws are designed to protect players and encourage fair contests. The AFL’s current laws specifically state that player safety is an important objective while maintaining the physically tough nature of the game.

Not every form of physical contact is legal.

Players must follow rules concerning tackles, contact, dangerous play and other forms of physical contest.

What Are the Main Positions in AFL?

Unlike many other football codes, AFL players have considerable freedom to move around the field.

However, teams generally organise players into broad positional groups.

Defenders

Defenders attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring and move the ball out of their defensive area.

Midfielders

Midfielders operate around the centre of the ground and are heavily involved in winning possession and creating attacks.

Forwards

Forwards operate closer to the opposition goal and are responsible for creating and converting scoring opportunities.

Ruckmen

Ruckmen are generally taller players who contest centre bounces and other stoppages.

Modern AFL players are often required to perform multiple roles rather than staying permanently in one position.

What Is the AFL Season?

The AFL season generally consists of a home-and-away season followed by finals.

During the regular season, the 18 clubs compete to accumulate wins, percentage and premiership points.

Teams are ranked on the AFL ladder based on their results.

The strongest teams qualify for the finals series.

What Is the AFL Ladder?

The AFL ladder ranks teams according to their performance during the season.

A typical ladder includes:

• Games played
• Wins
• Losses
• Draws
• Percentage
• Premiership points

The ladder determines which clubs qualify for the finals and their positions entering the postseason.

This makes every match important, particularly toward the end of the regular season.

What Are the AFL Finals?

The AFL finals determine the league’s champion.

The best-performing teams qualify for the postseason, where they compete in a series of high-pressure matches.

Unlike regular-season football, finals games can end a team’s season.

The ultimate winner becomes the AFL Premiers.

The championship is one of the biggest prizes in Australian sport.

What Is the AFL Grand Final?

The AFL Grand Final is the championship game of the season.

It is traditionally played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and is one of Australia’s biggest sporting events.

The Grand Final attracts enormous television audiences and crowds, with supporters from across the country travelling to Melbourne for the event.

For players and clubs, winning the Grand Final represents the ultimate achievement.

What Is the Brownlow Medal?

The Brownlow Medal is one of the most prestigious individual awards in Australian football.

It is awarded to the AFL’s fairest and best player based on votes from the umpires.

Votes are awarded after matches during the season, with the final count taking place at the Brownlow Medal ceremony.

Winning the Brownlow is one of the highest individual honours an AFL player can achieve.

What Is the Coleman Medal?

The Coleman Medal recognises the AFL’s leading goal kicker during the home-and-away season.

It is particularly important for forwards because goals are their primary contribution to the scoreboard.

Some of the greatest forwards in AFL history have won the award multiple times.

What Is the All-Australian Team?

The All-Australian team recognises the best-performing players of an AFL season.

The modern All-Australian selection system began with the national competition in 1991. A panel selects the best team based on performances during the AFL season.

Selection is considered a major individual honour.

AFLW: The Women’s Australian Football League

Australian football is not limited to men’s competition.

The AFLW is Australia’s elite women’s Australian football competition.

It launched in 2017 with eight teams. The competition subsequently expanded, reaching 18 teams in 2023 with the additions of Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney.

The growth of AFLW has been one of the most significant developments in Australian football.

It has created professional opportunities for women and introduced a new generation of fans to the sport.

AFL and Indigenous Australian Footballers

Indigenous Australians have played an important role in the history and development of Australian football.

Many Indigenous players have become stars at the highest level and some of the sport’s greatest players have Indigenous heritage.

The AFL has also developed programs and initiatives connected with Indigenous communities, while Indigenous rounds and celebrations have become important parts of the football calendar.

What Makes AFL Different From Other Sports?

Several characteristics make Australian football unique.

1. The Oval Field

Unlike most football codes, AFL is played on a large oval-shaped ground.

2. 18 Players

Each men’s side has 18 players on the field.

3. Few Restrictions on Movement

Players have considerable freedom to move around the ground.

4. Kicking and Handballing

Both skills are central to ball movement.

5. Marks

High catches and contested marks are among the game’s most spectacular features.

6. Continuous Action

The AFL laws encourage free-flowing football rather than frequent stoppages.

7. Multiple Scoring Values

Goals are worth six points, while behinds are worth one.

AFL Rules and Changes

The laws of Australian football continue to evolve.

The AFL introduced several law and interpretation changes for the 2026 season, including changes relating to centre bounces, out-of-bounds disposals and ruck contests.

The AFL says rule changes are considered when they can improve the spectacle, protect players or address developments that threaten the principles of the game.

This means that AFL fans can expect the rules and interpretations to continue developing over time.

How Does the AFL Draft Work?

The AFL uses a national talent pathway and draft system to bring new players into the competition.

Young footballers can progress through state competitions, academies and development programs before becoming eligible for the AFL.

The national draft is an important part of maintaining competitive balance because clubs have structured opportunities to recruit emerging talent.

The development of the national draft was one of the major changes that helped transform the VFL into a modern national competition.

What Is the VFL?

The Victorian Football League (VFL) is now a second-tier competition rather than the name of Australia’s top competition.

The VFL continues to provide an important pathway for developing players and AFL reserves teams.

In 2026, the competition has 22 clubs, including standalone VFL clubs, aligned clubs and AFL reserves teams.

The VFL therefore remains an important part of the broader Australian football system.

Why Is the AFL So Popular in Australia?

The AFL’s popularity comes from a combination of tradition, local identity, competition and entertainment.

Many clubs have histories stretching back more than a century.

Supporters often develop strong connections to their clubs from childhood, creating rivalries that can continue across generations.

The sport is also deeply connected to Australian communities, with football played at professional, semi-professional, amateur and junior levels throughout the country.

The AFL itself describes Australian football as Australia’s largest professional sport when measured across areas such as attendance, club membership, television audiences, broadcasting arrangements and club financial turnover.

Australian Football League Frequently Asked Questions

What does AFL stand for?

AFL stands for Australian Football League.

Is AFL the same as Australian football?

The terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, although Australian football is the sport itself while the AFL is the country’s premier professional competition and governing organisation for elite competitions.

How many AFL teams are there?

There are currently 18 AFL clubs.

How many players are on an AFL team?

Each men’s team has 18 players on the field, with additional interchange players available.

When did the AFL start?

The competition began as the Victorian Football League in 1897 and changed its name to the Australian Football League in 1990.

When was Australian football invented?

The origins of Australian football date to the 1850s, with the first organised match between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College taking place in 1858.

Who created Australian football?

There was not one single inventor, but Tom Wills and several other early football figures played major roles in developing and codifying the game.

How many points is a goal worth in AFL?

A goal is worth six points.

How many points is a behind worth?

A behind is worth one point.

What is the AFL Grand Final?

It is the championship match that determines the AFL premiership winner at the end of the finals series.

What is AFLW?

AFLW is the elite women’s Australian football competition. It was launched in 2017.

Final Thoughts

The Australian Football League is the modern expression of a sport that began in Australia more than 160 years ago.

What started with informal matches in Melbourne during the 1850s eventually developed into the VFL and then a national competition known as the AFL.

Today, the league combines historic clubs, new expansion teams, elite athletes and passionate supporters across Australia.

Its distinctive combination of kicking, handballing, running, tackling, marking and continuous movement makes Australian football unlike almost any other major team sport.

From the regular-season race for the AFL ladder to the pressure of the finals and the drama of the Grand Final, the AFL remains one of Australia’s defining sporting competitions.