Australian Football League | A.F.L.

Australian Rules is the oldest coded sporting competition in the world

The Australian Rules Football League [men] comprises 18 teams in 6 states, played over 23 rounds, a finals series culminating in a grand final.

Originally known as the Victorian Football League (VFL), it was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition from the Victorian Football Association (VFA), with its inaugural season commencing the following year. The VFL, aiming to become a national competition, began expanding beyond Victoria to other Australian states in the 1980s, and changed its name to the AFL in 1990.

Short History

The game of football was devised by Tom Wills, H.C.A. Harrison, W.J. Hammersley and J.B. Thompson. The Melbourne Football Club was formed on August 7, 1858 - the year of the code's first recorded match between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School.

Originally the Victorian Football League (VFL) emerged from the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1897. The VFL aiming to become a national competition and officially changed its name to the AFL in 1990.

The Victorian Football League (VFL) foundation clubs were Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, St Kilda and South Melbourne. In 1908, Richmond, 1925, Footscray (now the Western Bulldogs), Hawthorn and North Melbourne (now the Kangaroos).

The Victorian Football League (VFL) became the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 with clubs in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

The 12 VFL clubs expanded to include the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Bears. By 1997, the competition comprised 16 clubs after Adelaide (1991), Fremantle (1995), and Port Adelaide (1997) joined the AFL and Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions (1997).

In 2011, Gold Coast Suns joined the competition as the 17th club followed by Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) in 2012 as the 18th club.

AFL Premiers

1990 - Collingwood
1991 - Hawthorn
1992 - West Coast
1993 - Essendon
1994 - West Coast
1995 - Carlton
1996 - North Melbourne
1997 - Adelaide
1998 - Adelaide
1999 - North Melbourne
2000 - Essendon
2001 - Brisbane Lions
2002 - Brisbane Lions
2003 - Brisbane Lions
2004 - Port Adelaide
2005 - Sydney Swans
2006 - West Coast
2007 - Geelong
2008 - Hawthorn
2009 - Geelong
2010 - Collingwood
2011 - Geelong
2012 - Sydney Swans
2013 - Hawthorn
2014 - Hawthorn
2015 - Hawthorn
2016 - Western Bulldogs
2017 - Richmond
2018 - West Coast
2019 - Richmond
2020 - Richmond
2021 - Melbourne
2022 - Geelong Cats

Australian Football League Clubs

Adelaide Football Club | Crows

Address: Turner Dr, West Lakes

The Adelaide Football Club, established in 1990, competes in the Australian Football League. Based at Football Park in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, the Club plays .. Show More..

Brisbane Football Club | Lions

Address: 411 Vulture Street, Woolloongabba 4102

Brisbane Lions are the Reigning AFL premiers. Brisbane claimed back-to-back premierships with a 47-point victory over Geelong, on the back of a spectacular nine-goal final quarter... Show More..

Fremantle Football Club | Dockers

Address: Parry Street,, Fremantle 6160

The Fremantle Football Club (Dockers) is Western Australias second team in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club is based in Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River i.. Show More..

Geelong Football Club | Cats

Address: Kardinia Park, Geelong 3220

Based in Geelong, the Geelong Football Club (Cats) has some of the most dedicated fans in the AFL. Geelong has a proud history, having won TEN AFL and seven VFA premierships in .. Show More..

Gold Coast Football Club | SUNS

Address: Nerang - Broadbeach Road, Carrara

The Gold Coast SUNS put its city on the AFL map in 2011, marking a monumental expansion of the game as the league's first new organisation in almost 20 years. Since its incepti.. Show More..

Greater Western Sydney Football Club | GWS Giants

Venue: Australian Football League | A.F.L.

The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS (GWS Giants) competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). Representing the western Sydney and Canberra, the club is based in Sydney Olymp.. Show More..

Port Adelaide Football Club | Power

Address: War Memorial Drive, Adelaide North

Port Adelaide Football Club was established in 1870 and the oldest senior football club in South Australia. The club's senior team plays in the Australian Football League (Power.. Show More..

Sydney Swans Football Club

Address: Sydney

The Sydney Swans is one of two Sydney AFL teams competing in the Australian Rules Football Premier League. The Sydney Swans were originally a Victorian team, South Melbourne. T.. Show More..

Tasmania Devils Football Club

Address: Tasmania

Hello and welcome to AFL, Tasmania. The Tasmania Devils will play its first AFL game at Hobart Stadium at Macquarie Point in 2028. The AFL men's team is expected to enter th.. Show More..

West Coast Football Club | Eagles

Address: 250 Roberts Road,, Subiaco

The West Coast Eagles are a professional sporting club forming in 1987 and competes in the Australian Football League. The Eagles have achieved remarkable success throughout fou.. Show More..

Carlton Football Club | Blues

The Carlton Football Club is acknowledged as one of Australia's pre-eminent sporting institutions. It is also one of the world's oldest, having been founded in 1864 when a group of prominent Carlt.. Show More..

Collingwood Football Club | Magpies

Born in depths of depression in 1892, the Collingwood Football Club garnered support like no other team before its time. Our humble, yet proud, beginnings fostered an unbreakable spirit within pla.. Show More..

Essendon Football Club | Bombers

Sixteen premiership cups, seven Brownlow medals, the 1874 best & fairest trophy, the league's first premiership team, 'talking lockers' and much, much more. Where can you see it? Only at the Essen.. Show More..

Geelong Football Club | Cats

Based in Geelong, the Geelong Football Club (Cats) has some of the most dedicated fans in the AFL. Geelong has a proud history, having won TEN AFL and seven VFA premierships in its history with win.. Show More..

Hawthorn Football Club | Hawks

The Hawthorn Football Club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). The Hawthorn Football Club has a proud history, having grown from a small suburban club to become a power club of the e.. Show More..

Melbourne Football Club | Demons

Red legs | Dees | Demons The Melbourne Football Club is the oldest professional football club in the world. The club has had many significant events influence its history. 1838 - Formation.. Show More..

North Melbourne Football Club | Kangaroos

The North Melbourne Football Club emerged from humble origins in 1869 out of a need to provide local cricketers with a sport throughout the idle winter months. While the Club claims no actual 'foun.. Show More..

Richmond Football Club | Tigers

The Richmond Football Club are the reigning 2020 AFL premiers. Richmond Football Club enjoyed its most successful era in the 1960s and 80s, when it won five flags. The last Tigers flag was in 2020,.. Show More..

St Kilda Football Club | Saints

The St Kilda Football Club is one of the foundation clubs of the Victorian Football League which evolved into the AFL in 1990. The Saints are one of 18 clubs who compete in the national competition.. Show More..

Western Bulldogs Football Club

Since joing the league in 1925, the doggies based at the Whitten Oval have won two premierships in 1954 and 2016, enjoying a strong and passionate supporter base. The Western Oval is located in Wes.. Show More..