AFL Clubs
The Australian Football League
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the national governing body for Australian Rules Football. Governed by the AFL Commission, it oversees the sport’s national competitions and supports the development of football across Australia, from community participation through to the elite game. The men’s AFL competition features 18 clubs based across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Each of these clubs also has a team in AFL Women’s (AFLW), giving supporters opportunities to follow their club in both national competitions.
From the VFL to a National Competition
The competition began in 1897 as the Victorian Football League and adopted the Australian Football League name in 1990 as its national footprint expanded. South Melbourne’s relocation to Sydney in 1982, followed by the introduction of the West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Bears in 1987, helped establish the foundations of the national competition. Further expansion brought Adelaide, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney into the league, while the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy merged to form the Brisbane Lions.
The AFL Premiership Season
In 2027, the 18 AFL clubs will each play 23 home-and-away matches across 24 rounds, followed by a five-week finals series. The fixture includes traditional rivalries, interstate matches and major events such as Gather Round, ANZAC Appeal Round and Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
The finals series begins with Wildcard Round, introduced in 2026. Clubs finishing seventh to tenth compete in two knockout matches, with seventh playing tenth and eighth playing ninth. The two winners join the top six clubs in the eight-team finals structure, progressing through qualifying and elimination finals, semi-finals and preliminary finals to determine the Grand Final participants.
The season culminates in the AFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the premiership is decided. The 2027 Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday 2 October.
AFL Women’s
AFL Women’s is Australia’s elite national women’s Australian Rules Football competition. It began in 2017 with eight clubs and has expanded to include teams representing all 18 AFL clubs. The Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS both compete in AFLW, providing New South Wales with representation in the national women’s competition alongside their men’s teams.
Tasmania’s Entry in 2028
The Tasmania Devils are scheduled to enter the men’s AFL competition in 2028 as its 19th club. The AFL has also confirmed Tasmania’s entry into AFLW in 2028, extending the state’s representation across both national competitions.
Pennant Hills and the National Game
The Pennant Hills Demons have a long connection with the AFL through players who progressed from the Club to the highest level.
Lenny Hayes, Mark McVeigh, Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Braeden Campbell, Kieren Briggs and James Peatling are among the footballers whose development included time at Pennant Hills before they established AFL careers.
Explore the AFL Clubs
Browse the clubs below to learn more about the teams that make up the national competition. For the latest fixtures, results, news and player information, visit the official AFL and AFLW websites.
