Australian Football LeagueFrom Wikipedia, the free
encyclopediaThis article is about the sporting league. For the
sport itself, see Australian rules football.Australian Football
League Current season, competition or edition:2014 AFL
seasonAustralian Football League.svgFormerly Victorian Football
League(18971989)Sport Australian rules footballFounded
1897Commissioner Gillon McLachlanInaugural season 1897No. of teams
18Country AustraliaMost recent champion(s) Hawthorn (11th
premiership)Most titles CarltonEssendon (16 premierships each)TV
partner(s) Seven Network Fox Footy FoxtelSponsor(s) ToyotaRelated
competitions VFL, VFAOfficial website afl.com.auThe Australian
Football League (AFL) is the highest-level professional competition
in the sport of Australian rules football. Through the AFL
Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body, and
is responsible for controlling the Laws of the Game. The league was
founded as the Victorian Football League (VFL) as a breakaway from
previous Victorian Football Association (VFA), with its inaugural
season commencing in 1897. Originally comprising only teams based
in the Australian state of Victoria, the competition's name was
changed to the Australian Football League for the 1990 season,
after expanding to other states throughout the 1980s.The league
currently consists of 18 teams spread over five states of
Australia, although the majority (ten teams) are still based in
Victoria. The AFL season currently consists of a pre-season
competition (currently branded as the "NAB Challenge"), followed by
a 23-round regular (or "home-and-away") season, which runs during
the Australian winter (March to September). The top eight teams
then play off in a finals series culminating in the AFL Grand
Final, which is held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground each year. The
winning team in the Grand Final is termed the "premiers", and is
awarded the premiership cup. The current premiers are
Hawthorn.Contents 1 History 1.1 18961914: VFL begins 1.2 19141945:
Between the world wars 1.3 1950s 1.4 1960s 1.5 1970s 1.6 1980s:
National expansion 1.7 1990s: A new era 1.8 2000s 1.9 2010s:
Further expansion 2 Clubs 2.1 Current clubs 2.2 Former clubs 3
Venues 4 Players 4.1 Salary cap 4.2 Demographics 4.2.1 Indigenous
Australian players 4.2.2 International players 5 Season structure
5.1 Pre-season 5.2 Premiership season 5.2.1 Themed rounds and
special matches 5.3 Finals Series 5.3.1 List of VFL/AFL Grand
Finalists 6 Awards 6.1 Major annual awards 6.2 Team of the Century
7 Records 8 Representative football 8.1 State football 8.1.1
History of the VFL/AFL's involvement 8.2 International Rules Series
9 Administration 10 Audience 10.1 Attendance 10.2 Television 10.2.1
Australian television 10.2.2 Telecast History 10.2.3 International
broadcast partners 10.3 Global 10.4 Radio 10.5 Internet 11
Corporate relations 11.1 Sponsorship 11.1.1 Publishing and print
11.2 Membership 11.3 Merchandising 11.3.1 AFL World 11.3.2 Video
games 11.3.3 Gambling 12 See also 13 Notes 14 References 15
External linksHistory18961914: VFL beginsFormer VFL/AFL Logo
(pre-1990) now the logo of the Victorian Football League.The
Victorian Football League was established in 1896 when six of the
strongest clubs in Victoria Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy,
Geelong, Melbourne and South Melbourne broke away from the
established Victorian Football Association to establish the new
league. The six clubs invited two more VFA clubs Carlton and St
Kilda to join the league for its inaugural season in 1897. Among
the notable initiatives established in the new league was an annual
finals tournament, rather than awarding the premiership directly to
the team with the best record through the season; and, the formal
establishment of the modern scoring system, in which six points are
scored for a goal, and one point is scored for a behind.Although
the Victorian Football League and the Victorian Football
Association continued to compete for spectator interest for many
years, the VFL quickly established itself as the premier
competition in Victoria. In the early years Fitzroy and Collingwood
were the dominant teams. Following the arrival of Jack Worrall as
coach in 1903, Carlton began a dominating period, during which they
won three successive flags from 1906 to 1908; although Worrall was
the club secretary, he took on a player management and direction
role which is today recognised as the first official coaching job
in the league. Essendon won flags in 1911 and 1912, also under Jack
Worrall's coaching.In 1908, the league expanded to ten teams, with
Richmond crossing from the VFA and University from the Metropolitan
Football Association. University, after three promising seasons,
finished last each year from 1911 until 1914, including losing 51
matches in a row; this was in part caused by its' players focus on
their studies rather than football, particularly during
examinations, and it was partly because the club operated on an
amateur basis at a time when player payments were becoming common
and as a result, the club withdrew from the VFL at the end of 1914.
University teams now compete in the Victorian Amateur Football
Association.[1][2]From 1907 until 1914, the VFL premier and the
premier of the Adelaide-based South Australian Football League met
in a playoff match for the Championship of Australia.19141945:
Between the world warsThe VFL Grand Final in 1946 from the stands
of the Melbourne Cricket GroundMain article: The VFL during the
World WarsIn 1919, the VFL established a seconds/reserves
competition to run alongside the senior competition. In 1924 the
VFL inaugurated the Brownlow Medal for the player who received the
most votes from the umpires for the Best and Fairest player.
Richmond won its first Premierships in 1920 and 1921 but Essendon
battlers since their 1912 flag took over as the dominant team
between 1922 and 1926.In 1925, the VFL expanded from nine teams to
twelve, with Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne each crossing
from the VFA. North Melbourne and Hawthorn remained very weak in
the VFL for a very long period. North Melbourne did not win more
than eight games in a season until 1944 and Hawthorn only once won
more than seven until 1954. Between them, Hawthorn and North
Melbourne finished in last place fifteen of the twenty-nine years
from their admittance until 1953. Footscray adapted to the VFL with
the most ease of the three clubs, and by 1928 were well off the
bottom of the ladder.Between the years of 1927 and 1930,
Collingwood became the first and so far, the only, team to win four
successive Premierships. The club also finished the 1929
home-and-away season without losing a game, a feat yet to be
repeated. This team became known as "the Machine" because of the
organised and consistent way it played. With Premiership victories
in 1935 and 1936, the Collingwood Football Club had already won 11
Premierships, four more than the next most successful club, Fitzroy
(7).In the 1930s, Richmond and South Melbourne rivaled Collingwood
as the best team. Melbourne, which had won the Premiership in 1926
but fallen off sharply, developed a powerful attacking side that
swept all before it between 1939 and 1941 to win three successive
flags. Essendon, after a lean decade in the 1930s, enjoyed a
dominant period with nine grand final appearances between 1941 and
1951.1950sIn 1946, the VFL established an Under 19s grade of
competition, to run alongside the seniors and reserves. In 1951,
the McClelland Trophy was established as a prize for the best
performing team across all three grades. In 1952, the VFL hosted
'National Day', when all six matches were played outside of
Melbourne. Matches were played at the Sydney Cricket Ground,
Brisbane Exhibition Ground, North Hobart Oval, Albury Sports Ground
and Victorian country towns Yallourn and Euroa.In 1959, the VFL
planned the first purpose built mega-stadium, VFL Park (later known
as Waverley Park), to give it some independence from the Melbourne
Cricket Club, which managed the Melbourne Cricket Ground. VFL Park
was planned to hold 155,000 spectators, which would have made it
one of the largest stadiums in the world although it would
ultimately be built with a capacity of 78,000. Land for the stadium
was purchased at Mulgrave, in those days just farmland, but one day
predicted to be near the demographic centre of Melbourne's
population.Geelong was the stand out team at the beginning of the
1950s, winning the Premiership in 1951 then setting an enduring
record of 23 consecutive wins starting in Round 12, 1952 and ending
in Round 13, 1953. This streak included the 1952 Premiership.
Footscray became the first of the 1925 expansion teams to win the
premiership in 1954.Melbourne became a powerhouse during the 1950s
and early 1960s under coach Norm Smith and star player Ron Barassi.
The club contested seven consecutive Grand Finals from 1954 to
1960, winning five Premierships, including three in a row between
1955 and 1957.Television coverage began in 1957, with direct
telecasts of the final quarter permitted. At first, several
channels competed through broadcasting different games. However,
when the VFL found that television was reducing crowds, it decided
that no coverage was to be allowed for 1960. In 1961, replays (in
Melbourne) were introduced although direct telecasts were rarely
permitted in Melbourne (other States and Territories, however,
enjoyed live telecasts every Saturday afternoon).The VFL
Premiership Trophy was first awarded in addition to a pennant flag
in 1959; essentially the same trophy design has been in use
since.1960sIn the 1960s, television began to have a huge impact,
which continues unabated to this day. Spectators hurried home from
games to watch replays and many former players took up positions as
commentators on pre-game preview programs and post-game review
programs. There were also several attempts at variety programs
featuring VFL players, who generally succeeded in demonstrating
that their skills were limited to the football ground.The VFL
played the first of a series of exhibition matches in 1962 in an
effort to lift the international profile of the league.Hawthorn won
its first premiership in 1961, beating Footscray. Melbourne
extended its success from the 1950s by winning the premiership in
1964, but its success ended abruptly when Barassi was recruited by
Carlton as captain-coach after the season, followed by Norm Smith
being sacked during the 1965 season. Melbourne would not return to
the finals for twenty-three years, and (as of 2014) has not yet won
another premiership.St Kilda, which had never won a VFL or VFA
premiership in more than 93 years of competition, won its first
and, to date, only premiership, in a famous Grand Final victory
against Collingwood by one point.1970sWith the number of players
recruited from country leagues increasing, the wealthier clubs were
gaining an advantage that metropolitan zoning and the Coulter law
(salary cap) restricting player payments had prevented in the past.
Country zoning was introduced in the late 1960s, and whilst it
pushed Essendon and Geelong from the top of the ladder, it created
severe inequality during the 1970s and 1980s. Between 1972 and
1987, only six of the league's twelve clubs Carlton, Collingwood,
Essendon, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Richmond played in Grand
Finals; by comparison, nine different clubs had contested Grand
Finals between 1961 and 1967.The 1970 season saw the opening of VFL
Park, with the inaugural match being played between Geelong and
Fitzroy, on 18 April 1970. Construction work was carried out at the
stadium as the 1970s progressed, culminating in the building of the
now heritage listed Sir Kenneth Luke stand. The Queen of Australia,
Elizabeth II was a guest at the game and officially opened the
stadium to the public. The 1970 Grand Final between traditional
rivals Carlton and Collingwood, arguably the league's most famous
game, saw Carlton recover from a 44-point deficit at half-time to
win the game by ten points, featured a famous spectacular mark by
Alex Jesaulenko, and was witnessed by a record crowd of
121,696.Carlton and Richmond won three premierships each between
19681974, facing each other in three Grand Finals. North Melbourne,
after struggling for most of its time in the VFL, finally won its
first premiership in 1975, and contesting the Grand Final each year
from 19741978, winning two; three of those deciders were against
fellow 1925 expansion team Hawthorn, who also won two premierships.
Carlton won three premierships in four years from 19791982.Among
the notable rule changes made during the decade were: The finals
series was expanded from four teams to five in 1972. The
introduction of the centre diamond, later changed to a square, to
limit the number of players allowed around the centre bounce to
four per team. The introduction of a second field umpire in 1976.
The introduction of unlimited interchange in 1978, replacing
substitution, which had been in place previously.1980s: National
expansionThe 1980s was a period of significant structural change in
Australian football around the country. The VFL was the most
popular and dominant of the state leagues around the country in
terms of overall attendance, interest, and money, and began to look
towards expanding its influence directly into other states. The VFL
and its top clubs already had the buying power to recruit top
players from interstate. As a result of this, rising cost pressures
were driving some of Victoria's weaker clubs into dire financial
situations.But in spite of the increasing dominance of Victoria,
the country's three top leagues the VFL, South Australia's SANFL
and Western Australia's WAFL were never closer to an integrated
competition than they were in the early 1980s, with teams from all
three leagues competing in the Night Series, a competition run
separate to the league competitions on weekday evenings.South
Melbourne became the first VFL club to relocate interstate, and the
club moved to Sydney to become the Sydney Swans in 1982; under the
private ownership of wealthy Dr Geoffrey Edelsten during the
mid-1980s, Sydney became a successful team on-field. In 1986, the
West Australian Football League and Queensland Australian Football
League were awarded licences to join the VFL as expansion teams,
leading to the establishment of the West Coast Eagles and Brisbane
Bears, who both joined the league in 1987. These expansion team
licences were awarded on payment of multi-million dollar fees which
were not required of the existing VFL clubs. Interstate clubs
dropped out of the Night Series, and by 1987 it consisted solely of
VFL clubs; it was shifted to become the modern day pre-season
competition in 1988. In 1989, financial troubles nearly forced
Footscray and Fitzroy to merge, but a fundraising event from
Footscray supporters stopped the proposed merger at the eleventh
hour.The 1980s first saw new regular timeslots for VFL matches. VFL
matches had previously been played on Saturday afternoons, but
Sydney began playing its home matches on Sunday afternoons, and
North Melbourne pioneered playing matches on Friday night. These
have since become regular timeslots for all teams.In the late
1980s, the former zoning arrangements which had led to such
inequality between the stronger and weaker clubs began to be phased
out. The first National Draft was introduced in 1986, and a salary
cap was introduced in 1987. Over the following decade, these
changes helped to equalise the clubs, minimising the ability for
the richer clubs to dominate the league.In 1984, there was a
revival of the International Rules representative series, which had
first been played in the 1960s. The matches were played with a
hybrid set of rules based on Australian rules football and Gaelic
football. It also began to pave the way for Gaelic footballers to
convert to Australian football; pioneered by Melbourne and known as
the Irish experiment, Irish players Sean Wight and Jim Stynes began
their successful VFL/AFL careers in the mid-1980s. Many Irish
players have since played professional AFL football.On-field, the
1980s were dominated by Hawthorn, Essendon and Carlton: Hawthorn
contested seven consecutive Grand Finals for four premierships;
Carlton contested four Grand Finals for three flags; and Essendon
contested three consecutive Grand Finals, all against Hawthorn,
winning two, and establishing a bitter rivalry. In the process,
Carlton and Essendon both passed Collingwood in terms of number of
premierships won; since 1982, Carlton has continuously been the
team with most premierships won, holding the position jointly with
Essendon for much of that time. The 1989 Grand Final between
Hawthorn and Geelong is considered one of the finest Grand Finals,
with many strong physical encounters, a joint Grand Final record
nine goals by Geelong's Gary Ablett, Sr., and Geelong coming back
from a 36-point deficit at three quarter time to fall six points
short of victory.1990s: A new eraFormer AFL Logo (199099)The league
was officially renamed the Australian Football League in 1990 to
reflect the new national perspective;[3] the VFA later took over
the Victorian Football League name in 1996. Functionally, the AFL
gave up control over its Victorian-based minor grades at the end of
1991 clubs continued to field reserves teams in the independent
Victorian State Football League, while an entirely new under-18s
competition (the TAC Cup) was established with new, zone-based
clubs. Without minor grades, the McClelland Trophy was now awarded
to the senior minor premiers.Collingwood won the AFL Premiership in
1990, ending a 32-year premiership drought, which featured a string
of near misses known as the Colliwobbles that had seen the club
lose eight Grand Finals.In 1990, the SANFL's most successful club,
Port Adelaide, made a bid for an AFL licence. In response, the
SANFL established a composite South Australian team called the
Adelaide Crows, which was awarded the licence and joined the league
in 1991 as the fourth interstate club. The same year saw the West
Coast Eagles become the first interstate club reach the Grand
Final, losing to Hawthorn; the Eagles would then win the
premiership in 1992 and 1994. In 1994, the Fremantle Football Club
was formed in Western Australia, and joined in the AFL in 1995,
becoming the fifth interstate club.In 1996, the VFL/AFL celebrated
its centenary; the Australian Football Hall of Fame was established
and the VFL/AFL Team of the Century was named. However, several
Victorian clubs were in severe financial difficulties, most notably
Fitzroy and Hawthorn. Hawthorn had proposed to merge with Melbourne
to form the Melbourne Hawks, but the merger ultimately fell through
and both teams continued as separate entities. For Fitzroy,
however, the club was too weak to continue by itself; the club
nearly merged with North Melbourne to form the Fitzroy-North
Melbourne Kangaroos, but after the other clubs voted against it,
the club merged with Brisbane to become the Brisbane Lions.[4]
Fitzroy played its last match at the end of 1996.With the
Brisbane-Fitzroy merger, Port Adelaide was awarded an AFL licence,
and joined the league in 1997. The AFL rejected bids from
Queensland club Southport Sharks and the Tasmanian government to
enter teams.Some of the rule changes of the decade included the
introduction of a third field umpire in 1994, a blood rule in 1994,
and the introduction of a third (1994) and fourth (1998)
interchange player. The International Rules series against the
Gaelic Athletic Association was revived again in 1998, and has
become a semi-permanent fixture since. The finals series was
expanded from five teams to six in 1991, and then to eight teams in
1994.Through the 1990s, there was a significant trend of
Melbourne-based teams abandoning the use of their small
(20,00030,000 capacity) suburban venues for home matches, in favour
of the larger MCG and Waverley Park. The 1990s saw the last matches
played at Windy Hill (Essendon), Moorabbin Oval (St Kilda), Western
Oval (Footscray) and Victoria Park (Collingwood), and saw Princes
Park abandoned by its long-term co-tenant Hawthorn. The transition
to the use of only two venues in Melbourne was ultimately completed
in 2005, when Carlton abandoned the use of Princes Park.There was
no dominant club in the latter part of the 1990s, although North
Melbourne was the most successful, winning two premierships from
three Grand Finals. Adelaide won two Grand Finals, and Carlton won
one Grand Final from two appearances.In 1999, the league sold
Waverley Park stadium and used the funds in a joint venture to
begin construction of a brand-new stadium situated at Melbourne's
Docklands. Representative state football came to an end, with the
last State of Origin match held in 1999.2000s[5]An AFL match at
Docklands StadiumThe AFL logo was again changed in 2000, with a new
look intended to coincide with the new millennium. Rivals
Collingwood and Carlton, played a pre-season match known as the
'Millennium Match' on New Year's Eve 1999. The new Docklands
Stadium hosted its first match in Round 1, 2000, and it was the
first AFL match played under a retractable roof. After Victorian
State Football League ceased operation at the end of 1999, the
Victorian-based AFL clubs established connections with the
Victorian Football League (a rebranding of the former VFA), with
clubs either fielding reserves teams in the VFL, or entering into
affiliations with existing senior VFL clubs to serve as feeder
teams.The early 2000s were dominated by Essendon, Brisbane and Port
Adelaide, who shared the five flags from 20002004. Essendon won
minor premierships in 19992001, but converted only the 2000 season
into a premiership; Essendon's 2000 season set an enduring record,
with a win-loss record of 241 across the home and away season and
finals, the best ever recorded. Brisbane contested four consecutive
Grand Finals, winning three from 20012003. Port Adelaide won minor
premierships in 20022004, and broke through for its first
premiership in the 2004 season. The dominance of interstate clubs
continued to six consecutive flags, with Sydney and West Coast
facing each other in 2005 and 2006 Grand Finals for one flag each,
with both matches decided by less than a goal.The 2002 season saw
the Carlton Football Club finish last, becoming the last of the
twelve VFL clubs to win its first wooden spoon, before being
heavily penalised for cheating the salary cap a few years earlier;
the penalties saw Carlton stay near the bottom of the ladder for
the next six years.An AFL match at Football Park in AdelaideA
series of new rule changes were introduced for the 2006 season
intended to speed up the game, allowing full-backs to kick in more
quickly after a behind, and limiting the length of time that a
player was allowed to hold the ball after a mark to 8 seconds for a
mark in general play, and 30 seconds for a set shot.Several teams
established a regular presence in other parts of Australasia during
the 21st century, generally by playing between one and four home
matches in the alternative location. Among the notable contracts
were including Hawthorn (Launceston), St Kilda (Launceston and
Wellington[6]), North Melbourne (Gold Coast, Canberra and Hobart),
Richmond (Cairns), Port Adelaide (Darwin) and the Western Bulldogs
(Darwin).In the late 2000s, the AFL looked to establish a permanent
presence on the Gold Coast, which was fast-developing as a major
population centre. North Melbourne, who was in financial difficulty
and had played a few home games on the Gold Coast in previous
years, was offered significant subsidies to relocate to the Gold
Coast, but the club declined. The AFL then began work to establish
a club on the Gold Coast as a new expansion team; the Gold Coast
Suns were established, and joined the AFL in 2011 as the 17th team.
The Greater Western Sydney Giants, based on both Western Sydney and
Canberra, were then established, and entered the league as the 18th
team in 2012.Early in 2008, a meeting held by the AFL discussed
having two new teams enter the AFL competition.[7] In March 2008,
the AFL won the support of the league's 16 club presidents to
establish a side on the Gold Coast and further also a side in
Western Sydney they both would enter the competition in 2011 and
2012 respectively.The AFL has also considered a bid from the
Tasmanian government for a licence for a Tasmanian team.[8] A third
team based in Sydney has been suggested.[9] A third team based in
Perth has been suggested.[10] On 25 April 2013 the Westpac Stadium
in Wellington, New Zealand hosted the first ever Australian
Football League game played for premiership points outside of
Australia. The night game between St Kilda and Sydney was played in
front of a crowd of 22,183 on Anzac Day to honour the Anzac bond
between the two countries.[11][12] At the official pre-match
function the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key used the
occasion to raise the prospect of a New Zealand based AFL team,
saying "Let's get real. We've got to get a New Zealand side in the
AFL."[12]2010s: Further expansionIn 2010, a licence was granted to
the Greater Western Sydney Giants, a second Sydney-based team based
at Homebush in Western Sydney. The team also plays some of its home
games in Canberra, A.C.T.. Also in the 2010 season, the AFL
experienced the third Grand Final draw in its history when St Kilda
drew with Collingwood. The replay was staged 1 week later with
Collingwood running out premiers.In 2011 new club, the Gold Coast
Suns entered the league[13] having been granted a licence in 2009.
In the 2011 season Geelong returned to the Grand Final and defeated
Collingwood. In 2012 the Greater Western Sydney Giants joined the
league and played their first season finishing in last place.
Sydney won their 5th premiership defeating Hawthorn, but Hawthorn
would redeem themselves one year later by defeating Fremantle to
win the 2013 title. This also marked Fremantle's first Grand Final
since joining the competition in 1995.The 2014 season marked Andrew
Demetriou's last as CEO of the AFL. He announced his retirement
from the position and stepped down in June 2014 being replaced by
Gillon McLachlan. The 2014 season also saw Peta Searle become the
first woman appointed as a development coach in the AFL when she
joined St Kilda.[14]ClubsAustralia Melbourne Inner Locator.PNGWest
CoastFremantleAdelaidePort AdelaideBrisbaneGold CoastSydneyGreater
WesternSydneyWesternBulldogsGeelongEssendonNorthMelbourneCarltonCollingwoodMelbourneRichmondHawthornSt
KildaThe AFL operates on a single table system, with no divisions,
conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues.The
league was founded as the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897,
consisting of eight teams only based in the Australian state of
Victoria. Over the next century, a series of expansions, a
relocation, a merger and a club withdrawal saw the leagues teams
expand to the 18 teams there are today.The current 18 teams are
based across 5 state of Australia. The majority (10) still remain
in Victoria, while the states of New South Wales, Queensland,
Western Australia and South Australia have two each. In 1990 the
national nature of the competition resulted in the name change to
the Australian Football League.Current clubsClub Moniker
Headquarters State/Territory Stadium Founded First season Head
coachAdelaide Football Club Crows AAMI Stadium, Adelaide South
Australia Adelaide Oval 1990 1991 Brenton SandersonBrisbane Lions
Lions The Gabba, Brisbane Queensland The Gabba 1996 1997 Justin
LeppitschCarlton Football Club Blues Princes Park, Carlton North
Victoria Docklands Stadium 1864 1897 Mick MalthouseCollingwood
Football Club Magpies Olympic Park, Melbourne Victoria Melbourne
Cricket Ground 1892 1897 Nathan BuckleyEssendon Football Club
Bombers True Value Solar Centre, Melbourne Airport Victoria
Docklands Stadium 1871 1897 Mark ThompsonFremantle Football Club
Dockers Fremantle Oval, Fremantle Western Australia Subiaco Oval
1994 1995 Ross LyonGeelong Football Club Cats Kardinia Park,
Geelong Victoria Kardinia Park 1859 1897 Chris ScottGold Coast
Football Club Suns Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast Queensland Carrara
Stadium 2009 2011 Guy McKennaGreater Western Sydney Football Club
Giants Tom Wills Oval, Sydney Olympic Park New South Wales and
Australian Capital Territory Sydney Showground StadiumManuka Oval
2009 2012 Leon CameronHawthorn Football Club Hawks Waverley Park,
Mulgrave Victoria Melbourne Cricket GroundAurora Stadium 1902 1925
Alastair ClarksonMelbourne Football Club Demons AAMI Park,
Melbourne Victoria Melbourne Cricket Ground 1859 1897 Paul
RoosNorth Melbourne Football Club Kangaroos Arden Street Oval,
North Melbourne Victoria Docklands Stadium 1869 1925 Brad ScottPort
Adelaide Football Club Power Alberton Oval, Alberton South
Australia Adelaide Oval 1870 1997 Ken HinkleyRichmond Football Club
Tigers Punt Road Oval, Richmond Victoria Melbourne Cricket Ground
1885 1908 Damien HardwickSt Kilda Football Club Saints Linen House
Centre, Seaford Victoria Docklands Stadium 1873 1897 Alan
RichardsonSydney Swans Swans Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney New
South Wales Sydney Cricket GroundStadium Australia 1874 1897 John
LongmireWest Coast Eagles Eagles Subiaco Oval, Subiaco Western
Australia Subiaco Oval 1986 1987 Adam SimpsonWestern Bulldogs
Bulldogs Whitten Oval, Footscray Victoria Docklands Stadium 1877
1925 Brendan McCartneyFormer clubsSince the Australian Football
League commenced in 1897 as the Victorian Football League, only one
club has left the competition, the Melbourne University Football
Club; it last competed in 1914, and withdrew because, as a strictly
amateur club, it became unable to remain competitive in a time when
player payments were becoming common;[1][2] the club still competes
to this day in the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Two
other clubs, the Fitzroy Football Club (Fitzroy Lions) and the
Brisbane Bears, merged in 1996 to form the Brisbane
Lions.VenuesMain article: List of Australian Football League
groundsMelbourne, Victoria Sydney, New South Wales Melbourne,
Victoria Adelaide, South AustraliaMelbourne Cricket Ground Stadium
Australia Docklands Stadium Adelaide OvalCapacity: 100,024
Capacity: 82,500 Capacity: 56,347 Capacity: 53,583AFL Grand Final
2010 on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.jpg ANZ Stadium, Essendon.jpg
Aerial view of Etihad Stadium.jpg Completed Adelaide Oval 2014 -
cropped and rotated.jpgSydney, New South Wales Australian Football
League is located in AustraliaSubiaco OvalSubiaco OvalTIO
StadiumTIO StadiumCazaly's StadiumCazaly's StadiumCarrara
StadiumCarrara StadiumGabbaGabbaManukaManukaYork ParkYork
ParkAdelaide OvalAdelaide
OvalKardiniaKardiniaMCGMCGDocklandsDocklandsSCGSCGStadium
AustraliaStadium AustraliaShowgroundsShowgroundsBellerive
OvalBellerive OvalTraeger ParkTraeger ParkBrisbane,
QueenslandSydney Cricket Ground The GabbaCapacity: 48,000 Capacity:
42,000SCG members.jpg The Gabba Panorama.jpgPerth, Western
Australia Geelong, VictoriaSubiaco Oval Kardinia ParkCapacity:
43,500 Capacity: 33,500SubiOval.JPG Skilled-stadium-geelong.jpgGold
Coast, Queensland Sydney, New South Wales Launceston, Tasmania
Hobart, TasmaniaCarrara Stadium Sydney Showground Stadium York Park
Bellerive OvalCapacity: 25,000 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 21,000
Capacity: 16,200Adelaide v Gold Coast - Carrara crowd.jpg Skoda
Stadium.png Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - 31st May 2008 181.jpg
Bellerive oval hobart.jpgCanberra, ACT Darwin, Northern Territory
Cairns, Queensland Traeger Park, Northern TerritoryManuka Oval
Marrara Stadium Cazaly's Stadium Traeger ParkCapacity: 15,000
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 10,000Manuka Oval.JPG
TIO Stadium.jpg Cazaly's Stadium.jpg Traeger Park
4916.jpgThroughout the history of the VFL/AFL, there have been a
total of 42 different grounds used, with 14 used during the 2014
season.[15] The largest capacity ground in use is the Melbourne
Cricket Ground (MCG), which has a capacity of over 100,000 people,
and hosts the Grand Final each year.[16] The MCG is shared by five
teams as a home ground, whilst the other grounds used as home
venues by multiple teams are Docklands Stadium in Melbourne (five
teams), Stadium Australia in Sydney (two teams), Adelaide Oval in
Adelaide (two teams), and Subiaco Oval in Perth (two teams).Prior
to the expansion of the competition, most grounds were located in
suburban Melbourne, with Princes Park, Victoria Park, the Junction
Oval, Waverley Park, and the Lake Oval each having hosted over 700
games.[15] However, since the introduction of a national
competition, each state and territory of Australia has hosted AFL
games.[17]On 25 April 2013 (Anzac Day), a match took place between
St Kilda and Sydney at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand,
being the first AFL match played outside Australia for official
premiership points.[18] At the end of 2013 a new five-year deal was
announced that will see St Kilda play a match on Anzac Day at the
stadium every year until 2018.[19]PlayersSee also: List of current
AFL team squads and Category:VFL/AFL playersAFL players are drawn
from a number of sources; however, most players enter the league
through the AFL draft, held at the end of each season. A small
number of players have converted from other sports, or been
recruited internationally. Prior to the nationalisation of the
competition, a zoning system was in place. At the end of the
season, the best 22 players and coach from across the competition
are selected in the All-Australian team.Close up of ruckwork from a
Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs game at Docklands Stadium in
Melbourne with the roof openThe AFL has tight controls over the
player lists of each club. Currently, apart from the recently added
expansion clubs who have some additional players, each team can
have a senior list of 38 to 40 players plus 4 to 6 rookie players,
to a total of 44 players[20] (following a reduction by two of the
number of rookies in 2012) and up to three development rookies
(international, alternate talent or New South Wales scholarship
players).[21] Changes to playing lists are permitted only in the
off-season: clubs can trade players during a "trade period" which
follows each season and recruit new players through the three AFL
drafts, the national draft, the pre-season draft and the rookie
draft, which take place after the trade period. A mid-year draft
was conducted between 1990 and 1993.[22] The national draft is the
primary method of recruiting new players and has been used since
1986. The draft order is based on reverse-finishing position from
the previous year, but selections can be traded. Free agency player
movements have only been permitted since the 2012/13 offseason,[23]
having been rejected by the AFL commission previously.[24]Salary
capMain article: AFL salary capA salary cap (known as the Total
Player Payments or TPP) is also in place as part of the league's
equalisation policy; this is A$9,130,000 for the 2013 season with a
salary floor of $8,673,500 except for the Gold Coast, whose salary
cap will be A$9,630,000 with a salary floor of $9,171,500, and
Greater Western Sydney, whose salary cap is $9,987,000 with a floor
of $9,530,500. As part of the AFL's enhanced equalisation policies,
in 2014 the league announced an increase of the TPP for the 2015
and 2016 seasons. TPP increases an additional $150,000 per club in
2015 above previously contracted amounts, increasing from $9.92m to
$10.07m in 2015 and $10.22m to $10.37m in 2016.[25]The salary cap
was set at A$1.25 million for 19871989 as per VFL agreement, with
the salary floor set at 90% of the cap or $1.125 million; the
salary floor was increased to 92.5% of the cap in 2001, and 95% of
the cap for 2013 due to increased revenues. Both the salary cap and
salary floor has increased substantially since the competition was
rebranded as the AFL in 1990.Salaries of draft selections are fixed
for two years. Salaries for senior players are not normally
released to the public, though the average AFL player salary at the
conclusion of the 2012 season was $251,559[26] and the top few
players can expect to earn up to and above $1,000,000 a year.[27]
Upon successfully trading to the Sydney Swans in 2013, marquee
player Lance Franklin signed a 9 year contract with the club,
reportedly worth over $10 million and resulting in subsequent
payments of $1.8 million annually in consecutive seasons.[28] The
Total Player Earnings (TPE) or total amount of revenue spent on
reimbursement of AFL listed players at the conclusion of the 2012
season was $173.7 million, up by 13 per cent from $153.7 million in
2011.[26]The breaches of the salary cap and salary floor
regulations outlined by the AFL are: exceeding the TPP; falling
below the salary floor; not informing the AFL of payments; late or
incorrect lodgement or loss of documents; or engaging in draft
tampering. Penalties include fines of up to triple the amount
involved ($10,000 for each document late or incorrect lodged or
lost), forfeiture of draft picks and/or deduction of premiership
points. The most significant breach of the salary cap was that of
the Carlton Football Club in the early 2000s.DemographicsMatthew
Pavlich, a South Australian playing for Western Australia-based
club Fremantle jumps to mark the ball at the MCG against
Melbourne.There were 801 players on AFL club senior, veteran,
rookie and international lists in 2011, including players from
every state and mainland territory of Australia.[29]Indigenous
Australian playersMain article: List of Australian rules
footballers of Aboriginal descentAs of 2014, there are 68 players
of Indigenous Australian descent on AFL club lists, comprising
approximately 9% of the overall playing
population.[30]International playersMain articles: List of VFL/AFL
players born outside of Australia and VFL/AFL players with
international backgroundsThere were 12 players recruited from
outside of Australia on AFL lists in 2011, including 10 from
Ireland, all converts from Gaelic football drafted as part of the
Irish Experiment. The other two players are Seamus McNamara
(Collingwood) and Mike Pyke (Sydney), recruited from the United
States and Canada respectively.There were also another five
overseas-born players who emigrated to Australia at an early age on
AFL lists.[31]An international rookie list and international
scholarship list were introduced in 2006. The international rookie
list includes up to two players between the ages of 15 and 23 who
are not Australian citizens. These players may remain on this list
for up to three years before they must be transferred to the senior
or rookie list. For the first year, payments made to
international-rookie-listed players fall outside the salary cap.
The international scholarship list gives AFL clubs the option of
recruiting up to eight players from outside Australia (other than
Ireland). Irish players are required to either be placed on clubs'
senior or rookie lists.[32] At the beginning of 2011 there were 14
international scholarship players.[33]Season
structurePre-seasonMain article: Australian Football League
pre-season competitionFrom 1988 until 2013, the AFL ran a
pre-season competition that finished prior to the commencement of
the premiership season, which served as both warm-up matches for
the season and as a stand-alone competition. It was mostly
contested as a four-week knock out tournament, but the format
changed after the expansion of the league beyond sixteen clubs in
2011. The competition has frequently been used to trial rule
changes. In 2014, the competition format was abandoned, and
practice matches are now played under the sponsored name NAB
Challenge.Premiership seasonSee also: 2014 AFL seasonThe AFL
home-and-away season at present lasts for 23 rounds, starting in
late March and ending in early September. As of the 2013 AFL
season, each team plays 22 matches, with one bye. Teams receive
four premiership points for a win and two premiership points for a
draw. Ladder finishing positions are based on the number of
premiership points won, and "percentage" (calculated as the ratio
of points scored to points conceded throughout the season) is used
as a tie-breaker when teams finish with equal premiership points.
At the end of the home-and-away season, the McClelland Trophy is
awarded to the minor premiers.Themed rounds and special matchesSome
rounds of the season are named as themed rounds, such as Rivalry
Round (in which traditional rivals are matched up against each
other), Women's Round and Heritage Round (where teams play in old
style guernseys). Some matches are also themed for special events.
For example, each year Collingwood play Essendon in the annual
ANZAC Day match at the MCG and the game will typically sell out
regardless of the positions of the two teams on the ladder due to
their strong rivalry and huge followings. Another annual match is
the Queen's Birthday game between Melbourne and Collingwood. As of
2006, Richmond and Essendon play in the Dreamtime at the 'G match.
There are separate trophies for the matches between several clubs
and former rivalries such as the Lake Trophy between St Kilda and
the Sydney Swans.Finals SeriesThe top eight teams at the end of the
AFL Premiership season compete in a four-week finals series
throughout September, culminating in a Grand Final to determine the
premiers. The Grand Final is traditionally played at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground on the afternoon of the last Saturday in
September.The winning team receives a silver premiership cup and a
navy blue premiership flag a new one of each is manufactured each
year. The flag has been presented since the league began, and is
traditionally unfurled at the team's first home game of the
following season. The trophy was first introduced in 1959, and is
manufactured annually by Cash's International at their metalworks
in Frankston, Victoria.[34] Additionally, each player in the Grand
Final-winning team receives a premiership medallion.See also: List
of Australian Football League premiersList of VFL/AFL Grand
FinalistsTeams Premiers Runner Up Total Year(s) won Year(s)
lostEssendon Bombers 16 14 30 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924,
1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 1898,
1902, 1908, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1983,
1990, 2001Carlton Blues 16 13 29 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915,
1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995
1904, 1909, 1910, 1916, 1921, 1932, 1949, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1986,
1993, 1999Collingwood Magpies 15 26 41 1902, 1903, 1910, 1917,
1919, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1990, 2010
1901, 1905, 1911, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938,
1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980,
1981, 2002, 2003, 2011Melbourne Demons 12 5 17 1900, 1926, 1939,
1940, 1941, 1948, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964 1946, 1954,
1958, 1988, 2000Hawthorn Hawks 11 6 17 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978,
1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013 1963, 1975, 1984, 1985,
1987, 2012Richmond Tigers 10 12 22 1920, 1921, 1932, 1934, 1943,
1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1980 1919, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931,
1933, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1972, 1982Geelong Cats 9 9 18 1925, 1931,
1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011 1897, 1930, 1953, 1967,
1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008Fitzroy Lions 8 5 13 1898, 1899, 1904,
1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944 1900, 1903, 1906, 1917, 1923Sydney
Swans(Formerly South Melbourne) 5 10 15 1909, 1918, 1933, 2005,
2012 1899, 1907, 1912, 1914, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996,
2006North Melbourne Kangaroos 4 5 9 1975, 1977, 1996, 1999 1950,
1974, 1976, 1978, 1998West Coast Eagles 3 2 5 1992, 1994, 2006
1991, 2005Brisbane Lions 3 1 4 2001, 2002, 2003 2004Adelaide Crows
2 0 2 1997, 1998 St. Kilda Saints 1 6 7 1966 1913, 1965, 1971,
1997, 2009, 2010Footscray/Western Bulldogs 1 1 2 1954 1961Port
Adelaide 1 1 2 2004 2007Fremantle Dockers 0 1 1 2013 Of the current
18 teams in the AFL, only the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the
Gold Coast Suns are yet to compete in a Grand Final. Years in bold
represent premierships won once the AFL name was adopted. The
Adelaide Crows are the only team to have never lost an AFL Grand
Final. Defunct clubAwardsAwards that can be won by players during
the season include the Brownlow Medal, awarded to the player judged
the "fairest and best" throughout the regular season; the Coleman
Medal, awarded to the player kicking the most goals throughout the
regular season; the Norm Smith Medal, awarded to the player judged
best on ground in the Grand Final; and the Rising Star Award, given
to the most outstanding young player in the competition.Major
annual awards Brownlow Medal Coleman Medal AFL Rising Star Leigh
Matthews Trophy AFLPA Awards AFLCA Awards Norm Smith Medal Jock
McHale Medal Michael Tuck Medal Mark of the Year Goal of the Year
(Australia) AFL Army Award All Australian Team Club Best and
Fairest Awards Herald Sun Player of the Year Lou Richards Medal
(Sunday Footy Show player of the Year)Team of the CenturyTo
celebrate the 100th season of the AFL, the "AFL Team of the
Century" was named in 1996.AFL Team of the CenturyB: Bernie Smith
(Geelong, West Adelaide) Stephen Silvagni (Carlton) John Nicholls
(Carlton)HB: Bruce Doull (Carlton) Ted Whitten (Footscray) Captain
Kevin Murray (Fitzroy, East Perth)C: Francis Bourke (Richmond) Ian
Stewart (Hobart, St Kilda, Richmond) Keith Greig (North
Melbourne)HF: Alex Jesaulenko (Carlton, St Kilda) Royce Hart
(Richmond) Dick Reynolds (Essendon)F: Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)
John Coleman (Essendon) Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Fitzroy, Subiaco, Port
Adelaide)Foll: Graham Farmer (Geelong, East Perth, West Perth) Ron
Barassi (Melbourne, Carlton) Bob Skilton (South Melbourne)Int: Gary
Ablett, Sr. (Hawthorn, Geelong) Jack Dyer (Richmond) Greg Williams
(Geelong, Sydney, Carlton)Coach: Norm Smith (Melbourne, Fitzroy,
South Melbourne)Jack Elder was declared the Umpire of the Century
to coincide with the Team of the Century. Since the naming of this
side, most AFL clubs have nominated their own teams of the century.
An Indigenous Team of the Century was also selected in 2005,
featuring the best Aboriginal players of the previous 100 years
from both the VFL/AFL and other state leagues.RecordsMain article:
List of VFL/AFL recordsSee also: Australian rules football
attendance records Most AFL/VFL premierships Carlton 16 (most
recent 1995) and Essendon 16 (most recent 2000) Most consecutive
AFL/VFL premierships Collingwood 4 19271930 Highest score Geelong
37.17 (239) defeated Brisbane Bears 11.9 (75) Carrara Stadium, 3
May 1992 Highest winning margin 190 points Fitzroy 36.22 (238)
defeated Melbourne 6.12 (48) Waverley Park, 28 July 1979 Highest
aggregate score 52.33 (345) Melbourne 21.15 (141) lost to St Kilda
31.18 (204) MCG, 6 May 1978 Highest score in one quarter South
Melbourne 17.4 (106) vs. St Kilda 0.0 (0) in 4th quarter Lake Oval,
26 July 1919 Final score: South Melbourne 29.15 (189) vs. St Kilda
2.6 (18) Largest crowd Carlton v Collingwood 121,696 MCG, 26
September 1970 (Grand Final) Largest home and away season crowd
Melbourne v Collingwood 99,346 MCG, 1958 Largest international
crowd Melbourne v Sydney 32,789 B.C. Place, Vancouver, Canada, 1987
Most last placed finishes at the end of the home and away season St
Kilda 26 Most games won Collingwood 1921 (to the end of the 2010
season) Most games won in a season Essendon 2000 24 (incl. finals)
Undefeated in a home and away season Collingwood 1929 Most grand
final appearances Collingwood 43 Most consecutive grand final
appearances Melbourne 7 (between 1954 and 1960) and Hawthorn 7
(between 1983 and 1989) Most finals series appearances Collingwood
78 Most consecutive finals series appearances Hawthorn 13 (between
1982 and 1994) Most consecutive wins Geelong 23 19521953 Most
consecutive games unbeaten Geelong 26 19521953 Most consecutive
losses University 51 (19111914) Most games played in a career
Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 426 games Most finals played in a career
Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 39 games Most grand finals played in a
career Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 11 Most premierships won in a career
Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 7 Most games as club captain Stephen
Kernahan (Carlton) 226 games Most goals in a career Tony Lockett
(St Kilda/Sydney) 1,360 goals Most goals in finals Gordon Coventry
(Collingwood) 112 goals Most goals in a game Fred Fanning
(Melbourne) 18 goals, 30 August 1947 Most goals in a season
(including finals) Bob Pratt (South Melbourne, 1934) and Peter
Hudson (Hawthorn, 1971) 150 goals Most consecutive matches Jim
Stynes (Melbourne) 244 Most consecutive matches from debut Jared
Crouch (Sydney) 194 Tallest player Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) 211
cm Peter Street (Geelong/Western Bulldogs) 211 cm Shortest player
James "Nipper" Bradford (North Melbourne/Collingwood) 154 cm
Heaviest player Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) 124 kg Longest kick
Fred Fanning (Melbourne) 76.15m (116 yards, 3 inches) Heaviest
suspension Doug Fraser and Alex Lang (Carlton) 99 matches (bribery)
from 1910 to 1915 Heaviest suspension for an on-field incident Fred
Rutley (North Melbourne) 89 matches (2 x kicking, 3 x striking and
melee involvement) from 1925 to 1930 Heaviest fine imposed on club
A$2,000,000 imposed on Essendon 2013 (bringing the AFL into
disrepute) Heaviest fine imposed on player A$50,000 imposed on Kurt
Tippett of Adelaide in 2012 (involvement in violations of salary
cap regulations and draft tampering, Tippett was also suspended for
11 matches) Heaviest fine imposed on coach A$30,000 imposed on Mark
'Bomber' Thompson (senior assistant coach) of Essendon in 2013 for
his part (charged for bringing the game into disrepute alongside
James Hird and Danny Corcoran) in the Essendon Football Club
supplements controversyRepresentative footballState footballFurther
information: Interstate matches in Australian rules footballThere
is currently no official state representation for AFL players
despite the concept being well supported among fans and calls to
re-introduce a State of Origin series.[35][36]History of the
VFL/AFL's involvementVFL players first represented the Victoria
representative team in 1897 regardless of their state of
origin.Being the dominant league drawing many of the country's best
players, the Victoria Australian rules football team (nicknamed the
"Big V" and composed mostly of VFL players) dominated interstate
matches until the introduction of State of Origin selection
criteria by the Australian Football Council (of which the VFL was a
member) in 1977.The AFL Commission assumed control of interstate
football in 1993 and co-ordinated an annual State of Origin series
typically held during a mid-season bye round. However after the
1999 series, the AFL declared the concept of interstate football
"on hold" citing club's unwillingness to release star players and a
lack of public interest and shifted its focus of representative
football to the International Rules Series where it draws a greater
television revenue.The last time AFL players played formal
interstate football was in the 1999 State of Origin Series when
Victoria inflicted a massive defeat on South Australia in wet
conditions in front of a crowd of 26,063. Just 10 years earlier,
the same match with a plethora of star players attracted a crowd of
91,960.A once-off representative match, known as the AFL Hall of
Fame Tribute Match was played in 2008 to celebrate the 150th
anniversary of the sport. The match was played between a team of
players of Victorian origin and a team of players of interstate
origin (the "Dream Team")Some past AFL players participate and help
promote the E. J. Whitten Legends Game, however this event is not
affiliated with or promoted by the AFL.International Rules
SeriesSee also: International rules footballThe International Rules
Series is an annual competition played twice every three years
between AFL listed players from Australia and Gaelic footballers
from Ireland. The series is organised under the auspices of the AFL
and the Gaelic Athletic Association. The game itself is a hybrid
sport, consisting of rules from both Australian football and Gaelic
football. The series provides the only outlet for AFL players to
represent their nation.AdministrationMain article: AFL
CommissionSee also: List of VFL/AFL presidentsThe AFL Commission is
responsible for the administration of the AFL. It was established
in December 1985 after club parochialism and self-interest
threatened to undermine the competition.The Commission's chairman
is Mike Fitzpatrick, a former Subiaco and Carlton player, and the
Chief Executive is Gillon McLachlan, who officially took over from
Andrew Demetriou on the 4th June, 2014.The Commission's composition
remains almost exclusively Victorian based with one exception, Bob
Hammond from South Australia.In addition to administering the
national competition, the AFL is heavily involved in promoting and
developing the sport in Australia. It provides funds for local
leagues and in conjunction with local clubs, administers the
Auskick program for young boys and girls.The AFL also plays a
leading role in developing the game outside Australia, with
projects to develop the game at junior level in other countries
(e.g. South Africa) and by supporting affiliated competitions
around the world (See Australian football around the world).The
players of the AFL are represented by the AFL Players
Association.AudienceThe AFL is the best-attended sporting league in
Australia,[37] and averaged 33,461 people per game over the 2013
season, giving AFL the 4th highest average attendance figures of
any professional sport in the world.[38] According to market
research, the AFL is the second-most-watched sporting event in
Australia, behind cricket.[39] Currently, broadcast rights for the
AFL are shared between the Seven Network (free-to-air), Foxtel and
Austar (pay TV), and Telstra (internet). At the end of the 2013
season, a record 756,717 people were members of an AFL
club.[40]AttendanceThe following are the most recent season
attendances:Year Home and Away Average Finals1 Average1 Grand
Final2014 6,403,941 32,343 2013 6,372,784 32,186 558,391 62,043
100,0072012 6,238,876 31,509 538,934 59,882 99,6832011 6,533,138
34,937 614,250 68,250 99,5372010 6,494,564 36,901 651,764 65,176
100,0164 and 93,85352009 6,375,622 36,225 615,463 68,385 99,2512008
6,512,999 37,0062 571,760 63,258 100,0122007 6,475,521 36,793
575,424 63,936 97,3022006 6,204,056 35,250 532,178 59,131
97,4312005 6,283,788 35,703 480,112 53,346 91,89832004 5,909,836
33,579 458,326 50,925 77,67132003 5,876,515 33,389 478,425 53,158
79,45132002 5,648,021 32,091 449,445 49,938 91,8172001 5,919,026
33,631 525,993 58,444 91,4822000 5,731,091 32,563 566,562 62,951
96,2491999 5,768,611 32,776 472,007 52,445 94,2281998 6,119,861
34,772 572,733 63,637 94,4311997 5,853,449 33,258 560,406 62,267
99,6451996 5,222,266 29,672 478,773 53,197 93,1021995 5,119,694
29,089 594,919 66,102 93,6781 Finals total and Finals average
include Grand Final crowds.2 Record.3 Capacity reduced due to MCG
refurbishment.4 Crowd for the drawn Grand Final.5 Crowd for the
Grand Final Replay, played one week after the drawn Grand
Final.TelevisionAustralian televisionSee also: List of Australian
Football League television showsAFL matches are currently broadcast
in Australia by the free-to-air Seven Network, subscription
television provider Foxtel, and digital content provider Telstra.
The 5 year deal, announced in April 2011, covers the 2012-2016
(inclusive) seasons. Telstra won the rights to broadcast one live
match per week via IP Television and on its Telstra Mobile service.
The deal was confirmed when the Seven Network, Foxtel and Telstra
agreed to pay A$1.253 billion to the Australian Football League to
broadcast every match of every round and all of the Finals Series
across their platforms.[41] As part of the agreement, Austar
broadcasts Foxtel`s AFL coverage in the regional areas of Australia
that are not part of Foxtel`s service area. Regional free-to-air
broadcasters associated with the Seven Network Prime7, GWN7, Seven
Queensland, Southern Cross Television and WIN Television all show
Seven's coverage in their respective areas.The Seven Network
broadcasts four games from every round of the regular premiership
season, as well as the AFL Finals Series and the AFL Grand Final.
Foxtel broadcasts every match from every round, including
simulcasts of all Seven Network games except for the Grand Final
(which Seven shows exclusively live). Coverage is also available
via Foxtel`s IP television service (Foxtel on T-Box).Telecast
History1957 was the first VFL season after the commencement of
television in Australia (introduced in 1956 to coincide with the
Melbourne Olympic Games). During the late 1950s and 60s, all
Melbourne stations (ABV2, HSV7, GTV9 and, after it commenced in
1965, ATV0/ATV10) broadcast some games. However, in the late 1950s
/ early 60s, the VFL was afraid that direct telecasts may affect
attendances and stations were only permitted to telecast a delayed
replay of the last quarter of games. In the 1980s, the Seven
Network was given exclusive rights to VFL/AFL games. The only year
Seven didn't telecast games was 1987, when the rights were bought
by Broadcom, which on-sold the rights to the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The exclusive rights were won back
by Seven in 1988.With the launch of subscription television in
Australia, AFL match coverage commenced on cable television. Optus
Vision bid for and won exclusive pay TV rights from 19962001,
screening coverage on its own 24 hour AFL channel, branded Sports
AFL in Brisbane Sydney and Melbourne (where available). The Sports
AFL channel was later closed due to financial issues and relaunched
in March 1999 as C7 Sport by the Seven Network with AFL match
coverage also transferred to the new channel. C7 Sport became
available in regional areas not in the Foxtel or Optus Vision
licence area via Austar soon after the re-launch. The AFL coverage
was not available through Foxtel at this time as the Seven Network
and Foxtel disagreed on the cost of carrying the C7 channel. These
issues regarding C7 and AFL broadcsting rights evolved into a court
case between not just the Seven Network and News Limited, but Seven
against the owners of the Nine Network and Network Ten in the years
that followed.In late 2000, the Seven Network's main rivals, the
Kerry Packer led Nine Network, Network Ten and pay-TV's Foxtel set
up a consortium which bid $500 million for the right to broadcast
the 20022006 seasons inclusive. Seven had purchased a guaranteed
right to make the last bid in 1995,[42] but decided not to outbid
their rivals.[43] The games were split between the networks, with
Nine screening Friday Night Football and two matches on Sunday, Ten
screened a Saturday afternoon and a Saturday night match, with the
remaining four matches shown on Foxtel. Foxtel set up its own
version of a dedicated AFL-only channel, the Fox Footy Channel,
which showed every game on replay during the week as well as many
news, talkback and general interest shows related to Australian
rules football.[44]When the rights were offered again in January
2006 for the 2007 to 2011 seasons, Seven formed an alliance with
Ten and used its guaranteed last bid rights to match Nine's offer
of $780 million to win back the broadcast rights in what was the
biggest sport telecasting deal in Australian history at the time.
After lengthy negotiations, Foxtel agreed to be a broadcast partner
and now showed four live matches each week, although no longer on a
dedicated AFL channel.[42] Seven took back the Friday night match
and only one game on Sunday, while Ten retained showing two matches
on Saturdays. Foxtel showed two games on Saturday and two on
Sunday, including a late afternoon or twilight
game.[45]International broadcast partnersHistorically AFL
broadcasts in other countries have varied.In the 1980s, VFL matches
were shown in the United States on ESPN for some time. In the early
1990s, Prime Network, an American regional sports network unrelated
to the Australian regional television network, aired Seven's weekly
highlight show as well as the Grand Final. Some other English
speaking countries have shown the game, however it has been since
2008 that channels in other countries began televising matches.
Between 1998 and 2006 the games were broadcast in the United States
by the Fox Sports World network.[46]In 2007, after the record
domestic television rights deal, the AFL secured an additional
bonus: greater international television rights and increase
exposure to overseas markets, including a 5 year deal with Setanta
Sports, and new deals with other overseas pay-TV networks. The deal
ended early in 2009 when Setanta stopped broadcasting into Great
Britain. ESPN again took up the contract.[47]The following
countries are ranked by the approximate extent of their current
television coverage (and whether it is free to air):Station/Channel
Countries Free/Subscription Home & Away Finals Grand Final
Broadcasting since NotesESPN Africa Africa Subscription 1 game per
week (live/delay) Live See also Australian rules football in
AfricaTSN2 Canada Subscription Live See also Australian rules
football in Canada, AFANADirecTV Sports CaribbeanSouth America
Subscription 4 games per week (live/highlights/replay) Live Live
TG4 Ireland Free One game per week (highlights) See also Australian
rules football in IrelandUPC Ireland Ireland Subscription See also
Australian rules football in IrelandEM TV Papua New Guinea Free 13
per week (highlights) Live Live See also Australian rules football
in Papua New GuineaFiji TV Fiji Free 1 (live/replay) Live Live See
also Australian rules football in FijiInternational Channel
Shanghai Peoples Republic of China Free 1 (live) Live Live See also
Australian rules football in ChinaAustralia Network Asia-Pacific
region, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East Free (Subscription in
some) 5 per week Yes Live Eurosport 2 Europe Free One game per week
(highlights/live/replay) Live See also Australian rules football in
EuropeFox Sports Israel Israel Subscription See also Australian
rules football in the Middle EastSKY Sports MxicoCentral America
Subscription Four games per week (highlights/live/replay) Live Live
ShowSports 2 Middle East, Asia Subscription Sommet Sports New
Zealand Free All matches live or delayed + Highlights Live Live
2013 See also Australian rules football in New ZealandSky Sport New
Zealand Subscription 12 (live/delayed) + highlights See also
Australian rules football in New ZealandCanal+ (Spain) Spain Free
highlights, delayed matches 2009 See also Australian rules football
in SpainSky Digital United Kingdom Subscription See also Australian
rules football in the United KingdomBT Sport United Kingdom
Subscription 2014 See also Australian rules football in the United
KingdomESPN UK United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland Subscription 3
games per week (highlights/live/replay) 2009 See also Australian
rules football in the United Kingdom, See also Australian rules
football in IrelandFox Sports 2 United States Subscription 4 games
during the season Yes See also Australian rules football in the
United States, AFANAFox Soccer Plus United States Subscription 4
games during the season Yes Yes See also Australian rules football
in the United States, AFANAMHz Worldview United States Subscription
"Game of the Week" (one-week delay) (highlights) Live See also
Australian rules football in the United States, AFANAGlobalThe AFL
has stated that it wishes to showcase the footballing code to other
countries such as India, China and South Africa so as to create a
global following thus creating more exposure for its sponsors in
the increasing Asian and African markets.[48] On 17 October 2010,
AFL clubs Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions played an exhibition
game in front of almost 10,000 people at the Riverside Sports
Center in Shanghai.[citation needed] This was the first
professional AFL game to be played in China.The AFL has garnered
increased interest in Ireland due to the introduction of the
International Rules series played between an AFL picked All
Australian Team and Ireland.[citation needed] This paved the way
for young Irish footballers to be rostered to AFL teams mainly due
to the fact that salaries in the AFL are much larger than that of
Gaelic Football although most Irish players fail to make the grade
into 1st team football.[49] This also paved the way for extended
news coverage and increased broadcasting in the UK and
Ireland.[citation needed]RadioThe first broadcast of a VFL game was
by 3AR in 1923, the year that broadcasting officially commenced in
Australia. The first commentator was Wallace (Jumbo) Shallard, a
former Geelong player who went on to have a long and respected
career in print and broadcast media. The VFL/AFL has been broadcast
every year since then by the ABC and (since 1927) by various
commercial stations. The saturation period was the early 1960s when
seven of the eight extant radio stations (3AR, 3UZ, 3DB, 3KZ, 3AW,
3XY and 3AK) broadcast VFL games each week, as well as broadcasts
of Geelong games by local station 3GL. (At this time, the only
alternative that radio listeners had to listening to the football
on a Saturday afternoon were the classical music and fine arts
programs that were broadcast by 3LO).Currently, the official radio
broadcast partners of the AFL are: Triple M Melbourne K-Rock
Geelong 3AW Melbourne FIVEaa Adelaide 6PR Perth SEN 1116 Melbourne
98.9FM Brisbane Triple M Sydney (Broadcasts only Swans and Giants
matches) Triple M Brisbane (Broadcasts only Lions matches) Triple M
Adelaide Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Grandstand)
broadcasts matches across Australia on the ABC Local Radio network
and via the ABC News Radio network to selected major cities in
NSW\QLD\ACT.InternetThe AFL's app iconThe official internet/mobile
broadcast partner of the AFL is Bigpond, part of Telstra. The AFL
also provides exclusive broadband content including streaming video
for international fans via its website. Bigpond also hosts the
official websites of all the 17 AFL clubs excluding Essendon.The
service is also provided to international subscribers. Delayed
video is available 12 hours or more after the game.However, the
website is frequently derided by users for its convoluted
information architecture and bloated presentation.[50][51]From 2012
Telstra will broadcast live matches over its NextG mobile network
for a pay-per-view or season fee.[52]Corporate
relationsSponsorshipThe following are the official naming sponsors
of the VFL/AFL competition: Carlton & United Breweries (198081,
86, 8994, 200103) Holden (198283) Nissan (198485) Sportsplay (1987)
Elder's IXL (1988) Coca-Cola (19952001) Toyota (2004present)Note:
In 2001 CUB and Coca-Cola were joint sponsorsPublishing and
printThe official print broadcast partner of the AFL is News
Limited. The AFL Record is a match-day magazine published by the
AFL and is read by around 225,000 people each week.MembershipThe
AFL sells memberships that entitle subscribers to reserve seats for
matches at Docklands Stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground in
Melbourne. AFL members also receive priority access to finals. Two
levels of memberships are now offered, silver and full, with the
main difference being that only full members have guaranteed access
to Preliminary and Grand Final matches.[53]MerchandisingThe AFL
runs a chain of stores that sell merchandise from all clubs.
Merchandise is also available from other retailers.AFL WorldA
modern museum called the Hall of Fame and Sensation opened in
Melbourne in 2003 to celebrate the culture of the AFL and to
provide a venue for the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The
museum, a licensed off-shoot of the AFL, was originally touted for
the MCG, but the Hall of Fame failed to get support from the
Melbourne Cricket Club. The new QV shopping centre on Swanston
Street was then chosen as the location. However, controversy
followed the appointment of an administrator as the museum began
running at a loss. Many blamed high entry prices, which were
subsequently reduced, and the museum remains open to the public. In
early 2006 the name was changed to AFL World. It features various
honour boards and memorabilia as well as a range of innovative
interactive displays designed to immerse visitors in the experience
of elite Aussie Rules. It was closed down in 2008.Video gamesMain
article: AFL (video game series)The following is a list of all the
video games from the AFL video game series: Aussie Rules Footy
(1991) NES AFL Finals Fever (1996) Microsoft Windows AFL 98 (1998)
PlayStation, Microsoft Windows AFL 99 (1999) PlayStation, Microsoft
Windows Kevin Sheedy's: AFL Coach 2002 (2001) Microsoft Windows AFL
Live 2003 (2002) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox AFL Live
2004 (2003) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox AFL Live
Premiership Edition (2004) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
AFL Premiership 2005 (2005) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
AFL Premiership 2006 (2006) PlayStation 2 AFL Premiership 2007
(2007) PlayStation 2 AFL Mascot Manor (2009) Nintendo DS AFL
Challenge (2009) PlayStation Portable AFL Live (2011, 2012)
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 AFL (Wii) (2011, 2012) Wii AFL Live 2
(2013) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360GamblingThe AFL is the subject of
footy tipping and betting competitions around Australia run by
individuals, syndicates, workplaces and professional bookmakers. In
recent years national website based tipping competitions have
started to replace the traditional, but more labour-intensive,
office or pub run competitions.Fantasy football competitions based
on actual player statistics (number of kicks, marks, goals etc.)
are also very popular on websites and in newspapers.