Four quarters
A match is four quarters on an oval. Eighteen players per side are on the field, with interchange on the bench. The team that scores more points wins.
Australian football · 2026
AFL, explained.
Eighteen clubs. Ten finalists. One premiership. Here’s the quick guide.
The AFL is Australia’s top Australian rules football league: 18 clubs, one ladder, and a September finals series that ends with the Grand Final at the MCG.
League contact
Headquarters published by the AFL. The league has announced a temporary move later in 2026 while AFL House is redeveloped — use the official contact page if the street address changes. For tickets or a specific club, use that club.
- Headquarters
- Australian Football League
AFL House
140 Harbour Esplanade
Docklands VIC 3008
Australia
Postal: GPO Box 1449, Melbourne VIC 3001 - Phone
- +61 3 9643 1999
A short history
The competition began as the Victorian Football League in 1897. It took the Australian Football League name in 1990 as clubs were added outside Victoria. The championship is the premiership. The Grand Final is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
There are 18 clubs. The 2025 premier is Brisbane. The 2026 Grand Final is Saturday, September 26 at the MCG: Fremantle against Brisbane.
Current teams
Eighteen clubs on one ladder. There are no conferences. Open a club for scores, the next match, and news.
AFL ladder
Adelaide CrowsADEL
Adelaide PowerPORT
Brisbane LionsBL
Geelong CatsGEEL
Gold Coast SunsSUNS
Melbourne CarltonCARL
Melbourne MagpiesCOLL
Melbourne BombersESS
Melbourne HawksHAW
Melbourne DemonsMELB
Melbourne KangaroosNMFC
Melbourne TigersRICH
Melbourne SaintsSTK
Melbourne BulldogsWB
Perth DockersFRE
Perth EaglesWCE
Sydney SwansSYD
Western Sydney GiantsGWS
2026 schedule
The home-and-away season ran from Opening Round on March 5 through Round 24 in late August. The 10-team finals series started with wildcard games on August 28–29. The Grand Final is September 26.
How the league works
Eighteen on the field. Four quarters. Six points for a goal, one for a behind.
The ladder
A win is four premiership points. A draw is two. Ladder position is decided by points, then percentage (points for divided by points against).
One table
There are no conferences. All 18 clubs sit on the same ladder. The top 10 play finals in 2026.
Scoring
A goal — through the two tall posts — is six points. A behind — a miss, a rushed behind, or a score that only clears the shorter posts — is one. The score is written as goals.behinds (points), for example 12.8 (80).
Marks and free kicks
A clean catch of a kick that has travelled the required distance is a mark. The player can stop and kick. Free kicks are paid for holding, high contact, and other infringements.
The premiership
The minor premier is first after the home-and-away season. The premier is whoever wins the Grand Final. A club can finish first and still lose the cup.
The season
Pre-season in February, home-and-away from March into late August, then five weeks of finals into late September.
How the finals work
Ten clubs in 2026. A new wildcard weekend, then the old final-eight system.
Wildcard weekend
Seeds 1–6 get a week off. Seventh hosts 10th and eighth hosts ninth. The winners become 7 and 8. The losers are out.
Qualifying and elimination
Then the familiar eight-team set: 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 are qualifying finals (losers get another chance). Fifth and sixth play the wildcard winners in elimination finals.
Grand Final
Semi-finals, then preliminary finals, then one match at the MCG. In 2026 that is Saturday, September 26, first bounce 2.30 p.m. AEST.
2026: This is the first season with a 10-team finals series. Wildcard games count as official finals. The top six still get the double chance after the first full week of September.
For the live ladder, see the AFL standings.
Office address, 2026 dates, and finals rules checked September 24, 2026. Use the official AFL links if an address, number, or date changes.