AFL

The Australian Football League (AFL) is the top professional competition for Australian rules football in Australia. It traces its origins to the Victorian Football League (VFL), founded in 1897, and rebranded as the AFL in 1990 as the league expanded beyond Victoria to include teams from other states. The AFL is governed by the AFL Commission and administers the national competition, development programs, and related activities.

The league comprises 18 clubs located in several Australian states and territories. The clubs include Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney Giants, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles, and Western Bulldogs. The season features a regular schedule and a finals series that determines the premiership, with the Grand Final traditionally held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In addition to the men’s competition, the AFL oversees the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, which began in 2017 to provide professional opportunities for women players. The AFL maintains a broad media presence in Australia and runs a range of development and community programs aimed at fostering participation from junior levels through to elite sport. The league emphasizes on-field competition, player welfare, and the growth of Australian rules football across the nation.