Lexi Webster
Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or footy, is a distinctive Australian sport with a rich history. The sport's rules were first defined in 1859, and it has since become the country's most popular sport in terms of attendance and television viewership. The Australian Football League (AFL) is the national sporting organisation for Australian football and is recognised as such by the Australian Sports Commission. The AFL is responsible for maintaining the rules of the game through its Commission and Competition Committee. The AFL also became the de facto world governing body for the sport in 2002, after the dissolution of the International Australian Football Council.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current governing body | Australian Football League (AFL) |
| Previous governing bodies | International Australian Football Council (IAFC) |
| Victorian Football Association (VFA) | |
| South Australian Football Association (SAFA) | |
| Australasian Football Council | |
| Australian National Football Council (ANFC) | |
| Australian Football Championships (AFC) | |
| Australian Amateur Football Council |
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What You'll Learn
The AFL Commission and its Competition Committee
The AFL Commission is the governing body of the Australian Football League Limited (AFL), its subsidiaries and controlled entities. It was formed in 1985 as the VFL Commission and gained its current name in 1990. The AFL Commission's primary role is to oversee the profitability of its competitions, with its primary competitions being the AFL and AFL Women's. It also approves the administration of new club licenses and has been involved in the expansion of the national competition since 1987. The Commission operates a Competitive Balance Fund, which redistributes profits to the clubs most in need to ensure that all of its member clubs are financially sustainable in the long term.
The AFL Commission's constitution proclaims the commission to be the "keeper of the code" responsible for the sport of Australian football. It is responsible for the Laws of Australian Football and worldwide player acknowledgement through the Australian Football Hall of Fame, All-Australian team and World (formerly All-International) Team. The Commission controls the AFL competition and maintains a professional talent pathway for players through the AFL Draft, AFL Draft Combine, and AFL Academy.
The AFL is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the National Sporting Organisation for Australian football. There are also seven state/territory-based organisations in Australia, all of which are affiliated with the AFL. These state leagues hold annual semi-professional club competitions, with some also overseeing more than one league. The AFL Commission also controls and delegates development funding for Australian state and international bodies and leagues.
The AFL Commission comprises nine members who are elected by the 18 AFL clubs, with each club entitled to make nominations. As CEO, Gillon McLachlan is also a member of the Commission. Richard Goyder has been chairman since April 2017, replacing Mike Fitzpatrick.
The AFL Commission also has a Competition Committee, which is chaired by Simone Wilkie and includes members such as Breanna Brock, Jess Burger, Julia Chiera, Michelle Cowan, Brendon Gale, and Erin Phillips.
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The South Australian Football Association (SAFA)
Australian rules football is governed by the AFL Commission, with the advice of the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee. The AFL is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the National Sporting Organisation for Australian football.
In addition to the AFL, there are seven state/territory-based organisations in Australia, all of which are affiliated with the AFL. One of these is the South Australian Football Association (SAFA), which was formed on 30 April 1877 and was the sport's first governing body. It was renamed the SANFL in 1907 and later the South Australian National Football League in 1927. The South Australian Football Association experienced a resurgence in the late 1880s, with attendances almost doubling from the 1886 to the 1887 season.
The South Australian Football Commission currently governs Australian rules football in South Australia and runs the South Australia National Football League in the capital Adelaide. South Australia has the second-largest television audience in the country for Australian rules football, which is the most-watched sport in the state.
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The Victorian Football Association (VFA)
During the 1890s, there was an off-field power struggle within the VFA between the stronger and weaker clubs, as the stronger clubs sought greater administrative control commensurate with their relative financial contribution to the game. In 1896, six of the strongest clubs – Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, and South Melbourne – seceded from the VFA, inviting Carlton and St Kilda to join them, to form the Victorian Football League (VFL), which became the leading senior football body in Victoria. The remaining VFA clubs – Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond, and Williamstown – were given the opportunity to compete as a junior competition under the VFL's administration.
In 1920, the VAFA (then known as the MAFA) announced that the re-formed competition would be between four of the "pre-war" clubs and four "new clubs". By 1922, the association was divided into 2 sections of 8 clubs. In 1933, the MAFA changed its name to the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The VAFA was founded in 1892 as the Metropolitan Junior Football Association (MJFA), with ten clubs competing in the inaugural season.
In 1995, the VFA ceased to exist as an independent organisation, and control of its football competition was taken over by the AFL, which initially operated the competition through its subsidiary, the Victorian State Football League (VSFL). This ended the VFA's 97 years of independence from the VFL/AFL and, for the first time since 1896, created a single control for most Australian football in Victoria.
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The Australian Sports Commission
The ASC's roles and responsibilities are outlined in the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989, which include promoting an effective national sports system and improving participation in quality sports for all Australians. The ASC helps talented and motivated individuals reach their potential in sports performance and administers and funds national sporting programs on behalf of the Government. It also provides leadership, coordination, and support for the sport sector, working closely with national sporting organisations, governments, schools, and community organisations.
The ASC has undergone several organisational structure changes since its establishment, generally representing areas of high-performance sport, sports participation, sport management, and corporate/commercial services. The AIS offers a range of facilities to the public, including an aquatic centre, outdoor facilities, and the Sportex experience for school groups.
The ASC has implemented several major Australian Government sports policies and supports various initiatives. For example, Deloitte's Ignite Athlete Employment Program, affiliated with the AIS, supports Australian Olympians and Paralympians by providing permanent employment opportunities. The ASC also provides free online education for volunteers and staff in sports, resources for coaches, medical professionals, parents, and athletes, and support for high-performance athletes with mental health or wellbeing concerns.
In the context of Australian Rules Football, the ASC recognises the AFL as the National Sporting Organisation for Australian football. The AFL is the sport's only fully professional competition and is governed by the AFL Commission, with advice from the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee. The AFL has seven state/territory-based organisations affiliated with it in Australia and became the de facto world governing body for Australian football in 2002.
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AFL Britain
Australian rules football, or Aussie rules, is a contact sport played between two teams of eighteen players on an oval-shaped field. It is the most popular sport in Australia in terms of spectator attendance and television viewership. The sport is governed by the AFL Commission, with the advice of the AFL's Laws of the Game Committee. The AFL is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the National Sporting Organisation for Australian football.
In 2002, the AFL became the de facto world governing body for Australian football, pushing for the closure of the International Australian Football Council. The AFL has affiliates across the world, including AFL Canada and AFL Europe.
The organisation runs a number of leagues and competitions, including the AFL Britain National League, which is the largest and most competitive league in the country. This league consists of two divisions, with teams from across the UK competing. There is also a women's league, which has grown in popularity in recent years, and a number of regional leagues.
In addition to its focus on competition, AFL Britain also works to promote and develop the sport at a grassroots level. This includes running coaching and umpiring courses, as well as providing support and resources to help establish new clubs and competitions.
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Frequently asked questions
The governing body for Australian rules football is the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFL is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the National Sporting Organisation for Australian football.
The AFL is responsible for funding and governance and provides around A$500,000 annually for international development, especially junior programs. The AFL also maintains the rules of the game through its Commission and Competition Committee.
Yes, there are seven state/territory-based organisations in Australia, all of which are affiliated with the AFL. These organisations hold annual semi-professional club competitions. There are also governing bodies for amateur clubs and competitions around the world, such as AFL Britain, which was established in 1989 as the governing body for Australian rules football in England, Wales and Scotland.
