Australian Football League

This is a page about the national league in Australian Rules Football. For information about the rules and history of the game see the Australian Rules Football page.

General description

A 16-team, single division competition, the season is based around a 22-week "home-and-away" (regular) season starting in March through to August. The top eight teams play off in a series of finals culminating in the Grand Final, always held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and usually held on the last Saturday in September. Before the regular season commences, a knock-out Cup competition is played, over the years it has had several incarnations as the Escort Cup in the 1980's, the Fosters Cup in the early-mid 90's, the Ansett Australia Cup in the late 90's, the Wizard Cup from 2001 until 2005, and as of the 2006 season it will be known as the National Australia Bank Cup. In 2005, the premiership was won by Sydney Swans, beating West Coast Eagles 58-54.

Related Topics:
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Ansett Australia - Wizard Cup - Sydney Swans - West Coast Eagles

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Victoria, where a majority of teams are still based and in the traditional Australian Rules football states of South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, much of the citizenry takes an obsessive interest in the competition. Massive crowds attend many of the games.

Related Topics:
Victoria - Australian Rules football - South Australia - Western Australia - Tasmania

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All players are now full-time professionals; however, since only a few elite players can expect to earn enough to support themselves for the rest of their lives, many study during their playing careers. The clubs, whilst still owned by their large membership base, are large businesses.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~