The AFL explained: past and present

What is Australian football? Get the basics including how the game is played, player positions, key skills and scoring.

Learning AFL is a guide to the game of Australian football.  AFL is a fast, exciting and athletic sport and with some basic information Australian football is easy to understand.

Ever wondered what the first ever rules of Australian Football looked like?  See the original handwritten document.

Follow the journey of Australian Football rule changes from 1858 to present day.

Follow the sequence of events that have occurred throughout the history of Australian Football.

Australian Football was founded as a way of keep cricketers fit during off-season. The first match was played between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar in 1858.

The AFL Commission acknowledges the importance of good corporate governance...

The Laws of Australian Football allow for the game to be played in a safe and fun environment.

The Rookie List is recognised as one of the key list management tools available to clubs, providing more flexibility in the way players can enter the competition.

The new Veterans’ Rule started on November 1, 2012. Click here to read more about Veterans' Allowance and Veteran's Transition.

Free agency was introduced at the end of the 2012 season, giving players another vehicle to transfer from one club to another.

The Special Assistance Rule applies a formula to determine a club's eligibility for priority picks.

Read the policies of the AFL.