The Smithy's Victorian Football League (VFL) season starts on Friday 25 March and fans of the competition can look forward to all 198 home-and-away and finals matches in 2022 being live streamed free via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App, for the first time.
The AFL's commitment to comprehensive live streaming coverage of the Smithy's VFL gives clubs and players greater exposure to broader audiences. It also ensures fans, families and recruiters will have unprecedented access to watching their favourite players and teams compete in the state league competition comprising 21 clubs from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
After two disrupted years, excitement is building ahead of the VFL season opener with Footscray hosting Sydney at VU Whitten Oval on Friday at 4:35pm, followed by Carlton v Brisbane Lions at IKON Park at 5:05pm.
Two matches will take place on Saturday afternoon and then one on Saturday night, before five matches on Sunday conclude Round One.
For links to watch free live streams of all Round One matches, visit:
Saturday, March 26
Geelong v Essendon
Gold Coast Suns v North Bullants
Frankston v Werribee Tigers
Sunday, March 27
Richmond v Southport
Collingwood v Box Hill Hawks
Casey Demons v Sandringham Zebras
GWS Giants v Port Melbourne
North Melbourne v Williamstown
VFL broadcast partner the Seven Network will show a weekly game plus finals, live and free on 7 in Victoria and 7Plus nationally. Fans can catch up from anywhere around the nation on 7plus.
In Round One, Seven will broadcast the Collingwood v Box Hill Hawks match at Victoria Park at 12:10pm on Sunday 27 March. In Round Two, it will be Sandringham v Richmond at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval at 12:00pm on Sunday 3 April.
After a competition bye, the VFLW season resumes this weekend with Round Six action taking place across Saturday and Sunday. The AFL is continuing to live stream free all matches of Victoria's premier women's state league competition. One VFLW match weekly will continue to be live streamed via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App, with the remaining matches available live and free on the new VFLW.tv platform, a dedicated live streaming hub for VFLW. For the VFLW fixture and links to streaming matches on AFL platforms, visit: afl.com.au/stream-vfl
AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, Kylie Rogers, said: "The AFL's commitment to live streaming the Smithy's VFL helps to keep hundreds of thousands of passionate fans connected to their favourite teams while taking the competition to broader audiences.
"Increased exposure of the competition is a great thing for the clubs and players, as well as fans, families and recruiters who have access and choices when it comes to how they watch VFL footy.
"The significant investment into VFL comes off the back of a successful start to the rebel VFLW season which has seen all matches live streamed for the state's premier women's state league competition. Our commitment to live streaming every VFL and VFLW match free will continue for both competitions throughout the 2022 season."
HOW TO WATCH:
Smithy's VFL: All VFL matches will be live streamed free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Visit: afl.com.au/stream-vfl and follow the links. All matches will be available to watch on demand.
rebel VFLW: Each week, one VFLW match will be live streamed on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. Visit afl.com.au/stream-vfl and follow the links. The remaining matches can be live streamed at the dedicated VFLW.tv streaming platform, where all games will be available to watch on demand.
