AFL Expansion And The 2026 Landscape: How Many Australian Football Teams Are There Today?
As the 2026 AFL Premiership season enters its final rounds this August, the landscape of Australian Rules Football remains anchored by 18 elite professional clubs. While the league has maintained this 18-team structure for over a decade, the footy ecosystem encompasses far more than just the national stage. From the powerhouse clubs of the AFL to the rapidly maturing AFLW and the deep-seated roots of state-level competitions, the total number of competitive teams across Australia reaches into the thousands.
| League Level | Number of Teams | Key Competitions |
|---|---|---|
| National Professional (Men) | 18 | AFL Premiership |
| National Professional (Women) | 18 | AFLW |
| State Leagues (Tier 2) | 40+ | VFL, SANFL, WAFL, TSL |
| Community & Grassroots | 2,500+ | Various Regional Leagues |
From Suburbia to a National Powerhouse: The 18-Club Era
The current 18-team AFL configuration has been the gold standard of Australian sport since the admission of the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2012. As of August 13, 2026, these 18 clubs represent five of Australia's six states. Victoria remains the traditional heartland with ten teams (Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, and the Western Bulldogs).
The remaining eight teams are distributed across the nation, providing a truly continental footprint. South Australia hosts the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power, while Western Australia is home to the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. New South Wales (Sydney Swans, GWS Giants) and Queensland (Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns) have seen significant market growth over the last decade, with 2026 viewership figures in these "expansion states" hitting record highs. Each of these 18 clubs also fields a professional women's team in the AFLW, ensuring total gender parity in the national professional tier.
State Leagues and the Pathway to Professionalism
While the AFL captures the headlines, the strength of the sport is found in the "Tier 2" state leagues. These competitions are vital for player development and maintaining local rivalries that predate the national era. The Victorian Football League (VFL) currently operates with 21 teams, including several AFL "reserve" sides and standalone historic clubs like Port Melbourne and Williamstown.
In South Australia, the SANFL continues to be a bastion of football culture with 10 foundation clubs, while the WAFL in Western Australia features 10 teams. These leagues are not merely feeder systems; they are the lifeblood of their respective communities. When factoring in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) and the various leagues in Tasmania and Canberra, the number of semi-professional and high-level amateur teams exceeds 100, providing a massive pool of talent for the annual mid-season and national drafts.
The Road to 19: Tasmania’s 2028 Entry and Future Expansion
The biggest story in Australian football as we move through 2026 is the countdown to the 19th license. The Tasmania Devils are officially deep into their foundational phase, with their entry into the AFL competition locked in for the 2028 season. This will be the first time the league has expanded since 2012, and it marks the final piece of the "national" puzzle by granting the island state its own professional identity.
Infrastructure projects for the new Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart are currently underway, and the club has already begun building its administrative and coaching departments. Speculation is also mounting regarding a potential 20th team to eliminate the "bye" round created by an odd number of teams. Markets such as North Queensland, a third Western Australian team, or a second side in South Australia are frequently discussed in league headquarters. However, for the remainder of the 2026 season, the focus remains on the current 18-team battle for the flag as the finals series approaches this September.
