How to watch the AFL and AFLW

Australian rules football is the most watched sport in the country, and the AFL broadcast deal is one of the biggest in Australian media. Under the 2025–2031 agreement, the Seven Network is the free-to-air partner and the Foxtel Group (Foxtel and Kayo Sports) is the subscription partner.

Free-to-air: Seven, 7mate and 7plus

Under the AFL's 2025–2031 deal, Seven shows an average of at least three matches per round of the premiership season live, including Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon matches. Designated marquee matches are also live on Seven, including those that fall on a Saturday.

Seven shows the finals series, with weeks one to three shared with Fox Footy, and the AFL Grand Final live on Seven and 7plus. Seven also covers the Brownlow Medal.

For the 2026 season, Seven's line-up included Thursday Night Footy and Friday Night Footy from 7pm AEDT, Sunday afternoon matches, and magazine shows such as The Front Bar and The Agenda Setters.

7plus

The free 7plus app streams every AFL match shown on Seven and 7mate in your area at the same time as the broadcast. It works on smart TVs, streaming devices, phones, tablets, game consoles and web browsers. You must be in Australia, and 7plus does not support VPNs. Replays of matches shown in your area are available on 7plus.

South Australia

The AFL deal includes special arrangements in South Australia, where all matches featuring the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide are shown on Seven and 7plus, either live or on delay.

Every match: Fox Footy on Kayo and Foxtel

Fox Footy, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round live. The deal includes all nine matches a week, and Saturday matches are exclusively live on Fox Footy, other than designated marquee matches. Fox Footy also shows finals in weeks one to three with no ad breaks during play.

Kayo Sports is a streaming service with monthly plans. It streams Fox Footy along with many other sports, and adds features such as multi-screen viewing and highlights.

Foxtel delivers Fox Footy through a set-top box or the Foxtel app, as part of a sports package.

Which is better depends on how you watch. If you want sport only and stream on your TV or phone, Kayo is usually simpler. If you already have Foxtel for entertainment, adding a sports package may suit you.

AFLW

The AFL Women's competition runs from late winter into spring. Fox Footy on Kayo and Foxtel has shown every AFLW match live, and Seven and 7plus show selected matches. AFLW finals are on the government's anti-siphoning list from 2024. Check the official AFLW fixture for the channel for each match.

Radio

Radio remains a big part of AFL culture. ABC Sport calls AFL matches on ABC radio and the ABC listen app, and commercial stations call matches in their home markets. Radio is free and is often slightly ahead of TV and streaming, which can matter if you are trying to avoid spoilers.

Watching your team every week

1. Check the fixture for your team's match times.
2. Check Seven's weekly guide to see if the match is free in your state.
3. If it is a Saturday game or not on Seven, you will need Fox Footy on Kayo or Foxtel.
4. For finals, both Seven and Fox Footy show weeks one to three, and Seven shows the Grand Final.

Going to the game

The AFL's official ticketing partners sell tickets for home and away matches and finals. AFL club memberships often include tickets or priority access to finals. Buy only from official sellers or authorised resale platforms.

Watching from overseas

Seven and Kayo restrict live AFL to viewers in Australia. If you are overseas, check AFL.com.au for official international broadcast and streaming options in your country.

Season dates

The AFL premiership season usually starts in March with Opening Round and finishes with the Grand Final at the MCG in late September. The 2026 season began on Thursday 5 March with the Sydney Swans against Carlton at the SCG. See our sports calendar.