-
100% Guarantee -
Buy Tickets to Sold Out Events -
Secondary Ticket Market Place -
Safe & Secure Transactions
About this Event
The 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season has arrived!
AFL, the game of Australian origin often likened to rugby, has not only enamored a nation but also gained global recognition. With nearly 1.25 million participants, AFL stands as the most popular football sport in Australia, cherished by enthusiasts worldwide.
Get ready for another thrilling season packed with anticipation and excitement, best experienced firsthand – live!
Whether you’re a devoted fan or a newcomer to the sport, seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in the action of 2024.
Secure your tickets now for Rounds 1-15!
AFL Round by Round FAQs
Every week, the AFL brings a new batch of excitement from Thursday (which is new) through to Sunday and, on some occasions, a Monday. Queen of Tickets is the one place where you can easily find access to AFL tickets for every round, and this page is the mecca for all of it.
We recommend saving this page to your bookmark list so you can get quick and easy access to the best tickets at the best prices for every AFL round. Read on for some of the most popular, frequently asked questions about Australia’s favourite sport and how it all works.
Season overview and timeline
When does the AFL season run?
The AFL season spans approximately seven months, typically commencing in early March and concluding with the Grand Final in late September. The season consists of three distinct phases that create a compelling sporting narrative throughout the Australian autumn and winter months.
The pre-season period is preparation time, featuring practice matches and community series games that allow teams to refine strategies and build match fitness. This is followed by the premiership season, representing the core competition where all 18 clubs compete in the home-and-away format. Finally, the top eight teams advance to the finals series, a four-week knockout tournament culminating in the Grand Final.
How many games does each team play during the regular season?
Each of the 18 AFL clubs plays exactly 23 matches during the premiership season. This creates an inherently unbalanced fixture since a perfectly balanced competition would require each team to play every other team twice, totalling 34 games per club.
The current structure means teams play some opponents once and others twice, with the AFL employing a weighted rule system to determine these matchups based on previous season performance. The season extends across 24 or 25 rounds, with the difference between total rounds and games played accounted for by bye rounds, where teams receive scheduled weeks off from competition.
Fixture development and special rounds
How does the AFL determine which teams play each other and when?
Creating the AFL fixture represents one of professional sports’ most complex scheduling challenges. The league must balance numerous competing factors, including broadcaster requirements, stadium contracts, player welfare considerations, and competitive fairness.
The weighted rule system categorises teams into three groups based on their previous season’s ladder position. Teams generally play more double-up matches against opponents from within their own performance bracket. This means that historically strong teams tend to face other top performers more frequently, while lower-ranked teams receive what theoretically should be a more manageable schedule.
However, this system challenges timing since fixtures can only be finalised after the previous season concludes and all ladder positions are determined.
What makes certain rounds special throughout the season?
Several rounds carry particular significance beyond the regular competition. Gather Round represents an innovative festival concept where all teams play in a single state over one weekend, creating a carnival atmosphere that celebrates the sport while boosting tourism for the host location.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contributions to football and society. During this round, all clubs wear specially designed guernseys featuring Indigenous artwork, and matches incorporate cultural ceremonies and acknowledgments.
Traditional marquee matches anchor the calendar, including the ANZAC Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon, which pays tribute to military service members, and the King’s Birthday match, often featuring major charitable fundraising initiatives.
Understanding team performance and rankings
How do teams earn points on the AFL ladder?
The AFL employs a straightforward points system where teams receive four points for a win, two points for a draw, and zero points for a loss. This heavily incentivises teams to pursue victory rather than settle for draws, often influencing strategic decisions during close contests.
When teams finish level on premiership points, percentage serves as the crucial tie-breaker. Percentage is calculated by dividing total points scored by total points conceded, then multiplying by 100. A team scoring 1,200 points while conceding 1,000 would have a percentage of 120%.
This system provides deeper insight into team performance beyond simple win-loss records, rewarding consistent scoring ability and defensive strength throughout the season.
Finals system and championship determination
How does the AFL finals system work?
The finals series creates a dramatic climax to the season through a four-week tournament featuring the top eight teams. This system heavily rewards regular-season performance, particularly for teams finishing in the top four positions.
Week one features qualifying finals between the top four teams and elimination finals involving the fifth through eighth teams. Qualifying final winners earn a week’s rest and home advantage in preliminary finals, while losers retain a “double chance” opportunity. Elimination final winners advance but face sudden-death pressure, while losers are immediately eliminated.
The structure ensures that highly ranked teams need fewer victories to reach the Grand Final, while lower-ranked qualifiers must win three consecutive matches to claim the ultimate prize.
Where is the AFL Grand Final played, and why?
The AFL Grand Final takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground under a contractual agreement extending until 2058. This arrangement recognises the MCG as Australian football’s spiritual home while creating one of the world’s largest single-day sporting events, regularly attracting crowds exceeding 100,000 spectators.
The venue choice occasionally generates debate among non-Victorian supporters who question whether Melbourne-based teams gain inherent advantages. However, the Grand Final’s scale and historical significance make it a major cultural and economic event that extends far beyond the sporting contest itself.
How long does an AFL match last?
AFL games consist of four 20-minute quarters plus time-on, totalling 80 minutes of actual playing time. Time-on periods occur when play stops for various reasons, including out-of-bounds situations, goals, injuries, or other significant interruptions.
Including quarter-time breaks (6 minutes), half-time (20 minutes), three-quarter-time breaks (6 minutes), and variable time-on periods, complete matches typically last between two and three hours. This duration has evolved to optimise game flow, scoring opportunities, and spectacle while accommodating broadcast requirements and fan experience expectations.
The season structure reflects Australian football’s unique position in the sporting calendar, creating sustained engagement from early autumn through late winter while building toward the dramatic crescendo of September finals football.
