As the siren sounds on Opening Round to launch the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, Aussie Rules is kicking goals across the northern states - with record participation and surging fan engagement driving footy into every home.
Backed by the AFL’s enshrined 10 per cent investment in Game Development initiatives and a long-term commitment to expand the game at all levels, Opening Round has played a pivotal role in accelerating growth across Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
In 2025, both Queensland and NSW/ACT achieved record-breaking participation, with one in four registered participants nationally now coming from the two regions - the highest proportion in the game’s history.
Queensland recorded the strongest growth of any state in the country, with participation increasing by 15 per cent year-on-year to more than 91,000 registered participants - a 78 per cent rise since 2019. The Sunshine state now ranks second nationally for overall participation, only behind the traditional footy heartland of Victoria.
In NSW and the ACT, participation surpassed 78,000 in 2025 – a new record for the region, representing a 10 per cent rise in participation since 2024 and exceeding pre-COVID participation levels by almost 25 per cent.
The increasing participation rate seen across the state and territory was also reflected in Greater Sydney, with many community clubs recording a 250 per cent increase year-on-year in NAB AFL Auskick and NAB AFL Superkick participation.
The substantial rise of AFL in NSW/ACT is attributed to several initiatives designed to mobilise communities across the state and territory to play Aussie Rules, including the Play Your Way voucher program in Greater Sydney.
First introduced in 2025, the initiative is part of a $1.5 million investment by the AFL into the region, intended to ease the cost of registration and ensure footy remains accessible for all. Over 2,400 families redeemed a voucher last season, registering their children in NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick or junior community footy.
With a league vision for everyone to love and connect with Australia’s game, the growth is extending beyond participation.
In NSW, average home attendances during the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season reached over 25,000 to represent a 62 per cent increase across the last decade, while club memberships have grown to more than 118,000 in 2025 – an increase of nearly 200 per cent since 2012 when the GWS GIANTS entered the competition.
Queensland has experienced similar momentum, with average home attendances reaching more than 47,000 – a 78 per cent increase over the past decade – and club memberships soaring to more than 105,200, up 184 per cent over the same period.
In 2025, Queensland produced 17 local products in the Telstra AFLW and AFL Drafts, with eight AFLW draftees and nine AFL draftees, including five first-round selections.
Today, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon visited the AFL School Connect program at Rosehill Public School in Western Sydney and said Opening Round continues to play a critical role in accelerating the AFL’s growth across the northern markets.
“As we strive to have footy in every home, Opening Round continues to play a powerful role in driving growth across Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT; helping grow awareness, attendance and membership,” said Dillon.
“There have never been more people involved in the game and reaching a record number of 625,000 registered participants in 2025 – with more than a quarter coming from the northern markets – highlights just how powerful footy is at bringing people together.
“As the most played, watched and attended sport in the country, Australian Rules Football is Australia’s game.
“By enshrining 10 per cent of all football revenue into Game Development initiatives, we’re building a strong and sustainable pathway so that everyone has the opportunity to develop a lifelong connection to Aussie Rules.”
In addition to four games across NSW and QLD, Opening Round will see St Kilda and Collingwood face off at a packed MCG on Sunday night of the long weekend in Melbourne building excitement just four days before the traditional Round 1 rivalry of Carlton and Richmond on Thursday 12 March.
The 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership season starts this Thursday 5 March as the Sydney Swans host Carlton at the SCG. For tickets and more information head to afl.com.au/opening-round.