Football participation across Victoria continued to grow in 2025 surpassing 250,000 registered participants to mark an all-time record for the state.
Victorians accounted for more than 40 percent of all football participants nation-wide in 2025, up six percent on last year, with the national total reaching a record 625,000 participants.
Touted as the ‘older sibling’ of NAB AFL Auskick, participation in NAB AFL Superkick grew by 170 percent in Victoria, hitting a new record of 10,000 participants in the program’s second year.
Modified footy offering – AFL Nines – continued to grow in popularity, with a 27-percent increase in registered participants.
AFL Nines has been designed to fit into everyday life, with the nine-a-side, no tackling format accessible to people of all ages and skill levels.
Growth in community football across both country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne remains steady, with more than 183,000 Victorians registered with a local club from junior and youth through to senior level.
Primary and high school students are continuing to engage more with Aussie Rules football, assisted by AFL Victoria’s partnership with School Sport Victoria (SSV), with 57 percent growth in 2025.
An extension to the partnership with SSV for a further two years was announced in August.
Women and girls’ participation continued to grow, up four percent across community football, whilst one in five NAB AFL Auskick and Superkick participants were girls in 2025.
For the first time ever, Victoria celebrated 1,000 women and girls registered as community umpires.
Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said the record numbers reflect both the strength of the game and the deepening connection Australians continue to build with footy.
“Reaching 625,000 participants (nationally) this year is a remarkable achievement and a powerful reminder of how footy continues to bring communities together across the country,” Auld said.
“As more Australians find their pathway into the game, our focus remains on making sure footy is welcoming, inclusive and accessible as we strive to have one million participants by 2033.
“Encouraging people to find their way to play – whether it’s through NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick, community football or AFL Nines – sits at the heart of that vision, driven by the 10 percent enshrined investment into Game Development that supports programs and participation across all levels of the game.
“To sustain the game for generations to come, we need a strong foundation.
“These results are driven by the thousands of people who give their time, energy and passion to footy every week.
“We know there are challenges in local footy and there is still work that needs to be done to help clubs; but to our clubs, coaches, umpires, volunteers and parents who make all of this possible, thank you and we’re incredibly grateful for everything you do.”
To find out how you can play and connect with Australian football, visit: play.afl
