AFL
Welcome to our League’s corner. Here we celebrate everything AFL and AFLW related, from the games to the collectibles. AFL holds a special place in the collectibles universe. Officially, May 17th 1859 was when the history of our Australian Football started. Around the same time, Melbourne (1858) and Geelong (1859) were founded. That makes them two of the oldest continuous sporting clubs in the world. The first game ever recorded took place in Melbourne: Scotch College vs Melbourne. Grammar (1858). Comparatively, the Women’s League had its first game played in February 2017.
Among Australia’s most fervent collectible hobbies, cards stand out as a dominant pursuit. While Pokémon firmly holds its position as the country’s top-selling card game, outpacing Magic: The Gathering, AFL Select is rapidly gaining ground, challenging the popularity of other prominent collections such as Dragon Ball and One Piece. As of October 2025, the most expensive AFL card remains the 2021 Select Supremacy 1000+ Goalkicker Quad Signature, while the rarest card is 1894 N302 Mayo’s Cut Plug Football Dunlop.
AFL is History
We’ve spent months exploring images from the early days of the AFL, revisiting where the game began. It’s been a great journey, but now it’s time to take the next step and dive into the history of every club. This month, we celebrate:
Emerging from WA’s rich football heartland in 1994, the Fremantle Football Club injected a fierce, nautical-themed identity into the national competition. Playing out of the historic port city, the Dockers have spent over three decades building a passionate, purple-clad fan base. While an ultimate premiership cup has eluded them, their journey is defined by incredible individual brilliance. The club’s folklore is anchored by the extraordinary endurance of games record-holder Matthew Pavlich, the dual Brownlow Medal heroics of Nat Fyfe, and the consistency of David Mundy.
In stark contrast to the slow-burning build of the men’s side, Fremantle’s women’s program hit the ground running as a foundational piece of the inaugural 2017 AFLW competition. Now marking a decade of top-flight existence in 2026, the female Dockers have long been a premier benchmark of the league. Their most dominant stretch came during a virus-interrupted 2020 campaign where they stormed through undefeated before the season was abruptly aborted before finals. Fronted by tackler Kiara Bowers, captain Hayley Miller, and dominant ruck Mim Strom, the squad remains a perennial contender.
AFL News
MEN’S LEAGUE
In the two most recent off-field updates, the league has officially finalized Tasmania’s list concessions ahead of its inaugural draft appearance in 2027, locking in critical father-son rules and player acquisition guidelines for the incoming franchise.
Alongside this landmark expansion development, the focus shifts to internal club reviews as Essendon has officially approached its former chief executive officer to cast a wide net and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the club’s current football department structure.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
In the women’s league, the roster planning for the upcoming 2026 NAB AFLW season is well underway following the publication of the official competition fixture, which outlines a split opening round, a rise in marquee double-header events, and a collection of brand-new playing venues.
Concurrently, list management changes continue to reshape team dynamics as Gold Coast Suns veteran Georgia Clayden has announced her pregnancy, prompting the club to place her on the inactive list for the entirely of the 2026 calendar while they actively search for a replacement player
The 2026 AFLW season is scheduled to begin during the week of August 10.
The Footy Focus
Tom Liberatore has established himself as a definitive heart-and-soul cornerstone of the Western Bulldogs, carving out his own legacy at since arriving as a high-profile father-son selection in the 2010 National Draft. Across a gritty, fiercely loyal career spanning over 260 games, “Libba” has anchored the Bulldogs’ midfield through pure resilience, notably becoming just the second father-son pairing in VFL/AFL history to reach the 250-game milestone alongside his father, Tony.
His extensive career honours reflect his status as an elite inside operator, headlined by a drought-breaking 2016 premiership medallion and a Charles Sutton Medal as the club’s Best and Fairest in 2014. Renowned across the league as an extraordinary, hard-nosed clearance specialist, Liberatore has combined his elite ball-winning ability with defensive ferocity, accumulating over 90 career goals while consistently ranking among the game’s elite for tackles and contested possessions.
On top of it all, he volunteers weekly at an after-school program helping students with their studies and social integration, and has successfully rallied his teammates to join him.
In the Arena
Round 12 produced a shifting landscape across the ladder. The Sydney Swans asserted absolute dominance at the SCG, dismantling Richmond by a massive 114 points with a staggering 170 to 56 scoreline. Hawthorn also put together a commanding performance, routing St Kilda by 52 points and resigning the Saints to historical low scoring stretches early on. Fremantle secured a convincing 25-point victory over the Brisbane Lions, ensuring they maintain their grip on the highest rungs of the ladder. A ruthless GWS Giants outfit capitalised on the weekend’s momentum by traveling to Alice Springs to dismantle Melbourne in a dominant 119 to 70 display.
Carlton kept their resurgent finals hopes alive on Friday night at the MCG, edging out top-four mainstays Geelong. The Western Bulldogs mirrored that exact execution, shaking up the top eight by overcoming Collingwood by four points at Marvel Stadium. Finally, West Coast capped off a month of strong form by punishing a struggling Essendon outfit under caretaker leadership, cruising to a comfortable 30-point win at home to lift themselves further away from the bottom of the ladder.
Moment of the Week
Picture: Getty Images
In the AFLW Arena
Moment of the Week
Picture: My creativity brought to life by code
AFL Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996 to coincide with the VFL/AFL centenary, serving as the ultimate recognition for those who have made significant contributions to the sport. The Hall enshrines players, coaches, umpires, administrators, and media figures based on their ability, integrity, and character, rather than just raw statistics. The highest echelon of this institution is “Legend” status, a title reserved for those who fundamentally changed the game for the better. As of 2026, this elite group has grown to 34 members, with Western Australian icon and four-time Sandover Medallist Bill Walker being the most recent great elevated to the status
In recent years, the Hall of Fame has evolved to formally mirror the growth of the women’s game. A historic milestone was reached in 2025 when Daisy Pearce and Erin Phillips became the first AFLW players ever inducted. This breakthrough was supported by a specific criteria change that allowed women to be eligible for induction just one year after their retirement, acknowledging the shorter history and unique structure of the professional women’s league compared to the five-year requirement for the men’s competition. Their inclusion, alongside trailblazer Debbie Lee, has solidified the Hall of Fame as a truly national and inclusive institution that celebrates the entire landscape of Australian Rules football
The League Gallery
That Funko never made: AFL mascots
AFL is art
Picture: AFL Photos
Find Your Team
TCC’s Collection
Our journey doesn’t stop here. Explore the other corners of our digital library where we dive deep into the specific worlds of Pokémon, Funko, and more.