AFL participation in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory continues to soar, surpassing 78,000 registered participants in 2025 to mark a new record for the state and territory.
This year’s participation record represents a 10 per cent rise in participation since 2024 and exceeds pre-COVID participation levels by almost 25 per cent.
2025’s record participation figures, together with the growing number of students involved in non-registered Aussie Rules school competitions, underscores that there are more people playing AFL in NSW and the ACT than ever before.
The AFL has today confirmed its participation record as it enters the second year of its Play Your Way voucher initiative in Greater Sydney.
Play Your Way vouchers are available to redeem now ahead of the 2026 community football season and are designed to support Sydney families and ease the cost of AFL registration fees.
In 2026, the Play Your Way vouchers will once again grant Western Sydney families $100 off registration fees for children participating in NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick and junior community footy (under 13s and younger), with families located in the Canterbury Bankstown and Ryde LGAs now able to access the $100 voucher as well.
Families Sydney-wide can redeem $50 off registration fees for all new and returning children to the NAB AFL Auskick and NAB AFL Superkick programs, or for children transitioning from NAB AFL Auskick or NAB AFL Superkick to play junior community footy.
The $50 voucher will also be redeemable for families Sydney-wide with children transitioning to play junior community footy from an AFL Connect program running in schools like school competitions or after-school NAB AFL Auskick.
The initiative is part of a $1.5M investment by the AFL into the Greater Sydney region as the league endeavours to reduce the barrier to play footy and join a local club.
Head of AFL NSW/ACT Andrew Varasdi said: “Reaching over 78,000 AFL participants in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is a pleasing milestone for our game.
“Coupled with the rapid growth of school programs and competitions, it means there are more people playing Aussie Rules Football in NSW and the ACT than ever before.
“This appetite for the game gives us confidence that our strategic approach and investment into growing the game is working.
“As we strive to have Aussie Rules Football be part of every home, we’re dedicated to creating welcoming, inclusive and accessible opportunities for more people to be part of our game, with a focus on new and emerging communities.
“Further investment has already been committed to enhance this in 2026, and we look forward to continuing our efforts in building the base of grassroots participation next season and beyond.”
Last season, over 2,400 families across Greater Sydney redeemed a Play Your Way voucher and registered their children in NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick or junior community footy.
This contributed to the growing momentum of Aussie Rules Football in Western Sydney, which in 2025 saw more than 14,000 people play AFL in the west across all levels of participation.
The Play Your Way vouchers were also a catalyst for rapid growth in grassroots participation across Western Sydney’s junior community clubs, with many clubs increasing in participation by 250 per cent on 2024’s results across NAB AFL Auskick and NAB AFL Superkick programs.
The substantial rise of introductory AFL programs in the west was also reflected across the state and territory, with NSW and the ACT leading the national tally in total NAB AFL Superkick participants as more 7–12 year olds take part in the program than anywhere else in Australia.
Pleasingly, participation among women and girls across the state and territory also continues to grow, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of total participation in NSW and the ACT.
Women and girls participation in NSW and the ACT has steadily risen since the inception of AFLW in 2017, recording a near 150 per cent increase from when the elite league began 10 seasons ago.
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development Rob Auld said: “The record participation numbers we’ve seen across the country, but particularly in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory represent the deepening connection footy continues to build with Australians in the state and territory.
“We’re dedicated to helping more people find their pathway into the game, and ensuring the support we provide is tailored to their needs.
“The Play Your Way voucher initiative in Greater Sydney is indicative of this and is made possible by the 10 per cent enshrined investment into Game Development that supports programs and participation across all levels of the game.
“We’ve been buoyed by the results from year one of the initiative and the growing participation rate we’re seeing as a result – particularly in Western Sydney – is encouraging.
“To sustain the game for generations to come, we need a strong foundation. These participation results and bespoke programs 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.”
With over 78,000 registered AFL participants in NSW and the ACT in 2025, there were also over 1,500 AFL teams competing in local non-registered Aussie Rules Football school competitions across the state and territory, and over 4,000 coaches and umpires serving the game.
Today’s announcement of record participation levels in NSW and the ACT coincides with the arrival of the Sydney Swans in Newcastle for a special pre-season Community Camp in the Hunter region.
For more information regarding the Sydney Swans Community Camp in Newcastle, visit play.afl/nswact.
To play AFL in NSW and the ACT, and/or redeem the Play Your Way voucher in Greater Sydney for the 2026 community football season, play.afl/PlayYourWayVouchers