Top 10 Best Australian Football League (AFL) Teams

With a unique combination of fast-paced action, incredible kicks, high-flying marks, and intense physicality, the AFL has built a passionate fanbase both in Australia and around the world. If you're new to the sport or a seasoned supporter, one thing is certain: some AFL teams have earned reputations that make them stand out from the rest.

Over the years, many clubs have built their legacies through premiership wins, legendary players, and unforgettable moments that keep their fans loyal through thick and thin. Some teams have been around since the very start of the league, while others have come into their own more recently.

Each team brings its own unique flavor to the competition, whether it's a history of dominance, a fiercely competitive rivalry, or a reputation for developing young talent.

But what makes a team truly the best? Is it the number of premierships they've won? The consistent presence of star players? Or maybe it's the way they manage to turn up in the big moments and deliver when it counts.

The best AFL teams don't just rack up wins. They build a culture that inspires their fans, stirs up fierce loyalty, and creates a sense of pride that lasts across generations.

The Top Ten

Geelong Cats

Based in the city of Geelong, Victoria, this Australian rules football team competes in the AFL. Founded in 1859, they are one of the oldest football clubs in the world and have a successful history with multiple premierships. The team colors are navy and white.

We are Geelong, no excuse. We can scare Bulldogs away. Definitely the best team ever. Even if they did not get the premierships this year, 2018, it doesn't matter because we are going to touch that trophy in 2019. So yeah, ha ha ha, other AFL teams are not. I'm your favorite fan here, Geelong, including my favorite players: Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, and Gary Ablett. By Miguel. Never forget me.

One of the founding football clubs in the land and has rarely been out of contention for long. Over the past 20 years, its period of near dominance has been impressive. Just think how great this team would have been had Hawthorn not been so good at the same time.
West Coast Eagles

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. They wear navy blue and gold as their team colors. The Eagles compete in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Looking at the stats from 1990 to 2018, the Eagles are the most successful now, since the 2018 premiership, followed by Geelong, Hawthorn, and probably Collingwood. Brisbane must be close because of their three in a row, which could have easily been four. Richmond is nowhere near. Blimey, the arrogance of their fans is incredible. They have only won 1 flag in 2017 in the whole of the AFL era, come on. I used to despise Collingwood the most, mainly because of Eddie McGuire, but Richmond is beginning to take their place.

We're simply the best because we're the current AFL Premiers 2018 and the most successful interstate team in the AFL's history. With four premierships and seven Grand Final appearances, only Hawthorn can challenge West Coast's stats since we've been in the competition.
As the AFL, West Coast has featured in more finals series than any other team. We're flying high!
Hawthorn Hawks

A Melbourne-based AFL team, the Hawthorn Hawks were founded in 1902. The team has a successful history, with numerous premierships, and is known for its skillful play. The team wears brown and gold and plays its home games at both the Melbourne Cricket Ground and University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston... read more

12 Premierships in 54 years, 18 Grand Finals, that is on average a Grand Final every 3 years and a premiership every 4.5 years. 7 Grand Finals in a row from 1983-89 with premierships in '83, '86, '88, and '89, and then we went on to win the premiership in 1991 despite the critics believing we were too old and too slow. Not to mention the most recent 2014 premiership where we were riddled with injuries all season, including Clarko himself, but still found a way to get the job done all year. My favourite quote from last year's season is, "The football gods said not this time, the Hawks didn't listen."
And I guarantee all you doubters that we will be running out on the G on Grand Final day this year. Our best is still the best simply because recent history has shown that a strong offense wins premierships, not a strong defense. CARN HAWKS
Sydney Swans

An Australian rules football team founded in 1874, the Sydney Swans compete in the Australian Football League (AFL). The team was originally based in South Melbourne before relocating to Sydney in 1982. They have won multiple AFL premierships, and their team colors are red and white.

Such a talented roster full of young guns and extremely talented veterans. Swans made the biggest comeback in 2017, starting 0-6 but came back and made finals. No team has ever done that before. 2018 is our year to win the grand final.

Without a doubt. Swans won in 2005 and almost won (1-point margin) in 2006. They won in 2012 and got into the 2013 Grand Final. Only lost in 2016 because of terrible umpiring. Made the best comeback ever in 2017 and even made it to the finals.

They were the easy beats for a while but soon took flight with their win in 2005. As well as a win in 2012, they have spawned dual Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes and have become a regular finals team for almost two decades. Consistency.
Richmond Tigers

The Richmond Tigers are an Australian rules football team based in Melbourne that competes in the AFL. Founded in 1885, the club has won multiple premierships, including titles in 2017, 2019, and 2020. The team is known for its strong fan base and its traditional yellow and black colors.

Were regular grand finalists between 1920 and the mid-1940s but were unsighted again until they became a powerhouse in the late 1960s, winning 4 premierships with one second between 1967 and 1974. Another flag in 1980 but then faded badly until the last few years when they've finally returned to the top of the table.

Every other club wishes they were Richmond. Look at Collingwood, they've been mimicking the Tigers since Jack Dyer was around. Mimicking is the greatest form of flattery, but we don't need it. We prefer to hate.

Haven't had much success for a long time, but the Tigers are real battlers and one of the most heavily supported teams in the AFL with the best club song going. The atmosphere at a Richmond game is electric in the MCG when the Tigers are playing well, and the Richmond roar is one of the loudest in the comp. The Tigers, under new administration and coaching staff, have all the resources they need to once again be a premiership side.
Collingwood Magpies

Collingwood is a professional Australian rules football team based in Melbourne. The club was founded in 1892 and competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). With 16 premierships to its name, Collingwood is one of the most successful and historically significant teams in the league, and it is known... read more

Collingwood has won 15 Grand Finals, the third most of all time. Collingwood has been in, I think, 33 or 34 losing Grand Finals, showing they're always up there. A team that in the 2018 season came from nowhere to make a losing Grand Final. And now, in the 2019 season, Collingwood is currently second and will win their next five, probably. What a team, and the question is... How did Richmond get there? And West Coast! West Coast is terrible. Yeah, they beat us but still.

Collingwood has won the second most premierships thus far, being 15 (one behind Essendon and Carlton). Their next premiership victory will have them equal top. However, they have played in more Grand Finals than any other team. The consistency shown to make the Grand Final over their journey alone shows that they are far more superior to the rest of the competition.
Essendon Bombers

Essendon is a Melbourne-based Australian Football League (AFL) team founded in 1872. The club has a long and successful history, winning 16 premierships, which ties it for the most in AFL history. Essendon is nicknamed The Bombers and is known for its distinctive red and black colors.

Say what you want about the Bombers, but they are a successful unit. 16 premierships, including one of the most dominant seasons ever in 2000. They were nearly unbeatable in 2000, and it took a strong Lions team to trump them a year later. Many legends have come from Windy Hill, and they will continue to "Fly Up".

The oldest team is Melbourne... and saying that Carlton entered the competition is pure rubbish, given Essendon won the first VFL flag in 1897. Still the best team ever (16 premierships) and has consistently gotten more members than Carlton (the only team to tie on most premierships with Essendon).
North Melbourne Kangaroos

Also known as the Kangaroos, North Melbourne is an Australian Football League (AFL) team based in Melbourne. The club was established in 1869 and has a long and storied history in Australian rules football.
North Melbourne has won four VFL/AFL premierships. The team is known for its royal blue... read more

I go for North Melbourne, and I have never seen North Melbourne win a grand final. North Melbourne is better than Richmond and Adelaide Crows because last year North Melbourne beat Richmond. And North Melbourne beat Adelaide Crows this year, and I am young, only 8. Go Kangaroos!

The last of the Victorian VFL/AFL teams to win a premiership (in 1975), but became one of the strongest teams over the next 25 years. This resulted in 4 flags and 4 runner-up medals, but they were almost always in contention.

North Melbourne is the best by far, in my opinion, because all of my family goes for them, and they're such a great team.
Carlton Blues

Based in Melbourne, the Carlton Blues are an Australian rules football team that plays in the AFL. Founded in 1864, they are one of the league's original teams and have won 16 premierships, which is tied for the most in AFL history. Their team colors are navy blue and white.

Won the most premierships (16), one of the most popular, one of the oldest, and one of the 8 starting teams in the first VFL season. Just an overall significant club in the AFL. We've been pretty bad since 2002, but under Brendan Bolton, we could improve and become a real powerhouse again.

16 premierships and counting. Carlton has been a formidable finals force for nearly a century. Although they haven't made a Grand Final since 1999, they still reaped success over the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

2022 was a great year. The last two games were lost due to massive amounts of injuries. 2023 finals, here we come! The best team in the AFL too, and most successful with 16 premierships! Go the Blues!
Brisbane Lions

The Brisbane Lions are an Australian Football League team that represents Brisbane, Queensland. They were formed in 1996 from the merger of the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears. The club won three consecutive premierships from 2001 to 2003 and wears maroon, blue, and gold.

Really? Yes. They are in a form slump right now and have lost their coach, but let's not forget their invincibility in the early 2000s. No one could touch them, with legends like Voss, Black, Brown, Acker, and more. They have only been the Brisbane Lions for 16 years and to have four Grand Final appearances, three premierships in a row, three Brownlow medalists, a Coleman medalist, and have a legend coach like Matthews, they deserve fourth place.

Can't consider the Fitzroy record as they are no more Fitzroy than Sydney is South Melbourne. Only been in the competition a fairly short time but have achieved a lot. Their period of dominance in the early 2000s under Matthews was incredible and the envy of all the non-Victorian clubs who have joined the competition since 1990.

The Newcomers

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Melbourne Storm
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Brisbane Bears

The Contenders

Port Adelaide Power

An Australian rules football team representing Port Adelaide, South Australia, this team competes in the AFL. Established in 1870, it is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian football history, with numerous premierships in both the SANFL and AFL. The team's colors are black, teal... read more

The most decorated Aussie rules club has a special place in the AFL - a rocky relationship with the league and some up-and-down years. But you can't find a purer, traditional footy club underneath any other AFL franchise as you can with Port.

Controversial choice, but what puts the Power over teams like North and Richmond is their ability to put a young, talented list together almost overnight and even win the odd flag. They are Australia's most successful football club and the AFL's 10th.

Port should be the most successful because of the last years they have had.
Adelaide Crows

Representing the city of Adelaide, this Australian rules football team competes in the AFL. Founded in 1990, the Adelaide Crows have won two premierships, in 1997 and 1998. They were the first South Australian team to participate in the AFL. Their team colors are navy, red, and yellow.

First team to win back-to-back premierships in the AFL, more members than any other club, has the fastest man in the league (Patrick Dangerfield), their home ground is the largest purpose-built Australian Rules football stadium in the world, and they are the pride of South Australia - the mighty Adelaide Crows!

Agree with you, mate. Adelaide has been a great team for just a short period of time and has produced champions of the game in McLeod, Ricciuto, Goodwin, and Hart. Now we have new champions like Kurt Tippett, Patrick Dangerfield, Bernard Vince, Chris Knights, Taylor Walker, and David Mackay, so the future is bright.
Fremantle Dockers

Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, this Australian rules football team competes in the AFL. The Fremantle Dockers were founded in 1994 and became the second team from Western Australia to join the league. The team is known for its passionate supporters and official colors of purple and white.

I'm writing this as of 2021. My god, we can't win games away from home, yet we're one of the best teams at home.

They are going pretty good this year. It was bad that they lost Barlow.

Best team in the AFL, especially after this year's trade period!
Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are an Australian Football League (AFL) team based in Melbourne's inner-western suburbs.
Originally founded in 1877 as the Footscray Football Club, they have won multiple AFL premierships, including one in 2016. The team is known for its resilience, strong community ties,... read more

The Western Bulldogs are the best because they can bully you, and they won in the grand final. So yeah!

Always been my favorite, and they won the grand final too!

Awesome team. It's been great watching them for years.
Gold Coast Suns

The Gold Coast Suns are a professional Australian rules football club based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Established in 2009, they compete in the Australian Football League (AFL).
The club emphasizes recruiting and developing young talent. Their official colors are red, gold, and blue, and they... read more

Not too bad a club. I like the idea of coming to Cairns.
St. Kilda Saints

Representing the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, this Australian rules football team competes in the Australian Football League. Established in 1873, the team has had a long and eventful history, including a premiership win in 1966. The club's colors are red, white, and black, and it continues to enjoy... read more

Easily the most legendary and loyal. Our 2009-2010 team stands above all!

St. Kilda is my favorite team. I'm autistic, and growing up, the team I loved was the Saints because they finished top of the ladder when I was 5 and made the grand final that year. We ended up losing to Geelong (I still hate the Cats so much!), but I still stick with the Saints because they were the best team ever.

Saints are a great club with a huge future. Should win the flag in the next 5 years or so. Go Saints!
Melbourne Demons

People shouldn't be judging this on a team's current situation but on the entire history of the club. Melbourne are the oldest club and had the longest and most complete period of dominance in the history of the game. 2nd in 1954, premiers in 1955, 1956, 1957, 2nd in 1958, premiers in 1959 and 1960. Then another in 1964.

They should be higher even though they sometimes lose. They are the oldest team ever!

Melbourne are probably the only Victorian club that no one seems to dislike.
Greater Western Sydney Giants

Founded in 2009, this AFL team is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The team is one of the newest in the league and represents the Greater Western Sydney region. They wear orange, charcoal, and white as their team colors.
Fitzroy Lions