AFL Betting Tips 2025

Best AFL Betting Sites

The Australian Football League (AFL) is the premier competition in Australian Rules Football and has millions of fans rooting for teams across the country. With its fast-paced, physical game and a rich history, Aussie Rules is highly anticipated during the winter season. It started in 1897 as the Victorian Football League (VFL) and has since grown into a national competition by the 1990s, as the AFL we see today.

In what follows, we summarise the main rules and mention all the current AFL teams, with a history of Premiership winners.

Game Rules

• Each match is a contest between two teams of 18 players per match on the field, with up to four interchange players.
• There are four quarters in the match, that is 20 minutes of play time (plus time-on).
• The goal is for each team to score more points by kicking the ball through the middle goal posts (6 points) or aiming at the outer posts (1 point).
• There are two ways through which players can pass the ball, which are via handballing and kicking. Throwing is not allowed.
• Tackling is allowed, however, it must be in accordance with certain rules as not to cause high or dangerous contact. Players will get suspended if they perform dangerous conduct.

Season Structure

• The regular season runs from March to September with 18 teams competing.
• The top eight teams on the ladder advance to the finals series.

Finals Format

After the regular season finishes, the top 8 teams on the ladder start a finals series. The AFL Grand Final is traditionally held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the last Saturday in September.

Qualifying and Elimination Finals

• QF1 - 1st vs 4th
• EF1 - 5th vs 8th
• EF2 - 6th vs 7th
• QF2 - 5th vs 8th

Semi Finals

• SF1 - Loser of QF1 vs Winner of EF1
• SF2 - Loser of QF2 vs Winner of EF2

Preliminary Finals

• PF1 - Winner of QF1 vs Winner of SF2 
• PF2  - Winner of SF1 vs Winner of QF2

Grand Final

• Winner of PF1 vs Winner of PF2

AFL Premiership History by Team

Note: The Brisbane Lions were formed when the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy merged together in the mid-90s. South Melbourne became the Sydney Swans in 1982.

Betting on AFL action has become an essential feature of the footy experience for fans, as there are markets available for everything from the match winner and margin to player disposals and Brownlow Medal futures.

Here is a comparison of the best AFL betting sites, what kind of betting bonuses they have and what sets each site apart.

Smart AFL betting Australia does not mean simply betting on your favourite team every week; it is about making smart decisions based on crucial information and trends.

Here are 10 effective AFL betting strategies that I think AFL punters should follow in order to improve their chances of success:

1. Choose a Reputable Betting Site: Begin at a bookmaker that provides excellent AFL content, attractive odds, as well as features such as Same Game Multis, early payout, live stats, and AFL betting promos. The table above should give you a good guide, such as I think the best AFL betting app is definitely Dabble and the top site for AFL futures betting should be Palmerbet. Also, be careful with new betting sites as they don’t always have the most advanced features.

2. Monitor Injuries and Team News: Injuries and even late withdrawals can have a significant impact on the outcomes of matches. Always double check final team lists and late changes before the bounce, particularly in terms of crucial midfielders and rucks, an hour before the bounce.
3. Check the Weather Forecast: Wet weather can produce low scoring matches and closer margins. This affects totals, margin betting, disposals markets too. If there are predictions of bad weather, adjust your bets accordingly.
4. Study Venue and Travel Factors: Teams usually play better at home, and some interstate clubs have a problem with travel, such as the Gold Coast Suns playing in other states. Take into account the venue, crowd influence, and home/away records, especially in long trips to Perth or Tasmania.
5. Head to Head History: Most of the time, past meetings of teams bring some patterns to the surface, which is valid in most sports, such as NRL betting. Certain clubs meet well when it comes to the style of play. Reviewing the recent results can indicate trends. For example, Geelong haven’t lost against North Melbourne since 2016 (13-0).
6. Understand Game Styles: Teams have various styles of play – fast and attacking, defensive and contested ball. Being aware of how these styles clash can enable the prediction of scoring patterns and the performance of players.
7. Use Advanced Stats: Look into data such as inside 50s, disposal efficiency, clearance numbers and pressure act. It’s a bit like a form guide in Horse racing betting. These stats provide a more realistic image of form outside the scoreboard and aid in player and team-based props.
8. Look for Line Movements: Bookmakers move lines and odds in relation to many factors, similar to Melbourne Cup betting before the big race. In case a line changes dramatically early in the week, it might signal sharp money or inside information. Get on good value before correction takes place.
9. Manage Your Bankroll: Effective punting is a matter of long-term discipline rather than trial-balancing losses or throwing large amounts of money at multis every week. You can also use this strategy for Tennis betting or any other sport for that matter.
10. Bet with a Purpose: Each bet must have a reason behind it, whether it is inspired by stats, conditions, or a tactical matchup. Try not to do casual or ‘gut-feel’ bets.

AFL betting tips have become a golden tool for punters seeking an advantage in potentially one of Australia’s most unpredictable and fast paced sports. 

In a long winter season, with weekly line-up changes, injuries and the elements that come with it, and changes in form, you may need much more than a gut feeling to make a profit in AFL markets. It takes solid research, deep analysis, and an understanding of matchups / trends. That’s where the professional AFL betting tips enter the game.

It doesn’t matter if you are backing a head to head result, first goal scorer markets or individual player props such as disposals or tackles, having the exposure to expert knowledge can assist in finding something that could be missed and missed by the general market. 

The most successful tipsters do not only analyse stats and form but also throw in team dynamics, weather conditions and ground advantage, which in most instances determine the outcome of close matches. For new punters, tips also filter serve as a guide to market movement and types of bets for the experienced.

Here are five of the most frequently asked questions about AFL betting, perfect for new punters or anyone looking to improve their knowledge of our great game.