The following are the events of Australian rules football for the calendar year 2023, 165 years after the first game was played in 1858.History Official Website of the Australian Football League
National AFL
In the Australian Football League (AFL), won their 16th VFL/AFL premiership (and 17th senior premiership) after defeating by four points in the 2023 AFL Grand Final.
The AFL fixture was extended to 23 matches per club, the longest in history, to accommodate the introduction of Gather Round, a special round featuring all 18 clubs playing in the same city and its surrounds. South Australia won the bid for the event.
In the AFL Women's (AFLW), won their second women's premiership with a 19-point victory over in the 2023 AFL Women's Grand Final.
won the McClelland Trophy, the format of which was altered to a club championship including results from both the AFL and AFL Women's 2023 seasons. Under the points system, Melbourne won 128 points with a percentage of 142.3, clear of second-place , who won 116 points and 126.4 percentage.
In May 2023, Tasmania secured an AFL licence for the first time, following a unanimous vote of AFL club presidents.
Gillon McLachlan stepped down as AFL CEO in October 2023 and was replaced by Andrew Dillon.
VFL
In the Victorian Football League (VFL), a non-Victorian team won the premiership for the first time, with defeating by 19 points in the 2023 VFL Grand Final.
Talent League
Sandringham Dragons won their 5th Talent League Boys premiership, while Oakleigh Chargers won their second Talent League Girls premiership after defeating minor premiers Eastern Ranges in the Grand Final.Report
Australian Capital Territory won a total of four premierships in 2023, and were runners-up in a fifth grand final.
Premiers Men's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref. Club Score Club Score AFL Canberra First Grade 10.11 (71) 4.8 (32) 9 September 2023 Second Grade 4.8 (32) 3.2 (20) 9 September 2023 Rising Stars 11.7 (73) Eastlake 8.4 (52) 10 September 2023 AFL Canberra Community Division 1 Batemans Bay 11.6 (72) ANU Griffins 3.11 (29) 2 September 2023 Division 2 ANU Griffins 8.12 (60) Woden 8.4 (52) 2 September 2023 Division 3 Murrumbateman 6.11 (47) Goulburn 6.5 (41) 2 September 2023
Women's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref. Club Score Club Score AFL Canberra First Grade 10.11 (71) 1.6 (12) 9 September 2023 Second Grade 2.4 (16) Eastlake 1.1 (7) 9 September 2023 Rising Stars 10.12 (72) 2.1 (13) 10 September 2023 AFL Canberra Community Division 1 Googong 6.5 (41) Batemans Bay 3.4 (22) 2 September 2023
New South Wales Premiers Men's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score AFL Central West Tier 1 Bathurst Giants 16.17 (113) Bathurst Bushrangers 11.9 (75) 2 September 2023 Tier 2 Cowra Blues 10.3 (63) Parkes Panthers 5.4 (34) 2 September 2023 AFL Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Cup Newcastle City 12.10 (82) Terrigal-Avoca 10.13 (73) 16 September 2023 AFL North Coast Seniors Byron Bay 14.12 (96) Port Macquarie 5.9 (39) 2 September 2023 AFL North West Seniors Inverell 10.12 (72) Tamworth 8.8 (56) 26 August 2023 AFL Sapphire Coast Seniors Narooma 11.10 (76) Merimbula 6.4 (40) 2 September 2023 AFL South Coast Premier Figtree 10.13 (73) Northern District 5.3 (33) 9 September 2023 AFL Sydney Premier UNSW-ES 10.6 (66) North Shore 6.10 (46) 9 September 2023 Farrer FL Seniors The Rock-Yerong Creek 9.5 (59) Northern Jets 7.10 (52) 9 September 2023 Hume FNL Seniors Osborne 15.16 (106) Holbrook 8.8 (56) 23 September 2023 Northern Riverina FNL Seniors Hillston 12.18 (90) Tullibigeal 9.7 (61) 19 August 2023 Riverina FNL Seniors Turvey Park 13.9 (87) Griffith 8.8 (56) 16 September 2023
Women's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score AFL Central West Seniors Dubbo 5.7 (37) Bathurst Giants 5.2 (32) 2 September 2023 AFL Hunter Central Coast Black Diamond Cup Newcastle City 7.6 (48) Killarney Vale 2.5 (17) 16 September 2023 AFL North Coast Seniors Coffs Harbour 3.3 (21) Northern Beaches 0.5 (5) 2 September 2023 AFL North West Seniors Gunnedah 4.10 (34) Inverell 2.9 (21) 26 August 2023 AFL Sapphire Coast Seniors Tathra 5.16 (46) Bermagui 0.1 (1) 2 September 2023 AFL South Coast Division 1 Kiama 8.5 (53) Northern District 0.0 (0) 9 September 2023 AFL Sydney Division 1 St George 2.2 (14) UTS 1.2 (8) 2 September 2023 Farrer FL Seniors The Rock-Yerong Creek 9.5 (59) Northern Jets 7.10 (52) 9 September 2023
Queensland QAFL
In the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), won the premiership for the second consecutive time, after defeating by 42 points in the 2023 QAFL Grand Final.
In the QAFL Women's (QAFLW), defeated by 49 points.
Other leagues During the AFL Mount Isa grand final between Alpurrurulam Bats and Mount Isa Buffs, supporters of Alpurrurulam stormed the field in protest of an umpiring decision. Two men were later charged with assaulting police officers.
Premiers Men's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score AFL Cairns Seniors Port Douglas 12.7 (79) Cairns 6.9 (45) 23 September 2023 AFL Capricornia Seniors Yeppoon 6.14 (50) BITS Saints 6.8 (44) 2 September 2023 AFL Darling Downs Seniors Coolaroo 13.15 (93) Goondiwindi Hawks 7.5 (47) 2 September 2023 AFL Mackay Seniors North Mackay 9.4 (58) Eastern Swans 5.4 (34) 9 September 2023 AFL Townsville Seniors Thuringowa 11.15 (81) Hermit Park 3.4 (22) 9 September 2023 AFL Wide Bay Seniors Hervey Bay 6.11 (47) Brothers Bulldogs 5.3 (33) 26 August 2023 QAFL Seniors 16.12 (108) 9.12 (66) 16 September 2023 QFA Division 1 Springwood 12.9 (81) Coorparoo 10.9 (69) 2 September 2023 Division 2 North Alexandra Hills 7.7 (49) Kenmore 5.10 (40) 10 September 2023 Division 2 South Burleigh 15.6 (96) 8.8 (56) 9 September 2023 Division 3 North 9.13 (67) North Shore 4.8 (32) 8 September 2023 Division 3 South Pacific Pines 11.5 (71) Coorparoo 6.16 (52) 1 September 2023 Division 4 North Caloundra 3.17 (35) University of Queensland 3.3 (21) 8 September 2023 Division 4 South 12.14 (86) Coolangatta 3.1 (19) 1 September 2023
Women's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score AFL Cairns Seniors Manunda 3.5 (23) Cairns 2.4 (16) 23 September 2023 AFL Capricornia Seniors Yeppoon 6.1 (37) Rockhampton 5.4 (34) 2 September 2023 AFL Darling Downs Seniors Toowoomba 3.5 (23) University Cougars 2.2 (14) 2 September 2023 AFL Mackay Seniors North Mackay 5.8 (38) Mackay City 0.1 (1) 9 September 2023 AFL Townsville Seniors Hermit Park 4.8 (32) Curra 2.1 (13) 9 September 2023 AFL Wide Bay Seniors Across The Waves 3.7 (25) Bay Power 2.2 (14) 26 August 2023 QAFLW Seniors 10.6 (66) 2.5 (17) 27 August 2023 QFAW Division 1 Moreton Bay 7.5 (47) 5.3 (33) 2 September 2023 Division 2 North 7.5 (47) Caloundra 4.1 (25) 10 September 2023 Division 2 South Tweed Coast 7.3 (45) Ballina 2.1 (13) 9 September 2023
Tasmania TSL
Kingborough won their first Tasmanian State League (TSL) premiership, defeating North Launceston by 15 points.
Premiers Men's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score Circular Head FA Seniors Redpa 8.10 (58) Scotchtown 8.4 (54) 26 August 2023 Darwin FA Seniors South Burnie 14.11 (95) Queenstown 5.8 (38) 2 September 2023 King Island FA Seniors Grassy 17.11 (113) Currie 5.3 (33) 26 August 2023 Northern Tasmanian FA Premier Rocherlea 8.15 (63) Hillwood 8.5 (53) 16 September 2023 Division 1 Old Scotch Collegians 11.11 (77) St Patrick 7.9 (51) 9 September 2023 North West FL Seniors Devonport 14.13 (97) Burnie 8.8 (56) 23 September 2023 North Western FA Seniors Motton Preston 8.12 (60) Wesley Vale 6.10 (46) 9 September 2023 Oatlands District FA Seniors Triabunna 11.13 (79) Campbell Town 10.6 (66) 19 August 2023 Old Scholars FA Seniors St Virgils 22.17 (149) University 7.6 (48) 9 September 2023 Southern FL Seniors Cygnet 14.14 (98) Huonville 9.8 (62) 16 September 2023 TSL Seniors Kingborough 8.8 (56) North Launceston 5.11 (41) 23 September 2023 Development North Hobart 7.6 (48) North Launceston 5.8 (38) 23 September 2023
Women's League Division/Grade Premiers Runners-up Date Ref Club Score Club Score Northern Tasmanian FA Premier Old Launcestonians 4.3 (27) Bridgenorth 1.6 (12) 16 September 2023 Division 1 Deloraine 3.6 (24) Meander Valley 2.3 (15) 9 September 2023 North West FL Seniors Wynyard 11.13 (79) Penguin 2.7 (19) 27 August 2023 Southern FL Division 1 North Hobart 5.3 (33) Kingborough 3.5 (23) 10 September 2023 Division 2 Claremont 5.4 (34) Lauderdale 3.5 (23) 10 September 2023 Division 3 St Virgils 7.8 (50) Dodges Ferry 1.3 (9) 10 September 2023
Victoria VFLW
In the VFL Women's (VFLW), won their first VFLW premiership after defeating in the grand final, a week after eliminating defending premiers in the preliminary final.
There was one change to the competition, with the Hawthorn Football Club transferring their VFLW license to during the off-season, replicating the club's men's team reserves arrangement in the AFL and VFL.
VAFA
In the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), Collegians won their 18th Premier Division premiership, defeating St Kevin's by 85 points.
St Kevin's won their second consecutive VAFA Women's (VAFAW) premiership, defeating Kew by 25 points.
Although they were defeated in the Premier B Grand Final, was promoted to Premier Division for the first time since the club entered the VAFA.
Two clubs − Westbourne Grammarians and Old Mentonians − were in recess for the 2023 season.
Other leagues On 28 March 2023, the Ovens & Murray Football Netball League (OMFNL) announced the Wangaratta Magpies would be stripped of their 2022 premiership following salary cap breaches. The OMFNL operates with a $125,000 salary cap, which the Magpies exceeded in 2022.
This was the first time in regional Victorian football that such a penalty had been handed down because of a salary cap breach. As a result, no premier was declared for the 2022 OMFNL season.
Premiers Men's