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{{Short description|Governing body of the Australian Football League Limited}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox Sport governing body
|assocname= AFL Commission
|abbrev =
|logo=
|sport=[[Australian rules football in Australia|Australian rules football]]
|founded = 1985
|aff = 
|affdate =
|region =
|regionyear =
| image        = 
| image_border = 
| size         = 
| caption      = 
| category     = 
| jurisdiction = AFL, controlled entities and affiliates. 
| year closed  = 
| headquarters = AFL House, 140 Harbour Esplanade, [[Melbourne Docklands]]
| president    = 
| chairman     = [[Richard Goyder]]
| key staff    = 
|replaced = [[Australian National Football Council]]
|prevfounded =
|url =https://www.afl.com.au/
|countryflag=Australia
|countryflag2=
| website      = 
}}

The '''AFL Commission''' is the [[Sport governing body|governing body]] of the [[Australian Football League]] Limited (AFL), its subsidiaries and controlled entities. [[Richard Goyder]] has been chairman since 4 April 2017, replacing [[Mike Fitzpatrick (footballer)|Mike Fitzpatrick]].

It was formed in 1985 as the VFL Commission, and gained its current name in 1990 in conjunction with the renaming of the VFL competition to the Australian Football League. 

Its [[constitution]] self-proclaims the commission to be the "keeper of the code" responsible for the sport of [[Australian football]]. As part of its role, the Commission is responsible for the [[Laws of Australian Football]]. It is also responsible for worldwide player acknowledgement through the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], [[All-Australian team]] and World (formerly All-International) Team. 

The Commission controls the AFL competition and maintains a professional talent pathway for players through the [[AFL Draft]], [[AFL Draft Combine]], [[AFL Academy]] and academies through its member clubs and affiliated bodies, [[AFL Under 19 Championships|Underage Men's]] and [[AFL Women's Under 18 Championships|Underage Women's]] championships, the [[Australian Football International Cup|Australian Football (AFL) International Cup]] and through its worldwide affiliates, numerous regional representative tournaments. 

The Commission organises the highest level of representative competition in Australia, being responsible for senior [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|State of Origin]] competition from 1991 to its cessation in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122362902 |title=Salmon and Brans ruled out |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=65 |issue=20,487 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=16 May 1991 |accessdate=20 June 2022 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Since  1998, it has also overseen Australia's involvement in the [[International Rules Series]].

==History==
An independent governing body for the competition was first moved in December 1984 during the fallout of VFL president [[Allen Aylett]]'s resignation following the [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne Football Club]]'s financially disastrous move to Sydney.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122482523 |title=AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Aylett quits Swans |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=18,029 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=7 February 1985 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=26 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122532926 |title='Misunderstood' Aylett quits VFL presidency: no apologies |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=17,966 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 December 1984 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=1 (SPORTS SECTION) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The club, managed from Melbourne but playing in Sydney,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122480474 |title=AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Swans face more drama |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=18,018 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=27 January 1985 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=5 (SPORT) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> had lost large amounts of money in Sydney and large loans had been written out by the league to keep them viable which was impacting the finances of the competition.<ref name="hamilton">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122471004 |title=AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Swans decision expected soon |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=18,085 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=4 April 1985 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Under [[Jack Hamilton (footballer, born 1928)|Jack Hamilton]], the first Chief Commissioner, the VFL began a restructuring toward a franchise model whereby member clubs operate licenses owned by the league.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122535512 |title=Franchise system mooted for VFL |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=17,980 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 December 1984 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The model helped make private ownership of the Swans possible in 1985,<ref name="hamilton" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122482964 |title=VFL talks on offer for Swans |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=18,031 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=9 February 1985 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=51 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> as well as selling new licenses (resulting in the [[Brisbane Bears]] and [[West Coast Eagles]] in 1987). Under the new model, many Melbourne clubs struggling for financial viability such as [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]], [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]] and [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] could be kept afloat by a combination of private ownership and league subsidies from the sale of new franchises and television rights.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122472457 |title=St Kilda may be put up for sale |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=59 |issue=18,093 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=12 April 1985 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118268056 |title=Fitzroy sells shares to survive |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=61 |issue=18,635 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=9 October 1986 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118303533 |title=St Kilda groggy after shirtfront by creditors |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=61 |issue=18,849 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=13 May 1987 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=36 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119470445 |title=Share float planned by Roos |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=60 |issue=18,587 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=22 August 1986 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=23 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The restructuring paved the way for the VFL's expansion into a national competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119466290 |title=Green light given to VFL clubs for national league |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=60 |issue=18,571 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 August 1986 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=44 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Despite continuing financial troubles at many clubs including the Swans and [[Footscray Football Club|Footscray]], the Commission was able to turn the competition's finances around by 1989, aided by increased television rights and the sale of $4 million licenses to interstate expansion clubs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120912099 |title=VFL income all-time high |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=63 |issue=19,496 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=22 February 1989 |accessdate=9 September 2024 |page=45 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Under the VFL Commission, all players became fully professional for the first time in its history.<ref name="Footy Industry">{{cite news|url=http://www.footyindustry.com/?page_id=597|title=Timeline of VFL/AFL Broadcast Rights|date=28 July 2014|website=Footy Industry|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030090822/http://www.footyindustry.com/?page_id=597|archive-date=30 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Scope of governance==
The AFL Commission has been responsible for the administration of the AFL competition since 1993, when the AFL Board of Directors voted itself out of existence after 96 years of operation. Its [[constitution]] self-proclaims the Commission to be the "keeper of the code" responsible for the sport of [[Australian football]]. 

The Commission later became  responsible for the national administration of the sport (since 1995, when the [[Australian National Football Council]] ceased operations after 89 years), as well as its international administration (since 2002, when it absorbed the [[International Australian Football Council]]) and the administration of [[Women's Australian rules football|women's football]] (since 2010, when it took over the operations of [[Women's Football Australia]], which ceased operations in 2015).

Leagues affiliated with or owned by the AFL Commission have names beginning with AFL, and incorporate the AFL logo, and now owns the governing body for Australia's most populous eastern region through the [[AFL NSW/ACT]] and has strong affiliations with all other states. The AFL also promotes and brands the sport under its own name instead of the official name of Australian Football, especially in developing areas where the sport is not well known and the AFL has a major stake in the local governing bodies.

The ten commissioners are elected by the 18 AFL clubs, with each of the 18 clubs entitled to make nominations, but other Australian Football leagues, associations and clubs do not have any control or representation.

The AFL Commission's primary role is to oversee the profitability of its competitions, its primary competitions being the AFL and [[AFL Women's]]. As such, it has a direct stake in many of its member clubs. 

It also approves the administration of new club licenses, and has been involved in the expansion of the national competition since 1987, being instrumental in the merger that created the [[Brisbane Lions]]. The Commission also fully owns the [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]]. Other clubs to have an AFL Commission appointed board include the [[Sydney Swans]], the [[Gold Coast Suns]], [[Adelaide Football Club]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club]]. The Commission operates a Competitive Balance Fund, which redistributes profits to the clubs most in need to help ensure that all of its member clubs are financially sustainable in the long-term.<ref>[http://www.footyindustry.com/?page_id=704 The AFL, NRL, A-league and Privatisation]</ref>

Financially, the Commission is highly co-dependent on the success of the AFL and the majority of its funding comes from AFL competition broadcasting rights. The 2025-2031 rights will earn $4.5 billion, the most lucrative in Australian sporting history. The Commission distributes some of the profit from these rights into development of the game.

However, the majority is invested in ensuring that the AFL continues to sustain its future revenues, such as protecting the primacy of the competition, as well as growing its broadcast audience, talent pathways and professionalism to attract the best available players (from junior development programs and high performance athletes from around the world).

As part of its role, the Commission is responsible for the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], the [[AFL Under 19 Championships|AFL men's underage championships]] and [[AFL Women's Under 18 Championships|AFL Women's underage championships]]. It was also responsible for senior [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|State of Origin]] competition from 1991 until it ended in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122362902 |title=Salmon and Brans ruled out |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=65 |issue=20,487 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=16 May 1991 |accessdate=20 June 2022 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Role in national and international game development==
The Commission was formed to set policy, and has directed the VFL/AFL (known then as the VFL) as the game's most professional league since December 1985.

In 1993, the AFL Commission assumed control of the league's administration from the AFL Board of Directors (in effect, the 15 AFL clubs at that time). Subsequently, the board of directors voted itself out of existence, and a new Memorandum and Articles of Association were adopted for the AFL. It also assumed national governance of the sport (see Principle 2 below) after the [[Australian National Football Council|ANFC]] ceased operations in 1995.

This was a significant change of power: between 1985 and 1993, the Commission had required explicit approval by a 75% vote of the League (the teams) for major items such as further expansion, mergers, relocations, and major capital works.

The AFL also created an International Policy in 2005, and absorbed the [[International Australian Football Council]], thus gaining control of the sport worldwide.

In its role as national and international governing body, the AFL Commission also controls and delegates development funding for Australian state and international bodies and leagues. As most of this funding is sourced the revenue and activities associated with the AFL competition, much of the funding is directed to the competition's developing markets. Semi-professional state competitions are generally self-sufficient, and receive a much lower percentage of the AFL's funding. The Commission has established a pathway that features junior Academies and scholarships from representational level up to its member clubs. The highest level is the [[AFL Academy]], with academies for each state being managed by their respective AFL clubs and affiliated governing bodies.

Between 2010 and 2021, the AFL spent between $6–38 million per annum (under 5% of total revenue) on game development grants globally (excluding a one-off COVID-19 Pandemic community football recovery package). With a new TV rights deal in 2022 and to help the game at the grassroots continue its recovery post COVID-19 Pandemic, the Commission increased its community grants to $67 million.<ref>[https://www.afl.com.au/news/831625/afl-announces-major-increase-in-community-football-investment AFL announces major increase in community football investment] 28 August 2022</ref>

== Management of Official Player Recognition for the Sport ==
* [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]]
* [[All-Australian Team]]

== Organisation structure and members ==
The AFL Commission has a simple structure. There are formal [[corporate title]]s for members which currently consists of a [[chairman]], whose role is to oversee meetings, and a [[chief executive officer]], who typically also oversees the operations of the Australian Football League.

Commissioners are elected by the 18 AFL clubs, who each are entitled to make nominations.  Should an election be necessary, then the membership is decided by a vote of the AFL clubs. Under the current constitution, the member clubs have the power to [[veto]] commission decisions with a two-thirds majority vote.

=== Current membership ===
The current membership of the Commission is:
{|class="wikitable"  
!Name
!Current Role
!Appointed
|-
| [[Richard Goyder]] ||'''Chairman''' || 2017
|-
| [[Andrew Dillon (sports administrator)|Andrew Dillon]] || '''Chief Executive Officer''' || 2023
|-
| [[Paul Bassat]] || Commissioner || 2011
|-
| [[Kim Williams (media executive)|Kim Williams]] || Commissioner || 2014
|- 
| Major General [[Simone Wilkie]] || Commissioner|| 2015
|- 
| [[Jason Ball (Australian footballer)|Jason Ball]] || Commissioner|| 2015
|- 
|[[Andrew Newbold]] || Commissioner || 2016
|- 
|[[Gabrielle Trainor]] || Commissioner || 2016
|-
|[[Robin Bishop]] || Commissioner || 2017
|-
|Professor Helen Milroy
|Commissioner
|2018
|-
|}

=== All-time membership ===

==== Chief Executive Officers ====

* [[Andrew Dillon (sports administrator)|'''Andrew Dillon''']] (2023–)

* [[Gillon McLachlan]] (2014–2023)
* [[Andrew Demetriou]] (2003–2014)
* [[Wayne Jackson (footballer)|Wayne Jackson]] (1996–2003)
* [[Ross Oakley]] (1994–1996)

==== Chairmen ====
* '''[[Richard Goyder]]''' (2017–)
* [[Mike Fitzpatrick (footballer)|Mike Fitzpatrick]] (2007–2017)
* [[Ron Evans]] (1997–2007)
* [[John Kennedy Sr. (footballer)|John Kennedy, Sr.]] (1993–1997)
* [[Ross Oakley]] (1986–1993)

==== Executive Commissioners ====
* [[Alan Schwab]] (1986–1993)

==== Commissioners ====
* Professor '''Helen Milroy''' (2018–)
* '''Robin Bishop''' (2017–)
* '''[[Gabrielle Trainor]]''' (2016—)
* '''[[Andrew Newbold]]''' (2016–)
* '''[[Simone Wilkie]]''' (2015–)
* '''[[Jason Ball (Australian footballer)|Jason Ball]]''' (2015–)
* '''[[Kim Williams (media executive)|Kim Williams]]''' (2014–)
* '''[[Paul Bassat]]''' (2011–)
* '''[[Richard Goyder]]''' (2011–)
* [[Linda Dessau]] (2009–2015)
* [[Christopher Lynch (businessman)|Christopher Lynch]] (2009–2014)
* [[Sam Mostyn]] (2005–2016)
* [[Andrew Demetriou]] (2004–2016)
* [[Mike Fitzpatrick (footballer)|Mike Fitzpatrick]] (2003–2017)
* [[Bob Hammond]] (2001–2011)
* [[Graeme John]] (2001–2011)
* [[Chris Langford]] (1999–2016)
* [[Bill Kelty]] (1998–2015)
* [[David Shaw (Australian footballer)|David Shaw]] (1997–1998)
* [[Craig Kimberley]] (1997–1998)
* [[Wayne Jackson (footballer)|Wayne Jackson]] (1995–2003)
* [[Colin Carter (businessman)|Colin Carter]] (1993–2007)
* [[Terry O'Connor (Australian footballer)|Terry O’Connor]] (1993–2000)
* [[John Kennedy Sr. (footballer)|John Kennedy, Sr.]] (1993–1997)
* [[John Winneke]] (1993–1994)
* [[Michael Carlile]] (1991–1992)
* [[Al Mantello|Albert Mantello]] (1988–1992)
* [[Ross Oakley]] (1986–1996)
* [[Graeme Samuel]] (1985–2002)
* [[Peter Scanlon (Australian businessman)|Peter Scanlon]] (1985–1992)
* [[Peter Nixon]] (1985–1990)
* [[Richard Seddon (businessman)|Richard Seddon]] (1985–1987)
* [[Jack Hamilton (footballer, born 1928)|Jack Hamilton]] (1984-1986)

==== Life members ====
* Colin Carter (2009)
* Graeme Samuel (1995)

== Club and Competition Intervention ==
The AFL Commission has also become involved in Australian Football League matters on occasion, both on and off-field. Sometimes these interventions have been in controversial circumstances.

=== On the field ===
* The "[[Line in the sand match|Line in the Sand]]" match in 2004 in which 18 players were reported on 26 charges arising from a third-quarter brawl. Four Hawthorn players were suspended for a total of 15 matches while Essendon's [[Justin Murphy (Australian rules footballer)|Justin Murphy]] was suspended for one match.<ref name="suspensions">
{{cite web
|title=Murphy out, Hawks pay heavy price
|date=9 June 2004
|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=3583
|publisher=Essendon Football Club
|location=Melbourne
|access-date=22 August 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050722210425/http://essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=3583
|archive-date=22 July 2005
|url-status=dead}}
</ref><ref name="fines">
{{cite web
|title=A fine day for the AFL
|date=9 June 2004
|url=http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=3584
|publisher=Essendon Football Club
|location=Melbourne
|access-date=22 August 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050723030456/http://essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=3584
|archive-date=23 July 2005
|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hawks lose both players and respect|date=11 June 2004|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/10/1086749836838.html|publisher=The Age|location=Melbourne|access-date=2009-08-22}}</ref>
* Criticism from AFL CEO [[Andrew Demetriou]] and [[Network 10]] commentators [[Stephen Quartermain]], [[Tim Lane (journalist)|Tim Lane]] and [[Robert Walls]] of [[Paul Roos (Australian rules footballer)|Paul Roos]]' style of coaching after the [[Sydney Swans]]' 43-point loss to {{AFL StK}} in [[2005 AFL season#Round 10|round 10 of the 2005 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/ugly-swans-flag-hopes-at-half-mast-20050530-gdlf1t.html|title=Ugly Swans' flag hopes at half-mast|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=30 May 2005|access-date=10 August 2020}}</ref>
*  [[AFL siren controversy, 2006|2006 Aurora Stadium Siren Controversy]] – investigated the disputed finish to the St. Kilda vs. Fremantle match played at [[Aurora Stadium]] on 30 April 2006. The result was that the AFL commission overturned the drawn result to award [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] four premiership points instead of two.
* The six-match suspension handed to {{AFL PA}} defender [[Tom Jonas]] for intentionally striking {{AFL WC}}'s [[Andrew Gaff]] in [[2016 AFL season#Round 9|round 9 of the 2016 AFL season]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-24/tom-jonas-suspension-afl-tribunal-andrew-gaff/7441666 Port Adelaide's Tom Jonas gets six-week suspension from AFL tribunal for hit on Andrew Gaff], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]], 24 May 2016</ref>
* The five-match suspension handed to {{AFL GWS}} forward [[Jeremy Cameron]] for his crude hit on {{AFL BL}} fullback [[Harris Andrews]] in [[2018 AFL season#Round 14|round 14 of the 2018 AFL season]]. Cameron became the first player in league history to be sent straight to the tribunal more than once in his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions/brisbane-wont-hold-any-grudges-towards-jeremy-cameron-after-errant-elbow-on-harris-andrews/news-story/ec3b0e882f002eb8771b456b55ccbd88|title=Brisbane won't hold any grudges towards Jeremy Cameron after errant elbow on Harris Andrews|publisher=news.com.au|date=26 June 2018|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>
* The two-match suspension handed to {{AFL Haw}} captain [[Ben Stratton]], one each for repeatedly pinching {{AFL Ess}}'s [[Orazio Fantasia]] and for stomping [[Shaun McKernan]], in [[2019 AFL season#Round 13|round 13 of the 2019 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-06-18/remorseful-and-embarrassed-hawk-banned-for-pinching-stomping|title='Remorseful and embarrassed' Hawk banned for pinching, stomping|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Riley|last=Beveridge|date=18 June 2019|access-date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
* The initial three-match suspension handed to {{AFL GWS}} forward [[Toby Greene]] for intentionally making contact with umpire [[Matt Stevic]] at three-quarter-time in the Giants' one-point victory over {{AFL Syd}} in the [[2021 AFL finals series#Second Elimination Final (Sydney vs Greater Western Sydney)|second elimination final]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cherny|first=Daniel|date=2021-08-31|title=Toby Greene verdict LIVE updates: AFL unhappy as GWS star banned for three matches|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/toby-greene-verdict-live-updates-gws-star-fronts-tribunal-over-making-contact-with-umpire-20210831-p58ndx.html|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Age|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-31|title='Not a good look for the game': Toby Greene banned for three games over umpire bump|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-31/gws-toby-greene-fronts-afl-tribunal-over-umpire-bump-charge/100420434|access-date=2021-08-31|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref> A successful appeal from the AFL saw the suspension increased to six matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-07/gws-giants-toby-greene-suspended-six-games-umpire-contact/100520134|title=GWS Giants' Toby Greene suspended for six AFL games for making contact with an umpire|publisher=ABC News ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|first=Peter|last=Lusted|date=7 October 2021|accessdate=8 October 2021}}</ref>
*The three-match suspension handed to {{AFL|PA}} player [[Jeremy Finlayson]] after he admitted to making a homophobic slur towards an {{AFL Ess}} player in [[2024 AFL season#Round 4|round four of the 2024 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-10/sa-finlayson-suspended-for-three-games-afl/103689616|title=Power forward Jeremy Finlayson suspended for three matches by AFL for 'unacceptable' homophobic slur|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|first1=Rebecca|last1=Brice|first2=Harvey|last2=Biggs|date=10 April 2024|accessdate=20 April 2024}}</ref>
*The five-match suspension handed to {{AFL|PA}} player [[Dan Houston]] for his crude bump on {{AFL Ade}}'s [[Izak Rankine]] in [[2024 AFL season#Round 23|round 23 of the 2024 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-20/afl-port-adelaide-dan-houston-tribunal-verdict-result/104248236|title=Port Adelaide star Dan Houston handed five-match ban at AFL Tribunal for brutal hit on Izak Rankine|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|first=Chris|last=De Silva|date=20 August 2024|accessdate=21 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Off the field ===
The commission has become involved when players or a club bring the game into disrepute, including:

* [[Carlton Football Club salary cap breach|Salary cap breaches]] by the [[Carlton Football Club]] in 2002 which hampered the club from rebuilding its playing list in the following years.<ref>[http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=19 If the Cap fits] – Blueseum. Published 12 November 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2011.</ref>
* 2007 investigation into the [[West Coast Eagles]] party in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], United States, after the [[2006 AFL Grand Final]].  During the Las Vegas parties, [[Ben Cousins]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091003024924/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsId=69870 afl.com.au]</ref> rehabilitation from drug addiction, [[Daniel Kerr]]'s criminal charges and the hospitalisation of [[Chad Fletcher]] after choking on his own vomit were part of the issues following the overseas trip.
* The trading out of [[Brendan Fevola]] from the [[Carlton Football Club]] over his behaviour at the [[2009 Brownlow Medal]] function.<ref name="abctrade">{{cite news |title=Fevola joins Lions' pride |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/09/2709379.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012122346/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/09/2709379.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2009 |publisher=ABC Sport |date=9 October 2009 |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref>
* The sacking of {{AFL Ric}} player [[Daniel Connors]] over repeated off-field infringements during his playing career with the club, including a drunken rampage in Sydney in 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/ben-cousins-punched-drunken-teammate-daniel-connors-in-sydney-fracas/news-story/b512331c2d29ea784df46b868844cb84?sv=e35cc5fed6d8f8a3eead823747051099|title=Ben Cousins takes full responsibility for his actions after punching teammate Daniel Connors in Sydney fracas|publisher=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|work=Herald Sun|first1=Amelia|last1=Harris|first2=Michael|last2=Warner|date=13 April 2010|access-date=29 October 2020}}</ref> and "failing to meet club expectations on a number of occasions" in 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-sack-connors-suspend-martin-20120704-21g94.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Tigers sack Connors, suspend Martin}}</ref>
* Claims during 2012 that {{AFL Mel}} [[Melbourne Football Club tanking scandal|deliberately lost matches]] towards the end of the [[2009 AFL season|2009 season]] so it could attain a [[priority draft pick]] at that year's [[2009 AFL draft|end-of-season draft]].<ref>{{citation|newspaper=Herald Sun|first=Jon|last=Ralph|date=3 August 2011|access-date=10 November 2011|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/how-melbourne-tanked-in-2009/story-fn6cisdj-1226107012777|title=How Melbourne tanked in 2009}}</ref><ref>{{citation|date=July 30, 2012|access-date= February 20, 2013|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/carlton-midfielder-brock-mclean-reveals-he-left-melbourne-demons-because-the-club-was-tanking/story-e6frf3e3-1226438977035#.USRRGpLh2F8|title=Carlton midfielder Brock McLean reveals he left Melbourne Demons because the club was tanking}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demons-tanked-mclean-20120730-23akv.html|title=Demons tanked: McLean|work=The Age|date=30 July 2012|access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="MHDT">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/afl-to-interview-brock-mclean-over-tanking-claims/story-e6frf9io-1226438966390|title=AFL to interview Brock McLean over tanking claims|date=31 July 2012|access-date=31 July 2012|newspaper=Herald Sun|first1=Mark|last1=Hayes|first2=Daryl|last2=Timms}}</ref>
* 2012 overhaul of the [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] including the sacking of senior coach [[Matthew Primus]] and president Brett Duncanson<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tearful-brett-duncanson-gone-but-his-exit-will-be-delayed/news-story/31d5a413052e414eaaa5340ccb3a44db?sv=52fa10af006ce742ff200214a3bdc73c|title=Tearful Brett Duncanson gone but his exit will be delayed|publisher=Herald Sun|first=Michelangelo|last=Rucci|date=7 August 2012|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-06/matthew-primus-port-adelaide-coach/4179574?pfm=ms|title=Primus gone as Port Adelaide coach|publisher=ABC News ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|date=6 August 2012|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>
* 2013 investigation into reports of the [[Essendon Football Club supplements saga|use of illegal supplements]] by the [[Essendon Football Club]]
* 2013 overhaul of the [[Melbourne Football Club]] including the sacking of senior coach [[Mark Neeld]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/99756/neeld-out|title=Neeld sacked|publisher=Australian Football League|first1=Peter|last1=Ryan|first2=Gary|last2=Walsh|first3=Mark|last3=Conway|first4=Jennifer|last4=Phelan|date=17 June 2013|access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref>
* The club-imposed five-match suspension handed to {{AFL GWS}} player [[Toby Greene]] for intentionally assaulting a security guard at a Melbourne nightclub during the club's bye week in 2014, in between which the Giants suffered two defeats in excess of more than 100 points.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-13/player-charged|title=Toby Greene charged over night club incident |first=James |last=Dampney |work= AFL Official Website |date=13 May 2014}}</ref>
* The six-month suspension handed to {{AFL GWS}} player [[Lachie Whitfield]] for attempting to invade a random drug test during the 2016&ndash;17 off-season, which took in missing the first eight matches of the [[2017 AFL season]]. Ex-GWS employees Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert were both suspended for twelve months each, while the club was also stripped of its first-round draft pick in the [[2017 AFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/lachie-whitfield-agrees-to-sixmonth-ban-for-illicit-drug-code-breach-graeme-allan-craig-lambert-to-be-banned-for-one-year/news-story/029d0ef48354fed0c3d7afa4755399dd|title=Lachie Whitfield agrees to six-month ban for illicit drug code breach, Graeme Allan, Craig Lambert to be banned for one year|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|first=Jake|last=Niall|date=14 November 2016|accessdate=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/gws-giants-lose-draft-points-fined-by-afl-commission-after-being-found-guilty-over-lachie-whitfield-saga/news-story/a539a54d94df2ab55bee0da6ed115b09|title=GWS Giants lose draft points, fined by AFL Commission after being found guilty over Lachie Whitfield saga|date=22 December 2016|last=Laughton|first=Max|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>
* The three-match suspension handed to {{AFL Ric}} player [[Nathan Broad]] for leaking a photo of a topless woman wearing his premiership medallion without her consent in the weeks following the club's [[2017 AFL Grand Final]] victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-30/richmond-player-nathan-broad-named-over-topless-photo/9098712|title=Nathan Broad apologises over photo of topless woman wearing Richmond premiership medal|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|date=30 October 2017|accessdate=26 March 2023}}</ref>
* The season-ending suspension handed to [[Sydney Swans]] player [[Elijah Taylor (Australian footballer)|Elijah Taylor]] for a major breach of [[Western Australia]]'s strict quarantine rules while the club was in the state during the [[2020 AFL season|2020 season]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/486030/young-swan-suspended-for-rest-of-season-for-covid-breach|title=Young Swan suspended for rest of season for COVID breach|publisher=AFL.com.au|date=15 August 2020|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref> and his subsequent dismissal from the club at the end of the season for assaulting his ex-partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-elijah-taylor-sentence-sydney-swans-sacked-lekhani-pearce-domestic-violence-sentencing-hearing-arrested/news-story/3dba185815855f7e320908ffea85143e|title=Sacked Swan Elijah Taylor sentenced as details of brutal treatment revealed|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|first1=David|last1=Zita|first2=Angie|last2=Raphael|date=2 December 2020|accessdate=18 March 2021}}</ref>
* 2021 overhaul of the [[Carlton Football Club]] including the sacking of senior coach [[David Teague (footballer)|David Teague]] and chief executive officer Cain Liddle<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-10/carlton-ceo-cain-liddle-resigns-from-blues/100452406|title=Carlton CEO Cain Liddle parts ways with the Blues as club continues search for new coach|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|date=10 September 2021|accessdate=17 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-26/carlton-sacks-afl-coach-david-teague/100408766|title=Carlton sacks AFL coach David Teague after review finds club 'underdelivered'|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|date=26 August 2021|accessdate=17 March 2024}}</ref>
* a reprimand handed to {{AFL GWS}} player [[Tom Green (footballer, born 2001)|Tom Green]] in the wake of comments he made criticizing Match Review Officer [[Michael Christian (footballer)|Michael Christian]] and the [[AFL Tribunal]] on a since-deleted club podcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1179980/greater-western-sydney-giants-star-tom-green-reprimanded-for-criticism-of-mro-tribunal|title='He missed the mark': Giants star reprimanded for MRO criticism|publisher=[[Australian Football League]]|first=Dejan|last=Kalinic|date=25 July 2024|accessdate=12 August 2024}}</ref>
* the investigation into the Greater Western Sydney Giants' 2024 post-season function in which several players behaved inappropriately in a private setting, including the use of distasteful costumes and inappropriate skits. Captain [[Toby Greene]] was fined $5,000 for his lack of leadership, [[Josh Fahey]] was suspended for four matches, and five other players were suspended for two matches each for their roles in the scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/shock-new-details-emerge-as-afl-bans-six-players-in-gws-giants-party-scandal-c-16424796|title=Shock new details emerge as AFL bans six players in GWS Giants’ party scandal|publisher=[[Seven News]]|first=Ben|last=Sutton|date=17 October 2024|accessdate=17 October 2024}}</ref>
* the conviction of {{AFL Ric}} player [[Noah Balta]] for an assault on a man outside a pub in [[Mulwala]], New South Wales, in December last year which saw him handed a three-month curfew during which he must remain at his home address between 10:00&nbsp;pm and 6:00&nbsp;am, thus excluding him from playing in Richmond's night matches during that period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-22/noah-balta-sentencing-richmond-afl-assault-mulwala/105099568|title=Richmond AFL footballer Noah Balta sentenced over parking lot assault|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|first1=Charmaine|last1=Manuel|first2=Daniel|last2=Miles|date=22 April 2025|accessdate=3 May 2025}}</ref>

=== Expansion ===
The AFL Commission has a role in undertaking assessments of expansion clubs and awarding new licences including:
* [[Gold Coast Suns]]
* [[Greater Western Sydney Giants]]
* [[Tasmania Football Club|Tasmania]] (''to commence play in 2028'')

The Commission owns a stake in the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney clubs.

=== Member club viability ===
The AFL Commission manages a special fund called the Competitive Balance Fund (CBF) since 2004 as a grant of up to [[A$|$]]5 million per club to ensure that member clubs remain financially viable.

The system was later changed to the Annual Special Distribution (ASD) of [[A$|$]]6.3 million shared among all clubs,<ref name="news.com.au">{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,23845943-10389,00.html|title=The Courier Mail &#124; Breaking News Headlines for Brisbane and Queensland &#124; the Courier Mail}}</ref> as well as allowing for grants and special concessions, such as payments, to ensure that the AFL member clubs remain viable in the short term. In 2006, the Commission approved a $2.1 million special financial assistance package for [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]].

In response to clubs increasingly relying on and applying for special funding, in 2008, the Commission recommended removing the fund altogether,<ref name="news.com.au"/> but after considerable club protests led by three struggling clubs, the [[Western Bulldogs]], [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] and North Melbourne, CEO Andrew Demetriou announced that the ASD would remain.

In early 2009, it increased Melbourne's assistance from $250,000 to [[A$|$]]1 million and made a [[A$|$]]1 million grant to [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25639805-12428,00.html|title = The Advertiser &#124; Latest Adelaide and South Australia News &#124; the Advertiser}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040609222730/http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=aflinfosheets AFL Info Sheet "AFL Commission"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120818104115/http://www.footy.com.au/dags/FAQ2v1-5.html FAQ for rec.sport.football.australian]

{{Australian Football League}}
{{Australian rules football in Australia}}
{{Sports governing bodies in Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Afl Commission}}
[[Category:Australian Football League|Commission]]
[[Category:AFL Women's|Commission]]
[[Category:Australian rules football governing bodies]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in Australia]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1985]]