American Football
A full-contact team sport played on a rectangular field, where teams use structured plays to advance an oval ball into an end zone, wearing helmets and pads.
American Football, also known as gridiron, first started in Australia when the Waverly Oval Raiders were formed in 1979 by a group of friends.
Early American football games were played on an unused rubbish tip without goal posts, often using kickboxing headgear for protection.
The Australian American Football Conference was created 1984 as Australia's first national body. 1
Discover more about American football
Clearinghouse evidence base
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make American football more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about American football.
Evolution:
- Australian American Football Conference [1984-19??]
- Australian American Football League [19??-1998]
- National Gridiron League of Australia [1991-1994]
- Gridiron Australia [1994-2024]
- American Football Australia [2024-]
Participation
An estimated 14,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in American football at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 3,500 Australian women [aged 15+] and an estimated 10,000 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in American football at least once in 2024. 2
Explore further participation statistics for American football through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
American Football Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of American football in Australia.
The National Gridiron League of Australia was established in 1991 to oversee Australian gridiron internationally, renaming itself Gridiron Australia in 1994.
The Australian American Football Conference, later the Australian American Football League, was dissolved in 1998, leaving Gridiron Australia as the sole national authority.
In 2024, Gridiron Australia rebranded as American Football Australia.1
REFERENCES
- History of AFA, opens in a new tab, American Football America, (accessed 23 January 2026)
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 October 2025)
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- American Football Australia Annual Report 2024[PDF • 2.55 mb]
- Gridiron Australia Annual Report 2023[PDF • 6.39 mb]
- Gridiron Australia Annual Report 2022[PDF • 12.97 mb]
- Gridiron Australia Strategic Plan 2020-2024[PDF • 4.12 mb]
- Gridiron Australia Strategic Plan 2016-2019[PDF • 696.8 kb]
