Australian rules football rivalries can turn a regular-season match into a contest that feels bigger than the ladder. History, local pride and memorable finals all play a part, whether the teams share a city or represent different sides of the country.
Some rivalries are built on decades of grand finals; others began when a new club joined the competition. Here are the best-known rivalries in Australian Rules Football, what fuels them and the matches that helped make them famous.
Collingwood vs Carlton
Collingwood and Carlton are two of the AFL’s oldest and most successful clubs, and their rivalry is one of the competition’s defining contests. Both have large, passionate supporter bases, and their long history gives even a home-and-away game plenty of edge.
Their grand final clashes have supplied some of the rivalry’s most enduring moments. In 1970, Carlton came back from a 44-point half-time deficit to beat Collingwood. In 1979, a boundary-line incident involving Carlton’s Wayne Harmes helped set up the winning goal in another tight grand final. Those matches still shape how fans talk about the clubs’ history.
For supporters, the rivalry is about more than a single player or game. It is a contest between two Melbourne institutions whose paths have crossed in big moments for generations.
Essendon vs Collingwood
Essendon and Collingwood have also met in some of the sport’s biggest games. Their 1990 grand final is a landmark rivalry moment: Collingwood ended a long run without a premiership by defeating Essendon. The result gave the Magpies a famous triumph and gave the Bombers a painful memory to answer in future encounters.
Like the Carlton matchup, this rivalry benefits from both clubs’ deep support and long histories. When the teams are near the top of the ladder, a meeting can feel like a preview of September; when one is rebuilding, the occasion still carries the weight of old scores.
Hawthorn vs Geelong
Hawthorn and Geelong have produced one of the AFL era’s most compelling rivalries. Their clashes have often paired strong, well-drilled sides with players who thrive under pressure. The teams have met in several important finals, including grand finals in 1989 and 2008.
The 2008 grand final stands out: Hawthorn upset the previously dominant Cats, ending Geelong’s bid for back-to-back premierships. The rivalry gained another chapter in the 2013 preliminary final, when Hawthorn edged Geelong in a tense finish. For fans, those results make every close meeting feel as if it could add another lasting story.
Adelaide vs Port Adelaide: the Showdown
The Showdown is South Australia’s fiercest AFL rivalry. Adelaide and Port Adelaide represent different football traditions in the same state, and local bragging rights are a major part of the occasion. Port entered the AFL in 1997, creating a top-level contest between clubs that already carried strong identities and loyal followings.
Showdowns are known for their intensity, physical pressure and noisy crowds. The teams have also met in finals, adding stakes beyond the usual contest for state pride. In Adelaide, a win can shape the mood of a supporter base for weeks—and a loss is rarely forgotten by the next meeting.
West Coast vs Fremantle: the Western Derby
The Western Derby brings Perth’s two AFL clubs together: West Coast and Fremantle. It is a city rivalry, but it also reflects the different histories and supporter cultures of the Eagles and Dockers. West Coast joined the competition in 1987, while Fremantle entered in 1995.
The derby matters regardless of where the clubs sit on the ladder. Finals appearances and premierships can raise the stakes, but local pride is enough to make the contest intense. With both sides drawing strong support across Western Australia, the result often becomes the main talking point in the state’s footy conversation.
Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast: the QClash
The QClash is the AFL’s main Queensland rivalry, pitting the Brisbane Lions against the Gold Coast Suns. The Suns joined the competition in 2011, giving Queensland fans a second local club to support—and giving Brisbane a nearby opponent with a growing history of its own.
Brisbane’s established record and the Suns’ ambition give the fixture a natural competitive story. As Gold Coast builds its place in the competition, each meeting is another chance to claim state bragging rights and strengthen the rivalry for a new generation of fans.
Sydney Swans vs Greater Western Sydney
The Sydney Derby is a younger rivalry than the traditional Melbourne contests, but it has grown as Greater Western Sydney has established itself in the AFL. The Swans have a long history in Sydney, while the Giants entered the competition in 2012 and represent the league’s push into the city’s western suburbs and beyond.
The derby is a contest for attention as well as points. Both clubs want to build support across the city, so a win over the local rival is valuable on and off the field. Their meetings have also included important finals, helping turn a developing rivalry into a genuine feature of the AFL calendar.
Other rivalries worth watching
- Essendon vs Carlton: Two historic Melbourne clubs with a long record of big matches and passionate followings.
- Richmond vs Collingwood: A traditional Melbourne rivalry that becomes especially charged when both clubs are in premiership contention.
- Hawthorn vs Essendon: Their clashes have carried extra weight through different eras, including the fierce contests of the 1980s.
Rivalries also change over time. New finals, close finishes and shifts in club fortunes can give a matchup fresh meaning, while a long-standing contest can cool for a period and flare up again when the teams meet in a high-stakes game.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest rivalry in Australian Rules Football?
There is no single answer, but Collingwood versus Carlton is often seen as one of the AFL’s most famous rivalries because of the clubs’ long histories, large supporter bases and grand final clashes.
What is the Showdown in AFL?
The Showdown is the match between Adelaide and Port Adelaide. It is South Australia’s major AFL rivalry and is played for local pride as well as competition points.
What is the Western Derby?
The Western Derby is the AFL match between Perth clubs West Coast and Fremantle. It gives both sides the chance to claim bragging rights in Western Australia.
Are AFL rivalries only about geography?
No. Local pride matters in derbies such as the Showdown and QClash, but many rivalries are driven by historic grand finals, repeated finals meetings or decades of competition between successful clubs.
Final Thoughts
The most notable Australian Rules Football rivalries combine history with a clear reason to care about the next match. Some divide a city or state; others are fuelled by finals and old grand final wounds. If you are new to the AFL, watching one of these games is a great way to see how much club identity and supporter pride can add to the contest.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.