Watch an AFLW match after years of following the men’s competition and the game may look familiar from the first bounce: 18 players a side, contested marks, tackles, handballs and goals through the big sticks. The main differences are not a separate set of basic football laws, but a handful of competition-specific settings—most notably match length and ball size.
The short answer: the core rules are much the same
Australian football’s basic laws apply to both men’s and women’s competitions. Players score six points for a goal and one for a behind. A mark, tackle, handball, free kick, boundary throw-in and ball-up work on the same principles. The field’s shape and goalposts are not made smaller just because a women’s match is being played.
At elite level, the AFL and AFLW can set different playing conditions for their competitions. Those settings can change over time, too. Local and junior leagues may make their own adjustments, so a community women’s match does not necessarily follow every AFLW setting.
| Feature | AFL men | AFLW |
|---|---|---|
| Players on the field | 18 per team | 18 per team |
| Quarter length | 20 minutes plus time-on | 15 minutes plus time-on |
| Ball | Size 5 | Size 4 |
| Scoring and core laws | The same basic system and laws of Australian football | |
The biggest difference is match length
AFL men’s matches use four quarters of 20 minutes plus time-on. AFLW quarters are shorter: 15 minutes plus time-on. Time-on is added when the clock is stopped for particular interruptions, so the final duration is longer than the nominal quarter length in both competitions.
That difference affects the rhythm of a game, not the value of a score. A goal is still worth six points, and there is still the same need to manage the scoreboard across four quarters. But with less playing time, an AFLW side has fewer minutes to recover from a run of opposition goals. Coaches may have to weigh a quick attacking move against retaining possession more carefully, especially late in a close match.
Shorter quarters also mean you should avoid comparing raw match totals without context. A player’s disposals or a team’s scoring tally comes from a shorter game in AFLW. Per-quarter or per-minute comparisons can be more useful, though they still need to account for differences in role, pace and opposition.
AFLW uses a smaller ball
The AFLW uses a size 4 football, while men’s AFL uses a size 5. The smaller ball can feel different in the hands and when kicked, marked or handballed. It does not change the legal way to dispose of the ball or the number of points available for a score.
For a spectator, the practical effect is subtle: the action still revolves around reading the flight, taking a clean mark and delivering to a teammate. For players, the ball’s size is one of the competition conditions to practise with. In community football, the ball may also vary by age group or league rules, so check the local competition’s guidance rather than assuming every women’s side uses the AFLW size.
How many players are on the field?
Both current AFL and AFLW matches have 18 players from each team on the field. That was not always the case in the national women’s league: AFLW began with 16-a-side football, then moved to 18 on-field players in 2022. The change brought the on-field number into line with the traditional senior format.
Interchange arrangements—the players available to rotate on and off the field, and any limits on those rotations—are competition rules rather than a universal men-versus-women distinction. They can change between seasons or leagues. If you are checking a particular match, use that competition’s current regulations; don’t assume that bench numbers or rotation limits are identical everywhere.
What does not change?
The central contests are recognisably the same in both competitions. A clean catch from a sufficiently long kick can earn a mark, giving the player time to dispose of the ball. A player tackled while holding it must meet the holding-the-ball rules. Teams still have to move the ball by kicking or handballing, and defenders still try to force a turnover or spoil a mark.
That means tactics familiar from the men’s game—such as using a forward lead to create space, protecting a marking contest, or setting up behind the ball to guard against a counterattack—also apply in AFLW. The shorter match and smaller ball can shape how those tactics play out, but they do not turn them into different laws.
There is also no single AFLW field size that makes every ground smaller. Ground dimensions can vary from venue to venue, and local leagues may use modified grounds for practical reasons. A narrower ground can compress space and change a team’s options, but that is a venue or competition condition, not a universal women’s rule.
Why do people sometimes see different rules?
Australian football is played across elite, state, community and junior competitions, each with its own regulations. A local league might adjust match duration, interchange rules or equipment to suit its players and facilities. Junior competitions commonly use age-based modifications. Those changes should not be mistaken for rules that apply to all women’s football.
For a specific fixture, the simplest approach is to check the competition handbook or match information. If you are comparing AFL and AFLW, focus on the settings announced by those leagues for that season; the underlying game remains the same sport.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do men’s and women’s AFL matches use different scoring?
No. A goal is worth six points and a behind is worth one in both. The scoring system is the same.
Does AFLW have fewer players on the field?
Not in the current 18-a-side format. AFLW used 16 players on the field when the league began, but moved to 18 in 2022.
Why is the AFLW ball smaller?
AFLW uses a size 4 ball, compared with size 5 in men’s AFL. It is a competition equipment setting; it does not alter the rules for kicking, handballing, marking or scoring.
Are women allowed to tackle under the same rules?
The basic tackling laws are the same. Players must still avoid prohibited contact, and the holding-the-ball rules apply. Always check local competition regulations for any specific modifications.
Final Thoughts
Men’s and women’s Australian football share the same core laws, scoring and on-field numbers. The clearest AFL-versus-AFLW differences are shorter quarters in AFLW and its smaller size 4 ball. Other details, especially interchange settings, can depend on the season and competition. So if a match looks slightly different, it is usually a league setting or local modification—not a different version of the sport.
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.