On the eve of the 2026 season, AFL boss Andrew Dillon has hinted at Olympic-sized plans for the AFL as he stressed Origin and Opening Round are here to stay.
Dillon was in Sydney on Monday to promote the opening round, which includes home games for all four NSW and Queensland clubs and just one match in Victoria, a format he says has generated big crowds in the first round.
“What we’ve found over the last few years is that focusing on NSW and Queensland helps raise awareness in NSW and Queensland while at the same time not taking away from our round,” Dillon said.
“The last two rounds were the two highest attended rounds we have ever had: over 400,000 – last year 451,000 people attended, a record for the first round.”
But looking a little further beyond the season ahead, Dillon revealed he has big ambitions to get Australian football onto the podium at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
The AFL chief said he had discussed “at a high level” about bringing Australian rules to the Olympics with Brisbane 2032 boss Andrew Liveris.
“The reality is there was a precedent for this in 1956 in Melbourne, where football was an exhibition sport under Australian rules,” Dillon said.
“I think our sport is one that should be on that stage, and we will work closely with the Olympic Committee on the form that that takes.”
The next phase of the AFL’s global plans took center stage in January Dillon traveled to Indiabut he would not promise whether AFL matches could be played there in the same spirit as the opening round of the NRL in Las Vegas.
“It’s a good way for them to start their season,” Dillon said of the NRL’s two matches at Allegiant Stadium. “We do things differently.
“What I saw in India is a lot of potential for our game. Nearly 10,000 boys and girls played the game. I was fortunate to see the national championships with 10 states registered.”
Close to home, Dillon said he had received positive feedback from the players involved in the recent State of Origin match between Western Australia and Victoria.
He suggested the concept would continue to develop over the next three to five years, but did not confirm that an allied team of players from Queensland and NSW would certainly feature.
“The feedback was from them [the players] I would have preferred to extend the time in camp,” Dillon said
“But it is definitely here to stay in some form or another.
He was also positive about the effect of the various rule changes, although some, including Melbourne ruck Max Gawn, have expressed concerns.
“What we will see are changes that will speed up the game and keep the ball moving longer, that’s what our fans want, fast-moving football,” Dillon said.
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