A standard Australian rules football match has 18 players from each team on the field at once.
The 18 players occupy a large oval ground and can move between attacking, defending and midfield roles. Unlike many football codes, Australian rules football does not assign players to fixed zones throughout play. Teams also name interchange players, who can replace teammates during the match through the interchange area.
The number applies to the traditional senior form of the sport, including Australian Football League matches. Some junior, amateur and modified formats use fewer players to suit the age group, ground size or local competition rules. That variation can cause confusion when people compare the elite game with community football.
The 18-a-side format is separate from the number of players listed for a match. An AFL team can have substitutes and interchange players available, but only 18 of its players may be on the playing surface for normal play at one time.