What does the abbreviation AFL stand for in Australian rules football?

The abbreviation AFL stands for Australian Football League in Australian rules football.

The AFL is the major professional Australian rules football competition in Australia. It evolved from the Victorian Football League, which was established in 1896 by eight Victorian clubs.

The competition changed its name to the Australian Football League in 1990 as clubs from outside Victoria joined and the league developed a national identity. The sport itself is commonly called Australian football, Australian rules, or simply football, depending on the region.

A common mix-up is treating AFL as the name of the sport worldwide. Strictly, AFL refers to the elite league, while Australian rules football is the code played at many levels, including community, school, and state competitions.