AFL Logo (Australian Football League Logo) PNG
The AFL Logo (Australian Football League Logo) reflects the passion and dynamism of Australian football. It symbolizes the tradition and emotional intensity of a game where excitement and spectacle outweigh strict rules and formality.
The history of the Australian Football League dates back to the mid-19th century, when cricket players sought to maintain their fitness during the off-season. The first official match took place in 1858 between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School. In 1859, Thomas Wills and colleagues established the sport’s first set of rules, quickly spreading across Australia.
By the end of the 19th century, football associations appeared in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania. In 1896, eight clubs created the Victorian Football League (VFL). At the beginning of the 20th century, it expanded to 12 teams and remained regional for a long time.
The turning point came in the 1980s when South Melbourne relocated to Sydney. Teams from Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide soon joined, transforming it into a national league. In 1990, the VFL became the Australian Football League (AFL).
In the 2010s, the AFL expanded to 18 teams, introduced women’s competitions, and, for the first time, held a match outside Australia in Shanghai. In 2023, Tasmania joined the league, receiving a license for the new team, the Tasmania Devils, which was set to debut in the 2028 season.
Meaning and History
What is AFL?
The Premier League, a distinctive football league, is hugely popular in Australia. The competition involves eighteen clubs, most of which are based in a single city. Unique features include an oval-shaped ball, a large playing field, and the ability to catch, kick, or pass the ball by hand. Goals consist of four vertical posts without crossbars. Matches attract tens of thousands of spectators, and the final is a national event. The league features a draft system that helps weaker clubs strengthen their teams.
1972 – 1975
The first logo of the Australian Football League appeared in 1972. At that time, the organization was called the Victorian Football League. It was the leading Australian football league, bringing together major clubs from Victoria. The league’s emblem was minimalist, typical for sports brands of that era.
The graphic consisted of three overlapping letters forming a solid monogram. The letter “V” represented Victoria, the league’s home state. Letters “F” and “L” referred directly to the league’s name. The font was bold and serif.
The oval surrounding the monogram resembled the shape of the Australian football itself. The shape emphasized the unique nature of a sport that doesn’t use a round ball. A medium-thickness oval outline completed the stylistic strictness.
This logo remained in use until 1975, after which more contemporary graphics replaced it. Its simplicity reflected the league’s professional nature, which laid the foundation for Australian football.
1976 – 1989
In 1976, the Australian Football League presented an updated logo. It appeared modern compared to the earlier emblem, reflecting the period’s typical design style through concise league symbols.
The logo was based on a blue shield-shaped background, with a straight top and a slightly rounded bottom. Its shape resembled classic football club crests, emphasizing official status.
A white oval ball served as the primary graphic element, minimally stylized yet clearly showing the stitches characteristic of Australian football. Beneath the ball was a large letter “V,” shaped like an army chevron, representing Victoria, the league’s historical home. Its sans-serif font underlined the emblem’s progressive style.
The logo reflected the spirit of the late 1970s, capturing the state’s sports identity while upholding Australian football traditions, thereby lending the brand authority and credibility.
1990 – 1999
In 1990, the Victorian Football League became the Australian Football League after expanding beyond Victoria. This change required a significant redesign of the organization’s visual identity.
The new logo highlighted the league’s national status. Its basis was a bright blue heraldic shield bearing the iconic white Sherrin football, with detailed stitching. At the top of the shield appeared a capital letter “A,” symbolizing the league’s new nationwide name.
The letter was creatively styled, featuring red and white. Its form resembled part of the Australian flag, emphasizing the competition’s national importance. A red stripe added energy to the graphic design.
The AFL logo visually symbolized the expansion of Australian football. Its appearance reflected both sporting traditions and contemporary graphic trends of the early 1990s. The new version demonstrated the league’s readiness for change.
Though short-lived, its impact was significant, serving as a transitional symbol as the league moved from a regional league to a fully national championship and laying the foundations for future growth.
2000 – today
In 2000, the Australian Football League changed its visual style and introduced a new logo that matched the spirit of the sports era. The organization adopted a concise form based on the recognizable abbreviation AFL.
The emblem is placed within a horizontally elongated oval resembling the ball used in Australian football. The central part contains a large AFL inscription in a heavy white typeface with a clear blue outline, adding depth to the lettering. The upper extensions of the letters A and L resemble wings and create an association with speed and sport. The letters have a slight slant, and their proportions are adjusted. Because of this, the lower part of the inscription appears visually closer, while the upper part appears slightly farther away, creating an illusion of depth.
The oval’s red background adds energy and emotional expression to the sign. At the top of the shape, four short white lines symbolize goalposts or the stitching on an Australian football. The oval is bordered by a rich blue outline, with an inner white edge that enhances depth and contrast.
The logo color scheme consists of blue, red, and white. These colors are standard in Australian sport. The blue tone conveys the league’s official nature and stability, the red highlights its emotional charge, and the white serves as a connecting element, ensuring a clear perception of all details.
As a result of the new design, the logo became a symbol of modern Australian sports culture and reflected the AFL’s aspiration for international recognition.
