By AFL Fixture · Rules checked · Based on the published 2026 laws and regulations
How AFL scoring works: goals and behinds
The team with the higher total score wins. A goal adds six points and a behind adds one. There are four posts at each end, so watch which gap the ball crosses and whether it was touched.
A goal · six points
An attacking player must kick the ball completely over the goal line between the two tall posts, without another player touching it. The ball may bounce on the ground first. It must not hit a goal post.
A behind · one point
A ball through the gap between a tall goal post and a shorter behind post scores one. A touched kick through the goal, or a ball that hits a goal post, also scores a behind. Taking the ball through the goal line without a qualifying kick is another way a behind can occur.
Posts and rushed behinds
Hitting an outer behind post is out of bounds, not a point. A defender can concede a rushed behind, but deliberately forcing the ball through without the permitted pressure or circumstances can give away a free kick. “Rushed” does not mean every deliberate action is allowed.
Rule reference: Laws of Australian Football 2026 ↗
How to read an AFL score: 12.8 (80)
Read it as goals, behinds, then total points. The dot is a separator, not a decimal point. Twelve goals contribute 72 points, and eight behinds bring the total to 80.
WORKED EXAMPLE · NOT A MATCH RESULT
Goals × 6
Behinds × 1
Total points
12 × 6 + 8 = 80
In another example, 10.15 (75) beats 11.8 (74). The first team kicked fewer goals but won by one point. More goals or more scoring shots alone do not guarantee a win.
AFL score and margin calculator
Enter goals and behinds for two sides. The calculator adds their scores and compares the totals. These are your numbers, not an official match result.
Worked example
Team A: 12.8 (80)
12 × 6 + 8 = 80
Team B: 10.11 (71)
10 × 6 + 11 = 71
Team A leads by 9 points
A level score is not automatically a final draw. Home-and-away and finals matches have different rules for a tied finish.
How AFL ladder points work
Premiership points reward the match result. They are separate from the points a team kicks on the scoreboard. Winning 80–71 normally earns four premiership points, not 80.
| Result | Premiership points |
|---|---|
| Win | 4 |
| Draw | 2 for each club |
| Loss | 0 |
| Bye | 0 |
For a simple example, seven wins and one draw give 7 × 4 + 1 × 2 = 30 premiership points. Special rulings for interrupted or cancelled games, and competition sanctions, can affect official totals. Use the published ladder rather than reconstructing an official position from this example.
Rule reference: AFL Regulations 2026, section 2.5 ↗
AFL ladder percentage calculator
Percentage compares a club’s cumulative points for with its cumulative points against in home-and-away matches. Add all the scores first, then divide: do not average each match’s percentage.
Percentage = total points for ÷ total points against × 100
Worked example
125.00%
1500 ÷ 1200 × 100 = 125.00%
Shown to two decimal places. This calculation does not assign a ladder position.
Rule reference: AFL Regulations 2026, section 2.5 ↗
How to read the AFL ladder
Read premiership points first, then percentage when clubs are level on points. The percentage is about scoring across the season, not how often a club has won.
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P | Home-and-away matches played |
| W / L / D | Wins, losses and draws |
| PF | Total points scored for the club |
| PA | Total points scored against the club |
| % | PF divided by PA, multiplied by 100 |
| Pts | Premiership points from results and any official adjustments |
Worked example: same points, different percentage
Two hypothetical clubs both have 30 premiership points. Team A has 900 points for and 750 against: 120.00%. Team B has 850 for and 800 against: 106.25%. Team A sits higher because its percentage is greater.
What if both points and percentage are equal?
At the end of the home-and-away season, the AFL regulations next compare premiership points from matches between the tied clubs, then percentage from those matches, with a draw of lots as the final provision. Displayed percentages can look equal because of rounding; do not decide an official tie from two displayed decimals alone.
Before the season and during finals
Before games have been played, a list of clubs is not evidence of earned ladder positions. Finals results decide who progresses through the finals, rather than adding points to the home-and-away ladder.
Rule reference: AFL Regulations 2026, section 2.5 ↗
Common AFL scoring and ladder questions
Can a team kick fewer goals and still win?
Yes. Compare the total points, not just goals. In a worked example, 10.15 (75) beats 11.8 (74) by one point.
Is 12.8 a decimal score?
No. The dot separates goals from behinds. Twelve goals and eight behinds make 80 points; behinds can also be a two-digit number.
Is ladder percentage the same as win percentage?
No. Ladder percentage compares points scored and conceded across the home-and-away season. Win percentage measures how often a side wins.
Can AFL percentage be above 100?
Yes. A percentage above 100 means a club has scored more points than it has conceded. Exactly 100 means the totals are equal.
Do you average each match’s percentage?
No. Add up all points for and all points against, then divide the season totals. Averaging individual match percentages gives the wrong answer.
Do a bye or finals result change the home-and-away ladder?
A bye adds no premiership points or scores. Finals determine the premiership but do not add to a club’s home-and-away ladder totals.
Does a level score always mean a draw?
A completed home-and-away game can finish as a draw. Finals use extra-time rules to decide a winner. A level score during a match is simply scores level, not a final result.
Official rules & further reading
These guides explain the men’s AFL competition. Junior, community and women’s competitions can use different playing conditions. Check the AFL’s published rules for changes before a new season; this page does not assume unannounced 2027 changes.
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