The AFL season is upon us, with the season opener set to be played on Thursday, March 22 between the Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is The Roar‘s guide to streaming every match of the season online and watching them on TV.
The free-to-air component of the AFL TV deal can be a little confusing. Luckily, all you need to do to watch every single game of the season live and ad-free is have a valid Foxtel iQ3 subscription complete with the sports package.
Fox Footy, which can only be accessed through Foxtel, is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week AFL station, broadcasting live matches, full replays, highlights and panel shows.
When there are overlaps on games, Fox Sports will use one of their other stations – generally 503 – to broadcast other AFL games, ensuring none have to be shown on delay or missed altogether.
There is another option to watch the AFL. Channel Seven is the free-to-air broadcaster of the competition, with the network entitled to a number of games per week.
Generally, games on either Thursday or Friday will be shown nationally by the network, with one or two games over the weekend also shown. Because matches are simulcast with Fox Sports, Seven will normally show different matches in each state to try and cater for the various audiences.
For example, in New South Wales, all of the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants games are shown each weekend.
If you are looking to stream the 2018 AFL season online, then you’re in luck. The best way to go about it, as was the case with TV coverage, is to sign up to Foxtel.
Foxtel have two options to stream their channels. The first of those is the Foxtel App³, which is free to use and download with a valid TV subscription and login details.
If you are looking to only stream the action, then you will need to purchase a subscription to Foxtel Now.
Both of these applications can be used on whichever device you own.
If you’re looking to stream without Foxtel, you can use the AFL live pass.
Defending premiers Richmond have traditionally opened the season against Carlton on the Thursday of Round 1.
Richmond won the 2017 AFL grand final, beating minor premiers the Adelaide Crows on the biggest day of the season.
The season, as was the case last year, will be played over 23 rounds. Each team has one bye over those weeks, with a four-week finals series to follow. The top eight teams will make the finals, battling it out for the ultimate prize.
The first week of the finals will see elimination and qualifying finals, before semi-finals and preliminary finals are played over the next fortnight to whittle the competition down to the final two teams.
The 2018 AFL grand final will be played on Saturday, September 29.
Make sure you don’t miss a minute of tonight’s action when the Tigers and Blues clash in the AFL opener by watching it ad break-free siren to siren on Fox Footy, and don’t forget to keep your finger on the footy pulse by tuning into AFL360 next week.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
³ Access to the Foxtel App is available, while we arrange the connection of your Foxtel TV service at home, from the date you subscribed to Foxtel, changed your service address or the first day after the end of your cooling off period (if applicable). Once your Foxtel service is installed you will continue to have access to the Foxtel App as part of your package. If you unreasonably delay your install date your Foxtel App access will be disabled and will be reactivated when your Foxtel service is installed. Just connect your compatible device to the internet. Data charges may apply. Shows only available if they’re in your pack, some shows/channels not available. SD only. Sorry, Australia only.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
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