The AFL – founded in 1897 as the VFL – has seen 16 premiers in its history, with 15 current AFL teams and the defunct Fitzroy Lions having won the AFL flag.
That leaves just three current sides – GWS Giants, Fremantle Dockers and the Gold Coast Suns – who have failed to win a flag, with the Suns yet to qualify for a finals series.
Here’s how the best in AFL history stack up to other codes and leagues around the world.
Essendon and Carlton have the most premierships with 16. Collingwood will join them if they win Saturday’s grand final. Next are Hawthorn (13), Melbourne (12) and Richmond (11).
* National Rugby League – founded in 1908 as the NSWRL
South Sydney Rabbitohs have been premiers 21 times. St George, with their run of 11-straight titles between 1956-66, are next on 15 ahead of Sydney Roosters (13) and Balmain Tigers (11)
* Major League Baseball – first World Series 1903
The New York Yankees have the most titles with 27. Next are the St Louis Cardinals on 11. No other team is in double figures.
* English Premier League – Football League founded in 1888
Manchester United have 20 titles, two ahead of Liverpool. Arsenal (13) are the only other team with more than 10
* Scottish Premier League – Scottish Football League founded 1890
Rangers have 54 titles and Celtic are on 49. Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian are on four apiece.
* Portuguese football – founded in 1934
All title winners have come from Lisbon or Porto. Benfica lead with 36, ahead of Porto (18) and Sporting (18). Belenenses and Boavista have one apiece.
* German football – founded in 1903
Bayern Munich lead with 28 titles, mostly in the current Bundesliga. No other team since 1903 has more than nine.
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