How AFL percentage works

AFL percentage is points for divided by points against, multiplied by 100. It only matters when clubs are level on premiership points: the club with the higher percentage ranks higher.

Worked example

Fremantle scored 2286 points and conceded 1666 in 2026: 2286 ÷ 1666 × 100 = 137.2%.

At the other end, Essendon: 1601 ÷ 2477 × 100 = 64.6%.

Try your own numbers: the AFL percentage calculator shows how one result changes both clubs' percentage and ladder position.

Why big wins matter late in the season

Because percentage uses season totals, a big win lifts it more than a narrow one, and a heavy loss can drop a club below a rival on the same points.

Questions

How is percentage calculated in the AFL?

Divide the total points a club has scored by the total points it has conceded, then multiply by 100.

What does a percentage over 100 mean?

The club has scored more points than it has conceded across the season. Under 100% means it has conceded more than it has scored.

Does percentage matter more than wins?

No. Premiership points (from wins and draws) always come first. Percentage only separates clubs on equal points.