The AFL, like so many other sports, is defined by its rivalries.
For footy fans, winning becomes as much about defeating and demoralising a hated opposition, as it is about receiving four premiership points.
With a mix of modern rivalries and more historic duels, these are the AFL's 10 best current rivalries ranked.
8. GWS vs. Western Bulldogs
You cannot discuss modern rivalries in the AFL without mentioning the Giants and the Western Bulldogs. Dating back to their epic preliminary final contest in 2016, when both teams played one of the greatest games in the competition's history. The Bulldogs, who finished outside the top four, came back from a 14-point deficit in the final term to claim victory.
Just a year later, Giants star forward Toby Greene ignited the rivalry, with a controversial boot to the face of the Bulldogs' Luke Dahlhaus. In that same year, Greene would strike Caleb Daniel flush on the mouth.
Unlike their previous finals meeting, their contest in the 2019 elimination final is remembered for the complete animosity between both teams. Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli was repeatedly targeted by the Giants players in a fierce contest, with Greene involved once again when he targeted Bontempelli's face and hair.
Their matchup in 2020 was arguably the most violent, with the two teams involved in constant physical skirmishes, with 15 players referred to the AFL tribunal.
Confected garbage used as โcontent-fillerโ.
Carlton v โwobblesโฆ. itโs a โrivalryโ only.. no more โฆ.. thereโs nothing there. Neither club has ever challenged the existence of the other.
The Darby and the Showdown have far more than โrivalryโ both behind the members and the history of each club and the Leagues they came from.
The card games of the vfl donโt come anywhere near whatโs behind these clubs.
The โq clashโ โ if you want to make a confection this is it.
It means nothing, itโs just another game, they might be in the same state but there is no history, in every way, itโs simply another game.
Simply pretending theyโre in WA or SA is indicative of the pretence the afl is pushing.