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.
2. Port Adelaide vs Adelaide
The "Showdown"—South Australia's most heated sporting event has produced some of the finest games of the last decade.
Port won the inaugural 1997 Showdown before tension escalated in 2002, when Showdown 13 turned into an all-out war, featuring multiple brawls and a brutal hit on Josh Francou. The only final between the two proud clubs was in 2005, when the Crows smashed the Power by 83 points in the second week of September.
The 2013 Showdown added another piece of memorable history. Firstly due to being the last clash between the two at Football Park but also the Angus Monfries bounce.
Not long after, the 2018 Showdown added another chapter when Port's Steven Motlop kicked a last-minute goal to secure victory. Then came Jordan Dawson's after-the-siren winner in 2022.
Regardless of ladder positions, Showdowns are consistently high-intensity, emotional contests that have captivated not just South Australia, but the entire competition.
Confected garbage used as “content-filler”.
Carlton v ‘wobbles…. it’s a “rivalry” only.. no more ….. there’s nothing there. Neither club has ever challenged the existence of the other.
The Darby and the Showdown have far more than “rivalry” both behind the members and the history of each club and the Leagues they came from.
The card games of the vfl don’t come anywhere near what’s behind these clubs.
The “q clash” – if you want to make a confection this is it.
It means nothing, it’s just another game, they might be in the same state but there is no history, in every way, it’s simply another game.
Simply pretending they’re in WA or SA is indicative of the pretence the afl is pushing.