AFL Record returns bigger than ever for 2026 Premiership season

SEN Publishing is thrilled to confirm that the AFL Record is back for the 2026 AFL Premiership season, and in its remarkable 115th year, it is bigger, sharper and more in-demand than ever.

One of the biggest additions to the AFL Record this season is the award‑winning journalist, Tom Morris, who joins the AFL Record team and wastes no time diving into one of the AFL’s most talked‑about storylines. In his first feature he explores what truly went wrong at Melbourne in 2025, unpacking the internal challenges that derailed the Demons and examining how the club’s new leadership - under President, Steven Smith, CEO, Paul Guerra, and head coach, Steven King - plans to rebuild trust, drive standards and reset the on‑field trajectory.

Fans will also be delighted to find all their favourite sections restored for the new season. Sam Edmund’s essential What We Know column leads a strong suite of returning features including Paperwork, Unfiltered, Spot the Difference and From the Pages of the Record - all staples that have helped make the AFL Record an enduring part of the football ritual.

To mark its 115th year, the AFL Record has undergone a sleek, modern re-design. The new look is more interactive, more visually engaging and purpose-built to enhance the match-day experience for supporters of every club. It reflects the publication’s commitment to remaining both a treasured tradition and a contemporary companion for footy fans.

Access to the AFL Record will also be better than ever this season. For fans attending games at the MCG, they can now purchase a copy inside the stadium right up until the final siren, making it easier for supporters to grab one even if they arrive close to the bounce. But demand is already overwhelming - at the weekend’s Opening Round clash between St Kilda and Collingwood, the Record sold out within minutes of the opening bounce – or should we say, opening ‘ball up’.

Fans can keep an eye out for Metricon and Chemist Warehouse (WA) AFL Record sellers at the footy each weekend, fitted out in the relevant branded apparel. For those wanting to secure their copy in advance, the Record remains just $6 and can also be purchased online at aflrecord.com.au. For fans who can’t attend a game but still want a copy of the Record, they can now download a digital copy of the Record for $3 via aflrecord.com.au.

SEN Chief Executive, Craig Hutchison, said the response from fans underscores the AFL Record’s lasting connection to the game.

“The AFL Record remains one of footy’s most treasured traditions. In its 115th year, we’re proud to elevate it with new voices, new design and greater accessibility for fans. The appetite we’re already seeing shows how connected supporters still feel to the AFL Record, week in, week out. It’s part of the ritual of going to the footy, and we’re committed to making it better than ever.”