Seven Network’s live, free and exclusive coverage of the 2026 AFL grand final showdown between the Brisbane Lions and Fremantle at the MCG has taken the crown as the most watched TV program of the year, with a national total TV audience of 4.52 million and an audience reach of 6.5 million.
The number of people who turned to Seven and 7plus Sport to watch the Lions go back-to-back-to-back was up eight per cent on last year and subsequently is now the highest rating AFL Grand Final of all time.
The nail-biting game also set a new audience record on 7plus, with 1.42 million viewers, up 44 per cent from 984,000 in 2025 – giving 7plus its biggest day ever.
With four minutes to go Dockers’ key forward Patrick Voss slotted his third goal of the afternoon to put Fremantle ahead by 17 points. To the 6.5 million TV viewers, the game was set to be done and buried from this point in.
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Following the goal, the Dockers’ pressed its ‘Wharfie Time’ button to ignite the crowd and fire up the team. This only lit a fire in Chris Fagan’s Brisbane Lions.
In the next four minutes, goals to Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and two goals to Logan Morris saw the Lions steal Fremantle’s first flag, and help it etch itself into the history books by becoming the first team to win three premierships in a row since Hawthorn in 2015.
To add to the pain, Docker Shai Bolton won the Norm Smith Medal (man of the match), becoming the first player in 21-years to win the medal in a losing side.
The AFL grand final edged out the second State of Origin game this year between NSW Blues and the QLD Maroons. The broadcasters exclusive coverage of QLD’s 20 point victory reached 6.173 million people, beating game one, the most watched State of Origin match in VOZ history.
Nine also saw a great deal of success through its NRL coverage.
NRL, which is a week behind the AFL, played its preliminary finals over the weekend. The two games collectively reached 5.66 million people.
Sunday’s game between the Newcastle Knights and the Penrith Panthers was the most watched prelim of the two. Knight’s controversial and thrilling eight point victory reached 2.7 million people and pulled in an average audience of 1.59 million.
The match resulted in the Knights booking themselves into the grand final for the first time in since 2001. Ina feel good story the Novacastrians are the first team to go from a wooden spoon to a grand final since the Roosters in 2010.
Ironically, the Knights match-up against the Roosters in the big dance on Sunday.
