Legal Counsel
Date: 21 Jul 2026
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, AU
Company: Australian Football League
Join the team shaping the future of Australia’s game.
This is your chance to do work that has real impact, in an organisation that moves fast, aims high and plays a meaningful role in the lives of millions across the country through football.
Every role at the AFL helps progress the game, so more people can love it, connect with it and see what is possible through it.
The opportunity
The AFL is looking for a Legal Counsel to help protect and progress the game by providing clear, practical and commercially sound legal advice across the AFL, AFL Clubs and State Bodies.
This 12-Month Maximum Term role will support a broad range of legal matters across privacy and data, football operations and integrity, corporate governance, commercial operations, media, technology, venues, membership, ticketing and major projects.
Based at AFL House in Docklands, you will be part of the legal team supporting the AFL to operate within legal requirements, manage risk appropriately and make informed decisions that help the game continue to grow from grassroots to elite.
What you’ll own
You will provide legal advice, drafting and support across a wide range of AFL operations, helping the business navigate legal issues with clarity, care and sound judgement.
You’ll add value through:
- Providing legal advice on privacy, data governance, information management, data sharing and emerging regulatory developments
- Supporting the development and implementation of privacy and data governance frameworks across the AFL and broader football industry
- Advising on football operations, integrity and game development matters across elite, state and community football
- Drafting and reviewing rules, regulations, policies and guidelines relating to competition management and integrity
- Supporting policy and procedure development across the organisation, including monitoring legislative changes and advising on potential impacts
- Providing corporate governance advice and assisting with documents for general meetings, director appointments, director retirements and related governance matters
- Drafting, negotiating, reviewing and interpreting commercial agreements, including sponsorship, supply, corporate sales, events, licensing, membership, ticketing, media, technology, venue hire and major project agreements
- Advising on Commercial Operations Guidelines across AFL and AFLW, the AFL and AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement, consumer law, privacy and data matters
- Supporting dispute resolution matters as required
- Managing legal input for major projects, including infrastructure projects and investment opportunities
What you’ll bring
- Bachelor of Laws
- Admission as a Legal Practitioner in Victoria
- Victorian Practising Certificate
- 3+ years’ post-admission experience in a commercial law firm or in-house role
- Experience providing practical legal advice that supports commercial decision-making
- Sound judgement, integrity and the ability to work with autonomy when required
- Ability to adapt to new and challenging legal issues, including the initial management of disputes
- Experience in one or more of privacy law, media law, construction law, corporate governance or employment law will be favourably considered
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment
- Understanding of the AFL or another relevant sporting environment
- A keen interest in Australian Football
Why you’ll love being on our team
At the AFL, you will be part of a values-led team that aims high, backs each other and brings energy, care and integrity to work that matters.
This is a place where people play to win, play as one team and play with passion, while always staying grounded in fairness, inclusion and respect. We work hard, support each other and create the conditions for our people to grow, perform and thrive.
What you can look forward to:
- Play The Day Your Way, our flexible approach to working life, built to support you on game day and every day
- My Development, with coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and formal development to help you keep building your game
- Play Well, our health and wellbeing programme designed to support a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy workplace
- My Benefits, giving you access to a range of partner offers and discounts through our AFL Corporate Partners
- AFL Silver Memberships for permanent team members, so you can enjoy the action at Marvel Stadium and the MCG with family and friends
- 6 months paid primary parental leave with no qualification period for permanent team members
Everyone has a place here
Our game brings people together, and we want our workplace to do the same.
We are committed to building a culture of belonging and an environment where people feel respected, included and able to thrive, and where diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.
Whether you’re a footy fan or new to our game, we welcome everyone to apply. We know great candidates don’t always tick every box – if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match the job description.
The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.
Ready to play your part?
Applications close 11 August 2026