When can girls and boys play in mixed teams?

Under the 2026 National Community Football Policy Handbook:

• Mixed competition age groups are only permitted up to and including Under 14. From Under 15, competitions are boys or girls.
• A player who is 14 or older as at 31 December in the year before the playing year must play in the competition age group that matches their gender. The exceptions are a player approved under the AFL Gender Diversity Policy Community Football, or a case where the State Football Body decides there are exceptional and compelling circumstances (and that policy does not apply).
• A player of that age must not play in a boys competition and a girls competition at the same time, or switch back and forth between them.

Team sizes differ for girls from Under 15: 15 on the ground with a squad of up to 16 for Under 15 girls, and 16 a side for Under 16 to Under 18 girls, against 18 for the boys.