The AFL has retained its standing as the fourth-best attended sporting competition in the world, despite the addition in recent years of two expansion teams in states which historically favour the rugby codes.

The average attendance for AFL home and away matches in 2014 was 32,436 - a figure bolstered by the huge crowds drawn to the refurbished Adelaide Oval to watch the Power and the Crows.

Collingwood was one of several AFL teams to draw average crowds of more than 43,000 to home games in 2014. Credit:Anthony Johnson

The two Adelaide sides and three of Melbourne's most popular clubs - Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond - all attracted an average of more than 43,000 fans to their home games in 2014.