Tiebreaker Rules
How conference standings and postseason seeds are determined at the end of the regular season
How AFLE Standings and Playoff Seeding Work
The AFLE uses two separate tiebreaker processes after the regular season:
1. Conference standings
Tiebreakers are first used to determine the final order within each conference. The team that finishes first in each conference becomes that conference champion.
2. League seeding for the postseason
The two conference champions are assigned Seed 1 and Seed 2. From the remaining six teams in the league, the two best teams overall are assigned Seed 3 and Seed 4.
Postseason Format
Conference champions are seeded 1 and 2. The two best remaining teams are seeded 3 and 4.
Note: Seeds 3 and 4 are determined league-wide from the remaining six teams and are not automatically the second-place teams from each conference.
Conference Standings Tiebreakers
Used to determine the final standings within each conference and identify each conference champion.
Number of Wins
The team with the higher number of regular-season wins ranks higher.
Win Percentage Within the Conference
Better winning percentage in conference games.
Head-to-Head Matchup
Better result in games played between the tied teams.
Strength of Victory (SoV)
Higher combined winning percentage of all teams defeated.
Strength of Schedule (SoS)
Higher combined winning percentage of all opponents faced.
Points Difference in Head-to-Head Matchups
Better point differential in head-to-head games.
Points Scored in Away Head-to-Head Games
More points scored in away head-to-head games. Only applies where relevant.
Total Point Difference
Better overall point differential in all games. Maximum point differential counted is 35 per game.
Total Points Scored
More points scored across all games.
Points Scored in Away Games
More points scored across all away games.
Coin Toss
Conducted by the Commissioner or a person determined by the Commissioner.
League Seeding Tiebreakers (Seed 1 to 4)
Used to determine the four best-seeded AFLE teams for the postseason.
Number of Wins
The team with the higher number of regular-season wins ranks higher.
Head-to-Head Matchup
Better result in games played between the tied teams. Only applicable if a head-to-head matchup has taken place between all teams to be seeded.
Strength of Victory (SoV)
Higher combined winning percentage of all teams defeated.
Strength of Schedule (SoS)
Higher combined winning percentage of all opponents faced.
Points Difference in Head-to-Head Matchups
Better point differential in head-to-head games. Only applicable if a head-to-head matchup has taken place between all teams to be seeded.
Points Scored in Away Head-to-Head Games
More points scored in away head-to-head games. Only applicable if a head-to-head matchup has taken place between all teams to be seeded.
Total Point Difference
Better overall point differential in all games. Maximum point differential counted is 35 per game.
Total Points Scored
More points scored across all games.
Points Scored in Away Games
More points scored across all away games.
Coin Toss
Conducted by the Commissioner or a person determined by the Commissioner.
Important Notes
Strength of Victory and Strength of Schedule
Definitions used in the AFLE tiebreaker procedure
Strength of Victory (SoV)
Strength of Victory measures the composite record of all teams a club has defeated.
Strength of Schedule (SoS)
Strength of Schedule measures the composite record of all opponents a club has faced.