Do you love the roar of the crowd, the crunch of players tackling, or the thrill of a six flying over the fence? If you’re an Aussie sports enthusiast, you know how exhilarating AFL, NRL, and cricket matches can be. But what if you want to catch these matches live without blowing your budget on expensive subscriptions? The good news is there are plenty of free and legal streaming options available in Australia.
This blog will walk you through the best ways to stream your favorite sports for free, ensuring you don’t miss a single goal, try, or boundary.
Why Choose Legal Streaming Options?
Before we get into the specifics, let’s talk about why legal streaming is the way to go. Sure, you could use questionable websites with grainy streams and annoying pop-ups—but at what cost? Illegal streaming platforms put you at risk of malware, identity theft, and potential fines. Plus, they often have terrible video quality and frequent disruptions.
Legal options, on the other hand, ensure high-quality streams, reliability, and peace of mind. Many legal streaming platforms in Australia now offer free streaming options for sports fans. You’ll never have to worry about your computer crashing mid-game or falling foul of the law.
With that out of the way, here are the best ways to catch AFL, NRL, and cricket matches for free in Australia.
The Best Free and Legal AFL Streaming Options
7plus
When it comes to AFL streaming, 7plus, the streaming platform for Channel 7, is a standout option. Channel 7 holds free-to-air broadcasting rights for select AFL games, including Friday night games, some Saturday matches, and key finals (including the Grand Final). All of these are accessible through the 7plus app, which is completely free to download!
Key Features:
- Live Streaming: Watch select live AFL matches for free.
- Catch-Up TV: Missed a game? You can watch replays at your leisure.
- Compatibility: Stream on your smart TV, smartphone, or tablet.
Just create a free account, and you’re ready to stream!
AFL Official App
The AFL’s own app allows Australian Telstra customers free access to live streams of every game. While non-Telstra users need to pay for a subscription, this is a great freebie for those using Telstra mobile plans.
Pro Tip:
To get the complete AFL experience for free, pair your Telstra access with 7plus for games not covered by Channel 7.
Where to Stream NRL Matches for Free
9Now
For rugby league fans, 9Now is a must-have. The platform is the online counterpart to Channel 9, which broadcasts three NRL matches live every week. Better yet, both the NRL Grand Final and the State of Origin series are free-to-air and available to stream via 9Now.
Key Features:
- Big Matches Live: Stream the NRL Grand Final, all State of Origin games, and regular season matchups live.
- On-Demand Content: Catch up on any game you missed with the on-demand service.
- Easy Access: No subscription required; just sign up with a free account.
NRL Official App
Similar to the AFL, the NRL official app offers live streams of every game to rugby league fans on a Telstra mobile plan. Telstra customers can access these streams without paying a cent, making this an excellent add-on option if you’re already with Telstra.
Insider’s Tip:
Combining the NRL app with 9Now increases your free streaming coverage, ensuring you’ll never miss an important game.
How to Watch Cricket Matches for Free
Kayo Sports Freebies
If you haven’t heard of Kayo Sports Freebies, now’s the time. While Kayo Sports is primarily a subscription-based streaming service, they’ve introduced “Freebies” that include select cricket matches at no cost.
What’s Included:
- Big Bash League (BBL) games (selected matches).
- International cricket matches involving Australia (restricted coverage).
- Exclusive cricket-related content, such as highlights and interviews.
Simply sign up for a free Kayo account to enjoy these matches without charge.
Foxtel Go (for Foxtel Customers)
If you’re a Foxtel subscriber, the Foxtel Go app provides access to live cricket matches broadcast on Fox Cricket. While this isn’t technically “free” since it piggybacks on a paid Foxtel subscription, it’s worth mentioning as part of your existing services.
ABC Radio
For those who enjoy the theater of cricket but aren’t fussed about visuals, tuning into the live cricket commentary on ABC Radio is a fantastic (and free) option. Sometimes, hearing about Steve Smith’s latest century is just as exciting as seeing it!
Sports Streaming Apps That Offer Free Trials
If you’re looking for temporary options, many paid streaming platforms in Australia offer free trials. While they aren’t permanently free, they’re worth exploring for big matches or special events.
Kayo Sports
Kayo Sports offers a 7-day free trial for new users. While this trial includes all games (not just freebies), remember to cancel before the trial period ends to avoid getting charged.
Foxtel Now
Foxtel Now also provides a 10-day free trial. This can be a great way to catch early-season matches before deciding on a long-term streaming solution.
Amazon Prime Video
Did you know Amazon Prime Video holds broadcasting rights for some cricket matches? They often offer a 30-day free trial for new customers, which could pair well with a major cricket series.
Keep in mind these are one-time options, so save them for when you’ll get the most value.
Key Tips for Free Streaming
- Sign Up in Advance: Most legal streaming platforms require you to create a free account. Doing this ahead of time ensures you don’t miss key moments while fumbling with sign-up forms.
- Use Multiple Platforms: Since not all matches are covered by a single service, use a combination of platforms (e.g., 7plus + AFL App) to maximize your game day coverage.
- Double-Check Game Listings: Free streaming platforms often rotate their match schedules, especially during finals season. Keep an eye on their listings to know what matches are available.
Watch Your Favorite Sports for Free Today
Gone are the days when catching your favorite AFL, NRL, or cricket match meant shelling out big bucks for a subscription. With platforms like 7plus, 9Now, and Kayo Freebies, watching high-quality live streams has never been easier—or more affordable.
Conclusion
For Australian sports fans seeking to watch AFL, NRL, and cricket for free, a number of legal options are available. The key is understanding that “free” often means utilizing the free-to-air broadcasters and their associated streaming apps. For AFL, fans can legally stream a select number of matches each week, including all Finals and the Grand Final, on the Seven Network and its 7plus app. Similarly, NRL fans can catch several games weekly, along with the State of Origin series and the Grand Final, on the Nine Network and the 9Now app. Cricket fans also have free options, with some matches and tournaments broadcast on the Seven and Nine networks and their respective streaming platforms, as well as live streams of some domestic competitions on the Cricket Australia website.
While these free options cover a significant portion of the season, for comprehensive, ad-free, and on-demand coverage of every single game, paid streaming services like Kayo Sports and Foxtel are the primary legal choices. These services offer extensive coverage and features like Kayo’s SplitView, which allows users to watch multiple games at once. While these require a subscription, new customers can often take advantage of free trials to test the service before committing. Therefore, Australian sports enthusiasts have a spectrum of choices, from a selection of free, legal streams to premium paid subscriptions that provide complete coverage of their favorite sports.
