2023 AFL Canberra season

2023 AFL Canberra season
Date	15 April − 9 September 2023
←  2022 2024  →

The 2023 AFL Canberra season was the 100th season of the AFL Canberra First Grade, the highest-level men's Australian rules football competition in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and the 25th season of the highest-level women's competition. ^{[1] [2]} The season began on 15 April and concluded on 9 September. ^{[3] [4]}

Background

Competition structure

In 2022, the AFL Canberra Community competition consisted of two men's grades (known as Third Grade and Fourth Grade). ^{[5] [6]} This was changed in 2023, with Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 established for the men's Community competition, and Community Division 1 established for the women's competition. ^{[5] [7]} The existing Second Grade Women competition, which was a community-grade competition, became a senior competition (below First Grade Women). ^{[5] [8]}

The Googong Hogs introduced a women's team for the first time in 2023, entering Community Division 1. ^{[5] [9]}

First Grade Men

2023 AFL Canberra First Grade Men season
Date	15 April − 9 September 2023
Teams	6
Premiers	Belconnen 5th premiership
Minor premiers	Ainslie
Mulrooney Medallist	Guy Richardson (Ainslie − 21 votes) Thomas Simpson [10] (Belconnen − 21 votes)
Leading goalkicker	Andrew Swan [11] (Queanbeyan − 49 goals)
←  2022 2024  →

Belconnen won the First Grade Men premiership for the fifth time, defeating Ainslie by 39 points in the grand final.

Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Ainslie	15	13	2	0	1294	618	209.4	52	Finals series
2	Belconnen (P)	15	11	4	0	1490	803	185.6	44
3	Queanbeyan	15	10	5	0	1372	753	182.2	40
4	Eastlake	15	7	8	0	984	1042	94.4	28
5	Gungahlin	15	4	11	0	709	1593	44.5	16
6	Tuggeranong Valley	15	0	15	0	621	1661	37.4	0

Source: ^[12]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

	2023 AFL Canberra First Grade Men Grand Final
Saturday, 9 September (2:00pm)	Belconnen	def.	Ainslie	Phillip Oval	[13]
	4.2 (26) 8.7 (55) 8.9 (57) 10.11 (71)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	2.2 (14) 2.2 (14) 3.6 (24) 4.8 (32)
M. Monaghan 4, T. Simpson 2, S. Glyde, S. O'Sullivan, H. Saunders, J. Taylor		Goals	I. Bishop, N. Gray, J. Revet, T. Tyquin
M. Monaghan, T. Simpson, O. Withers, J. Baker, B. Hoffmann, A. Jones		Best

First Grade Women

2023 AFL Canberra First Grade Women season
Date	15 April − 9 September 2023
Teams	6
Premiers	Ainslie 2nd premiership
Minor premiers	Ainslie
Leading goalkicker	Hannah Wallett [14] (Belconnen − 37 goals)
←  2022 2024  →

Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Ainslie (P)	15	13	2	0	943	246	383.3	52	Finals series
2	Belconnen	15	12	3	0	851	333	255.6	48
3	Queanbeyan	15	9	6	0	866	303	285.8	36
4	Eastlake	15	8	7	0	750	475	157.9	32
5	Tuggeranong Valley	15	3	12	0	237	1042	22.7	12
6	Gungahlin	15	0	15	0	36	1284	2.8	0

Source: ^[15]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

	2023 AFL Canberra First Grade Women Grand Final
Saturday, 9 September (11:30am)	Belconnen	def. by	Ainslie	Phillip Oval	[16]
	0.1 (1) 0.2 (2) 0.3 (3) 1.6 (12)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	1.3 (9) 5.6 (36) 7.10 (52) 10.11 (71)
L. Anderson		Goals	O. Fogarty 2, Renee Friend 2, Z. Skyrianos 2, E. Bishop, B. Carlin, A. Evans, Rachel Friend
A. Allen, N. McKay, J. Spence, E. Zouch, M. Dwyer, G. Read		Best	E. Hill, O. Fogarty, Z. Skyrianos, E. Herron, A. Evans, E. Bishop

References

1. Atkinson, Cody; Lawson, Sean (28 April 2022). "Jack Steele's rise from the suburban Gungahlin Jets to leading St Kilda in the AFL". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
2. Rosen, Jocelyn. "Born with Passion for the Game". University of Canberra. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
3. "Results for AFL Canberra 2023". GameDay. AFL Canberra. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
4. Fennessy, James (7 September 2023). "Batemans Bay's Thane records perfect week". Power FM Bega Bay. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
5. Ruuskanen, Caitlin (21 April 2023). "Season Preview: The Canberra Times 2023 Community Competition". AFL Canberra. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
6. "AFL Canberra 2022 grades". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
7. "AFL Canberra 2023 grades". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
8. "PLAYER INTERCHANGE AGREEMENT – AFL CANBERRA 2020 BY LAWS" (PDF). AFL Canberra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
9. "What a way to start the year!!". Facebook. Googong Hogs. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
10. Helmers, Caden (6 September 2023). "AFL Canberra grand final opponents split Mulrooney Medal". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
11. "AFL Canberra 2023 First Grade Men Statistics". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
12. "Ladder for AFL Canberra 2023 First Grade Men". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
13. "Belconnen Magpies First Grade Men v Ainslie Tricolours First Grade Men, 2023, GF". PlayHQ. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
14. "AFL Canberra 2023 First Grade Women Statistics". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
15. "Ladder for AFL Canberra 2023 First Grade Women". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
16. "Belconnen Magpies First Grade Women v Ainslie Tricolours First Grade Women, 2023, G". PlayHQ. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.