Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory

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Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory
Manuka Oval.JPG
Goal posts at Manuka Oval in 2006, home of Australian rules football in Canberra
Governing body AFL Canberra, AFL NSW/ACT
Representative team Australian Capital Territory
First played Canberra 29 July 1911;113 years ago (29 July 1911)
Registered players8,274 (2022) [1]
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match14,974 (4 June 2016), AFL Greater Western Sydney Giants v Richmond Football Club (Manuka Oval, Canberra)

Australian rules football was first played in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 1911 at the Federal Capital (now Canberra). A competition, AFL Canberra, has existed since 1924 and the code in the ACT is governed by that organsation. It is the second most participated football code with more than 8,000 registered players.

Contents

The ACT was the first official bidder in 1981 to join a national Australian rules football competition, now the Australian Football League (AFL). The Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) now acts as the ACT's AFL side with three home games a year scheduled for the ACT's principal venue, Manuka Oval. The Giants average attendance in Canberra is consistently higher than at its home in Sydney.

The ACT debuted at representative level in 1925 and punched above its weight, defeating the powerhouse VFL in 1980 and Tasmania in 1981 as well as many wins against New South Wales and Queensland.

The ACT has produced numerous greats of the game, most notably Australian Football Hall of Fame legend Alex Jesaulenko who was a household name in the 1970s in Canberra. Jesaulenko played more games and kicked more goals in the AFL than any other player from the ACT. James Hird was the first Canberran to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal in 1996. Both are multi premiership players. Britt Tully (games) and Jacqueline Parry (goals) share the honours in the AFL Women's (AFLW).

History

Early days

Tom Wills, the 'father of Australian football' was born on a property south of the Molonglo River near the future site of Canberra in 1835, before moving to Melbourne as a young child. [2] In 1859, he was one of four men at the Melbourne Football Club who developed the earliest surviving rules of the game. [3] Australian football spread northwards, and games were being played in Sydney by the mid-1860s and the Riverina by the early 1880s. [4] [5] The rising popularity of Australian footbal was such that, in March 1881, the Southern Rugby Football Union decreed that ‘no clubs subscribing to the Union should be allowed to play matches under what is called the ‘Victorian’ game of football’. [6]

Rugby union was, however, unchallenged as the dominant football code in the Canberra region, with teams being established in Goulburn in 1873, Queanbeyan in 1878, and Yass soon after. [7] The earliest recorded games of Australian rules were scratch matches played in 1889 between teams from Yass, Bookham and 'Coodradigbee' (near Wee Jasper), just north-west of what is now Canberra. [8] [9]

In 1892, West Sydney (NSW Football Association premiers the previous season) and Sydney Combined Juniors took the train to Goulburn to play the newly formed Imperials club, with the Sydney sides recording narrow wins. [10] [11] [12]

Interest in Australian rules was not sustained though, and rugby union remained dominant. An exhibition match between Sydney and Wagga in Goulburn in 1905 sparked a local debate about the relative merits of Australian rules and rugby, which seems to have died away quickly. [13]

In 1908, the Commonwealth selected 'Yass-Canberra' as the site for the national capital. The Federal Capital Territory was created in 1911 and the Royal Military College was established that year at Duntroon. [14]

Australian rules was played in the new Territory's first winter, when RMC (the 'browns') played an exhibition match at Queanbeyan Park against recently arrived Department of Home Affairs officials from Melbourne (the 'blues'), there to survey the farmland on which Canberra would be built. These matches continued until 1915. In 1913, the Balmain club ventured down from Sydney to Duntroon, only to suffer a 93 point loss. The team's manager reported back to the Sydney league that RMC, coached by former Collingwood player, Sergeant-Major Harold Gyton, were possibly 'the best team in New South Wales'. The College also soundly defeated a visiting Geelong Grammar side that year. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

RMC opted for rugby as its sole football code after 1916 as cadet numbers fell, [20] and Australian rules would not be played again in Canberra until the early 1920s.

A competition is established (1921-1930)

Development of Canberra stalled during World War One as the Commonwealth Government focused on the war effort and dealing with the difficult economic conditions prevailing in the war's aftermath. Indeed, by late 1918, Canberra was in 'deep depression and Queanbeyan was also feeling the pinch’. [21] Work did not recommence until 1922, drawing building and construction workers, and a small nucleus of Commonwealth public servants, to Canberra. [22]

In 1922, scratch matches between workers at the "digger's camp" at Eastlake (now Kingston) and employees from the offices and building works at Canberra led to the formation of the 'Canberra Football Club', playing in blue guernseys with a gold kangaroo on the chest. Fred Dorman was president. [23] In September, the new club travelled to Sydney to play Paddington at Hampden Oval, as a curtain-raiser to a match between North Adelaide and St Kilda. The home team, which had just won the premiership, prevailed by 10 goals, a result that surprised the Sydney press. [24] [25] [26]

Three teams - Duntroon, Canberra and Federals - played regular scratch matches in 1923. [27]

In March 1924, J.H. Tootell wrote to the Queanbeyan Age to 'inform all people interested' that Duntroon (civilian workers, not the RMC) had formed an Australian football club, which would be 'very pleased to hear of other centres doing likewise with a view to forming an association...' [28] He got an immediate response, with the Federal Territory Football League forming in May of that year, with J. Dillon as president. The new league comprised four clubs - Acton (Government administrators/black and white), Canberra (building tradesmen/yellow and black), Federals (sewer employees/red and black) and Duntroon (red and blue). The season commenced on 31 May with matches played fortnightly, mainly at Acton Sportsground (now under Lake Burley Griffin) and Manuka Oval. Acton won the premiership, defeating Federals in the Grand Final by 25 points. [29] [30] [31]

Following a trial match between Acton and 'The Rest' at Queanbeyan Park in July, [32] a representative team was chosen to play North Sydney on 23 August in Sydney - Canberra won by 17 points. [33]

The years between 1925 and 1930 saw teams come and go. Three clubs disbanded - Duntroon (after the 1924 season), Canberra (after 1925) and Federals (after 1927) - and four entered - Queanbeyan (1925, initially playing in red and white, then light and dark blue), Eastlake (1926, red and white), Ainslie (1927, red, white and black) and Manuka (1928, black and red). A Red Hill side competed in 1926. Queanbeyan was unable to enter teams in 1927 and 1929. Eastlake (1928 and 1930) and Ainslie (1929) had immediate premiership success, after Federals had won in 1925 and 1926. Of the original 1924 clubs, only Acton stayed the course, its 1927 premiership turning out to be the last it would ever win.

The changes in the league's composition over this period were not uncommon for the early seasons of a new competition. It would also have been affected by changes in the Canberra workforce, particularly the loss of construction workers in 1927 when the initial building program, including Parliament House, was completed, followed by an influx of public servants from Melbourne. By 1930 however, the competition - known as the Canberra Australian National Football League since 1927 - comprised five clubs who would form the core of the league over the following decades. [34]

Representative games were played most years, with Queensland visiting Canberra in 1927 and Western Australia visiting in 1928. Canberra travelled to Sydney for matches against 'NSW Metropolis' in other years. Unsurprisingly, given the Canberra league was small and new, it did not win any of these games. [35] Originally, Canberra wore green jumpers with a gold 'V' donated by the Victorian Football League (except against Western Australia, when it wore Ainslie's red, white and black jumpers because of a colours clash). [36] In 1929, Canberra adopted royal blue and gold as its colours. [37]

By 1930, unemployment was increasing significantly as the Great Depression took hold, leaving local football clubs struggling to survive. The transfer out of Canberra of public servants working for the just-abolished Federal Capital Commission – which had administered Canberra since 1925 – exacerbated the situation. [38] That said, Australian football was possibly less affected than other codes, given its players were mainly drawn from the public service. [39] . Queanbeyan was also able to re-enter the competition for the first time since 1928.

Federals, 1926 premiers Canberra final 1926.JPG
Federals, 1926 premiers
Acton 1927 Premiers Acton Premiers of the ANF Canberra Community News 16 December 1927 pg18.png
Acton 1927 Premiers

Country football: 1930-1960

Canberra and Queanbeyan were still small country towns by the early 1930s, with a combined population similar to Albury or Wagga (around 11,000), albeit Canberra was unique in being a 'Government town' architecturally dominated by Parliament House. Country football strongholds such as Ballarat and Geelong were far bigger (30-40,000). This didn’t change much over the following decades, with the Canberra-Queanbeyan population expanding gradually until the mid-1950s, reaching around 35,000. [40] At this point, Canberra’s population began to significantly accelerate, driven by a much stronger commitment from the Commonwealth Government.

The CANFL expanded with the local population and by 1960 comprised seven clubs – the five from 1930 – Acton, Ainslie, Eastlake, Manuka and Queanbeyan – plus Turner and the Royal Military College.

1930s

The CANFL temporarily gained a sixth team in 1932 when Goulburn joined. It would stay in the competition until 1936. Goulburn had formed in 1931 and quickly invited Newtown and South Sydney to play an exhibition match at Goulburn Showground in August (the latter won). In the following weeks, Ainslie, Acton and Eastlake (runner-up that year in the CANFL), along with Rosebery and Glebe from Sydney, travelled to Goulburn to play the new club, which won all five games. [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47]

It was no surprise then that Goulburn, playing in pale blue, took out the CANFL premiership in its first season, defeating Manuka in the 1932 grand final. [48] Midway through the 1936 season though, transport difficulties and an ongoing lack of on-field success led to it withdrawing from the competition. [49]

Other premierships were shared between Manuka (winning its first in 1931 and then again in 1935 and 1938), Eastlake (1933, 1934 and 1937) and Ainslie (1936), the decade finishing with Queanbeyan taking out its first flag in 1939, the first of a hat-trick of premierships. [50] In 1937, Queanbeyan had changed its club colours from blue to yellow and black, becoming the Tigers. [51] [52]

While awards for the CANFL’s best and fairest player had been awarded as early as 1925 and annually from at least 1933, the Mulrooney Medal was only formally instituted in 1936, with Roy Seton of Acton and Richard Roe of Ainslie as inaugural joint winners (Seton had also won in 1935). [53] [54]

The Mines Rovers side from Captains Flat participated in the 1938 and 1939 seasons, following the re-opening of mines there after a nearly forty-year hiatus, accompanied by an influx of miners. [55] The Prime Minister, Joe Lyons, was patron. [56] The club played in dark green jumpers with a gold monogram, but folded after the 1939 season, when it was winless. [57] [58]

Canberra’s representative team improved over the decade. After travelling to Brisbane to play Queensland in 1931, Canberra played in its first Australian National Football Championship in Sydney in 1933 where it was competitive in losses against New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. In 1936, Queensland visited Canberra and a tied match ensued. Finally, at the 1938 All-Australian Amateur Carnival, Canberra had its first win, defeating a strong Tasmanian team by 29 points (in its other games, it lost to Western Australia and NSW). The following year it defeated NSW in Canberra by 19 points and then lost a return match against a NSW Second XVIII at the Sydney Cricket Ground by 5 points. [59] Canberra had been the better team for most of the game but lost when NSW kicked a late goal. [60]

This last match was, in fact, a curtain-raiser to a game between NSW’s First XVIII and Carlton. In July 1939, with a bye for a Victoria-South Australia state game, VFL sides ventured to the country and interstate to play exhibition games. Carlton initially took the train to Canberra to play Hawthorn, both sides arriving on Tuesday morning, 27 July, for a grand civic reception at Kingston Hotel, before training that afternoon at Manuka and Northbourne Ovals respectively. The match kicked off at 3pm the next day before 4200 spectators, around a quarter of the local population. It was cold (10 degrees) but dry and, with a late rally, Carlton won 15-12-98 to 12-15-87. The Blues left the next day for Sydney to play NSW on the weekend. While the Canberra Times covered the match extensively, its front pages were dominated by stories of Japanese aggression in China and rising tensions in Europe. Only weeks later, Germany invaded Poland. [61] [62]

In 1931, the Canberra Australian National Junior League was formed.

World War II

Canberra representative team making its national carnival debut parading the SCG at the 1933 Sydney Carnival. SLNSW 10145 The last player from the Queensland team is followed by the Canberra team marching on in the opening ceremony on the AllStates Australian Football Carnival at the SCG 5 August 1933.jpg
Canberra representative team making its national carnival debut parading the SCG at the 1933 Sydney Carnival.
Football match featuring Ainslie in 1951 Football match featuring Ainslie in 1951 from Good Neighbour ACT 1st Jul 1951 pg 3.png
Football match featuring Ainslie in 1951

The ACTAFL lost 95% of its players during World War II. [63]

1970s Building on strong foundations

In 1974 the ACT hosted an Aboriginal Australian rules tournament, which included one of the earliest international matches. [64] The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team visited to play an Indigenous Australian side in 1974 and played at Ainslie Oval defeating the Australian side. [65] [66]

Gate takings increased by 40% in 1975,[ citation needed ] and the CANFL changed to ACTAFL.

In 1977, the ACT was officially invited to join the NFL Night Series. [67] The ACT competed in the 1978 and 1979 seasons. However the move created tensions with the VFL which had sought to establish its own rival national competition. [68] The ACT, along with other states joined the Australian Football Championships Night Series in 1979, and competed also in 1980 and 1981.

1980s & 1990s: AFL declines a licence, rugby popularity grows

The ACT debuted at representative level in 1925 against New South Wales, its first win coming in 1941 against New South Wales and went on to also defeat Queensland and the National Amateur team numerous times between the 1950s and 1980s culminating in defeats of the powerhouses of the VFL in 1980 and Tasmania in 1981. Kevin "Cowboy" Neale captained the side to many of these victories. It was also the third side to enter the National Underage Championships in 1973 however it never won the tournament and now participates as part of a combined NSW/ACT side.

Home grown hero Alex Jesaulenko and Australian Football Hall of Fame legend was a household name in the 1970s in Canberra. Jesaulenko has played more games and kicked more goals in the AFL than any other player from the ACT. James Hird is the only Canberran to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal. Both are multi premiership players. Britt Tully (games) and Jacqueline Parry (goals) share the honours in the AFLW. The ACT is classed as a development region by the AFL and in the AFL Draft, ACT is designated priority AFL recruitment zoning for the Greater Western Sydney Giants (and previously Sydney Swans), so most of the local players recruited from the ACT to the AFL (unless overlooked) generally start their careers at one of these two New South Wales based clubs.

Australian rules was the most popular football code in the Canberra-Queanbeyan region until the rise of rugby league in the 1980s with the entry of the Canberra Raiders into the (then) NSW Rugby League competition. Until 1982 the sport was widely covered in the local media and the premier local competition attracted significant interest. The ACT was one of the first proponents for a national Australian rules football competition (now the Australian Football League) and it became the first state or territory outside of Victoria to make an official bid to join the league. The (rejected) Canberra bid in 1981 was dismissed in favour of a team in Sydney, which became the Sydney Swans. Canberra has made numerous failed bids since, including bids to move the Swans when they became insolvent. However, the popularity of Australian rules football suffered substantially after the introduction of the Raiders (rugby league in 1982) and Brumbies (rugby union in 1996). As a result it fell behind both rugby codes and also soccer and is now classified as a minor sport with the lowest media profile and attendance of the four major football codes.

While it remains by far the second most participated football code and retains a loyal support base as well as a strong local competition, it has continued its slow decline since the 1980s. The ACT hosted its first AFL match in 1995 and AFL matches have been played every year since 2001 except 2020. Since 2012 the AFL has positioned Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) as a local side, scheduling three home games a year at Manuka Oval. In 2013, 2016, 2021 and 2022 the stadium's average attendance was higher than that of the Giants home, the Sydney Showgrounds, despite having 10,000 less available seats and a schedule of lower drawing opposition clubs. At least 6,400 GWS members were ACT-based at the end of 2022. [69] [70] The club in 2015 set a target to overtake the Raiders membership in 2018 with more than 10,000+ ACT-based members, [71] however Raiders membership rapidly outpaced it growing its record to more than 4 times that of GWS. [72]

In 1981, the ACTAFL, had just begun to edge out rugby league in popularity with an increase in participation. [73] Under significant pressure from rugby league junior development in the territory and fearing the impact on its strong local competition of entry of a Sydney team, a formal bid for license to enter a Canberra team into the VFL was made with expected crowd projections of 15,000 per match and a significant television audience. However VFL dismissed the Canberra bid, stating that the VFL would consider Canberra for a license "within the next 10 years". [74] The league was insistent that the license should go to Sydney and proceeded instead to push for South Melbourne's Swans to relocate there.

The following year, the NSW Rugby League entered the Canberra market with a new Canberra Raiders club. [75] The Raiders were based at Queanbeyan in nearby New South Wales and weren't immediately successful with a wooden spoon in its first season and very small crowds, but the home team began to rapidly attract public support within two years began to outdraw the VFL's Canberra attendances.

The ACTAFL in 1984 applied to the National Football League to join the national competition which was under consideration at the time. [76] That year the ACTAFL also began discussions with several VFL clubs about moving their home games so that Sydney could play the bulk of its away games in Canberra and Brisbane, but without success. [77] With the VFL denying the Canberra bids entry and with the rising popularity of the Raiders, the ACT between 1983 and 1984 sought admission to the South Australian National Football League. [77]

The VFL designated the ACT an exclusive recruitment zone for the Swans in 1986, which the ACTAFL was not pleased with. [78] In 1986, the Canberra bid was again overlooked in favour of Perth and Brisbane. [79]

In 1988 when the Sydney Swans folded and the licence was put out to tender, the AFLACT moved to buy the club and move it to Canberra; [80] further calls were made to move the Swans to Canberra as they struggled through the early 1990s. [81] The ACTAFL also sought to entice a struggling Melbourne club to relocate (which it claimed to be North Melbourne), without success. [82]

In 1990, a sold out Ansett Cup (pre-season) match between Hawthorn and Sydney Swans at Bruce Stadium set an ACT attendance record of 11,500. [83]

In 1991, the VFL cancelled a Fosters Cup match scheduled for Bruce Stadium shifting it to Albury. [84] ACT interests cited falling attendance and interest in Canberra, however the VFL denied this. [84]

A local lobby group, increasingly frustrated with the national league became very vocal in the 1990s. In 1993 an official "AFL For Canberra Bid" led by Ron Cahill and backed by the ACT government was launched. [85]

The Fitzroy Football Club expressed interest to the AFL in playing home games in Canberra, and the first premiership match to be played in Canberra for Round 9, 1995 match between the Fitzroy and the West Coast Eagles. The match was played at the rectangular Bruce Stadium rather than Manuka Oval. Despite a frost, the match attracted a large amount of interest and a crowd of just under 12,000 attended and the Eagles defeated the struggling Lions by 28 points. [86]

2000s: AFL takes control

In 1998, the AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission took over operations of the ACTAFL. It scheduled North Melbourne Football Club's (the Kangaroos) first premiership match at Manuka Oval which attraced a crowd of 11,321. Canberra also began hosting the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament.

"Australian rules football has a rich history in Canberra. We have neglected it over the past periods of time"

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, 2015 [87]

In 2001, the AFL club the Kangaroos signed a deal with the ACT government to play some home matches at Manuka Oval. The move was seen by many as part of a potential relocation of the club to Canberra an idea which had its origins in the mid 1980s. [77] [88] [89] The Kangaroos drew crowds averaging around 10,000 at Manuka Oval. However, in 2007 the club received a more lucrative offer, to play some home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and signed a deal to that effect, which was met with significant disgust from Canberra. [90] [91] In August 2006, the AFL announced that the Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs would each play home games at Manuka, to fill the void left by the Kangaroos.

GWS adopts Canberra as a 'Second home'

"Canberra have their own [AFL] team, the GWS Giants. They play a number of games down here."

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, 2015 [87]

Canberra continued to bid for its own AFL team. This was rejected in 2009 in favour of the Greater Western Sydney license. [92] However, in 2012, the ACT government signed a contract with the GWS Giants to play four home games per season at Manuka Oval (three regular season, one preseason), having signed a 10-year deal worth $23 million. A Canberra logo (incorporating the Black Mountain Tower as a symbol) is incorporated on its guernsey, with a slightly altered Canberra-specific guernsey used for the games at Manuka. The Giants also played in a special guernsey as part of the centenary of Canberra celebrations, stating that the team is "part of the Canberra community". [93] A GWS/ACT Academy has also been envisioned, and the territory has representation on the club's board. [94] [95]

The 2016 round 19 AFL match between GWS Giants and Richmond attracted a record crowd of 14,974, just overtaking the previous 2006 record for the match between the Kangaroos and Sydney. [96]

The first AFLW premiership match played at Manuka, a Giants home game, with free entry attracted at territory record women's attendance of 6,460 [97] however the league did not schedule any other matches and AFLW did not return to the ACT for another 4 years, and it did so with paid entry to significantly reduced crowds.

The round 21, 2019 match between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn was notable as it was the first professional Australian rules football match to be played in snowfall. [98] [99]

Players

Greats

Over the years, the ACT has produced many top players for elite professional leagues such as the Australian Football League, including Alex Jesaulenko, James Hird, Mick Conlan, Craig Bolton, Don Pyke, Shaun Smith, Adrian Barich, Brett Allison, and Aaron Hamill.

AFL Recruitment Zone

The ACT was made a Sydney Swans exclusive zone by the VFL in 1986 [78] though the Swans made poor use of the zone until the late 1990s, missing most of the top players. In 2012, the ACT zone was transferred to the AFL's GWS Giants. The Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy created a Canberra sub-academy, giving GWS has first pick of the most talented players from the ACT. The Giants have made much better use of the recruitment zone and as a result, most of the current players from the ACT now have begun their careers with the Giants.

Men's

Currently on an AFL senior list
PlayerACT junior/senior club/sRepresentative honoursAFL DraftSelectionAFL YearsAFL GamesAFL (Goals)Connections to ACT, Notes & References
Josh Fahey Queanbeyan 2021 422023-1Born and raised in Canberra [100]
Tom Highmore Tuggeranong Lions/Tuggeranong Hawks/Canberra 2020 452021-130Born, raised, recruited
Tom Green Marist College Canberra 2019 102020-2914Raised in Canberra
Jackson Hately - 2018 142019-162Born
Harry Himmelberg Canberra 2015 162016-126149Recruited
Jack Steele Belconnen U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) (2013) 2014 242015-12950Born, raised, recruited
Aaron vandenBerg Ainslie 2015 (rookie) Rookie (#2)2015-4723Recruited
Ivan Soldo - 2015 (rookie) Rookie (#68)2015-4316Born, raised, recruited
Logan Austin Belconnen 2014 692015–2020200Born and raised in Canberra
Adam Oxley - 2013 (rookie) Rookie (#35)2013–20183410Born
Josh Bruce Eastlake 2011 Zone2012–2023150233Born, raised and recruited
Jason Tutt Ainslie 2009 312010–20164027Born and raised in Canberra
Phil Davis Marist College Canberra 2008 102009-20231877Born and raised in Canberra till age 14 [101] [102]
James Meiklejohn Tuggeranong U18 (NSW/ACT Rams 2003) 2003 (rookie) Rookie (#71)2003–200460Raised and recruited
Craig Bolton Eastlake U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) 1998 332000–201019925Raised and recruited
Brad Fuller Tuggeranong / Marist College Canberra / Eastlake U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) 1996 871997–1998165Raised in Canberra
Jacob Anstey Tuggeranong 1995 631997–1998165Raised in Canberra
Justin Blumfield Tuggeranong 1995 621996–200414891Recruited
Aaron Hamill Tuggeranong 1994 791995–2007190239Raised in Canberra
Troy Gray St Edmunds College 1992–19976026Raised in Canberra
Robert Neill - 1990 Zone1992–19974416Raised in Canberra
James Hird Ainslie NSW/ACT (1993) 1990 791991–2007253343Born and raised in Canberra
Wayne Weidemann Eastlake 19901991–19966826Played there prior to AFL career
Don Pyke Belconnen NSW/ACT (1993) 1988 2 (pre-draft)1989–199613270Raised in Canberra
Michael Werner Queanbeyan 1988, NSW/ACT (1993) 1988 91989–19946080Raised in Canberra
Matthew Mahoney Eastlake 1988 691989–199260Raised in Canberra
Michael Kennedy Manuka-Weston / Eastlake 1988 1987 411988–1990233Raised in Canberra
Brett Allison Belconnen 1988 1987–2000228285Raised in Canberra
Shaun Smith Ainslie 1988 1987–1998109134Raised in Canberra
Adrian Barich Marist College Canberra / Manuka 1988 1987–19924727Born and raised in Canberra
Adam Garton West Canberra 1987–198831Raised in Canberra
Peter Kenny Manuka 1979 19861120Raised in Canberra
Geoff Hocking Belconnen 1988 198160Played there
Robert Anderson Queanbeyan 1979 1980-1984166Born and raised in Canberra
Neil Bristow Ainslie 1979 1979104Raised in Canberra
Michael Conlan Manuka 1979 1977-1989210395Raised in Canberra
Richard Murrie -1975-198311113Raised in Canberra
Ian Low Manuka 1975-19807879Raised in Canberra, recruited
Keith Miller Eastlake 1979 197420Played there
Geoff Craighead Australian National University FC 197370Raised
Robert Whatman Manuka 19733417Raised
Geoff Harrold Ainslie / West Canberra / Queanbeyan 1973, 1979 197220Raised
Rob Smith Ainslie 1979 1971–774848Raised
Laurie Moloney Belconnen 1979 1971–76808Played there
Alan Bloomfield Ainslie 1970–1971137Recruited
Paul Feltham Eastlake 1970–197813586Lived there, Recruited
Alex Jesaulenko Eastlake 1967-1981279444Raised in Canberra
Kevin Neale Ainslie 1979c 1965-1977256301Played there
Jack Douglas Eastlake 1952-1953140Recruited
John McGreevy Duntroon Military College195230Recruited
Alan Stevens Ainslie / Eastlake / Manuka 1948-1950221Raised

Women's

Currently on an AFLW senior list
PlayerACT junior/senior club/sRepresentative honoursAFLW DraftSelectionAFLW YearsAFLW GamesAFLW (Goals)Connections to ACT, Notes & References
Zara Hamilton Belconnen ---Recruited from Canberra
Maggie Gorham Belconnen, Ainslie 2023-1-Raised in Canberra
Cynthia Hamilton Belconnen, Queanbeyan 2022 112022-2110Raised in Canberra
Cambridge McCormick Eastlake 2022-18-Recruited from Canberra
Emily Pease Belconnen 2022-164Raised in Canberra
Catherine Brown - 2022 pre-list2022---Born, raised in and recruited from Canberra
Ally Morphett Belconnen 2021 372022-120Recruited from Canberra
Najwa Allen Eastlake 2019 372022-160Recruited from ACT
Tess Cattle Ainslie 2022-1-Recruited from ACT
Tarni Evans Queanbeyan, Tathra Sea Eagles 2020 92021-90Raised in Canberra, Recruited from ACT
Jacqueline Parry Queanbeyan, ANU Griffins 2019 542020-156Recruited from ACT
Alexia Hamilton Queanbeyan, Canberra 2019 382020-30Recruited from ACT
Maddie Shevlin Gungahlin 2017 (rookie) Rookie (#13)2018-131Recruited from ACT
Jodie Hicks Belconnen 2017 52018-2021203Recruited from ACT
Britt Tully Gungahlin 2016 802017-294Recruited from ACT
Rhiannon Metcalfe Gungahlin 2016 742017-261Born and recruited from ACT
Hannah Dunn Queanbeyan 2017-250Raised in Canberra
Talia Radan Belconnen 2016 582017-160Recruited from ACT
Ellie Brush - 2016 (rookie) Rookie2017-2020201Born and recruited from ACT
Heather Anderson Belconnen 2016 10201780Born and raised
Ella Ross Queanbeyan 2016 112201770Recruited from ACT
Hannah Wallett Belconnen 2016 Free agent201741Recruited from ACT

Governing body

The governing body is AFL NSW/ACT.

Leagues

Open

Masters

Women's

Representative Side

An Australian Capital Territory representative side played Interstate Football matches against other states and territories. [103] [104] [105] [106] [107] [108]

Australian Capital Territory's first National Football Carnival appearance was at the 1933 National Football Carnival. The side placed second in Division 2 of the 1958 National Football Carnival, and second in the 1968 Minor States National Football Carnival. In the 1990s, the Australian Capital Territory team was merged with the New South Wales team to form NSW/ACT; and from 1995, Australian Capital Territory was represented in interstate football as part of Australian Alliance, which also incorporated players from New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Principal venues

There are several grounds around the ACT used by AFL Canberra, but only two with spectator facilities suitable for finals matches. In the 1990s, politician and former Canberra Raiders rugby league player Paul Osborne began a successful campaign to exclude the AFL from use of Canberra Stadium which ultimately resulted in its conversion into a rectangular field. [109] [110] As a result Manuka Oval remains the only venue in the ACT that meets AFL Standard criteria and have been used to host AFL (National Standard) or AFLW level matches (Regional Standard). [111]

Canberra Canberra
Manuka Oval Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
Capacity: 16,000Capacity: 5,000
Manuka Oval.JPG Gungahlin Enclosed Oval 2.jpg

Audience

Attendance record

Further information

Australian Rules was the strongest football code in Canberra itself in the decades after a competition was established in 1924, although rugby league remained strong in surrounding regions. [112]

Books

  1. de Moore, Greg; Hess, Rob; Nicholson, Matthew; Stewart, Bob (2021). Australia's Game: The History of Australian Football. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN   9781-74379-657-3.

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References

  1. ↑ Ausplay Sports Report 2022 - Soccer, Australian Football, Rugby League & Rugby Union
  2. ↑ Mandle, W. F. (1976). "Wills, Thomas Wentworth (1835–1880)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Pascoe, Robert (1995). The Winter Game: The Complete History of Australian Football. Melbourne: Text Publishing Company. p. 47.
  4. ↑ Nicholson, Matthew; Stewart, Bob; de Moore, Greg; Hess, Rob (2021). Australia's game: the history of Australian football. Richmond, Victoria: Hardie Grant Books. p. 18.
  5. ↑ Gillett, Rodney (1 May 1988). "Where the big men fly: an early history of Australian football in the Riverina". Sporting Traditions. 4 (2): 162–175.
  6. ↑ Nicholson, Matthew; Stewart, Bob; de Moore, Greg; Hess, Rob (2021). Australia's game: the history of Australian football. Richmond, Victoria: Hardie Grant Books. p. 192.
  7. ↑ Christopher, Rod (2001). From Chook Raffles to Super 12s: A history of rugby union in the ACT. Ginninderra Press. pp. 11–13.
  8. ↑ "Bookham". Yass Courier. Trove: National Library of Australia. 12 July 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Football". Yass Courier. Trove: National Library of Australia. 2 August 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  10. ↑ "Imperial Football Club - Australian Rules". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 23 June 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Football". Goulburn Herald. Trove: National Library of Australia. 15 August 1892. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Football". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Australian Game of Football: Sydney v Wagga". Goulburn Herald. Trove: National Library of Australia. 28 July 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Timeline (Chronology of the ACT)". Canberra & District Historical Society. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Football: The Australian Game". Queanbeyan Age. Trove: National Library of Australia. 1 August 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  16. ↑ Royal Military College (Duntroon, A.C.T.). (1913), Journal of the Royal Military College of Australia, Sydney: [Government Printer], nla.obj-734748369, retrieved 5 September 2024– via Trove, pp35-37.
  17. ↑ Royal Military College (Duntroon, A.C.T.). (1914), Journal of the Royal Military College of Australia, Sydney: [Government Printer], nla.obj-734748369, retrieved 5 September 2024– via Trove, pp59-62.
  18. ↑ Royal Military College (Duntroon, A.C.T.). (1915), Journal of the Royal Military College of Australia, Sydney: [Government Printer], nla.obj-734748369, retrieved 5 September 2024– via Trove, pp56-58.
  19. ↑ "The Australian Game: Newtown still winning". Sydney Morning Herald. Trove: National Library of Australia. 25 June 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  20. ↑ Royal Military College (Duntroon, A.C.T.). (1916), Journal of the Royal Military College of Australia, Sydney: [Government Printer], nla.obj-734748369, retrieved 5 September 2024– via Trove, pp38-39.
  21. ↑ Gibbney, H. J. (Herbert James), 1922-1989; ACT Administration (Australia). Central Office (1988), Canberra 1913-1953 / Jim Gibbney, Australian Government Publishing Service, p. 58, ISBN   0644060654 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Gibbney, H. J. (Herbert James), 1922-1989; ACT Administration (Australia). Central Office (1988), Canberra 1913-1953 / Jim Gibbney, Australian Government Publishing Service, p. 68, ISBN   0644060654 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ "Canberra Football Club: Australian Rules". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 11 July 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  24. ↑ "Floral Fair". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 26 September 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  25. ↑ "Paddington Premiers in Australian Rules". The Referee. Sydney: Trove: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "Australian Rules: Great Exhibition Match". The Sun. Sydney: Trove: National Library of Australia. 24 September 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  27. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. p. 4.
  28. ↑ "Australian Rules Football". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 4 March 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  29. ↑ "Australian Rules Football". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 30 May 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  30. ↑ "Australian Rules Football". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 6 June 1924. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  31. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. p. 5.
  32. ↑ "Australian Rules Football". Queanbeyan Age and Observer. Trove: National Library of Australia. 12 July 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  33. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. p. 5.
  34. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. pp. 7–22.
  35. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. pp. 7–22.
  36. ↑ Selth, Don (2010). More than a game: Canberra's sporting heritage: 1854-1954. Port Adelaide, South Australia: Ginninderra Press. pp. 65, 66.
  37. ↑ Ray, S.J.R (1973). Australian Football in Canberra: 1911-1973. Canberra: Summit Press. p. 8.
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  39. ↑ "Canberra Sport". Canberra Times. 14 April 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  40. ↑ "Tables 4, 7 and 8". Autralian Historical Population Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  41. ↑ "New Code: Australian Rules". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 1 June 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  42. ↑ "Great start: Australian Rules". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 3 August 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  43. ↑ "Australian Rules: Ainslie's Visit". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 24 August 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  44. ↑ "Goulburn wins: Acton team downed". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 1 September 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  45. ↑ "Australian Rules: Rosebery Team's Visit". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 14 September 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  46. ↑ "Australian Rules: Glebe team outclassed". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  47. ↑ "Australian Rules: Goulburn again, Eastlake team downed". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Trove: National Library of Australia. 21 September 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  48. ↑ Ray, S.J.R (1973). Australian Football in Canberra: 1911-1973. Canberra: Summit Press. pp. 8, 9.
  49. ↑ "National Football: Review of Activities". Canberra Times. Trove: National Library of Australia. 31 December 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  50. ↑ "AFL Canberra History: AFL Canberra Grand Final Results". AFL Canberra. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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  52. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. pp. 36, 40.
  53. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. pp. 7, 28, 34 36.
  54. ↑ "The Mulrooney Medal". AFL Canberra. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  55. ↑ "About the Flat". Welcome to Captains Flat. Captains Flat Community Association. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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  58. ↑ Annual Report. Canberra: CANFL. 1939. p. 6.
  59. ↑ Marshall, Barbara (1983). The National Game in the National Capital: 60 years of achievement. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League. pp. 23, 26, 28, 31, 34, 36, 40, 42, 45.
  60. ↑ "Carlton Class Impresses". The Referee. Sydney: Trove: National Library of Australia. 3 August 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  61. ↑ "Two Melbourne teams arrive today". Canberra Times. Trove: National Library of Australia. 25 July 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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  64. ↑ Aboriginal carnival in ACT. The Canberra Times 4 Oct 1974 Page 18
  65. ↑ pg.10 The Canberra Times Mon 7 Oct 1974
  66. ↑ PNG defeats Aborigines. The Canberra Times 7 Oct 1974 Page 10
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  69. ↑ GWS Giants eye new 10-year deal with ACT government from Canberra Times 18 Apr 2022
  70. ↑ Landmark Long-Term Partnership Extension with ACT Government by GIANTS Media 11 December 2022
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  72. ↑ Raiders set new membership record in 2022 from Raiders.com.au 22 July 2022
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  85. ↑ The Canberra Times 18 Nov 1993 Page 26 Canberra's AFL bid launch
  86. ↑ AFL Record. Round 9, 2009. Slattery Publishing. p. 35
  87. 1 2 AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says success in Canberra 'inevitable' by David Polkinghorne for The Age 19 August 2015
  88. ↑ "Rumours scotched that ACT will become host to Vic club". The Canberra Times . Vol. 64, no. 20, 000. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 January 1990. p. 15. Retrieved 23 June 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  89. ↑ Should we have a Canberra team in the AFL? By Megan Doherty May 22, 2022
  90. ↑ A fair go for local footy fans Released 30/05/2009
  91. ↑ "North Melbourne Kangaroos eye return to Canberra" from The Australian by Greg Denham | May 06, 2009
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  97. ↑ Western Bulldogs masterclass gifts GWS Giants inaugural AFL Women's wooden spoon by Caden Helmers for Canberra Times. 24 April 2018
  98. ↑ Tiernan, Eamonn (9 August 2019). "Snow way! Giants and Hawks brave the elements in Canberra". afl.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  99. ↑ McCutchan, Ellen (22 August 2019). "The Hawks and the Giants played AFL in the snow, but was it the first time ever?". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  100. ↑ Local star Josh Fahey drafted to the GWS Giants by Denholm Samaras for Canberra Weekly. 26 November 2021
  101. ↑ Colman, Elizabeth (8 March 2017). "Single and scandal-free GWS Giants defender Phil Davis is all class" . Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  102. ↑ Lovett, M. AFL Record Season Guide 2013 (2013) AFL Media ISSN 1839-8383
  103. ↑ The Teams, The Age, (Friday, 4 July 1980, p.24
  104. ↑ Rollings, Barry, "As Good as in 1978", The Canberra Times, (Sunday, 6 July 1980), p 26.
  105. ↑ Interstate Football Details, The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.26.
  106. ↑ Carter, R., "ACT disgrace has Aylett jumping mad", The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.28.
  107. ↑ Balderstobe, S., "Whole new ACT as stars forget script", The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.26.
  108. ↑ Rollings, Barry, "ACTAFL defeats VFL", The Canberra Times, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p 16.
  109. ↑ "Ossie's plans for Bruce Stadium development get AFL off-side". The Canberra Times . Vol. 70, no. 21, 873. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 March 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 14 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  110. ↑ "Ossie v AFL". The Canberra Times . Vol. 70, no. 21, 873. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 March 1995. p. 1. Retrieved 14 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  111. ↑ AFL PREFERRED FACILITY GUIDELINES Aflcommunityclub.com.au
  112. ↑ More than a game: Canberra's sporting heritage, 1854-1954, Don Selth, Ginninderra Press, 2010,p64
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