Australian rules football leagues in regional Queensland

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There are several Australian rules football leagues in regional Queensland.

Contents

The sport of Australian rules football has a rich history in Queensland which dates back to the 1860s, however the game outside of South East Queensland was slower to take off than in Brisbane.

In 1913, a team of servicemen briefly existed on Thursday Island, but was short-lived. In 1944, a league of servicemen was formed around the Atherton Tableland. Teams represented included Wongabel, Wondelca, Kairi, Mareeba and Ravenshoe. The league was a precursor to the nearby Cairns, Queensland league.

In 1955, the Townsville Australian Football League began. Two years later the Cairns Australian Football League was formed. AFL was also introduced to Mount Isa. In the early 1970s, organised leagues started appearing in Mackay, the Darling Downs and Central Queensland.

The Australian Football League has occasionally played pre-season matches in Cairns and there have been semi-regular premiership matches on the Gold Coast.

Current competitions

AFL Cairns

AFL Cairns is a semi-professional league that includes clubs from the Cairns region in Queensland, Australia. It is widely regarded as the strongest regional Australian rules football league in Queensland and has a large base at Cazaly's Stadium which has staged pre-season Australian Football League matches.

The league has significant coverage in local media such as The Cairns Post. Each year the Grand Final attracts between 2,000–3,000 spectators.

AFL Capricornia

AFL Capricornia is an amateur competition played in the areas of Rockhampton, Gladstone and Yeppoon between the months of March and September in the cooler seasons of the Central Queensland climate.

The league is covered primarily by the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin in the local print media.

AFL Darling Downs

AFL Darling Downs is an amateur competition formed as the Darling Downs Australian Football League in 1971. It is based around the city of Toowoomba west of Brisbane. The senior representative team is known as the Demons and wear guernseys modelled on the Melbourne Demons guernseys. The Under 18 representative team who participate in the AFLQ Under 18 competition are known as the "Crows" and wear guernseys modelled on the Adelaide Crows guernseys.

AFL Mackay

AFL Mackay is an amateur competition formed as the Mackay Australian Football League in 1970. It is based around the city of Mackay with further clubs in Airlie Beach, Sarina, Alligator Creek, Pioneer Valley and Moranbah. The representative team is known as the Crows.

AFL Mount Isa

AFL Mount Isa is an amateur competition formed as the North West Australian Football League in 1967, changing its name to the Mount Isa AFL in 1969. Prior to this the game was played but was not organised. It is based around the city of Mount Isa.

The first matches in Mount Isa were played in 1932. [1] The city had 3 clubs by 1933. [2] Another league was formed in 1955. [3] However the current league wasn't established until much later.

Current clubs

Australian rules football leagues in regional Queensland
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
70km
43miles
Red pog.svg
Dajarra
Red pog.svg
Lake Nash
Red pog.svg
Mount Isa Tigers
Red pog.svg
Mount Isa Buffaloes
Locations of the teams home grounds
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in MIAFLMIAFL Senior Premierships
TotalYears
Mount Isa Buffaloes
Mount Isa Buffaloes Football Club colours.jpg
BuffaloesLegend Oval, Mount Isa 19831983-91992, 1994, 1995, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
Mount Isa Tigers
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersLegend Oval, Mount Isa 19671967-131971, 1973, 1983, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022
Lake Nash
Western Bulldogs-Footscray Football Club colours.svg
BulldogsAlpurrurulam Oval, Alpurrurulam (NT) 1993*1993-22002, 2003
Dajarra Rhinos
Dajarra Rhinos Football Club colours.jpg
RhinosMonument Sports Oval, Dajarra 20182018-0-

Former clubs

ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in MIAFLMIAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Mary Kathleen
Collingwood icon.svg
MagpiesMary Kathleen Oval, Mary Kathleen c.1957-198031977, 1978, 1979Folded after 1980 season
Mount Isa Rovers
Mount Isa Rovers Football Club colours.jpg
RoversLegend Oval, Mount Isa 19671967-2020241968, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013Folded after 2020 season

Premiers

North West Australian Football League (1967-1968) / Mount Isa AFL (1969-1999) / AFL Mount Isa (2000-present)

  • 1967: Hawks
  • 1968: Rovers
  • 1969: Saints
  • 1970: Saints
  • 1971: Tigers
  • 1972: Hawks
  • 1973: Tigers
  • 1974: Saints
  • 1975: Hawks
  • 1976: Rovers
  • 1977: Mary Kathleen
  • 1978: Mary Kathleen
  • 1979: Mary Kathleen
  • 1980: Rovers
  • 1981: Rovers
  • 1982: Rovers
  • 1983: Tigers
  • 1984: Rovers
  • 1985: Rovers
  • 1986: Rovers
  • 1987: Saints
  • 1988: Rovers
  • 1989: Tigers
  • 1990: Rovers
  • 1991: Rovers
  • 1992: Buffaloes
  • 1993: Rovers
  • 1994: Buffaloes
  • 1995: Buffaloes
  • 1996: Rovers
  • 1997: Rovers
  • 1998: Tigers
  • 1999: Tigers
  • 2000: Rovers
  • 2001: Rovers
  • 2002: Lake Nash
  • 2003: Lake Nash
  • 2004: Rovers
  • 2005: Rovers [4]
  • 2006: Tigers
  • 2007: Rovers
  • 2008: Rovers
  • 2009: Rovers
  • 2010: Rovers
  • 2011: Tigers
  • 2012: Rovers
  • 2013: Rovers
  • 2014: Tigers
  • 2015: Tigers
  • 2016: Tigers
  • 2017: Buffaloes
  • 2018: Buffaloes
  • 2019: Tigers
  • 2020: Buffaloes
  • 2021: Buffaloes
  • 2022: Tigers
  • 2023: Buffaloes
  • 2024: Buffaloes

AFL Townsville

AFL Townsville is an amateur competition formed as the Townsville Australian Football League in 1955, the first AFL competition to be formed in Queensland outside of the South East. It is based around the city of Townsville. For a short period in the 1980s, the competition was played during the summer months. The representative team is known as the Eagles and they wear similar guernseys to the Zillmere Eagles old white and blue guernsey's.

AFL Wide Bay

The AFL Wide Bay competition was formerly known as the Bundaberg-Wide Bay Australian Football League which was formed in 1987 through the merger of the Bundaberg Australian Football League and Wide Bay Australian Football Leagues. The competition currently features teams from the cities of Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay. The representative team is known as the Tigers wearing guernseys similar to those of the Richmond Tigers.

Defunct competitions

Bundaberg Australian Football League

The Bundaberg Australian Football League was an amateur competition formed in 1972 and continued until 1986, before merging with the Wide Bay Australian Football League, starting a new competition called the Bundaberg Wide Bay Australian Football League in 1987, now known as AFL Wide Bay.

The four foundation clubs were Burnett Heads, Southern Suburbs (South Bundaberg), Western Suburbs (West Bundaberg), and North Bundaberg.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in BAFLBAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
North Bundaberg
North Bundaberg Roos Australian Football Club colours.jpg
KangaroosKendall Flat, Bundaberg East 19721972–198651972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
South Bundaberg
Collingwood icon.svg
MagpiesKendall Flat, Bundaberg East 19721972–198611981Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
West Bundaberg
St Kilda Football Club colours.svg
BulldogsKendall Flat, Bundaberg East 19721972–198651973, 1974, 1980, 1985, 1986Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer leagueEst.Years in BAFLBAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Biggenden
Northern Territory Academy colours.svg
MAFL 198119830-Folded after 1983 season
Burnett Heads
North Adelaide Football Club colours (1983 to 1997).svg
Saints19721972-19820-Recess between 1983 and 1986, re-formed in Wide Bay AFL in 1987
Brothers
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
198519850-Folded after 1985 season
Cooloola Coast  Dolphins MAFL 198219840-Formed Wide Bay AFL in 1985
Gympie
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
CatsRay Warren Oval, Glanmire SCAFL 197119840-Formed Wide Bay AFL in 1985
Maryborough
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersAFL Federation Reserve, Maryborough SCAFL 1971979, 19840-Formed Maryborough AFL in 1981
South Bundaberg (2)
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
Kendall Flat, Bundaberg East 197919790-Folded after 1979 season
Urangan (Hervey Bay 1977-83)
Lenswood Rangers Football Club colours.jpg
Sea HawksN. E. Mclean Oval, Wondunna 19771977, 1982-198441977, 1982, 1983, 1984Formed Wide Bay AFL in 1985

Premiers

Bundaberg AFL (1972-1986)

  • 1972: North Bundaberg
  • 1973: Western Suburbs
  • 1974: Western Suburbs
  • 1975: North Bundaberg
  • 1976: North Bundaberg
  • 1977: Hervey Bay
  • 1978: North Bundaberg
  • 1979: North Bundaberg
  • 1980: West Bundaberg
  • 1981: South Bundaberg
  • 1982: Hervey Bay
  • 1983: Hervey Bay
  • 1984: Urangan [5]
  • 1985: West Bundaberg
  • 1986: West Bundaberg

Central Highlands Australian Football League

The Central Highlands Australian Football League was an amateur competition formed in 1983 and ceased operations after the 1997 season. Most of the previous clubs still exist and operate Auskick programs, including Dysart and Emerald. The Moranbah Bulldogs moved to the Mackay Australian Football League after the league folded.

The league was a once flourishing competition with Clubs competing in Seniors, Reserves and juniors in Under 16's, 14's, and 12's. Around 1994, the mines in the area shifted from a five-day week into a seven-day 12-hour roster, which in turn limited teams' playing rosters. The league then changed onfield playing numbers from 18 to 13 with unlimited bench players. Unfortunately this still did not help and most clubs were forced to cease operations due to lack of playing numbers and not of financial matters.

Prior to the formation of the competition, Dysart, Middlemount and Moranbah had played in Mackay's competition.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHAFLCHAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Blackwater
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
CatsBlackwater Cricket Ground, Blackwater CAFL 19811983-199731991, 1992, 1993Folded after 1997 season
Dysart
South Melbourne Football Club Colours.svg
Swans MAFL 19801983-199721983, 1984Folded after 1997 season
Emerald
St Kilda Football Club colours.svg
Saints1983-199771988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997Folded after 1997 season
Moranbah
Footscray Football Club colours (1975-1996).svg
BulldogsStevenson Sports Park, Moranbah MAFL 19751983-1988, 1994-199721985, 1986Folded after 1997 season, re-formed in Mackay AFL in 2006
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHAFLCHAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Clermont
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
Bombers1985-19860-Folded after 1986 season
Middlemount
North Melbourne Football Club colours.svg
Kangaroos MAFL 19821983-199111987Merged with Tieri after 1991 season
Tieri (United 1992-95)
RichmondDesign.svg
Tigers1983-19960-Folded after 1996 season

Premiers

Central Highlands AFL (1983-1997)

  • 1983: Dysart
  • 1984: Dysart
  • 1985: Moranbah
  • 1986: Moranbah
  • 1987: Middlemount
  • 1988: Emerald
  • 1989: Emerald
  • 1990: Blackwater
  • 1991: Blackwater
  • 1992: Blackwater
  • 1993: Emerald
  • 1994: Emerald
  • 1995: Emerald
  • 1996: Emerald
  • 1997: Emerald

Gold Coast Australian Football League

The Gold Coast Australian Football League was a competition that operated from at least 1961 to 1996 before being absorbed by the Queensland AFL as its Gold Coast Division.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in GCAFLGCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Broadbeach
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
Cats Subaru Oval, Mermaid Waters 19711971-199621987, 1996Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Burleigh Heads
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
Bombers Bill Godfrey Oval, Burleigh Waters 19791979-19960-Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Coolangatta Tweed Heads
Carlton 2018 AFL.png
Blues EXIMM Oval, Coolangatta 19621965-199661978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Labrador
RichmondDesign.svg
Tigers Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador 19641964-199651970, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1994Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Palm Beach Currumbin    Salk Oval, Palm Beach 19611961-199651965, 1971, 1973, 1985, 1995Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Robina
North Melbourne Football Club colours.svg
RoosScottsdale Reserve, Robina 199619960-Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Surfers Paradise
Melbourne Football Club Colours.svg
Demons Sir Bruce Small Park, Benowa 19621962-199691963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1984, 1990, 1992Moved to Queensland AFL in 1997
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in GCAFLGCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Ashmore Nerang
Collingwood icon.svg
Magpies19851985-19890-Folded after 1989 season
Ipswich
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
CatsLimestone Park, Ipswich 195919630-Moved to Queensland AFL in 1964
Lismore
North Melbourne Football Club colours.svg
KangaroosGloria Mortimer Oval, Lismore 19681968-1970, 1978-19830-Formed Summerland AFL in 1984
Southport
Collingwood icon.svg
Magpies Fankhauser Reserve, Southport 19611961-198291961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980Moved to Queensland AFL in 1983

Premiers

Gold Coast AFL (1961-1996) / AFLQ - Gold Coast Division (1997-1999)

  • 1961: Southport
  • 1962: Southport
  • 1963: Surfers Paradise
  • 1964: Southport
  • 1965: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1966: Southport
  • 1967: Surfers Paradise
  • 1968: Surfers Paradise
  • 1969: Surfers Paradise
  • 1970: Labrador
  • 1971: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1972: Surfers Paradise
  • 1973: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1974: Surfers Paradise
  • 1975: Southport
  • 1976: Southport
  • 1977: Southport
  • 1978: Coolangatta
  • 1979: Southport
  • 1980: Southport
  • 1981: Coolangatta
  • 1982: Coolangatta
  • 1983: Coolangatta
  • 1984: Surfers Paradise
  • 1985: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1986: Labrador
  • 1987: Broadbeach
  • 1988: Coolangatta
  • 1989: Coolangatta
  • 1990: Surfers Paradise
  • 1991: Labrador
  • 1992: Surfers Paradise
  • 1993: Labrador
  • 1994: Labrador
  • 1995: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1996: Broadbeach
  • 1997: Palm Beach-Currumbin
  • 1998: Surfers Paradise
  • 1999: Palm Beach-Currumbin

Maryborough Australian Football League

The Maryborough Australian Football League was an amateur competition that lasted two full seasons in 1981 and 1982. In 1983, there was only a limited number of fixtures, and due to lack of players, the competition folded after the season was over.

In 1983, Biggenden played in both the Bundaberg AFL and the Maryborough competition. Biggenden 2 lost to Cooloola Coast in the 1983 MAFL Grand Final, as their seniors did the previous year.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MAFLMAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Biggenden reserves
Northern Territory Academy colours.svg
19811981-198311981Folded after 1983 season
Cooloola Coast  Dolphins19821982-198321982, 1983Moved to Bundaberg AFL in 1984
Isis
Hawthorn Football Club Colours.svg
Hawks19811981-19830-Folded after 1983 season
Maryborough [6]
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersAFL Federation Reserve, Maryborough BAFL 19771981-19830-Seniors folded, juniors moved to Bundaberg AFL in 1984
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in MAFLMAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Torbanlea[ citation needed ]
Melbourne Football Club Colours.svg
Demons198119810-Folded after 1981 season

Premiers

Maryborough AFL (1981-1983)

  • 1981 Biggenden [7]
  • 1982 Cooloola Coast
  • 1983 Cooloola Coast [8]

Sunshine Coast Australian Football League

The Sunshine Coast Australian Football League was an amateur competition that was formed in 1970 and continued until 1992. The three foundation clubs were Noosa, Maroochydore and Nambour.

In 1993, the clubs from the competition played in the Brisbane Australian Football League, and later split up into various AFL South Queensland Divisions.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Caloundra
RichmondDesign.svg
(1973-89)
Caloundra Football Club colours (1990s).svg
(1991-92)
PanthersCarter Park, Golden Beach 19731973-1983, 1985-1989, 1991-199241987, 1988, 1991, 1992Moved to Brisbane AFL in 1993
Gympie
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
CatsRay Warren Oval, Glanmire 19711971-1983, 19920-Moved to Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1993
Kawana
West Coast Football Club colours (2012-2017 away).svg
Eagles19831983-1984, 1990-19920-Folded after 1992 season
Maroochydore
Woodville Football Club colours (1964 to 1982).svg
Roos Neil Upton Oval, Maroochydore 19691970-1992111970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989Moved to Brisbane AFL in 1993
Nambour
Nambour Football Club colours.svg
BluesG Rae Oval, Palmwoods 19701970-1975, 1977-199211990Moved to Brisbane AFL in 1993
Noosa
Hawthorn Football Club Colours.svg
HawksNoosa Oval, Noosaville 19701970-199271973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1987Moved to Brisbane AFL in 1993
Pomona
Cranbourne Eagles Colours.png
DemonsReserve Street Oval, Pomona 19731975-1990, 19920-Moved to Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1993
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Caboolture
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
Cats19731973-19750-Folded after 1975 season
Caboolture and Southern Districts
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
BombersCaboolture Showgrounds, Caboolture 19861987-19900-Moved to Brisbane AFL in 1991
Hervey Bay
Lenswood Rangers Football Club colours.jpg
SeahawksN. E. Mclean Oval, Wondunna BAFL 19771978-19810-Returned to Bundaberg AFL in 1982
Maryborough
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersAFL Federation Reserve, Maryborough 197719770-Moved to Bundaberg AFL in 1979
Mooloolah Valley
Collingwood icon.svg
Magpies19851985-19880-Folded after 1988 season
Pomona/Gympie   Devil CatsRay Warren Oval, Glanmire and Reserve Street Oval, Pomona 199119910-De-merged into Pomona and Gympie in 1992

Premiers

Sunshine Coast AFL (1970-1992)

  • 1970: Maroochydore
  • 1971: Maroochydore
  • 1972: Maroochydore
  • 1973: Noosa
  • 1974: Maroochydore
  • 1975: Noosa
  • 1976: Noosa
  • 1977: Noosa
  • 1978: Maroochydore
  • 1979: Maroochydore
  • 1980: Noosa
  • 1981: Noosa
  • 1982: Maroochydore
  • 1983: Maroochydore
  • 1984: Maroochydore
  • 1985: Noosa
  • 1986: Maroochydore
  • 1987: Caloundra
  • 1988: Caloundra
  • 1989: Maroochydore
  • 1990: Nambour
  • 1991: Caloundra
  • 1992: Caloundra

Wide Bay Australian Football League

The Wide Bay Australian Football League was a short-lived amateur competition that was formed in 1985 as a result of a breakaway from the Bundaberg Australian Football League. It only lasted two years before merging with the league it broke away from.

Clubs

Final
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Cooloola Coast  Dolphins BAFL 19821985-19860-Folded after 1986 season
Gympie Cats
Geelong Football Club Colours.svg
CatsRay Warren Oval, Glanmire BAFL 19711985-19860-Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
Hervey Bay Bombers
Essendon Football Club colours.svg
BombersN. E. Mclean Oval, Wondunna BAFL 19771985-198621985, 1986Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
Maryborough
RichmondDesign.svg
TigersAFL Federation Reserve, Maryborough BAFL 197719860-Entered recess in 1987, re-formed in Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1988
Former
ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFate
TotalYears
Gympie Blues [9]
Greta Football Club colours.jpg
BluesRay Warren Oval, Glanmire 198519850-Folded after 1985 season
Hervey Bay Hawks
Hawthorn Football Club Colours.svg
HawksN. E. Mclean Oval, Wondunna 198519850-Folded after 1985 season

Premiers

Wide Bay AFL (1985-1986)

  • 1985: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1986: Hervey Bay Bombers

See also

References

  1. "AT MOUNT ISA "Aussie" Rules Played". Sporting Globe . No. 1042. Victoria, Australia. 3 August 1932. p. 8 (Edition1). Retrieved 26 September 2021 via National Library of Australia.
  2. "AUSTRALIAN RULES". The Brisbane Courier . No. 23, 485. Queensland, Australia. 9 May 1933. p. 16. Retrieved 19 June 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Bird, Murray; Parker, Greg (2018). More of the Kangaroo: 150 Years of Australian Football in Queensland - 1866 to 2016. Morningside, Qld. p. vii. ISBN   978-0-9943936-1-6. OCLC   1082363978.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. "Rovers Win". The North West Star Mount Isa. Mount Isa, Queensland. 12 September 2005. p. 20.
  5. "Urangan in Rules Win". News Mail Bundaberg. Bundaberg, Queensland. 28 August 1984. p. 17.
  6. "Up There Cazaly". Maryborough Chronicle Maryborough. Maryborough, Queensland. 4 August 1981. p. 14.
  7. "Up There Cazaly". Maryborough Chronicle Maryborough. Maryborough, Queensland. 4 August 1981. p. 14.
  8. "Dolphins win final 158-32". Maryborough Chronicle Maryborough. Maryborough, Queensland. 23 August 1983. p. 14.
  9. Wide Bay AFL Year Book 1985.

Leagues

Clubs