Australian rules football leagues in regional Queensland

There are several Australian rules football leagues in regional Queensland.

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

Official Name Nickname Home Colours Years in competition Premierships Premiership Years
Mount Isa Buffaloes ARFCBuffaloesLegend Oval, Mount Isa
1983-51992, 1994, 1995, 2017, 2018
Mount Isa TigersTigersLegend Oval, Mount Isa
1967-111971, 1973, 1983, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
Lake Nash AFCBats
(formerly Bushies, Young Guns, Lake Nash)
Alpurrurulam Oval, Alpurrurulam (NT)
*1993-22002, 2003
Dajarra Rhinos FCRhinosMonument Sports Oval, Dajarra
2018-0

Former Clubs

Official Name Nickname Home Colours Years in competition Premierships Premiership Years
Mount Isa Rovers ARFCRoversLegend Oval, Mount Isa
1967-241968, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986,1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013

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, Mighty Bats
  • 2003: Lake Nash, Mighty Bats
  • 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

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.

Clubs

Club Moniker Colours Years in competition No. of Premierships
ATW BundabergEagles
1997–*9
Bay PowerPower
2004–
Brothers BulldogsBulldogs
1987–3
Hervey BayBombers
1987–15
  • ATW Bundaberg Eagles was the result of the merger of North Bundaberg Kangaroos and South Bundaberg/ATW Magpies
  • Brothers Bulldogs were known as West Bundaberg Bulldogs 1987-1996

Former Clubs

Club Moniker Colours Years in competition No. of Premierships
GympieCats
1984, 1987-1988, 1993-1999, 2003-2006, 2017-
MaryboroughBears
1988, 1990–1991, 1993–1999, 2001–2012, 2018*
  • Maryborough Bears' previous moniker was Maryborough Tigers from 1988–1994

Premiers

Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL (1987-1999) / AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay (2000-2009) / AFL Wide Bay (2010-present)

  • 1987: West Bundaberg
  • 1988: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1989: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1990: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1991: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1992: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1993: Fraser Coast
  • 1994: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1995: West Bundaberg
  • 1996: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1997: ATW Bundaberg
  • 1998: ATW Bundaberg
  • 1999: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2000: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2001: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2002: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2003: League in recess
  • 2004: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2005: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2006: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2007: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2008: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2009: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2010: Brothers Bulldogs
  • 2011: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2012: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2013: Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2014: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2015: ATW Bundaberg
  • 2016: ATW Bundaberg

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

Club Colours Years in Competition Premierships
North Bundaberg
1972–1986 5
South Bundaberg
1972–1986 1
West Bundaberg
1972–1986 5
Burnett Heads
1972–1982 -
Hervey Bay
1977, 1982–1983 3
South Bundaberg 2
1979 -
Maryborough
1979 -
Biggenden
1983 -
Gympie
1984 -
Cooloola Coast
1984 -
Urangan
1984 1
Brothers
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

Club Colours Nickname Years in competition Premierships
Blackwater Dark Blue and White Cats 1983–1997 3
Clermont Red and Black Bombers 1985–1986 -
Dysart Red and White Swans 1983–1997 2
Emerald Black, White and Red Saints 1983–1997 7
Middlemount Blue and White Kangaroos 1983–1991 1
Moranbah Blue, White and Red bulldogs 1983–1988, 1994–1997 2
Tieri Black and Yellow Tigers 1983–1991, 1996 -
United Black and Yellow Tigers 1992–1995 -

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

Club Colours Years in Competition Premierships
Ashmore Nerang Black and White 1985-1989 0
Broadbeach White and blue 1971–1996 2
Burleigh Heads Red and Black 1979–1996 0
Coolangatta Tweed Heads 1965–1996 6
Ipswich 1963 0
Labrador Black and Yellow 1964–1996 5
Lismore 1968–1970, 1978–1983 0
Palm Beach-Currumbin Yellow and Purple 1961–1996 4
Robina Roos Blue and White 1996 0
Southport White and black 1961–1982 9
Surfers Paradise Red and Blue 1962–1996 9

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

Club Colours Years in Competition Premierships
Biggenden Brown and White 1981–1983 1
Cooloola Coast Navy Blue and White 1982–1983 2
Isis Brown and Yellow 1981–1983 -
Maryborough[6] Black and Gold 1981–1983 -
Torbanlea Red and Blue 1981 -

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

Club Colours Nickname Years in competition Premierships
Caboolture Maroon, Blue and Gold Lions (Cats 73-75) 1973–1975, 1984–1987, 1990 -
Caloundra Navy Blue and White Panthers (Cats 73-80) 1973–1983, 1985–1989, 1991–1992 4
Gympie Navy Blue and White Cats 1971–1983, 1992 -
Hervey Bay Red and Green Seahawks 1978–1981 -
Kawana Blue and Yellow Eagles 1983–1984, 1990–1992 -
Maroochydore Green and Gold 1970–1992 11
Maryborough Black and Gold Tigers 1977 -
Mooloolah Valley Black and White Magpies 1985–1988 -
Nambour Navy Blue and White Blues 1970–1975, 1977–1992 1
Noosa Black and Gold Tigers 1970–1992 7
Pomona Blue and Gold Demons 1975, 1987–1990 -
Pomona/Cooroy Red and Blue Demons 1976–1986 -
Pomona/Gympie Blue, White and Gold Devil Cats 1991 -
Southern Districts Red, Blue and Gold Wildcats 1987–1989 -

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

Club Colours Years in competition Premierships
Cooloola Coast Navy Blue and White 1985–1986 -
Gympie Blues[9] 1985 -
Gympie Cats Navy Blue and White 1985–1986 -
Hervey Bay Bombers Black and Red 1985–1986 2
Hervey Bay Hawks Brown and Yellow 1985 -
Maryborough Black and Gold 1986 -

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

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