There are severalAustralian rules football leagues in regional Queensland.
The sport ofAustralian rules football has a rich history inQueensland which dates back to the 1860s, however the game outside ofSouth East Queensland was slower to take off than inBrisbane.
In 1913, a team of servicemen briefly existed on Thursday Island, but was short-lived. In 1944, a league of servicemen was formed around theAtherton Tableland. Teams represented included Wongabel, Wondelca,Kairi,Mareeba andRavenshoe. The league was a precursor to the nearbyCairns,Queensland league.
In 1955, the Townsville Australian Football League began. Two years later the Cairns Australian Football League was formed. AFL was also introduced toMount Isa. In the early 1970s, organised leagues started appearing inMackay, theDarling Downs andCentral Queensland.
TheAustralian Football League has occasionally played pre-season matches inCairns and there have been semi-regular premiership matches on theGold Coast.
AFL Cairns is a semi-professional league that includes clubs from theCairns region inQueensland,Australia. It is widely regarded as the strongest regional Australian rules football league in Queensland and has a large base atCazaly's Stadium which has stagedAustralian Football League matches.
The league has significant coverage in local media such asThe Cairns Post. Each year theGrand Final attracts between 2,000–3,000 spectators.
AFL Capricornia is an amateur competition played in the areas ofRockhampton,Gladstone andYeppoon between the months of March and September in the cooler seasons of theCentral Queensland climate.
The league is covered primarily by theRockhampton Morning Bulletin in the local print media.
AFL Darling Downs is an amateur competition formed as the Darling Downs Australian Football League in 1971. It is based around the city ofToowoomba west ofBrisbane. The senior representative team is known as theDemons 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 is an amateur competition formed as the Mackay Australian Football League in 1970. It is based around the city ofMackay with further clubs inAirlie Beach,Sarina,Alligator Creek,Pioneer Valley andMoranbah. The representative team is known as theCrows.
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 ofMount 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.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in MIAFL | MIAFL Senior Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||
| Mount Isa Buffaloes | Buffaloes | Legend Oval,Mount Isa | 1983 | 1983- | 9 | 1992, 1994, 1995, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 | |
| Mount Isa Tigers | Tigers | Legend Oval,Mount Isa | 1967 | 1967- | 13 | 1971, 1973, 1983, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022 | |
| Lake Nash | Bulldogs | Alpurrurulam Oval,Alpurrurulam (NT) | 1993 | *1993- | 3 | 2002, 2003, 2025 | |
| Dajarra Rhinos | Rhinos | Monument Sports Oval,Dajarra | 2018 | 2018- | 0 | - | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in MIAFL | MIAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Mary Kathleen | Magpies | Mary Kathleen Oval,Mary Kathleen | c.1957-1980 | 3 | 1977, 1978, 1979 | Folded after 1980 season | ||
| Mount Isa Rovers | Rovers | Legend Oval,Mount Isa | 1967 | 1967-2020 | 24 | 1968, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 | Folded after 2020 season | |
North West Australian Football League (1967-1968) /Mount Isa AFL (1969-1999) /AFL Mount Isa (2000-present)
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 ofTownsville. For a short period in the 1980s, the competition was played during the summer months. The representative team is known as theEagles and they wear similar guernseys to the Zillmere Eagles old white and blue guernsey's.
TheAFL 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 ofBundaberg,Maryborough andHervey Bay. The representative team is known as theTigers wearing guernseys similar to those of the Richmond Tigers.
TheBundabergAustralian 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.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in BAFL | BAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| North Bundaberg | Kangaroos | Kendall Flat,Bundaberg East | 1972 | 1972–1986 | 5 | 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 | FormedBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 | |
| South Bundaberg | Magpies | Kendall Flat,Bundaberg East | 1972 | 1972–1986 | 1 | 1981 | FormedBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 | |
| West Bundaberg | Bulldogs | Kendall Flat,Bundaberg East | 1972 | 1972–1986 | 5 | 1973, 1974, 1980, 1985, 1986 | FormedBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former league | Est. | Years in BAFL | BAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Biggenden | MAFL | 1981 | 1983 | 0 | - | Folded after 1983 season | |||
| Burnett Heads | Saints | – | 1972 | 1972-1982 | 0 | - | Recess between 1983 and 1986, re-formed inWide Bay AFL in 1987 | ||
| Brothers | – | 1985 | 1985 | 0 | - | Folded after 1985 season | |||
| Cooloola Coast | Dolphins | MAFL | 1982 | 1984 | 0 | - | FormedWide Bay AFL in 1985 | ||
| Gympie | Cats | Ray Warren Oval,Glanmire | SCAFL | 1971 | 1984 | 0 | - | FormedWide Bay AFL in 1985 | |
| Maryborough | Tigers | AFL Federation Reserve,Maryborough | SCAFL | 197 | 1979, 1984 | 0 | - | FormedMaryborough AFL in 1981 | |
| South Bundaberg (2) | Kendall Flat,Bundaberg East | – | 1979 | 1979 | 0 | - | Folded after 1979 season | ||
| Urangan(Hervey Bay 1977-83) | Sea Hawks | N. E. Mclean Oval,Wondunna | – | 1977 | 1977, 1982-1984 | 4 | 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984 | FormedWide Bay AFL in 1985 | |
Bundaberg AFL (1972-1986)
TheCentral HighlandsAustralian Football League was an amateur competition formed in 1983 and ceased operations after the 1997 season. Most of the previous clubs still exist and operateAuskick programs, includingDysart andEmerald. TheMoranbah Bulldogs moved to theMackay 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 inMackay's competition.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHAFL | CHAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Blackwater | Cats | Blackwater Cricket Ground,Blackwater | CAFL | 1981 | 1983-1997 | 3 | 1991, 1992, 1993 | Folded after 1997 season | |
| Dysart | Swans | MAFL | 1980 | 1983-1997 | 2 | 1983, 1984 | Folded after 1997 season | ||
| Emerald | Saints | – | 1983-1997 | 7 | 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 | Folded after 1997 season | |||
| Moranbah | Bulldogs | Stevenson Sports Park,Moranbah | MAFL | 1975 | 1983-1988, 1994-1997 | 2 | 1985, 1986 | Folded after 1997 season, re-formed inMackay AFL in 2006 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in CHAFL | CHAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Clermont | Bombers | – | 1985-1986 | 0 | - | Folded after 1986 season | |||
| Middlemount | Kangaroos | MAFL | 1982 | 1983-1991 | 1 | 1987 | Merged withTieri after 1991 season | ||
| Tieri(United 1992-95) | Tigers | – | 1983-1996 | 0 | - | Folded after 1996 season | |||
Central Highlands AFL (1983-1997)
TheGold CoastAustralian Football League was a competition that operated from at least 1961 to 1996 before being absorbed by the Queensland AFL as itsGold Coast Division.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in GCAFL | GCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Broadbeach | Cats | Subaru Oval,Mermaid Waters | 1971 | 1971-1996 | 2 | 1987, 1996 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Burleigh Heads | Bombers | Bill Godfrey Oval,Burleigh Waters | 1979 | 1979-1996 | 0 | - | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Coolangatta Tweed Heads | Blues | EXIMM Oval,Coolangatta | 1962 | 1965-1996 | 6 | 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Labrador | Tigers | Cooke-Murphy Oval,Labrador | 1964 | 1964-1996 | 5 | 1970, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1994 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Palm Beach Currumbin | Salk Oval,Palm Beach | 1961 | 1961-1996 | 5 | 1965, 1971, 1973, 1985, 1995 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | ||
| Robina | Roos | Scottsdale Reserve,Robina | 1996 | 1996 | 0 | - | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Surfers Paradise | Demons | Sir Bruce Small Park,Benowa | 1962 | 1962-1996 | 9 | 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1984, 1990, 1992 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1997 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in GCAFL | GCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Ashmore Nerang | Magpies | 1985 | 1985-1989 | 0 | - | Folded after 1989 season | ||
| Ipswich | Cats | Limestone Park,Ipswich | 1959 | 1963 | 0 | - | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1964 | |
| Lismore | Kangaroos | Gloria Mortimer Oval,Lismore | 1968 | 1968-1970, 1978-1983 | 0 | - | FormedSummerland AFL in 1984 | |
| Southport | Magpies | Fankhauser Reserve, Southport | 1961 | 1961-1982 | 9 | 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980 | Moved toQueensland AFL in 1983 | |
Gold Coast AFL (1961-1996) /AFLQ - Gold Coast Division (1997-1999)
TheMaryboroughAustralian 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.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in MAFL | MAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Biggenden reserves | – | 1981 | 1981-1983 | 1 | 1981 | Folded after 1983 season | |||
| Cooloola Coast | Dolphins | – | 1982 | 1982-1983 | 2 | 1982, 1983 | Moved toBundaberg AFL in 1984 | ||
| Isis | Hawks | – | 1981 | 1981-1983 | 0 | - | Folded after 1983 season | ||
| Maryborough[6] | Tigers | AFL Federation Reserve,Maryborough | BAFL | 1977 | 1981-1983 | 0 | - | Seniors folded, juniors moved toBundaberg AFL in 1984 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in MAFL | MAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Torbanlea[citation needed] | Demons | – | 1981 | 1981 | 0 | - | Folded after 1981 season | ||
Maryborough AFL (1981-1983)
TheSunshine CoastAustralian 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.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Caloundra | Panthers | Carter Park,Golden Beach | – | 1973 | 1973-1983, 1985-1989, 1991-1992 | 4 | 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992 | Moved toBrisbane AFL in 1993 | |
| Gympie | Cats | Ray Warren Oval,Glanmire | – | 1971 | 1971-1983, 1992 | 0 | - | Moved toBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1993 | |
| Kawana | Eagles | – | 1983 | 1983-1984, 1990-1992 | 0 | - | Folded after 1992 season | ||
| Maroochydore | Roos | Neil Upton Oval,Maroochydore | – | 1969 | 1970-1992 | 11 | 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989 | Moved toBrisbane AFL in 1993 | |
| Nambour | Blues | G Rae Oval,Palmwoods | – | 1970 | 1970-1975, 1977-1992 | 1 | 1990 | Moved toBrisbane AFL in 1993 | |
| Noosa | Hawks | Noosa Oval,Noosaville | – | 1970 | 1970-1992 | 7 | 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1987 | Moved toBrisbane AFL in 1993 | |
| Pomona | Demons | Reserve Street Oval,Pomona | – | 1973 | 1975-1990, 1992 | 0 | - | Moved toBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1993 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Caboolture | Cats | – | 1973 | 1973-1975 | 0 | - | Folded after 1975 season | ||
| Caboolture and Southern Districts | Bombers | Caboolture Showgrounds,Caboolture | – | 1986 | 1987-1990 | 0 | - | Moved toBrisbane AFL in 1991 | |
| Hervey Bay | Seahawks | N. E. Mclean Oval,Wondunna | BAFL | 1977 | 1978-1981 | 0 | - | Returned toBundaberg AFL in 1982 | |
| Maryborough | Tigers | AFL Federation Reserve,Maryborough | – | 1977 | 1977 | 0 | - | Moved toBundaberg AFL in 1979 | |
| Mooloolah Valley | Magpies | – | 1985 | 1985-1988 | 0 | - | Folded after 1988 season | ||
| Pomona/Gympie | Devil Cats | Ray Warren Oval,Glanmire and Reserve Street Oval,Pomona | – | 1991 | 1991 | 0 | - | De-merged intoPomona andGympie in 1992 | |
Sunshine Coast AFL (1970-1992)
TheWide BayAustralian Football League was a short-lived amateur competition that was formed in 1985 as a result of a breakaway from theBundaberg Australian Football League. It only lasted two years before merging with the league it broke away from.
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Cooloola Coast | Dolphins | BAFL | 1982 | 1985-1986 | 0 | - | Folded after 1986 season | ||
| Gympie Cats | Cats | Ray Warren Oval,Glanmire | BAFL | 1971 | 1985-1986 | 0 | - | FormedBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 | |
| Hervey Bay Bombers | Bombers | N. E. Mclean Oval,Wondunna | BAFL | 1977 | 1985-1986 | 2 | 1985, 1986 | FormedBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 | |
| Maryborough | Tigers | AFL Federation Reserve,Maryborough | BAFL | 1977 | 1986 | 0 | - | Entered recess in 1987, re-formed inBundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1988 | |
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Gympie Blues[9] | Blues | Ray Warren Oval,Glanmire | – | 1985 | 1985 | 0 | - | Folded after 1985 season | |
| Hervey Bay Hawks | Hawks | N. E. Mclean Oval,Wondunna | – | 1985 | 1985 | 0 | - | Folded after 1985 season | |
Wide Bay AFL (1985-1986)
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