The Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL /ˈkwɒfəl/ KWOF-əl or "Q-A-F-L") is an Australian rules football competition organised by the AFL Queensland, contested by clubs from South East Queensland.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 QAFL season | |
 | |
| Formerly | List
|
|---|---|
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| Founded | 1903 in Brisbane, Queensland |
| First season | 1904 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Region |  Queensland |
| Confederation | AFL Queensland |
| Most recent champion(s) | Morningside (2024) |
| Most titles | Mayne (15) |
| TV partner(s) | YouTube |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Related competitions | Queensland Football Association |
| Official website | aflq.com.au |
Founded in 1903 it was previously known as the Queensland Football League (QFL), Queensland Australian National Football League (QANFL), Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) and AFL Queensland State League (AFLQSL), the QAFL is the premier semi-professional competition in Queensland.
Since its inception, more than fifty teams have played in the premiership competition. The premier division currently features 12 teams from as far north from Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, throughout the Brisbane Metropolitan Area and as far south as Palm Beach on the Gold Coast near the New South Wales border. The league is headquartered in Brisbane. However teams from the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast have dominated the competition since 2015.
History
editPrior to formation of the QFL, a precursor existed in the form of the Queensland Football Association (QFA) between 1880 and 1890. However poor alignment with the Victorian Football Association, a failure to secure intercolonial tests and its failure to rein in the popularity of rugby saw its ultimate demise. Following a decade long hiatus in the sport, Australian rules saw renewed interest during the Federation of Australia and fans in Queensland at the turn of the century regrouped floating the idea of a new competition that would endure in the state.
The Queensland Football League (QFL) was formed in July 1903 at a meeting with 50 present at the South Brisbane Cycling Club and a total of 150 signed on as members.[1] Unlike the previous league which affiliated with the VFA, this new body decided to affiliate with the Victorian Football League.[2] Practice matches were held in August that year in the Botanical Gardens and attracted large crowds and interest.[3] The first premiership was held in 1904 with most games being played at Queen's Park, a sporting facility within the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
From 1905 to 1914 games were regularly played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Clubs included Brisbanes, Locomotives, Ipswich, Citys, Valleys, South Brisbane, North Brisbane, West Brisbane and Wynnum.
Between 1915 and 1919 the competition went into recess owing to World War I.
In 1926 Melbourne brewery Old Court Whisky donated the trophy to the competition. The first winner was Brisbane.[4]
In August 1927 at a meeting of the Australian National Football Council it was decided that each of the state leagues were to include the words 'Australian National' in their names. Accordingly, the QFL was renamed the Queensland Australian National Football League (QANFL) and football continued a steady growth in Brisbane.
Yeronga and Taringa fielded senior sides in the league for the first time in 1931, both having an immediate impact[5] and finishing runner up in the years to follow.
In 1964 the QANFL dropped the 'National' reference to their name and became the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), a limited liability company.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the QAFL saw a boom in popularity, boosted by televised matches it saw crowds of 500 to several thousand attending blockbuster matches, modest in comparison to attendances drawn in traditional football states but significant nonetheless.[6] The QAFL and the Gold Coast league both competed directly with the VFL for local marketshare in 1982.[7]
Brisbane Bears VFL licence and QAFL-Cronin Consortium
editWith its popularity increasing, the QAFL began to seek a VFL licence. In 1985 the QAFL had decided that pushing for a Melbourne-based club to relocate to Brisbane. However, after several failed attempts to relocate Melbourne clubs including Fitzroy and Richmond, it soon became evident that the VFL's preference was a new licence.
In 1986 the QAFL formed a consortium with Paul Cronin for a new VFL licence and the consortium won its bid for a new Brisbane based club. However the QAFL fell out with the Christopher Skase backed Brisbane Bears when the decision was made to base the new club at Carrara on the Gold Coast instead of the QAFL's preferred venue, the Brisbane Cricket Ground. The decision would begin a bitter and long protracted battle between the QAFL and the Bears[8] which was not resolved until 1991.
The admission of the Brisbane Bears and to have the club based on the Gold Coast had a huge impact on the QAFL's crowds, with attendances falling from an average of 500 to just 50.[9] Combined with the Bears poor on field and off field performances, the QAFL was severely weakened over the following years resulting in its voluntary liquidation in 1999.[citation needed]
2000: Restructure
editIn 2000 the QSFL was replaced by a new organisation, AFL Queensland (AFLQ). The new premiership competition was called the AFLQ State League.
Recent history
editIn November 2010 the AFL Queensland's Premier Division merged with AFL Canberra to form the North East Australian Football League, featuring all of its previous teams as well as the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions reserve teams in the Northern Conference of the league.[10]
As a result, the QAFL was disbanded in favour of localised competitions throughout Queensland. The structural changes to the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) competition at the end of the 2013 season resulted in several clubs being relegated from the NEAFL, giving rise to a rebirth of the QAFL. As of 2014, there are 10 clubs who compete in the QAFL, most of which are based in South-East Queensland. After spending the 2021 season in the VFL, Aspley rejoined the QAFL in time for the 2022 season.
Seasons and venues
edit- 1904–1912:
Queen's Park - 1905–1914:
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Exhibition Ground - 1920–1959:
Perry Park, Exhibition Ground - 1959–1971:
Brisbane Cricket Ground - 1972–1989:
Windsor Park
Uniforms
edit
Clubs
editThe Queensland Australian Football League operates on a single table system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues.
Current clubs
edit| Football Club Name | Colours | Nickname | Home venue | Est. | First season |
Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Recent | ||||||
| Aspley |  |
Hornets | Graham Road Oval, Carseldine | 1964 | 2022 | 2 | 2023 |
| Broadbeach |  |
Cats | Subaru Oval, Mermaid Waters | 1971 | 1997 | 1 | 2021 |
| Coorparoo |  |
Kings, Roos | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 | 2025 | - | - |
| Labrador |  |
Tigers | Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador | 1964 | 1997 | 0 | − |
| Maroochydore |  |
Roos | Neil Upton Oval, Maroochydore | 1970 | 2020 | 0 | − |
| Morningside |  |
Panthers | Jack Esplen Oval, Hawthorne | 1947 | 1947 | 10 | 2020 |
| Mount Gravatt |  |
Vultures | Southside Toyota Oval, Mt Gravatt | 1964 | 1994 | 2 | 2007 |
| Noosa |  |
Tigers | Noosa Oval, Noosaville | 1970 | 2021 | 0 | − |
| Palm Beach Currumbin |  |
Lions | Salk Oval, Palm Beach | 1961 | 1997 | 2 | 2018 |
| Redland-Victoria Point |  |
Sharks | Totally Workwear Park, Southport | 2020 | 2021 | 0 | − |
| Sherwood Districts |  |
Magpies | Powenyenna Oval, Chelmer | 1991 | 1991 | 1 | 1996 |
| Surfers Paradise |  |
Demons | Sir Bruce Small Park, Benowa | 1962 | 2014 | 1 | 2019 |
| Wilston Grange |  |
Gorillas | Hickey Park, Stafford | 1945 | 1950 | 3 | 1972 |
- Sherwood Districts formerly known as West Brisbane and later Western Districts
Former clubs
edit| Colours | Football Club | Nickname(s) | Location(s) | Home Ground(s) | Founded | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ascot | No Nickname | Brisbane | Defunct | ||
 |
Brisbane (R) | Lions | Brisbane | Brisbane Cricket Ground | 1996 | VFL |
 |
Brisbane * | No Nickname | Brisbane | Brisbane Cricket Ground | Defunct | |
 |
Brisbane * | No Nickname | Brisbane | Brisbane Cricket Ground | Defunct | |
 |
Caloundra | Panthers | Sunshine Coast | North Street Ground | 1973 | QFA |
| |
City | No Nickname | Brisbane | Brisbane Cricket Ground | Defunct | |
 |
Coorparoo (1935-1995) | Roos | Brisbane | 1935 | QFA* | |
 |
Gold Coast (R) | Suns | Gold Coast | Carrara Stadium | 2009 | VFL |
| Ipswich | Ipswich | North Ipswich Reserve | 1870 | Defunct | ||
 |
Kedron | Redlegs | Brisbane | Kedron Oval | 1937 | QFA |
 |
Locomotives | No Nickname | Brisbane | 1907 | Defunct | |
 |
Mayne | Tigers | Brisbane | 1924 | QFA | |
 |
Norths | No Nickname | Brisbane | Defunct | ||
 |
North Brisbane * | Eagles | Brisbane | O'Callaghan Park | Defunct | |
 |
Northern Territory | Thunder | Alice Springs, Darwin |
Traeger Park, Marrara Oval |
2008 | Defunct |
 |
Redland | Sharks | Redland | 1966 | Defunct * | |
 |
Sandgate | Hawks | Brisbane | Sandgate Oval | QFA | |
 |
Sherwood * | Magpies | Brisbane | Active * | ||
 |
Southport | Sharks | Gold Coast | Fankhauser Reserve | 1961 | VFL |
 |
Souths | No Nickname | Brisbane | Defunct | ||
 |
South Brisbane * | Devils | Brisbane | Defunct * | ||
 |
Uni. of Queensland | Students | Brisbane | 1956 | QFA | |
 |
Valley | Valleys | Brisbane | Defunct | ||
| |
Windsor-Zillmere * | Eagles | Brisbane | O'Callaghan Park | 1962 | QFA |
 |
Western Districts * | Bulldogs | Brisbane | 1991 | Defunct * | |
| |
Workshops | No Nickname | Brisbane | Defunct | ||
 |
Yeronga * | No Nickname | Brisbane | 1928 | Defunct * | |
 |
Yeronga South Brisbane * | Devils | Brisbane | QFA | ||
 |
Zillmere * | Eagles | Brisbane | O'Callaghan Park | 1923 | QFA |
- Brisbane (1920–1929)
- Coorparoo set to return to the Queensland Australian Football League in 2025.
- (R) = Reserves for AFL Seniors
- Redland merged with Victoria Point to form Redland-Victoria Point
- South Brisbane merged with Yeronga to form Yeronga South Brisbane
- Western Districts was originally Taringa, and then from a merger with Sherwood was then named West Brisbane, then Western Districts
- Zillmere renamed Windsor-Zillmere from merger with Windsor and then renamed North Brisbane through merger with Sandgate and then renamed Zillmere after demerger with Sandgate
Premiers
editThe complete list of premiers teams is detailed below:[11][12]
In 2010, the QAFL competition was disbanded and its teams became part of the NEAFL Northern conference.
In 2014, the QAFL competition resumed with several former clubs of the NEAFL being relegated to the competition along with several newly promoted teams.
Seniors
editAll grades
editThe complete list of premiers teams in all grades is detailed below.
- S = Seniors
- R = Reserves
- C = Colts
| Season | Premiers (S) | Premiers (R) | Premiers (C) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 QFL Season | Norths, Souths, Wests | |||
| 1905 QFL Season | City | |||
| 1906 QFL Season | City | |||
| 1907 QFL Season | Locomotives | |||
| 1908 QFL Season | Locomotives | |||
| 1909 QFL Season | Wynnum | |||
| 1910 QFL Season | South Brisbane | |||
| 1911 QFL Season | South Brisbane | |||
| 1912 QFL Season | Valley | |||
| 1913 QFL Season | Valley | |||
| 1914 QFL Season | South Brisbane | |||
| 1915 QFL Season | (No competition due to World War I)
| |||
| 1916 QFL Season | (No competition due to World War I)
| |||
| 1917 QFL Season | (No competition due to World War I)
| |||
| 1918 QFL Season | (No competition due to World War I)
| |||
| 1919 QFL Season | (No competition due to Influenza pandemic)
| |||
| 1920 QFL Season | Wynnum | |||
| 1921 QFL Season | South Brisbane | |||
| 1922 QFL Season | Brisbane (1920s) | |||
| 1923 QFL Season | Brisbane (1920s) | |||
| 1924 QFL Season | Brisbane (1920s) | |||
| 1925 QFL Season | Valley | |||
| 1926 QFL Season | Brisbane (1920s) | |||
| 1927 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1928 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1929 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1930 QANFL Season | Windsor, Mayne | |||
| 1931 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1932 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1933 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1934 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1935 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1936 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1937 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1938 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1939 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1940 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1941 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1942 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1943 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1944 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1945 QANFL Season | Workshops | |||
| 1946 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1947 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1948 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1949 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1950 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1951 QANFL Season | Windsor | |||
| 1952 QANFL Season | Mayne | Morningside | ||
| 1953 QANFL Season | Western Districts | |||
| 1954 QANFL Season | Western Districts | |||
| 1955 QANFL Season | Wilston Grange | |||
| 1956 QANFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1957 QANFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1958 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1959 QANFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1960 QANFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1961 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1962 QANFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1963 QANFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1964 QAFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1965 QAFL Season | Morningside | Morningside | ||
| 1966 QAFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1967 QAFL Season | Mayne | Morningside | ||
| 1968 QAFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1969 QAFL Season | Wilston Grange | |||
| 1970 QAFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1971 QAFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1972 QAFL Season | Wilston Grange | |||
| 1973 QAFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1974 QAFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1975 QAFL Season | Windsor-Zillmere | |||
| 1976 QAFL Season | Windsor-Zillmere | |||
| 1977 QAFL Season | Western Districts | |||
| 1978 QAFL Season | Western Districts | |||
| 1979 QAFL Season | Sandgate | |||
| 1980 QAFL Season | Kedron | |||
| 1981 QAFL Season | Windsor-Zillmere | |||
| 1982 QAFL Season | Mayne | |||
| 1983 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1984 QAFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1985 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1986 QAFL Season | Coorparoo | |||
| 1987 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1988 QAFL Season | Windsor-Zillmere | |||
| 1989 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1990 QAFL Season | Southport | Morningside | ||
| 1991 QAFL Season | Morningside | |||
| 1992 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1993 QAFL Season | Morningside | |||
| 1994 QAFL Season | Morningside | |||
| 1995 QAFL Season | North Brisbane | |||
| 1996 QAFL Season | West Brisbane | |||
| 1997 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1998 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 1999 QAFL Season | Southport | |||
| 2000 AFLQ State League Season | Southport | |||
| 2001 AFLQ State League Season | Brisbane (R) | Morningside | ||
| 2002 AFLQ State League Season | Mount Gravatt | |||
| 2003 AFLQ State League Season | Morningside | Morningside | ||
| 2004 AFLQ State League Season | Morningside | |||
| 2005 AFLQ State League Season | Southport | |||
| 2006 AFLQ State League Season | Southport | Morningside | ||
| 2007 AFLQ State League Season | Mount Gravatt | |||
| 2008 AFLQ State League Season | Southport | |||
| 2009 AFLQ State League Season | Morningside | Morningside | ||
| 2010 AFLQ State League Season | Morningside | |||
| 2011 AFLQ State League Season | Northern Territory | |||
| 2012 AFLQ State League Season | Brisbane (R) | |||
| 2013 AFLQ State League Season | Brisbane (R) | Morningside | ||
| 2014 QAFL Season | Morningside | Morningside | ||
| 2015 QAFL Season | Labrador | Labrador | ||
| 2016 QAFL Season | Labrador | Morningside | ||
| 2017 QAFL Season | Palm Beach Currumbin | Morningside | Morningside | |
| 2018 QAFL Season | Palm Beach Currumbin | Broadbeach | Western Districts | |
| 2019 QAFL Season | Surfers Paradise | Palm Beach Currumbin | Wilston Grange | |
| 2020 QAFL Season | Morningside | Morningside | Palm Beach Currumbin | |
| 2021 QAFL Season | Broadbeach | Labrador | Labrador | |
| 2022 QAFL Season | Aspley | Labrador | Palm Beach Currumbin | |
| 2023 QAFL Season | Aspley | Aspley | Maroochydore | |
| 2024 QAFL Season | Morningside | Maroochydore | Morningside | |
| 2025 QAFL Season | ||||
(R) = Reserves team for AFL Seniors team
Premierships by club (seniors)
editPremiership tallies for the top Queensland football division:[17]
- Team names in bold currently play in the QAFL.
| Club | Titles | Premiership years | Establ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayne Tigers | 15 | 1927, 1928, 1930*, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1942, 1952, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1982 | 1924 |
| Southport Sharks | 13 | 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008 | 1961 |
| Windsor [a] | 12 | 1929, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951 | 1924 |
| Morningside Panthers | 11 | 1965, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2020, 2024 | 1947 |
| Kedron Lions | 7 | 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1959, 1980 | 1937 |
| Coorparoo Roos | 6 | 1960, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1984, 1986 | 1937 |
| Sandgate Hawks | 6 | 1956, 1957, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1979 | 1943 |
| Western Districts | 4 | 1953, 1954, 1977, 1978 | 1920 |
| Sherwood Districts | 1 | 1996 | 1991 |
| Zillmere Eagles [a] | 5 | 1975, 1976, 1981, 1988, 1995 | 1962 |
| Brisbanes [b] | 4 | 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926 | 1922 |
| South Brisbane | 4 | 1910, 1911, 1914, 1921 | |
| Brisbane Lions (R) [c] | 3 | 2001, 2012, 2013 | 1998 |
| Valley | 3 | 1912, 1913, 1925 | 1905 |
| Wilston Grange Gorillas | 3 | 1955, 1969, 1972 | 1945 |
| Labrador Tigers | 2 | 2015, 2016 | 1964 |
| City | 2 | 1905, 1906 | |
| Locomotives | 2 | 1907, 1908 | 1905 |
| Mount Gravatt Vultures | 2 | 2002, 2007 | 1964 |
| Palm Beach Currumbin Lions | 2 | 2017, 2018 | 1961 |
| Aspley Hornets | 2 | 2022, 2023 | 1964 |
| Wynnum Vikings | 2 | 1909, 1920 | 1905 |
| Surfers Paradise Demons | 1 | 2019 | 1962 |
| Northern Territory Thunder | 1 | 2011 | 2008 |
| Workshops | 1 | 1945 | |
| Broadbeach Cats | 1 | 2021 | 1971 |
- Notes
- ^ a b Windsor and Zillmere are considered to be two separate clubs.
- ^ Not related to the Brisbane AFC (which had dissolved in 1887)
- ^ Reserve teams
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "MISCELLANEOUS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LX, no. 14, 212. Queensland, Australia. 1 August 1903. p. 11. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FOOTBALL". The Herald. No. 7882. Victoria, Australia. 7 August 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Victorian Game". The Telegraph. No. 9591. Queensland, Australia. 17 August 1903. p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Australian Football". The Telegraph. No. 17, 250. Queensland, Australia. 16 March 1928. p. 15 (CITY EDITION). Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SPEEDY AND CLEVER". Sunday Mail. No. 411. Queensland, Australia. 12 April 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 29 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Qld attendances boosted by live TV coverage". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17,612. 18 December 1983. p. 23. Retrieved 8 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Denial that VFL pulled rank over Qld match". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 16,926. 30 January 1982. p. 39. Retrieved 8 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Compromise is sought in Bears battle". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19,356. 4 October 1988. p. 22. Retrieved 12 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Bear not doing enough for locals". The Times. Vol. 74, no. 3,529. South Australia. 3 July 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 8 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ AFL's north east boost – AFL.com.au Archived 14 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ List of Premiers – QAFL Premiers 1905–2010 on QAFL website (Archive, 8 December 2010)
- ^ "Premiers".
- ^ "Fullpointsfooty.net". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- ^ "Fullpointsfooty.net". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- ^ "Fullpointsfooty.net". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- ^ "Fullpointsfooty.net". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- ^ QAFL premierships tallies
External links
edit- AFL Queensland State website
- Official Facebook
- "Full Points Footy QAFL/AFL Queensland Summary Chart". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008.
- QAFF – Queensland footy history group
- Footynews Unofficial QAFL news and results