Queensland Australian Football League Explained

Queensland Australian
Football League
Current Season:2024 QAFL season
Last Season:2023 QAFL season
Sport:Australian rules football
Founded: in Brisbane, Queensland
Inaugural:1904
Teams:12
Confed:AFL Queensland
Continent:Australia
Champion:Aspley
Champ Season:2023
Most Successful Club:Mayne (15)
Tv:YouTube
Related Comps:Queensland Football Association
Levels:2
Website:aflq.com.au

The Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL or "Q-A-F-L") is an Australian rules football competition organised by the AFL Queensland, contested by clubs from South East Queensland.

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

See also: Australian rules football in Queensland. Prior 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 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

See also: Brisbane Bears.

With 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.

2000: Restructure

In 2000 the QSFL was replaced by a new organisation, AFL Queensland (AFLQ). The new premiership competition was called the AFLQ State League.

Recent history

In 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

Clubs

The Queensland Australian Football League operates on a single table system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues.

Current clubs

Football Club NameColoursNicknameFirst
season
Premierships
TotalRecent
HornetsGraham Road Oval1964202222023
Cats1971199712021
Tigers196419970
RoosNeil Upton Oval197020200
PanthersJack Esplen Oval19471947102020
VulturesSouthside Toyota Oval1964199422007
TigersNoosa Oval197020210
LionsSalk Oval1961199722018
SharksTotally Workwear Park202020210
MagpiesPowenyenna Oval 1991199111996
DemonsSir Bruce Small Park1962201412019
GorillasHickey Park1945195031972

Former clubs

ColoursFootball Clubwidth=100pxNickname(s)width=100pxLocation(s)width=150pxHome Ground(s)width=050pxFoundedwidth=050pxStatus
AscotNo NicknameBrisbaneDefunct
Brisbane (R)LionsBrisbaneBrisbane Cricket Ground1996VFL
Brisbane *No NicknameBrisbaneBrisbane Cricket GroundDefunct
Brisbane *No NicknameBrisbaneBrisbane Cricket GroundDefunct
CaloundraPanthersSunshine CoastNorth Street Ground1973QFA
CityNo NicknameBrisbaneBrisbane Cricket GroundDefunct
Coorparoo (1935-1995)RoosBrisbane1935QFA
Gold Coast (R)SunsGold CoastCarrara Stadium2009VFL
IpswichIpswichNorth Ipswich Reserve1870Defunct
KedronRedlegsBrisbaneKedron Oval1937QFA
LocomotivesNo NicknameBrisbane1907Defunct
MayneTigersBrisbane1924QFA
NorthsNo NicknameBrisbaneDefunct
North Brisbane *EaglesBrisbaneO'Callaghan ParkDefunct
Northern TerritoryThunderAlice Springs,
Darwin
Traeger Park,
Marrara Oval
2008Defunct
RedlandSharksRedland1966Defunct *
SandgateHawksBrisbaneSandgate OvalQFA
Sherwood *MagpiesBrisbaneActive *
SouthportSharksGold CoastFankhauser Reserve1961VFL
SouthsNo NicknameBrisbaneDefunct
South Brisbane *DevilsBrisbaneDefunct *
Uni. of QueenslandStudentsBrisbane1956QFA
ValleyValleysBrisbaneDefunct
Windsor-Zillmere *EaglesBrisbaneO'Callaghan Park1962QFA
Western Districts *BulldogsBrisbane1991Defunct *
WorkshopsNo NicknameBrisbaneDefunct
Yeronga *No NicknameBrisbane1928Defunct *
Yeronga South Brisbane *DevilsBrisbaneQFA
Zillmere *EaglesBrisbaneO'Callaghan Park1923QFA

Premiers

The 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

width=010pxYearwidth=090pxPremierswidth=090pxRunners-upwidth=090pxGrand Final Venuewidth=090pxSuburb
1904 Norths, Souths, Wests (1)
1905 City (1) Valley[13]
1906 City (2) Brisbane
1907 Locomotives (1)
1908 Locomotives (2) City
1909 Wynnum (1)
1910 South Brisbane (1) City
1911 South Brisbane (2)
1912 Valley (1)
1913 Valley (2) Royal Australian Artillery[14]
1914 South Brisbane (3)
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920 Wynnum (2)
1921 South Brisbane (4) Valley[15]
1922 Brisbane (1)
1923 Brisbane (2)
1924 Brisbane (3)
1925 Valley (3)
1926 Brisbane (4)
1927 Mayne (1) Windsor[16]
1928 Mayne (2)
1929 Windsor (1)
1930 Mayne (3)
1931 Mayne (4)
1932 Windsor (2)
1933 Windsor (3)
1934 Mayne (5)
1935 Mayne (6)
1936 Windsor (4)
1937 Windsor (5)
1938 Windsor (6)
1939 Windsor (7)
1940 Windsor (8)
1941 Kedron (1)
1942 Mayne (7)
1943 Kedron (2)
1944 Kedron (3)
1945 Workshops (1)
1946 Kedron (4)
1947 Windsor (9)
1948 Kedron (5)
1949 Windsor (10)
1950 Windsor (11)
1951 Windsor (12)
1952 Mayne (8)
1953 Western Districts (1)
1954 Western Districts (2)
1955 Wilston Grange (1)
1956 Sandgate (1)
1957 Sandgate (2)
1958 Mayne (9)
1959 Kedron (6)
1960 Coorparoo (1)
1961 Mayne (10)
1962 Mayne (11)
1963 Coorparoo (2)
1964 Coorparoo (3)
1965 Morningside (1)
1966 Mayne (12)
1967 Mayne (13)
1968 Coorparoo (4)
1969 Wilston Grange (2)
1970 Sandgate (3)
1971 Sandgate (4)
1972 Wilston Grange (3)
1973 Mayne (14)
1974 Sandgate (5)
1975 Windsor-Zillmere (1)
1976 Windsor-Zillmere (2)
1977 Western Districts (3)
1978 Western Districts (4)
1979 Sandgate (6)
1980 Kedron (7)
1981Windsor-Zillmere (3)
1982 Mayne (15)
1983 Southport (1) Windsor Park Windsor
1984 Coorparoo (5) Windsor Park Windsor
1985 Southport (2) Windsor Park Windsor
1986 Coorparoo (6) Windsor Park Windsor
1987 Southport (3) Windsor Park Windsor
1988 Windsor-Zillmere (4) Windsor Park Windsor
1989 Southport (4) Woolloongabba
1990 Southport (5) Woolloongabba
1991 Morningside (2) Woolloongabba
1992 Southport (6) Woolloongabba
1993 Morningside (3) Woolloongabba
1994 Morningside (4) Woolloongabba
1995 North Brisbane (5) Woolloongabba
1996 West Brisbane (5) Woolloongabba
1997 Southport (7) Woolloongabba
1998 Southport (8) Woolloongabba
1999 Southport (9) Coorparoo
2000 Southport (10) Coorparoo
2001 Brisbane (1) Coorparoo
2002 Mount Gravatt (1) Coorparoo
2003 Morningside (5) Coorparoo
2004 Morningside (6) Coorparoo
2005 Southport (11) Woolloongabba
2006 Southport (12) Carrara
2007 Mount Gravatt (2) Carrara
2008 Southport (13) Carrara
2009 Morningside (7) Coorparoo
2010 Morningside (8) Coorparoo
2011 Northern Territory (1) Totally Workwear Park Victoria Point
2012 Brisbane (2) Leyshon Park
2013 Brisbane (3) Leyshon Park
2014 Morningside (9) Leyshon Park
2015 Labrador (1) Leyshon Park
2016 Labrador (2) Leyshon Park
2017 Palm Beach Currumbin (1) Southport
2018 Palm Beach Currumbin (2) Leyshon Park
2019 Surfers Paradise (1) Carrara
2020 Morningside (10) Leyshon Park
2021 Broadbeach (1) MaroochydooreSouthport
2022 Aspley (1) Coorparoo
2023Aspley (2)Redland-Victoria PointGiffin ParkCoorparoo

All grades

The complete list of premiers teams in all grades is detailed below.

width=005pxPremiership Seasonwidth=030pxPremiers (S)width=030pxPremiers (R)width=030pxPremiers (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
1916 QFL Season
1917 QFL Season
1918 QFL Season
1919 QFL Season
1920 QFL Season Wynnum
1921 QFL Season South Brisbane
1922 QFL Season Brisbane
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 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 Magpies
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

(R) = Reserves team

Premierships by club (seniors)

Premiership tallies for the top Queensland football division:[17]

width=300pxClubwidth=040pxTitleswidth=900pxPremiership yearswidth=040pxEstabl.
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 12 1929, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951 1924
Morningside Panthers 10 1965, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2020 1947
7 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1959, 1980 1937
6 1960, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1984, 1986 1937
61956, 1957, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1979 1943
Western Districts 4 1953, 1954, 1977, 1978 1920
Sherwood Districts 1 1996 1991
5 1975, 1976, 1981, 1988, 1995 1962
Brisbanes 4 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926 1922
4 1910, 1911, 1914, 1921
3 2001, 2012, 2013 1998
3 1912, 1913, 1925 1905
Wilston Grange Gorillas 3 1955, 1969, 1972 1945
Labrador Tigers 2 2015, 2016 1964
City 2 1905, 1906
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
2 1909, 1920 1905
Surfers Paradise Demons 1 2019 1962
1 2011 2008
Workshops 1 1945
Broadbeach Cats 1 2021 1971
Notes

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: MISCELLANEOUS. . . LX . 14,212 . Queensland, Australia . 1 August 1903 . 25 November 2021 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: FOOTBALL. . . 7882 . Victoria, Australia . 7 August 1903 . 25 November 2021 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Victorian Game. . . 9591 . Queensland, Australia . 17 August 1903 . 25 November 2021 . 5 (SECOND EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Australian Football . . 17,250 . Queensland, Australia . 16 March 1928 . 26 May 2023 . 15 (CITY EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: SPEEDY AND CLEVER . . 411 . Queensland, Australia . 12 April 1931 . 29 May 2023 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Qld attendances boosted by live TV coverage . . 58 . ((17,612)) . 18 December 1983 . 8 November 2022 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL Denial that VFL pulled rank over Qld match . . 56 . ((16,926)) . 30 January 1982 . 8 November 2022 . 39 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Compromise is sought in Bears battle . . 63 . ((19,356)) . 4 October 1988 . 12 December 2021 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Bear not doing enough for locals . . 74 . ((3,529)) . South Australia . 3 July 1987 . 8 November 2022 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
  10. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105081/default.aspx AFL's north east boost – AFL.com.au
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20101208174455/http://aflq.com.au/index.php?id=212 List of Premiers – QAFL Premiers 1905–2010
  12. Web site: Premiers.
  13. Web site: Fullpointsfooty.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210236/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1905_to_1912.htm. 16 May 2008.
  14. Web site: Fullpointsfooty.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210529/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1913_to_1920.htm. 16 May 2008.
  15. Web site: Fullpointsfooty.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210715/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1921_to_1926.htm. 16 May 2008.
  16. Web site: Fullpointsfooty.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210337/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1927_to_1932.htm. 16 May 2008.
  17. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-4711-0-0-8&sID=55949&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=4878156 QAFL premierships tallies