This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2024) |
The Queensland Football Association (QFA) is the largest Australian rules football league in Queensland and second largest in the world by number of senior clubs (after the Victorian Amateur Football Association). Dating back to 1969 and going by various names it is now run by AFL Queensland as a second tier competition under its semi-professional Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). There are 52 clubs spanning as far north as Gympie in Queensland to as far south as Ballina in New South Wales (NSW).[1] Most clubs field men's and women's senior and reserve sides in the top divisions, with senior only teams in the lower divisions. The men's competition is known as the QFA and the women's is known as the QFAW.
| Current season, competition or edition: | |
| Formerly | List
|
|---|---|
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| Founded | 1969 in Brisbane, Queensland |
| First season | 1969 |
| No. of teams | 52 |
| Region | |
| Confederation | AFL Queensland |
| Most recent champion(s) | Mayne (2024) |
| Most titles | Mayne (15) |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Related competitions | Queensland Football Association |
| Official website | aflq.com.au |
The current competition is the result of merging Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast leagues with existing Brisbane leagues in the 1990s along with the addition of New South Wales clubs in the 2010s after numerous attempts to restructure QFA (Northern Rivers) and AFL North Coast (NSW) competitions.[2] Successive restructuring has seen the number of teams balloon resulting in numerous divisions. The QFA covers more municipalities than any other competition in Queensland including Gympie Region, Shire of Noosa, Sunshine Coast Region, City of Moreton Bay, Somerset Region, Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Redland City and Ipswich City Council with a combined population of almost 4 million. Due to the enormous distances between clubs for a mostly amateur competition, which can reach 350 kilometres placing significant stress on clubs, the league restructured in 2021 into North/South sub-divisions.[3]
It is one of the few Australian rules football leagues that operates a promotion and relegation system. AFL Queensland considers the QFA to be a development league for clubs to prove that they are sufficiently stable and successful to apply for a QAFL license. The most recent examples of QFA Division 1 clubs entering the QAFL are Redland-Victoria Point in 2021,[4] Noosa Tigers in 2022,[5] and Coorparoo Kings for 2025.[6]
Traditionally an amateur competition, amateur status was enforced between 2014 and 2017 when it split off the Queensland Amateur Football Association (QAFA) competition. However with increasing professionalism in the QAFL and clubs seeking promotion, AFL Queensland accommodated for player payments in 2020 and it is now not uncommon for QFA Division 1 clubs to sign big name players.[7] This has made it more difficult for truly amateur clubs to compete and get promoted from the lower divisions.[8]
History
editIn 1969, the "South Queensland Australian Football Association" (SQAFA) was established with the purpose of developing players for the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). Most of the players were amateurs. In 1992, the league changed its name to the "Brisbane Australian Football League" (BAFL) and included clubs from the Sunshine Coast.
Another name change in 2000 brought about AFL South Queensland. In 2006, AFL South Queensland was taken under the umbrella of AFL Queensland and rebranded as the Queensland State Association. In 2012, it was renamed South East Queensland AFL.[9] Finally in 2014 the local level was divided into two leagues, the Queensland Football Association (QFA) and the Queensland Amateur Football Association (QAFA). Again in 2017 the name will change again to the Queensland Football Association, now covering five divisions and the re-introduction of two regional based leagues (AFL Northern Rivers & AFL Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay).
Competition structure
editSince 2017 to present:
| Queensland Football Association (QFA) league system | |||||
| Level | Leagues [1] | N° of teams (Reserves) |
N° of teams (Seniors) |
↑ Promotion | ↓ Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QFA Division 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 ** |
| 2 | QFA Division 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 * | 1 ** |
| 3 | QFA Division 3 | 10 | 10 | 1 * | 0 |
| 4 | QFA Division 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 ** | |
| 5 | QFA Division 5 | 9 | 1 * | 0 | |
- Notes
* Premiers
** Wooden spooners
Queensland Football Association clubs
editQueensland Football Association Division 1
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beenleigh | Buffaloes | Guardian Gantry Hire Oval. Dauth Park, Beenleigh | 1998 | |
| Caloundra | Panthers | Carter Park. North Street, Golden Beach | 1973 | |
| Coorparoo [note 1] | Kings | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 | |
| Hinterland | Blues | G Rae Oval, Palmwoods | 1970 | |
| Mayne | Tigers | Enoggera Memorial Park, Enoggera | 1924 | |
| Moreton Bay | Lions | Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park, Burpengary | 1987 | |
| Springwood | Pumas | Lowe Oval, Underwood | 1972 | |
| Uni. of Queensland | Red Lions | University of Queensland Playing Field 2, St Lucia | 1956 |
- Notes
- ^ Established in 1996, one year after the original Coorparoo FC folded.
| Year | Club promoted to division | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Queensland Football Association Division 2 North
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Hills | Bombers | Keith Surridge Park, Alexandra Hills | 1980 | |
| Gympie | Cats | Ray Warren Oval, Glanmire | 1971 | |
| Jindalee | Jags | Jindalee Recreation Reserve. Wongaburra Street, Jindalee | 1971 | |
| Kedron | Lions | EK (Ted) Anderson Oval, Kedron | 1937 | |
| Kenmore | Bears | Chelmer Oval, Chelmer | 1967 | |
| Park Ridge | Pirates | Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge | 2013 | |
| Pine Rivers | Swans | Rob Akers Reserve, Strathpine | 1970 | |
| Redcliffe | Tigers | Nathan Road Sports Complex, Kippa-Ring | 1974 | |
| Sandgate | Hawks | Taigum Place Park, Taigum | 1943 | |
| Wynnum | Vikings | Kianawah Oval, Wynnum West | 1971 | |
| Yeronga South Brisbane |
Devils | Leyshon Park, Yeronga | 1929 | |
| Zillmere | Eagles | O'Callaghan Park, Zillmere | 1923 |
| Year | Club promoted to division | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Queensland Football Association Division 2 South
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond University | Bullsharks | Bond University Oval, Robina | 2011 | |
| Burleigh [note 1] | Bombers | Bill Godfrey Oval, Burleigh Waters | c. 1979 | |
| Carrara | Saints | Alan Nielsen Oval, Carrara | 2012 | |
| Coolangatta Tweed Heads |
Blues | EXIMM Oval, Coolangatta | 2012 | |
| Coomera | Magpies | Coomera Sports Park, Coomera | 2009 | |
| Robina | Roos | Scottsdale Reserve, Robina | 1996 | |
| Southern Stingrays | Stingrays | Fripp Oval, Ballina, New South Wales; Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay, New South Wales | 2024 | |
| Tweed Coast | Tigers | Barry Sheppard Oval. Bogangar, New South Wales | 2009 |
Queensland Football Association Division 3 North
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspley | Hornets | Graham Road, Carseldine | 1964 | |
| Caloundra | Panthers | Carter Park, Golden Beach | 1973 | |
| Coorparoo [note 2] | Kings | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 | |
| Marcellin Old Collegians | Gorillas | Hickey Park, Stafford | 1945 | |
| Maroochydore | Roos | Neil Upton Oval, Maroochydore | 1969 | |
| Moreton Bay | Lions | Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park, Burpengary | 1987 | |
| North Shore | Jets | North Shore Multisports Complex, Mudjimba | 1999 |
Queensland Football Association Division 3 South
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood Park | Power | Redbank Plains Recreational Reserve, Redbank Plains | 2012 | |
| Coorparoo [note 2] | Kings | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 | |
| Jimboomba | Redbacks | Glenlogan Park, Glenlogan | 2000 | |
| Moorooka | Roosters | Alexander Park, Moorooka | 2009 | |
| Morningside | Panthers | Jack Esplen Oval, Hawthorne | 1947 | |
| Ormeau | Bulldogs | Ormeau Sports Park, Kingsholme | 2008 | |
| Pacific Pines | Power | McAuley Parade Oval, Pacific Pines | 2005 | |
| Sherwood | Magpies | Powenyenna Oval, Chelmer | 1991 |
Queensland Football Association Division 4 North
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferny Grove | Falcons | Ferny Grove Oval, Ferny Grove | 1991 | |
| Glasshouse Hinterland | Lions | Landsborough Sport & Recreation Centre, Landsborough | 1997 | |
| Hinterland | Blues | G Rae Oval, Palmwoods | 1970 | |
| Kedron | Lions | EK (Ted) Anderson Oval, Kedron | 1937 | |
| Mayne | Tigers | Enoggera Memorial Park, Enoggera | 1924 | |
| Redcliffe | Tigers | Nathan Road Sports Complex, Kippa-Ring | 1974 | |
| Sandgate | Hawks | Sandgate Hawks AFC, Taigum | 1943 | |
| Uni. Of Queensland | Red Lions | University of Queensland Playing Field 2, St Lucia | 1956 | |
| Yeronga South Brisbane | Devils | Leyshon Park, Yeronga | 1929 |
Queensland Football Association Division 4 South
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Valley | Rattlers | Fernvale Sports Park, Fernvale | 2016 | |
| Carrara | Saints | Alan Nielsen Oval, Carrara | 2012 | |
| Coolangatta Tweed Heads | Blues | EXIMM Oval, Coolangatta | 2012 | |
| Coomera | Magpies | Coomera Sports Park, Coomera | 2009 | |
| Ipswich | Cats | Ivor Marsden Memorial Sports Centre, Amberley | 1959 | |
| Ipswich | Eagles | Limestone Park, Ipswich | 2001 | |
| Greater Springfield | Storm | Springfield Central Sports complex, Springfield Central | 2022 | |
| Labrador | Tigers | Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador | 1964 | |
| Mount Gravatt | Vultures | Dittmer Park, Mount Gravatt | 1964 | |
| Redland-Victoria Point | Sharks | Totally Workwear Park, Victoria Point | 2014 | |
| Southport | Sharks | Fankhauser Reserve, Southport | 1961 |
Notes
edit- ^ The club website indicates that its first president was appointed in 1979, with no more data about its foundation.[10]
- ^ a b Established in 1996, one year after the original Coorparoo FC folded.
Clubs in other competitions
editThe QAFL is the semi-professional division of AFL Queensland and some clubs field sides in it and other leagues as well as an amateur side in the QFA.
| Colours | Football Club Name | Nickname | City/Region | Suburb/s | Other League/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspley | Hornets | Brisbane | Carseldine | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Labrador | Tigers | Gold Coast | Labrador | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Maroochydore | Roos | Sunshine Coast | Maroochydore | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Morningside | Panthers | Brisbane | Hawthorne | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Mount Gravatt | Vultures | Brisbane | Upper Mount Gravatt | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Redland-Victoria Point | Sharks | Victoria Point | Victoria Point | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Sherwood Districts | Magpies | Brisbane | Chelmer | Queensland Australian Football League | |
| Wilston Grange | Gorillas | Brisbane | Stafford | Queensland Australian Football League |
- Notes
Notable Queensland Football Association clubs defunct, in recess or in other leagues
edit| Colours | Club Name | Nickname | City/Town | Suburb/s | State/Territory | Home Ground/s | Formed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballina | Bombers | Ballina | Ballina | New South Wales | Fripp Oval | 1984 | Senior men's team merged with Byron to form Southern Stingrays in 2024 | |
| Banyo | Bloods | Brisbane | Banyo | Queensland | Nudgee Recreation Reserve | 1967 | Folded | |
| Bribie Island | Bulldogs | Bongaree | Bribie Island | Queensland | Bribie Island Recreation Reserve | In recess | ||
| Byron | Magpies | Byron Bay | Byron Bay | New South Wales | Cavanbah Centre | 1984 | Senior men's team merged with Ballina to form Southern Stingrays in 2024 | |
| Calamvale | Leopards | Brisbane | Calamvale | Queensland | Calamvale Sportsfield | ???? | Folded, still field junior teams | |
| Lismore | Swans | Lismore | Lismore | New South Wales | Gloria Mortimer Oval | 2002 | Moved to AFL North Coast, in recess since 2022 floods | |
| Marsden | Hawks | Brisbane | Marsden | Queensland | Mudgee Street Park | 1992 | Folded | |
| Murri | Mavericks | Brisbane | Kedron | Queensland | Melrose Park | 1998 | Merged with Ferny Grove | |
| Pomona | Demons | Sunshine Coast | Pomona | Queensland | Reserve Street Oval | 1973 | Entered recess, re-formed in AFL Wide Bay in 2024 |
Premiers: 1970–present
edit| Year | SQAFA Division 1 | SQAFA Division 2 | SQAFA Division 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Sherwood | Deagon | ? | ||||
| 1971 | Mt Gravatt | University Queensland | Stafford | ||||
| 1972 | Mt Gravatt | Banyo | Mt Gravatt | ||||
| 1973 | Sherwood | Banyo | Stafford | ||||
| 1974 | Mt Gravatt | Wynnum | Aspley | ||||
| 1975 | Sherwood | Banyo | Redland | ||||
| 1976 | Sherwood | RAAF | Deagon | ||||
| 1977 | Sherwood | Deagon | Beenleigh-Slacks | ||||
| 1978 | Sherwood | Oakleigh | Everton | ||||
| 1979 | Sherwood | Ipswich | RAAF | ||||
| 1980 | Sherwood | Beenleigh | (No competition) | ||||
| 1981 | Sherwood | Everton | (No competition) | ||||
| 1982 | Sherwood | Banyo | (No competition) | ||||
| 1983 | Mt Gravatt | Ashgrove | (No competition) | ||||
| 1984 | Acacia Ridge | University Queensland | (No competition) | ||||
| 1985 | Aspley | Beenleigh | (No competition) | ||||
| 1986 | Aspley | Jindalee | (No competition) | ||||
| 1987 | Aspley | Redland | (No competition) | ||||
| 1988 | Aspley | Redcliffe | (No competition) | ||||
| 1989 | Aspley | Springwood | (No competition) | ||||
| 1990 | Aspley | Everton | (No competition) | ||||
| 1991 | Strathpine | Ipswich | (No competition) | ||||
| Year | BAFL Division 1 | BAFL Division 2 | BAFL Division 3 | ||||
| 1992 | Aspley | Moorooka | Uni | ||||
| 1993 | Maroochydore | Sandgate | Ipswich | ||||
| 1994 | Maroochydore | Sandgate | Marsden | ||||
| 1995 | Maroochydore | Alexandra Hills | Marsden | ||||
| 1996 | Maroochydore | Alexandra Hills | Toowong | ||||
| 1997 | Noosa | Wilston Grange | Kenmore | ||||
| 1998 | Redland | Moorooka | Kenmore | ||||
| 1999 | Redland | Caboolture | Redland | ||||
| Year | AFLSQ Premier Division | AFLSQ Division 1 | AFLSQ Division 2 | AFLSQ Division 3 | AFLSQ Division 4 | ||
| 2000 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Coorparoo Kings | Gympie | ? | ? | ||
| 2001 | Coolangatta | Burleigh Heads | Coorparoo Kings | Gympie | ? | ||
| 2002 | Aspley | Springwood | Redcliffe | Kenmore | Wilston Grange | ||
| 2003 | Coolangatta | Strathpine | Wynnum | (No competition) | ? | ||
| 2004 | Burleigh | Strathpine | Robina | (No competition) | ? | ||
| 2005 | Burleigh | Redcliffe | Robina | (No competition) | ? | ||
| Year | AFLQ State League Div 2 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 1 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 2 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 3 North | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 3 Central | ||
| 2006 | Western Magpies | Yeronga | Kenmore | (No competition) | ? | ||
| 2007 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Yeronga | Kedron | Gympie | Western Magpies | ||
| 2008 | Western Magpies | Wynnum | Redcliffe | Nambour | Strathpine | ||
| 2009 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Wynnum | Beenleigh | Nambour | Woodsmen | ||
| 2010 | Noosa | Caloundra | Robina | Nambour & Hinterland | Jimboomba | ||
| 2011 | Noosa | Coorparoo Kings | Nambour & Hinterland | Pomona | Jimboomba | ||
| Year | SEQAFL Division 1 | SEQAFL Division 2 | SEQAFL Division 3 | SEQAFL Division 4 North | SEQAFL Division 4 Central | SEQAFL Division 4 South | |
| 2012 | Western Magpies | Coorparoo Kings | Redcliffe | Caloundra | Pine Rivers | Tweed Coast | |
| 2013 | Springwood | Coorparoo Kings | Coomera | Pomona | Zillmere | Tweed Coast | |
| Year | QFA North | QFA South | QAFA A Grade | QAFA B Grade North | QAFA B Grade Central | QAFA B Grade South | |
| 2014 | Mayne | Springwood | Griffith Uni/Moorooka | Bribie Island | Woodsmen | Bond Uni | |
| 2015 | Mayne | Springwood | Bond Uni | Gympie | Kedron | Tweed Coast | |
| 2016 | Mayne | Coorparoo Kings | Southeast Suns | Maroochydore | Zillmere | Byron Magpies | |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 | QFA Division 3 | QFA Division 4 | QFA Division 5 | QFA Northern Rivers | |
| 2017 | Maroochydore | Aspley Hornets | Victoria Point | Zillmere | Mayne | Byron Magpies | |
| 2018 | Maroochydore | Park Ridge | Carrara | Maroochydore | Yeronga South Brisbane | Byron Magpies | |
| 2019 | Noosa | Bond University | Moreton Bay | Park Ridge | Bribie Island | Byron Magpies | |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 3 | QFA Division 4 | ||
| 2020 | Noosa | Moreton Bay | Kenmore | Morningside | Ormeau | ||
| 2021 | Springwood | Moreton Bay | Burleigh | Sherwood Districts | Collingwood Park | ||
| 2022 | Coorparoo | Hinterland Blues | Coolangatta-Tweed Heads | Sherwood | Pacific Pines | ||
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 3 North | QFA Division 3 South | QFA Division 4 North | QFA Division 4 South |
| 2023 | Springwood | Alexandra Hills | Burleigh | Maroochydore | Pacific Pines | Caloundra | Mt Gravatt |
| 2024 | Mayne | Sandgate | Coolangatta-Tweed Heads | Coorparoo | Southport |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b SEQ teams and competitions on AFLQ website
- ^ Byron Bay Magpies leave AFL North Coast by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 14, 2024
- ^ QFA Division 2 North and South Fixtures unveiled AFL Queensland. 5th March, 2021
- ^ Redland-Victoria Point Sharks join QAFL in 2021 at Redland City Bulletin, 10 Nov 2020
- ^ Noosa retain usual high hopes after entering Queensland AFL competition By Steele Taylor for Sunshine Coast News 8 April 2021
- ^ It’s Great to Be King: Coorparoo Celebrates QAFL Entry and QFA Div 1 Title Charge from Coorparoo News 13 August 2024
- ^ Wagga ex-AFL star Matt Suckling signs with QFA division one club Coorparoo By Matt Malone 23 May 2022
- ^ Bond AFL: Pinched or prudent? 14 September 2023
- ^ "SEQAFL". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ History on Burleigh Bombers site