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 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. The city had 3 clubs by 1933. Another league was formed in 1955. However the current league wasn't established until much later.
Current clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in MIAFLMIAFL Senior Premierships Total Years Dajarra Rhinos Monument Sports Oval, Dajarra2018 2018- 0- Alpurrurulam Alpurrurulam Oval, Alpurrurulam (NT)1993 3 2002, 2003, 2025 Mount Isa Buffaloes Buffaloes Legend Oval, Mount Isa 1983 1983- 10 1992, 1994, 1995, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026 Mount Isa Tigers Tigers Legend Oval, Mount Isa1967 1967- 13 1971, 1973, 1983, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022
Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Former leagueYears in MIAFLMIAFL Senior PremiershipsFate Total YearsHealy Hawks HawksAlexandra Park, Soldiers Hill1967–1967-197831967, 1972, 1975Folded after 1978 seasonHealy Cobras(1971)(1972-76)CobrasAlexandra Park, Soldiers Hill1971–1971-19760 -Merged with Hawks after 1976 seasonMary KathleenMagpiesMary Kathleen Oval, Mary Kathleen1957NWQANFA1976-198231977, 1978, 1979Folded after 1982 season Mount Isa Rovers (1967-?)(?-2020) 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, 2013Folded after 2020 seasonSaints SaintsAlexandra Park, Soldiers Hill1967–1967-1980s41969, 1970, 1974, 1987Folded in late 1980s
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 2003: Lake Nash 2004: Rovers 2005: Rovers 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 2019: Tigers 2020: Buffaloes 2021: Buffaloes 2022: Tigers 2023: Buffaloes 2024: 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.
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
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in BAFLBAFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYearsBurnett HeadsSaintsJack Norgate Oval, Burnett Heads19720 -Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 North Bundaberg KangaroosKendall Flat, Bundaberg East1972 1972–1986 51972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 South Bundaberg MagpiesKendall Flat, Bundaberg East1972 1972–1986 11981Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987 West Bundaberg BulldogsKendall Flat, Bundaberg East1972 1972–1986 51973, 1974, 1980, 1985, 1986Formed Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL in 1987
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer leagueEst.Years in BAFLBAFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYearsBargara–198319830 -Folded after being excluded from BAFL 5 games into 1983 season due to inability to field reserves Biggenden FalconsBiggenden Sportsgrounds, BiggendenMAFL1981 1983 0 -Folded after 1983 season Burnett Heads SaintsJack Norgate Oval, Burnett Heads–1972 1972-1982 0 -Recess between 1983 and 1986, re-formed in Wide Bay AFL in 1987 Brothers –1985 1985 0 -Folded after 1985 season Cooloola CoastDolphinsLee Lee Park, Tin Can BayMAFL1982 1984 0 -Formed Wide Bay AFL in 1985 Gympie CatsRay Warren Oval, GlanmireSCAFL1971 1984 0 -Formed Wide Bay AFL in 1985 Maryborough United DemonsAFL Federation Reserve, MaryboroughSCAFL1977 1979, 1984 0 -Formed Maryborough AFL in 1981 South Bundaberg (2) SeagullsKendall Flat, Bundaberg East–1979 1979 0 -Folded after 1979 season Urangan Sea HawksN. E. Mclean Oval, Wondunna–1977 1977, 1982-1984 41977, 1982, 1983, 1984Formed Wide Bay AFL in 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 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
Final ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHAFLCHAFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYears Blackwater CatsBlackwater Cricket Ground, BlackwaterCAFL1981 1983-1997 31991, 1992, 1993Folded after 1997 season Dysart SwansLeichhardt Recreation Reserve, DysartMAFL1980 1983-1997 21983, 1984Folded after 1997 season Emerald SaintsEmerald Showground, Emerald–1983 1983-1997 71988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997Folded after 1997 season Moranbah BulldogsStevenson Sports Park, MoranbahMAFL1975 1983-1988, 1994-1997 21985, 1986Folded after 1997 season, re-formed in Mackay AFL in 2006
Former ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in CHAFLCHAFL Senior PremiershipsFate TotalYears Clermont WombatsClermont Showground, Clermont–1985 1985-1986 0 -Folded after 1986 season Middlemount KangaroosMiddlemount Sporting Complex, MiddlemountMAFL1982 1983-1991 11987Merged with Tieri after 1991 season Tieri TigersTieri Oval, Tieri–1983 1983-1996 0 -Folded after 1996 season
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 1961 to 1996 before being absorbed by the Queensland AFL as its Gold Coast Division.
Clubs
Final