The North East Australian Football League (NEAFL ) was an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The league was formed in November 2010, and its inaugural competition was in 2011. It was a second division league, sitting below the national Australian Football League (AFL) and featured the reserves teams of the region's four AFL clubs playing alongside six non-AFL affiliated NEAFL senior teams. Nine NEAFL seasons were contested between 2011 and 2019, before the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league was amalgamated into the Victorian Football League from 2021.
History The NEAFL was formed at the end of 2010 primarily as an amalgamation of the two major football leagues in Australia's north-east - the Queensland Australian Football League, based in South-East Queensland and including one team from the Northern Territory, and AFL Canberra, based around ACT, and including one team from Sydney (the reserves team of the AFL's Sydney Swans).
The two leagues were converted to NEAFL conferences: the Northern Conference, serving Queensland and the Northern Territory, and the Eastern Conference, serving New South Wales and the ACT. Teams from the two conferences played matches against each other throughout the home-and-away season, before each conference staged a separate finals competition to determine both a northern premier and an eastern premier. The two premiers then played each other in the NEAFL Grand Final.
Two new teams also joined the competition for its inaugural season in 2011: the reserves team of Gold Coast Suns (whose senior team joined the AFL in the same season); and the senior team of the Greater Western Sydney Giants, which was preparing to join the AFL in 2012.
In 2012, two more clubs joined the Eastern Conference from the AFL Sydney competition: Sydney Hills and Sydney University. With 's senior team joining the AFL, its NEAFL side became a reserves team in partnership with, and under the name of the University of Western Sydney.
On 11 May 2013, the NEAFL Northern Conference played an interstate game against South Australia who represent the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The game, played at the City Mazda Stadium in Adelaide resulted in a 21.14 (140) to 9.4 (58) win over the NEAFL North, with SA's higher fitness level the main difference between the two sides.
On 8 June 2013, the NEAFL Eastern Conference played an interstate game against Tasmania who represent the TSL (Tasmanian State League). Tasmania won 15.11 (101) - 8.13 (61).
A major restructure of the league was announced for the 2014 season. Five clubs left the competition and the conference system was abolished. Broadbeach, Labrador, Morningside and Mt. Gravatt joined a re-constructed QAFL, while Tuggeranong went back to the AFL Canberra Division One competition. The possibility of a North Queensland side entering the competition for 2014 was considered but ruled out.
Due to the financial challenges of participating in the competition and a proposal from the AFL for the existing Canberra clubs to contribute to a single Canberra team, Belconnen, Queanbeyan and the Sydney Hills Eagles chose to leave the NEAFL at the end of the 2014 season. The ongoing desire by the AFL for a single Canberra team led Ainslie to withdraw at the end of the 2015 season. Both Canberra clubs - Ainslie and Eastlake - had a NEAFL licence until the end of 2016, but Ainslie withdrew from the competition after the AFL rejected their proposal to be Canberra's sole team from 2017. The AFL wanted Canberra's team to be either a combined Ainslie-Eastlake side or a representative team funded largely by all the local clubs in the Canberra area.
Two teams changed their names prior to the 2016 season. Eastlake's NEAFL side started to play as the Canberra Demons in an attempt to be seen as Canberra's representative team in the NEAFL competition. The club wishes to provide a clear AFL pathway for local talent and to get rid of the baggage between other clubs in the ACT. As part of this decision the team also adopted a blue and gold guernsey for home games, reflecting the territory's traditional colours. The team still wears Eastlake's red and black colours in away matches. The Greater Western Sydney reserves team became known as the Western Sydney University Giants to reflect the re-branding of the University of Western Sydney.
At the end of the 2019 season, AFL Northern Territory announced the disbanding of the NT Thunder, citing financial and logistical difficulties. The competition scope therefore decreased to capture Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The 2020 season was then cancelled altogether, owing to the infeasibility of interstate travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2020, the AFL announced that the NEAFL would be amalgamated into the Victorian Football League in 2021, bringing an end to the competition's nine-season history. The NEAFL's clubs will all have the opportunity to join the Victorian Football League, though given the finances associated with travel the independent non-AFL clubs are considered unlikely to join the league.
Clubs Nine clubs were scheduled to play in the cancelled 2020 NEAFL season. An additional 10 had participated in the competition since it was founded, with NT Thunder the last to disband at the end of the 2019 season.
Final clubs Club ColoursMoniker State/TerritoryFormerleagueYears in NEAFLPremiershipsFate Total Years Hornets QLD Graham Road Oval, Carseldine QAFL 1964 2011–2020 1 2014 Moved to VFL in 2021,Returned to QAFL in 2022 (R) Lions QLD South Pine Sports Complex, Brendale QAFL 1998 2011–2020 4 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019 Moved to VFL in 2021 Demons ACT Manuka Oval, Griffith ACTAFL 1991 2011–2020 0 - Returned to ACTAFL in 2021 as Eastlake (R) Suns QLD People First Stadium, Carrara – 2011 2011–2020 0 - Moved to VFL in 2021 (R)* Giants NSW Engie Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park – 2012 2012–2020 1 2016 Moved to VFL in 2021 Bombers QLD Totally Workwear Park, Victoria Point QAFL 19662011–20200 - Merged with Victoria Point to form Redland-Victoria Point in QAFL in 2021 Southport Sharks QLD Fankhauser Reserve, Southport QAFL 1961 2011–2020 1 2018 Moved to VFL in 2021 (R) Swans NSW Tramway Oval, Moore Park ACTAFL 1900 2011–2020 0 - Moved to VFL in 2021 Sydney University Students NSW Henson Park, Marrickville NSWAFL 1887 2012–2020 0 - Returned to AFL Sydney in 2021(R) Denotes that the club is the reserves team of a senior club of the Australian Football League * played as University of Western Sydney/Western Sydney University
Former clubs Club ColoursMoniker State/TerritoryFormer LeagueYears in NEAFLPremiershipsFate Total Years Tricolours ACTAlan Ray Oval, Ainslie ACTAFL 19272011–20150 - Returned to ACTAFL in 2016 Magpies ACTAdero Law Nest, Holt ACTAFL 1987 2011–2014 0 - Returned to ACTAFL in 2015 Cats QLD Subaru Oval, Mermaid Waters QAFL 1971 2011–2013 0 - Returned to QAFL in 2014 (S) Giants NSW Engie Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park – 2009 2011 0 - Moved to AFL in 2012 Tigers QLD Cooke Murphy Oval, Labrador QAFL 1964 2011–2013 0 - Returned to QAFL in 2014 Panthers QLD Jack Esplen Oval, Hawthorne QAFL 1947 2011–2013 0 - Returned to QAFL in 2014 Vultures QLD Dittmer Park, Upper Mt-Gravatt QAFL 1964 2011–2013 0 - Returned to QAFL in 2014 Northern Territory Thunder NT TIO Stadium, Marrara QAFL 2008 2011–2019 2 2011, 2015 Folded after 2019 season Tigers NSW Margaret Donoghoe Sportsground, Karabar ACTAFL 1925 2011–2014 0 - Returned to ACTAFL in 2015 Sydney Hills (East Coast) Eagles NSW Bruce Purser Reserve, Kellyville NSWAFL 1976 2012–2014 0 - Returned to NSWAFL in 2015 (Tuggeranong Valley) Hawks ACT Greenway Oval, Greenway ACTAFL 1968 2011–2013 0 - Returned to ACTAFL in 2014 (S) denotes clubs that joined the AFL
League awards Current league awards have been instituted since 2014.
Premiers Year Premiers Runners-up Venue Date Crowd Club Score Club Score 2011 Traeger Park 2012 Manuka Oval 500 2013 Graham Road Oval 2014 Graham Road Oval 2015 Marrara Oval 5,889 2016 Blacktown ISP Oval 2017 Sydney Cricket Ground 2018 Fankhauser Reserve 2019 Fankhauser Reserve
NEAFL MVP award Season Player Club Votes2014 Matthew Payne Aspley 1022015 Tom Young Sydney University 862016 Matthew Payne Aspley 872017 Jordan Keras Southport 782018 Matthew Payne Aspley 95
NEAFL Rising Star Season Player Club 2014 Paul Hunter Redland 2015 Matt Uebergang Redland 2016 Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds Redland 2017 Adam Sambono NT Thunder
NEAFL leading goal kicker Season Player Club Goals2014 Cleve Hughes Redland 792015 Darren Ewing NT Thunder 872016 Darren Ewing NT Thunder 632017 Darren Ewing NT Thunder 612018 Matt Hammelmann Redland 60
NEAFL coach of the year Season Player Club 2014 Xavier Clarke NT Thunder2015 Brett Hand GWS Giants2016 Rhyce Shaw Sydney Swans2017 Tom Morrison Sydney University
Former league awards Grogan Medal (2011–2013)
Awarded to the best and fairest players in the Northern Conference. Season Winner Club Votes 2011 Matthew Payne Cameron Ilett Southport NT Thunder 232012 Ryan Davey Fraser PopeTom Salter Labrador Southport Redland 142013 Haydn Kiel Southport 21
Mulrooney Medal (2011–2013)
For the best and fairest players in the Eastern Conference.
Season Winner Club Votes2011 Daniel Currie Jarred MooreSydney Swans Sydney Swans 162012 Shane Harris Belconnen 162013 James Bennett Belconnen 21
NEAFL (Northern) Rising Star award (2011–2013) Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Northern Conference. Season Winner Club 2011 Ross Tungatalum NT Thunder 2012 Andrew Boston Broadbeach2013 Josh Smith Morningside
NEAFL (Eastern) Rising Star award (2011–2013) Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Eastern Conference Season Winner Club 2011 Hayden ArmstrongEastlake 2012 Liam Flaherty Eastlake2013 Brent Macleod Tuggeranong
Ray Hughson Medal (2011–2013) Highest goalkicker award for player in Northern Conference Season Winner Club Goals2011 Darren Ewing NT Thunder 1152012 Tom Kavanagh Queanbeyan 922013 Darren Ewing NT Thunder 94
Grounds This list includes grounds where teams had agreements in place to play home matches but were not full-time tenants of those grounds; in these cases, the club is shown in italics.
Ground Image Other names Suburb State Capacity Seasons used Tenant(s) First Last Blacktown ISP Oval Rooty Hill NSW 10,000 Carrara Stadium Carrara QLD 25,000 Cooke-Murphy Oval Labrador QLD 8,000 Fankhauser Reserve Southport QLD 8,000 Manuka Oval Griffith ACT 15,000 Marrara Oval Marrara NT 12,215 Salk Oval Palm Beach QLD 4,000 Sydney Cricket Ground Moore Park NSW 48,000 Sydney Showground Stadium Sydney Olympic Park NSW 23,500 Tramway Oval Moore Park NSW 1,000
See also List of Australian rules football leagues in Australia AFL Canberra Queensland Australian Football League AFL Sydney
References
External links Official website (archived) AFL description of league