AFL Canberra

AFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales (NSW). The name also refers to the senior and junior leagues operated by the governing body.

History

The league was founded as the Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League in 1924 with founding members Acton and Queanbeyan. The following year, the premiership was contested by 4 clubs including Canberra, Federal and Duntroon. By 1926 the competition had gained popularity and was contested by 5 clubs.

AFL Canberra was once a very popular local league, however since the introduction of the Swans and matches featuring AFL clubs being played at Manuka Oval, the league's home ground, and the growth of local rugby union, rugby league and association football competitions, AFL Canberra has experienced the loss of clubs and spectator support.

In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League. From 2011 onwards, the AFL Canberra Premier Division together with the reserve sides from the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants would form the NEAFL Eastern Conference. However the NEAFL was later dissolved due primarily to the COVID pandemic and associated financial pressures.

League names

The AFL Canberra has been through a number of forms.

1924–1926 Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League (FTARFL); 1927–1974 Canberra Australian National Football League (CANFL); 1975–1999 Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League (ACTAFL); 2000–2010 AFL Canberra 2011–2020 Eastern Conference of North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) 2011–now AFL Canberra

Clubs Clubs listed by highest grade of competition. ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AFLCTotalMost recentFirst Grade & Second GradeAinslieTricoloursAlan Ray Oval, Ainslie, ACT–19271927–292026Batemans BaySeahawksHanging Rock Oval, Batemans Bay, NSWSCAFL19841990–1998, 2011–22023*BelconnenMagpiesAdero Law Nest, Holt, ACT–19871987–52023EastlakeDemonsKingston Oval, Griffith, ACT–19911991–22025GungahlinJetsGunghalin Enclosed Oval, Gunghalin, ACTMAFL19811996–32008QueanbeyanTigersMargaret Donoghoe Sports Complex, Karabar, NSW–19251925–1943, 1946–1951, 1958–1965, 1970–152024Tuggeranong Valley Greenway Oval, Greenway, ACTMAFL19681977–11986Community Division 1ADFA RamsADFA Oval, Campbell, ACTMAFL19861986–1988, 1996–82019ANUGriffinsSouth Oval, Acton, ACTMAFL19611962–1979, 1986–1987, 1996–72022GoogongHogsRockley Oval, Googong, NSWMAFL19761995–22015GoulburnSwansGoodhew Park, Goulburn, NSW–20042004–22009WodenBluesPhillip Oval, Phillip, ACT–19961996–72025Yass RoosJoe O'Connor Park, Yass, NSW–20022002–12008Community Division 2CootamundraBluesClarke Oval, CootamundraFFL19602004–32017Molonglo JuggernautsStirling Oval, Stirling, ACTMAFL19941995–12005MurrumbatemanEaglesMurrumbateman Recreational Oval, Murrumbateman, NSW–20192020–22023Southern Cats CatsSnowy Oval, Cooma, NSWMAFL19761996–12018Rising Stars (U18)MaristBlue and BluesLindwall Oval, Pearce, ACT–19732000–No senior teamsJunior grades onlyBelconnen CatsCatsHolt Oval, Holt, ACT–?-presentNo senior teamsWeston Creek-MolongloWildcatsStirling District Playing Fields, Stirling, ACT–?-presentNo senior teams *not won in this grade

Uniforms

Locations Point colours indicate club's highest level of competition.

Red = First grade Yellow = Community Division 1 Orange = Community Division 2 Blue = Rising Stars

Club locations – ACTClub locations – New South Wales

2025 Grades

Men Club1stGrade2ndGradeCommunityDivision 1CommunityDivision 2RisingStarsTotalAinslie5ADFA2ANU2Batemans Bay3Belconnen4Cootamundra1Eastlake4Googong2Goulburn1Gungahlin2Marist1Molonglo1Murrumbateman1Queanbeyan3Southern Cats1Tuggeranong Valley3Woden2Yass1

Women Club1stGrade2ndGradeCommunityDivision 1RisingStarsTotalAinslie3ADFA1ANU1Batemans Bay2Belconnen3Eastlake3Googong1Gungahlin2Molonglo1Queanbeyan3Southern Cats1Tuggeranong Valley3Woden1Yass1

Former clubs ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in AFLCFateTotalMost recent2 STT (No. 2 School of Technical Training)–19421942–19430 –Folded after 1943 seasonActonJackaroos–19241924–1951, 1958–197321927Disbanded due to lack of financial and player support after 1973 seasonBelconnen (original)–19711971–19850 –Merged with West Canberra to form Belconnen Magpies following 1985 seasonBlandfordia –19251924–19250 –Folded after 1925 seasonCampbelltownBluesBob Prenter Oval, Macquarie Fields, NSWSAFL19751996–19980Returned to AFL Sydney following 1998 seasonCanberra Wildcats 1982, 1991–20070 –Folded due to lack of support after 2007 seasonCity–194419440 –Folded after 1944 seasonDuntroon–192419240 –Folded after 1924 seasonEastlake (original)DemonsKingston Oval, Griffith, ACT–19261926–1941, 1945–1990171978Merged with Manuka to form Southern District following 1990 seasonEastlake-Manuka–19421942–194311942De-merged into Eastlake and Manuka following 1943 seasonFederalsDark with light sash–19241924–192721926Folded after 1927 seasonGoulburn–19321932–193611932Folded after 1936 seasonKingstonWolvesKingston Oval, Griffith, ACTMAFL1995–200042000Absorbed by Eastlake following 2000 seasonManuka Weston Manuka Oval, Griffith, ACT–19271928–1941, 1945–1990151981Merged with Eastlake to form Southern District following 1990 seasonMines RoversCaptains Flat–19381938–19390 –Folded after 1939 seasonNavy–19441944–194911944Folded after 1949 seasonQueanbeyan-ActonTigers–19521952–195731956De-merged into Queanbeyan and Acton following 1957 seasonRAAF–19401940–19460 –Disbanded due to the end of WWIIRed Hill–192619260 –Folded after 1926 seasonRiverina LionsLionsGumly Oval, Gumly Gumly, NSW–20032003–202112018Folded after 2021 seasonRoyal Military CollegeCadets–19421942–1976, 1986–1988, 1998–200731986Folded when the Royal Military College withdrew all sports clubs at end of 2007 seasonSydney Swans reservesSwansSAFL18742003–201042008Formed North East Australian FL in 2011Turner–19481948–1965, 1969–19700 –Folded after 1970 season. Re-formed as Belconnen in 1971.Turner-Queanbeyan–19661966–19680 –De-merged into Turner and Queanbeyan following 1968 seasonUniversity of CanberraMAFL1995–2001, 2015–20160 –Folded after 2001 season, re-formed in 2015 but folded again after 2016 seasonWaggaTigersRobertson Oval, Wagga Wagga, NSWRFL19282002–20060 –Returned to Riverina FL in 2007West CanberraMagpiesHolt Oval, Holt, ACT–19741974–19850 –Merged with Belconnen in 1986, re-formed in Monaro AFL in 1987, re-merged with Belconnen in 1991

Men's grand finals

First Grade SeasonPremiersScoreRunners-upVenueDateFederal Territory Australian Rules Football League1924 Acton10.7 (67) – 6.6 (42) Canberra1925 Federals7.10 (52) – 3.6 (24) Acton1926 Federals (2)8.8 (56) – 4.12 (36) ActonCanberra Australian National Football League1927 Acton (2)12.13 (85) – 7.9 (51) Eastlake1928 Eastlake9.16 (70) – 4.6 (30) Ainslie1929 Ainslie7.13 (55) – 6.11 (47) Eastlake1930 Eastlake (2)14.16 (100) – 7.7 (49) Ainslie1931 Manuka10.6 (66) – 6.11 (47) Acton1932 Goulburn7.18 (60) – 5.6 (36) Manuka1933 Eastlake (3)13.10 (88) – 10.6 (66) Manuka1934 Eastlake (4)10.14 (74) – 4.7 (31) Manuka1935 Manuka (2)9.14 (68) – 4.19 (43) Ainslie1936 Ainslie (2)11.11 (77) – 10.7 (67) Acton1937 Eastlake (5)11.6 (72) – 7.8 (50) Manuka1938 Manuka (3)18.9 (117) – 15.4 (94) Queanbeyan1939 Queanbeyan7.10 (52) – 7.10 (52) Manuka Queanbeyan18.22 (130) – 9.19 (73) Manuka1940 Queanbeyan (2)16.26 (122) – 4.5 (29) Eastlake1941 Queanbeyan (3)13.13 (91) – 13.10 (88) Royal Australian Air Force1942 Eastlake-Manuka13.24 (102) – 4.14 (38) Royal Australian Air Force1943 Royal Military College16.10 (106) – 10.14 (74) Royal Australian Air Force1944 Navy14.16 (100) – 9.19 (73) Royal Military College1945 Eastlake (6)9.16 (70) – 10.9 (69) Navy1946 Ainslie (3)12.19 (91) – 8.6 (54) Eastlake1947 Ainslie (4)15.9 (99) – 9.17 (71) Eastlake1948 Eastlake (7)22.16 (148) – 10.8 (68) Manuka1949 Manuka (4)6.9 (45) – 5.11 (41) Eastlake1950 Manuka (5)9.13 (67) – 6.6 (42) Eastlake1951 Royal Military College (2)14.14 (98) – 12.11 (83) Manuka1952 Ainslie (5)13.20 (98) – 12.12 (84) Queanbeyan-Acton1953 Queanbeyan-Acton9.12 (66) – 8.13 (61) Ainslie1954 Queanbeyan-Acton (2)23.15 (153) – 6.8 (44) Eastlake1955 Manuka (6)12.11 (83) – 8.6 (54) Queanbeyan-Acton1956 Queanbeyan-Acton (3)12.20 (92) – 5.11 (41) Manuka1957 Eastlake (8)15.10 (100) – 12.13 (85) Manuka1958 Ainslie (6)20.12 (132) – 9.7 (61) Eastlake1959 Ainslie (7)11.12 (78) – 8.8 (56) Eastlake1960 Eastlake (9)20.15 (135) – 9.9 (63) Ainslie1961 Ainslie (8)9.12 (66) – 9.4 (58) Queanbeyan1962 Eastlake (10)4.9 (33) – 2.6 (18) Ainslie1963 Eastlake (11)11.15 (81) – 6.14 (50) Manuka1964 Eastlake (12)14.11 (95) – 10.9 (69) Manuka1965 Eastlake (13)20.16 (136) – 8.14 (62) Manuka1966 Eastlake (14)13.16 (94) – 8.17 (65) Ainslie1967 Manuka (7)11.15 (81) – 6.13 (49) Eastlake1968 Manuka (8)9.16 (70) – 10.9 (69) Eastlake1969 Manuka (9)11.13 (79) – 9.5 (59) Eastlake1970 Ainslie (9)12.27 (99) – 13.15 (93) Manuka1971 Manuka (10)10.17 (77) – 6.15 (51) Eastlake1972 Eastlake (15)26.19 (175) – 9.8 (62) Ainslie1973 Manuka (11)14.14 (98) – 15.7 (97) Ainslie1974 Manuka (12)14.14 (98) – 9.13 (67) EastlakeAustralian Capital Territory Australian Football League1975 Manuka (13)12.13 (85) – 10.8 (68) Ainslie1976 Eastlake (16)23.19 (157) – 13.10 (88) Manuka1977 Manuka (14)16.12 (108) – 14.9 (93) Eastlake1978 Eastlake (17)19.23 (137) – 16.17 (113) Ainslie1979 Ainslie (10)17.18 (120) – 11.8 (74) Belconnen1980 Ainslie (11)21.10 (136) – 12.15 (87) Manuka1981 Manuka (15)18.18 (126) – 15.14 (104) Ainslie1982 Ainslie (12)22.19 (151) – 11.9 (75) Eastlake1983 Ainslie (13)18.13 (121) – 13.11 (89) Eastlake1984 Ainslie (14)20.14 (134) – 12.13 (85) Eastlake1985 Queanbeyan (4)23.18 (156) – 14.13 (97) Ainslie1986 Tuggeranong8.11 (59) – 8.10 (58) QueanbeyanFootball Park Canberra21 September 19861987 Ainslie (15)21.9 (135) – 11.15 (81) Queanbeyan1988 Queanbeyan (5)14.10 (94) – 10.15 (75) Ainslie1989 Queanbeyan (6)12.15 (87) – 9.13 (67) Manuka-Weston1990 Ainslie (16)16.12 (108) – 10.21 (81) Queanbeyan1991 Queanbeyan (7)14.9 (93) – 10.9 (69) Southern District1992 Ainslie (17)9.18 (72) – 7.20 (62) Queanbeyan1993 Ainslie (18)20.17 (137) – 8.17 (65) Southern District1994 Ainslie (19)14.10 (94) – 10.14 (74) Queanbeyan1995 Ainslie (20)17.10 (112) – 14.11 (95) Queanbeyan1996 Ainslie (21)12.17 (89) – 10.9 (69) Eastlake1997 Ainslie (22)14.8 (92) – 8.10 (58) Tuggeranong1998 Queanbeyan (8)16.10 (106) – 12.18 (90) Belconnen1999 Queanbeyan (9)13.13 (91) – 10.14 (74) BelconnenAFL Canberra First Grade2000 Queanbeyan (10)23.10 (148) – 14.11 (95) Eastlake2001 Eastlake14.10 (94) – 13.13 (91) Belconnen2002 Belconnen24.19 (163) – 14.6 (90) Queanbeyan2003 Belconnen (2)11.14 (80) – 11.8 (74) Queanbeyan2004 Belconnen (3)14.20 (104) – 8.9 (57) Queanbeyan2005 Sydney12.8 (80) – 8.15 (63) Belconnen2006 Sydney (2)10.16 (76) – 6.7 (43) Belconnen2007 Sydney (3)18.14 (122) – 14.10 (94) Queanbeyan2008 Sydney (4)11.4 (70) – 6.15 (69) Belconnen2009 Belconnen (4)11.13 (79) – 10.13 (73) Ainslie2010 Ainslie (23)13.10 (88) – 9.9 (63) EastlakeNorth East Australian Football League Eastern Conference2011 Ainslie (24)19.11 (125) – 10.13 (73) Sydney2012 Queanbeyan (11)18.13 (121) – 13.13 (91) Sydney2013 Sydney (5)15.11 (101) – 6.13 (49) BelconnenAFL Canberra First Grade2015 Queanbeyan (12)15.5 (95) – 10.11 (71) Belconnen2016 Ainslie (25)13.14 (92) – 9.9 (63) Queanbeyan2017 Ainslie (26)13.16 (94) – 7.10 (52) BelconnenManuka Oval Canberra3 September 20172018 Ainslie (27)11.14 (80) – 6.10 (46) EastlakeManuka Oval Canberra9 September 20182019 Ainslie (28)13.7 (85) – 3.11 (29) BelconnenManuka Oval Canberra7 September 20192020 Queanbeyan (13)14.14 (98) – 6.7 (43) EastlakeGungahlin Enclosed Oval