List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment

This is a chronological list of Australian rules football clubs since their formation.

Note that some of these football clubs that formed before 1866 (see Laws of Australian football) may not have originally played the game known today as Australian rules football. It is more than likely that most of these clubs were influenced the Melbourne Rules of 1859 which were the dominant rules of the day. However many played by their own rules and often compromised rules when playing against other clubs.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment

YearDateClub (original name)CityState/CountryStatus/LeagueNote
185810 JulyMelbourne Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueOrigins can be traced to an 1858 letter in which Tom Wills calls for the formation of a "foot-ball club" with the need of a "code of laws".[1][2][3] Oldest club in the Australian Football League.
1859<30 MaySt Kilda Football ClubMelbourneVictoriadefunct Not related to the current St Kilda Football Club (see South Yarra entry below). [4]
15 JuneCastlemaine Football Club*CastlemaineVictoriaBendigo Football Leaguepossibly dormant for periods [5]
18 JulyGeelong Football ClubGeelongVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueOne of the founding members of both the VFA and VFL.
Melbourne University Football Club*MelbourneVictoriaVAFAdisbanded for some time after World War I, leaving the VFL, then reformed with multiple teams in the VAFA.
186026 April Adelaide Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliadefunctDisbanded in 1893. Not to be confused with the present Adelaide Football Club.
20 MayBallarat Football Club*BallaratVictoriaBallarat Football Leagueestablished as junior club. Senior club established in 1862[6]
15 September South Adelaide Football Club Adelaide South Australia defunct Played its first game as a club on the 15th September against the North Adelaide Football Club.[7]The first of two South Adelaide Football Clubs. Not to be confused with the present day South Adelaide Football Club.
15 September North Adelaide Football Club Adelaide South Australia defunct Played its first game as a club on the 15th September against the South Adelaide Football Club.[8]The first of three North Adelaide Football Clubs. Not to be confused with the present day North Adelaide Football Club.
18613 JuneSandhurst Football ClubBendigoVictoriaBendigo Football League[9] Alleged to have been founded by J.B. Thompson, one of the inventors of Australian rules football
186224 July Modbury and Teatree Gully Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football LeagueThe club accepted an invitation to play the Adelaide Football Club on the 24 July 1862.[10] The club later split into the modern Modbury Football Club and Teatree Football Club.
Williamstown ClubMelbourneVictoriadefunctThe first of two Williamstown clubs
1863*Sydney University Australian National Football ClubSydneyNew South WalesSydney AFLSUANFC claims to be a spin-off of Australia's oldest rugby union club, Sydney University Football Club, which experimented with Australian rules in its early years. If the claim is accepted, this would make SUANFC the oldest Australian rules football club in NSW, although it did not play an inter-club fixture until 1887.
1864South Yarra Football ClubMelbourneVictoriadefunctMerged with the St Kilda Cricketers' Club in 1873 to form the present-day St Kilda Football Club.
Williamstown Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaVictorian Football League
JulyCarlton Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football League[11]
186618 AprilKapunda Football ClubKapundaSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football Association
22 MayBrisbane Football Club*BrisbaneQueenslanddefunctClub disbanded in the late 1880s (precise date uncertain). No connection to Brisbane Bears or Brisbane Lions [12]
186821 August Gawler Football Club Gawler South Australia defunct Founded in 1868.[13] Disbanded in 1890 to form the precursor to the Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association.
Woodville Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliadefunctClub disbanded in 1877. Club with same name later formed in 1938.
Wharehousemen Football ClubMelbourneVictoriadefunct
1869 North Melbourne Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueFounded as the North Melbourne Football Club in 1869. Amalgamated with Albert Park to form Albert Park-North Melbourne in 1876. Reformed as the Hotham Football Club in 1877. Reverted to the name North Melbourne Football Club in 1888.
187012 MayPort Adelaide Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralian Football League and SANFLFielding teams in the SANFL since foundation and in the AFL since 1997.[14] Only pre-existing non-Victorian club to be competing in the league.
Volunteer Artillery*BrisbaneQueenslanddefunct
Brisbane Grammar School Football Club'*BrisbaneQueenslanddefunctNew junior club established in 2005 to participate in Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League
Civil Service Football Club*BrisbaneQueenslanddefunct
Ipswich Football Club*IpswichQueenslanddefunct
1871 Kensington Football Club Adelaide South Australia defunct Integral club to the codification of Australian rules in South Australia. Folded in 1881
Ararat Football Club*AraratVictorianow Wimmera Football League
1872Lilydale Football ClubLilydaleVictoria1st Div Eastern Football LeagueFormerly Yarra Valley Football League, Mountain District Football League, Eastern Districts Football League
1873Essendon Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football League16 VFL/AFL premierships
2 AprilSt Kilda Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football League[15]
Hawthorn Football Club*MelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueThe continuity of clubs with this name is disputed. The existing Hawthorn Football Club is purported to have formed in 1901.
187429 MayWillunga Football ClubWillungaSouth AustraliaGreat Southern Football League1877 foundation member of SAFA – which became SANFL.[16]
8 JuneRochester Football ClubRochesterVictoriaGoulburn Valley Football League
South Melbourne Football ClubSouth MelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football Leaguenow Sydney Swans
Port Melbourne Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaVictorian Football League
Penshurst Football ClubPenshurstVictoriaMininera & District Football League
1875 Victorian Football Club Adelaide South Australia defunct Folded in 1884.
16 JulyLaunceston Football ClubLauncestonTasmaniaTasmanian Football League[17]
1876South Adelaide Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSANFLMerged with a club of the same name to form the modern club in 1876
Inglewood Football ClubInglewoodVictoriaLoddon Valley Football League[18]
Heidelberg Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaNorthern Football League
Winchelsea Football ClubWinchelseaVictoriaGeelong & District Football League
1877Britannia Football ClubCollingwoodVictoriadefunctColours were blue, red and white. Played their first games in 1878. Played out of Victoria Park from 1882 and were a precursor to the Collingwood Football Club's formation in 1892.
Bankers Football Club Adelaide South Australia defunct Weak fledgling club that was a founding member of the SAFA. Folded at the end of 1877.
Beechworth Football ClubBeechworthVictoriaTallangatta & District Football League
1878Norwood Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSANFL
West Melbourne Football ClubMelbourneVictoriadefunctmerged with North Melbourne Football Club
New Norfolk District Football ClubNew NorfolkTasmaniaSouthern Football League (Tasmania)
187927 MarchReform Football ClubWellingtonNew Zealanddefunct
1880East SydneySydneyNew South WalesDefunct
1881Murchison Football ClubMurchisonVictoriaKyabram District Football League
North Hobart Football ClubHobartTasmaniaTasmanian Football League
SydneySydneyNew South WalesdefunctDisbanded in 1954.
1882AprilRovers Football ClubPerthWestern AustraliadefunctStarted as a rugby club but switched to Australian rules in 1885. Inaugural premiers of the WA competition in 1885 and again in 1891. Disbanded in 1899.
AprilFremantle Football Club*FremantleWestern AustraliadefunctNo relation to the present-day club by the same name. Formed as a rugby club but switched to Australian rules in 1885. Disbanded at the end of 1886.
Unions Football Club*FremantleWestern Australiadefunctformed as a rugby club in 1882, Unions switched to Australian rules in 1885 and would win 10 premierships in the early days of the WA league. Its remnants were eventually folded into South Fremantle
SeptemberFitzroy Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaVAFAplaying operations merged with the Brisbane Bears in 1996, but the club continues to trade as standalone entity
1883 / pre 1877Footscray Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football League The clubs name remains the Footscray Football Club Pty Ltd but now trades & is known as "Western Bulldogs". The letter FFC can still be located near the neck on the back of the jumpers identifying the clubs true name.

In 1879 Prince Eugene Louis Napoleon, the ‘Prince Imperial’ and heir to the French throne, was ambushed and killed by Zulu warriors during the Anglo-Zulu war in Africa. Out of respect to him, the Footscray Football Club changed their name to the prince Imperials Football Club. In 1882 it decided to revert to the name ‘Footscray’ and therefore 1883 can not have been its formation date. The following websites suggest that its formation date must have been pre 1877 ... (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/club/history/timeline/1880s) and (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/club/history/timeline/pre-1880s)

1885Richmond Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football League
Victorians Football ClubPerthWestern AustraliaWest Australian Football League In 1889, the club merged with the West Australian Football Club and became Metropolitans. In 1891 it became West Perth, the name by which it is still known.
Rosewater Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football League[19]
1887Kermandie Football ClubGeevestonTasmaniaHuon Football Association
1888Healesville Football ClubHealesvilleVictoriaYarra Valley Mountain District Football League
1889Cranbourne Football ClubCranbourneVictoriaCasey Cardinia Football League
1891Cheltenham Football ClubCheltenhamVictoriaSouthern Football Netball League
189212 FebruaryCollingwood Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueVFA 1892–1896; VFL/AFL 1897– 15 VFL/AFL Premierships

A meeting was held at the Collingwood town hall on Friday 12 February 1892 to announce the foundation of the Collingwood Football Club. from "A Century of the Best" – Michael Roberts 1991.

Corryong Football Netball Club*CorryongVictoriaUpper Murray Football LeagueUMFL: 31 Premierships (1893–1915; 1918–1940; 1945–present)
Cudgewa Football Netball Club*CudgewaVictoriaUpper Murray Football LeagueUMFL: 29 Premierships (1893–1915; 1918–1940; 1945–present)
Federal Football Netball Club*CorryongVictoriaUpper Murray Football LeagueUMFL: 26 Premierships (1893–1915; 1918–1940; 1945–present)
1893North Adelaide Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSANFLSAFA/SANFL (1893–present): 13 premierships, Champions of Australia (1972)
1896 Albury Football club Albury New South Wales Ovens and Murray League
1897 South Bunbury Football Club Bunbury Western Australia SWFL South West Football League
1898East Fremantle Football Club*FremantleWestern AustraliaWest Australian Football LeagueWAFA/WAFL/WANFL (1898–present): 29 premierships
190020 April[20]South Fremantle Football ClubFremantleWestern AustraliaWest Australian Football LeagueWAFL 1900–current 13 WAFL Premierships
1901 Sturt Football Club[21][22] Adelaide South Australia SANFL
1901Walkerville Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football League
1903North Shore Football ClubSydneyNew South WalesSydney Australian Football League
1910Yeronga Football ClubBrisbaneQueenslandAFLQ State AssociationOriginally known as South Brisbane
1911Carrum Football ClubCarrumVictoriadefunctWent into recess in 1996. Reformed in 2013 as the Carrum Patterson Lakes Football Club (See entry below)
1913Heatherton Football ClubHeathertonVictoriaSouthern Football League Originally named the Heatherton Freighters they are now known as the Tunners
1918Murrumbeena Football ClubMelbourneVictoriaSouthern Football LeagueThe club began as an Under 18 team in 1918, playing in the Caulfield-Oakleigh-Dandenong Junior Football League.
1921Oxford University Australian Rules Football ClubOxfordUnited Kingdom[23]
1924Mayne Australian Football ClubEverton HillsQueenslandAFLQ State Association (division 2)formed as a junior club and became senior club in 1925
1926Colonel Light Gardens Football ClubMortlock Park Colonel Light GardensSouth AustraliaSAAFL
1935AprilCoorparoo Australian Football ClubBrisbaneQueenslandQANFL, QAFLSeniors folded in 1995 but the Junior club still operate out of Giffin Park.
1947Morningside Australian Football ClubBrisbaneQueenslandAFLQ State League
1956University of Queensland Australian Football ClubBrisbaneQueenslandAFLQ State Association
1961Southport Australian Football ClubSouthportQueenslandAFLQ State League
19704 OctoberCoolaroo Football ClubToowoombaQueenslandAFL Darling Downs1971–present: AFL Darling Downs (8 Premierships: 1975, 2001–2005, 2009, 2013)
Broadbeach Australian Football ClubBroadbeachQueenslandAFLQ State League
Mount Gravatt Australian Football ClubBrisbaneQueenslandAFLQ State League
1971Dysart Australian Football Club*Dysart QueenslandCentral Queensland Highlands AFL Defunct LeagueClub still continues but has no league to play in
1972West Bundaberg Bulldogs AFCBundabergQueenslandAFL Wide BayNow known as Brothers Bulldogs Bundaberg (1996-)
1977Hervey Bay AFCHervey BayQueenslandAFL Wide BayStarted as Seahawks – now Bombers (1985-)
Maryborough AFCMaryboroughQueenslandAFL Wide BayStarted as Tigers – now Bears(1995-)
1981Brothers Rockhampton Roos AFCRockhamptonQueenslandAFL Capricornia
1986Brisbane BearsBrisbaneQueenslandAustralian Football League1987–1996, then merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions
West Coast EaglesPerthWestern AustraliaAustralian Football League1987–current, 4 premierships
1990Adelaide Football ClubAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralian Football League1990–current, 2 premierships
1995Fremantle Football ClubFremantleWestern AustraliaAustralian Football League1995–current
1996Brisbane LionsBrisbaneQueenslandAustralian Football League1997–current, merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears
Cincinnati DockersCincinnatiUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
Louisville KingsLouisvilleUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
Peel ThunderMandurahWestern AustraliaWest Australian Football League1997–current[24]
1997Across The Waves Bundaberg EaglesBundabergQueenslandAFL Wide BayMerger of Norths and Souths
Boston DemonsBostonUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
Nashville KangaroosNashvilleUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
North Carolina TigersRaleighUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
Saint Louis BluesSt. LouisUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
San Diego LionsSan DiegoUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League
2001Belfast RedbacksBelfastNorthern IrelandAustralian Rules Football League of Ireland
2004Bay PowerHervey BayQueenslandAFL Wide BayReplacement Club for Fraser Coast
2009Greater Western Sydney GiantsSydneyNew South WalesAustralian Football League Formed in 2009, but the team did not officially make its debut into AFL until the start of season 2012.
Gold Coast SunsGold CoastQueenslandAustralian Football League 2009-current
2013Carrum Patterson Lakes Football ClubCarrumVictoriaSouthern Football LeagueTakes on the history of the Carrum Football Club Est. 1911. Now named 'Carrum Patterson Lakes' to incorporate the suburb of Patterson Lakes which was developed adjacent to Carrum in the 1970s

* = defunct, disputed, poorly documented or dormant for a period.

References

  1. ↑ Bell's Life in Victoria, 10 July 1858
  2. ↑ The Footballer An annual Record of Football in Victoria, 1875
  3. ↑ 100 Years of Football, The Story of the Melbourne Football Club, 1958
  4. ↑ The Argus 30 May 1859
  5. ↑ "AFL News, Scores, Stats, Transfers – Real Footy". The Age. Melbourne.
  6. ↑ Ballarat Football Netball Club – Club History
  7. ↑ "No title". The South Australian Advertiser. III, (677). South Australia. 15 September 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 31 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "No title". The South Australian Advertiser. III, (677). South Australia. 15 September 1860. p. 3. Retrieved 31 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ The Argus, 5 June 1861
  10. ↑ "UPPER DRY CREEK AND TEATREE GULLY". Adelaide Observer. XX, (1086). South Australia. 26 July 1862. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 April 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-28.
  12. ↑ Other Comps
  13. ↑ "ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT". Bunyip (181). South Australia. 29 August 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ South Australian Register, 13 May 1870.
  15. ↑ The Argus, 14 April 1873
  16. ↑ site home page Archived 21 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ The Examiner, 17 July 1875
  18. ↑ Inglewood Football Club Archived 17 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  19. ↑ "FOOTBALL". South Australian Register. Adelaide. 20 May 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "FOOTBALL". The West Australian. Perth. 23 April 1900. p. 7. Retrieved 16 March 2011 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  22. ↑ "Sturt Football Club". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  23. ↑ "Australian Rules Football". Oxford University.
  24. ↑ Peel Thunder
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