North East Australian Football League

North East Australian Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2018 NEAFL season
Sport Australian rules football
Founded 2010 (2010)
Inaugural season 2011
No. of teams 10
Country Australia
Most recent
champion(s)		 Southport (2018)
(1st premiership)
Most titles Brisbane Lions
(3 premierships)
TV partner(s) NITV
Official website NEAFL.com.au

The North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) is an Australian rules football league in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory in Australia. The league was formed in November 2010, and its inaugural competition was in 2011.[1] It is a second tier league, sitting below the national Australian Football League (AFL) and features the reserves teams of the region's four AFL clubs playing alongside six non-AFL affiliated NEAFL senior teams.

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 Football Club (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. These two clubs would have joined the QAFL and AFL Canberra respectively, had the NEAFL not been formed.

In 2012, two more clubs joined the Eastern Conference from the AFL Sydney competition: Sydney Hills and Sydney University. With Greater Western Sydney'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 Queensland Australian Football League, while Tuggeranong went back to the AFL Canberra Division One competition.[2] The possibility of a North Queensland side entering the competition for 2014 was considered but ruled out.[3]

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.[4][5] 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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Clubs

Current clubs

Club Nickname Location Home ground Formed First season Premierships
Aspley
Hornets
 Brisbane, Queensland
Graham Road
1964
2011
2014
Brisbane Lions *
Lions
 Brisbane, Queensland
South Pine Sports Complex
1997
2011
2012, 2013, 2017
Canberra
Demons
 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Manuka Oval
1926
2011
—
Gold Coast *
Suns
 Gold Coast, Queensland
Metricon Stadium
2010
2011
—
NT Thunder
Thunder
 Darwin, Northern Territory
TIO Stadium
2008
2011
2011, 2015
Redland
Bombers
 Brisbane, Queensland
Tidbold Park
1966
2011
—
Southport
Sharks
 Gold Coast, Queensland
Fankhauser Reserve
1961
2011
2018
Sydney *
Swans
 Sydney, New South Wales
SCG
1982
2011
—
Sydney University
Students
 Sydney, New South Wales
Henson Park
1863
2012
—
Western Sydney University *
Giants
 Sydney, New South Wales
Spotless Stadium
2011
2011
2016

*AFL reserves team

Former clubs

Club Nickname Location Home ground First season Last season
Ainslie
Tricolours
 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Alan Ray Oval
2011
2015
Broadbeach
Cats
 Gold Coast, Queensland
H & A Oval
2011
2013
Belconnen
Magpies
 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Kippax Oval
2011
2014
Labrador
Tigers
 Gold Coast, Queensland
Cooke-Murphy Oval
2011
2013
Morningside
Panthers
 Brisbane, Queensland
Esplen Oval
2011
2013
Mount Gravatt
Vultures
 Brisbane, Queensland
Dittmer Park
2011
2013
Queanbeyan
Tigers
 Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Dairy Farmers Park
2011
2014
Sydney Hills
Eagles
 Sydney, New South Wales
Bruce Purser Reserve
2012
2014
Tuggeranong
Hawks
 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Greenway Oval
2011
2013

League awards

Current league awards have been instituted since 2014.[9]

Premiers

SeasonPremierRunner-upScoreMarginVenueCity/TownState/Territory
2011NT ThunderAinslie16.18 (114) – 13.14 (92)22 pointsTraeger ParkAlice SpringsNorthern Territory
2012Brisbane LionsQueanbeyan11.9 (75) – 22.12 (144)69 pointsManuka OvalCanberraAustralian Capital Territory
2013Brisbane LionsSydney Swans12.9 (81) – 10.13 (73)8 pointsGraham Road OvalBrisbaneQueensland
2014AspleySydney Swans15.12 (102) – 15.10 (100)2 pointsGraham Road OvalBrisbaneQueensland
2015NT ThunderAspley11.15 (81) – 11.14 (80)1 pointMarrara OvalDarwinNorthern Territory
2016WSU GiantsSydney Swans11.16 (82) – 11.12 (78)4 pointsBlacktown International SportsparkSydneyNew South Wales
2017Brisbane LionsSydney Swans12.13 (85) – 10.22 (82)[10]3 pointsSydney Cricket GroundSydneyNew South Wales
2018SouthportSydney Swans14.6 (90) – 5.5 (35)55 pointsFankhauser ReserveGold CoastQueensland

NEAFL MVP award

SeasonPlayerClubVotes
2014Matthew PayneAspley102
2015Tom YoungSydney University86
2016Matthew PayneAspley87
2017Jordan KerasSouthport78

NEAFL Rising Star

SeasonPlayerClub
2014Paul HunterRedland
2015Matt UebergangRedland
2016Hayden Bertoli-SimmondsRedland
2017Adam SambonoNT Thunder

NEAFL leading goal kicker

SeasonPlayerClubGoals
2014Cleve HughesRedland79
2015Darren EwingNT Thunder87
2016Darren EwingNT Thunder63
2017Darren EwingNT Thunder61

NEAFL coach of the year

SeasonPlayerClub
2014Xavier ClarkeNT Thunder
2015Brett HandUWS Giants
2016Rhyce ShawSydney Swans
2017Tom MorrisonSydney University

Former league awards

Grogan Medal (2011–2013)

Awarded to the best and fairest players in the Northern Conference.

SeasonWinnerClubVotes
2011Matthew Payne
Cameron Ilett		Southport
NT Thunder		23
2012Ryan Davey
Fraser Pope
Tom Salter		Labrador
Southport
Redland		14
2013Haydn Kiel[11]Southport21

Mulrooney Medal (2011–2013)

For the best and fairest players in the Eastern Conference.

SeasonWinnerClubVotes
2011Daniel Currie
Jarred Moore		Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans		16
2012Shane HarrisBelconnen16
2013James Bennett[12]Belconnen21

NEAFL (Northern) Rising Star award (2011–2013)

Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Northern Conference.

SeasonWinnerClub
2011Ross TungatalumNT Thunder
2012Andrew Boston[13]Broadbeach
2013Josh Smith[11]Morningside

NEAFL (Eastern) Rising Star award (2011–2013)

Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Eastern Conference

SeasonWinnerClub
2011Hayden ArmstrongEastlake
2012Liam Flaherty[14]Eastlake
2013Brent Macleod[15]Tuggeranong

Ray Hughson Medal (2011–2013)

Highest goalkicker award for player in Northern Conference

SeasonWinnerClubGoals
2011Darren EwingNT Thunder115
2012Tom KavanaghQueanbeyan92
2013Darren Ewing[11]NT Thunder94

Most successful clubs

Club Year established Leagues Premiership years Premierships (total)
Southport Football Club 1961 GCAFL 1961–1982

QAFL 1983–2010
NEAFL 2011–

 Gold Coast Australian Football League: 1961, 1962, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980

Queensland Australian Football League: 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008
North East Australian Football League: 2018

 22
Canberra Football Club 1926 CANFL 1926–1974

ACTFL 1975–1999
AFLC 2000–2010
NEAFL 2011–

 Canberra Australian National Football League: 1928, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1942, 1945, 1948, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972

Australian Capital Territory Football League: 1976, 1978
AFL Canberra: 2001

 19
Aspley Football Club 1964 SQAFA 1964–1992

BAFL 1993–2008
QAFL 2009–2010
NEAFL: 2011–

 South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992

Brisbane Australian Football League: 2002
North East Australian Football League: 2014

 9
Sydney University Football Club 1948 NSWANFL 1948–1957, 1962–1968

SFA 1971–1987, 1995–2006
SFL 1988–1994
SAFL 2007–2011
NEAFL 2012–

 Sydney Football Association: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2003, 2005

Sydney Football League: 1992

 7
Brisbane Lions (reserves) 1998 QAFL 1998–2010

NEAFL 2011–

 Queensland Australian Football League: 2001

North East Australian Football League: 2012, 2013, 2017

 4
Redland Football Club 1966 SQAFA 1966–1992

BAFL 1993–1999
QAFL 2000–2010
NEAFL 2011–

 South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1975, 1987

Brisbane Australian Football League 1998, 1999

 4
Sydney Swans (reserves) 1874 VFL 1877–1990

VSFL1991–1999
SAFL 2000
AFLC 2003–2010
NEAFL 2011–

 AFL Canberra: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 4
Northern Territory Football Club 2008 QAFL 2009–2010

NEAFL 2011–

 North East Australian Football League: 2011, 2015 2
Gold Coast Football Club (reserves) 2011 NEAFL 2011– nil 0
Greater Western Sydney Giants (reserves) 2011 NEAFL 2011– North East Australian Football League: 2016 1

See also

References

  1. ↑ Archived 14 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "New look NEAFL announced". North East Australian Football League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "No North Queensland team for NEAFL". North East Australian Football League. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Three teams to leave the NEAFL". North East Australian Football League. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Gaskin, Lee (5 August 2014). "Canberra down to two teams in the NEAFL after Queanbeyan and Belconnen pull out". The Canberra Times.
  6. ↑ Polkinghorne, David (17 September 2015). "Ainslie withdraws from NEAFL". The Canberra Times.
  7. ↑ Polkinghorne, David (15 January 2016). "Eastlake back Canberra Demons as ACT's only NEAFL team". The Canberra Times.
  8. ↑ "Western Sydney University GIANTS". GWS Giants. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "North East Australian Football League: NEAFL awards night wrap". Neafl.com.au. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  10. ↑ "North East Australian Football League Match Centre - SportsTG". SportsTG. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  11. 1 2 3 "North East Australian Football League: Southport's Kiel wins Grogan". Neafl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  12. ↑ "Bennett wins Mulrooney Medal". Afl Nsw/Act. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  13. ↑ "North East Australian Football League: Boston to make AFL debut". Hosting4.sportingpulse.com. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  14. ↑ "North East Australian Football League: Shane Harris Caps of an Impressive first NEAFL Season". Neafl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  15. ↑ "North East Australian Football League: Hawk Brent Macleod wins NAB Rising Star Award". Neafl.com.au. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
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