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AFL Canberra is the name of the local governing body for and premier competition of
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
Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australian rules football is a popular spectator and participation sport which has been played continuously since 1911. With 9,129 adult and 2,953 children playing the sport, it has the fourth highest t ...
(and the Southern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of New South Wales, Australia, located south-west of Sydney and generally west of the Great Dividing Range.
The area is characterised by high, flat country which has generally been extensively cl ...
of New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
).
It acts as an umbrella to several competitions beneath it. These competitions are Seniors First Grade, Seniors Second Grade, Thirds, Fourths and a Rising Stars League. A women's league, the Australian Capital Territory Women's Australian Football League operates separately though most AFL Canberra clubs also field women's teams.
The competition is technically Canberra's division of the Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League.
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
Manuka Oval is a sporting venue in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is located in Griffith, Australian Capital Territory, Griffith, in the area of that suburb known as Manuka, Australian Capital Territory, Manuka. Manuka Oval has a seating ...
, the league's home ground, and the growth of local rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
, rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...
and association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
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
The Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL or "Q-A-F-L") is an Australian rules football competition organised by the AFL Queensland, contested by clubs from South East Queensland.
Founded in 1903 it was previously known as the Queens ...
to form the North East Australian Football League
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 ...
. From 2011 onwards, the AFL Canberra Premier Division together with the reserve sides from the Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans are a professional Australian rules football club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The men's team competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), and the women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW). The Swans also field a Austral ...
and Greater Western Sydney Giants
The Greater Western Sydney Giants (officially the Greater Western Sydney Football Club and colloquially known as the GWS Giants or simply GWS or Giants) are a professional Australian rules football club based in Sydney Olympic Park which repres ...
would form the NEAFL Eastern Conference. However the NEAFL was later dissolved due primarily to the COVID pandemic
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fev ...
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 CanberraClubs
Clubs listed by highest grade of competition. * = Googong formerly Harman * = Molonglo formerly Murrumbidgee * = Southern Cats formerly Cooma * = Tuggeranong Valley formerly Tuggeranong HawksUniforms
2024 men's grades
2024 women's grades
Past clubs
Men's grand finals
First Grade
Team performance
Second Grade
Team performance
Third Grade
Team performance
Fourth Grade
Team performance
Regional League
Team performance
Under 18s
Team performance
Women's Grand Finals
First Grade
Team performance
Second Grade
Team performance
Community League
Team performance
Regional League
Team performance
Under 18s
Team performance
See also
* Mulrooney Medal *List of Australian rules football leagues in Australia
This is an incomplete list of men's Australian rules football leagues in Australia.
There is also a Victorian only list of former Associations and Leagues too. In the early 1900s a lot of club's would move from one association to another and oth ...
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Afl Canberra Australian rules football governing bodies Australian rules football competitions in the Australian Capital Territory Sports organizations established in 1924 1924 establishments in Australia