AFL Wide Bay

AFL Wide Bay
Formerly Bundeberg Wide Bay AFL
Sport Australian rules football
Founded 1987
No. of teams 5
Country Australia
Most titles Hervey Bay Bombers (15)
Official website Official AFL Wide Bay Website

The AFL Wide Bay is an amateur Australian rules football competition that was formerly known as the Bundaberg-Wide Bay Australian Football League which was formed in 1987 through the merger of the Bundaberg Australian Football League and Wide Bay Australian Football Leagues. The competition currently features teams from the cities of Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay. Teams from Gympie and Pomona, played in this competition up until 2006, before changing Leagues. The representative team is known as the Tigers wearing guernseys similar to those of the Richmond Tigers.

AFL Wide Bay Origins - The Merger

In 1984, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Cooloola Coast, Biggenden, Central Burnett, Burnett Heads, along with North, South and West Bundaberg played two Divisions of Senior AFL Football in the Bundaberg Australian Football League (BAFL) and it was widely accepted throughout the region as a fast developing sport. At season's end it was decided that the region would split into two Leagues with the introduction of the Wide Bay Australian Football League (WBAFL), which was a breakaway competition from the Bundaberg Australian Football league.

In 1985, the WBAFL played a five team competition which included teams from Hervey Bay (2), Cooloola Coast and Gympie (2), with Maryborough fielding junior grades. The BAFL played a four team competition which included the three main clubs, Wests, Norths, and Souths (2) with Burnett Heads fielding Reserves and juniors only.

In 1986, the WBAFL played a four team competition, but finished the season with just two clubs, Hervey Bay and Gympie, who fielded just one senior club each that year. Maryborough and Cooloola Coast folded. The BAFL had only three senior teams, Wests, Norths and Souths (with Souths fielding just one A Grade team that year only), and so with backing of the Queensland Australian Football League, the two Leagues merged.

In 1987, the Bundaberg Wide Bay Australian Football League was formed with the five remaining senior clubs, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Norths, Wests and Souths, and the addition of Burnett Heads for a few senior games, before being relegated to the Reserves after five rounds.

In 1988, Maryborough joined the competition to resume a six team competition.

A Grade Senior Premiers[1]

Bundaberg Wide Bay AFL

  • 1987 West Bundaberg Bulldogs
  • 1988 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1989 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1990 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1991 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1992 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1993 Fraser Coast Lions
  • 1994 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1995 West Bundaberg Bulldogs
  • 1996 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 1997 ATW Bundaberg Eagles
  • 1998 ATW Bundaberg Eagles
  • 1999 ATW Bundaberg Eagles

AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay

  • 2000 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2001 ATW Bundaberg Eagles
  • 2002 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2003 In recess
  • 2004 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2005 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2006 ATW Bundaberg Eagles
  • 2007 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2008 ATW Bundaberg Eagles

AFL Wide Bay

  • 2009 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2010 Brothers Bulldogs
  • 2011 ATW Bundaberg Eagles
  • 2012 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2013 Hervey Bay Bombers
  • 2014 ATW Bundaberg Eagles

Year in Recess - 2003 Summary

In 2003, four out of the eight clubs that played in a Brisbane League Division Three, were from AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay. They were Hervey Bay Bombers, Maryborough Bears, Across The Waves Bundaberg, and Brothers Bulldogs from Bundaberg. Gympie Cats and Pomona Demons had also previously played in the Wide Bay League. It was a competition which lasted only one season before the above mentioned six clubs, with the addition of new club, Bay Power, resulted in a revamped seven club League reforming the AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay competition the following year.

Hervey Bay Bombers won the Division Three Flag in 2003 beating ATW Bundaberg Eagles, with Maryborough Bears finishing third. The other two clubs in the competition were Bribie Island Bulldogs and Glasshouse Lions.

A Grade Senior Clubs

Club Moniker Years in competition No. of Premierships Premiership years
ATW Bundaberg Eagles 1997–
(merger of North Bundaberg Kangaroos
and South Bundaberg/ATW Magpies) 		8 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014
Fraser Coast Lions 1992-2000
(known as Fraser Coast Magpies 1997-2000)		 1 1993
Gympie Cats 1987-1989, 1993-1999, 2004–2006-
Pomona Demons 1993-1996, 2004-2006-
Hervey Bay Bombers Bombers 1987– 15 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004,
2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013
Bay Power Power 2004– –
Brothers Bulldogs Bulldogs 1987–
(known as West Bundaberg Bulldogs 1987-1996) 		3 1987, 1995, 2010
Maryborough Bears 1988, 1990–1991, 1993–1999, 2001–2012, 2015-
(Moniker was Tigers 1988–1994) 		–

Merger of Two Bundaberg Clubs

North Bundaberg Kangaroos played in this competition from 1987 until 1996 before merging with Souths. South Bundaberg Magpies (ATW Magpies 1996) played in this competition from 1987 until 1996 before merging with Norths.

From 1997 the new club was to be known as Across The Waves (ATW) Bundaberg - The Eagles. The newly formed club won the A Grade Senior Flag in its first three seasons (1997-1999).

2009 AFL Wide Bay Ladder and Finals Results

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Brothers Bulldogs 15 4 1 0 1611 803 200.62% 76 1st Semi Across The Waves 13 8 86 Bay Power 9 9 63
Hervey Bay Bombers 9 4 7 0 1538 1140 134.91% 52 2nd Semi Brothers Bulldogs 14 7 91 Hervey Bay Bombers 12 18 90
Across The Waves 8 4 7 1 1576 1038 151.83% 50 Preliminary Hervey Bay Bombers 20 16 136 Across The Waves 6 6 42
Bay Power 7 4 8 1 1420 1308 108.56% 46 Grand Hervey Bay Bombers 15 12 102 Brothers Bulldogs 10 7 67
Maryborough 0 4 16 0 390 2246 17.36% 16

2010 AFL Wide Bay Ladder and Finals Results

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Across The Waves 15 0 1 0 1809 722 250.55% 60 1st Semi Brothers Bulldogs 30 19 199 Bay Power 2 2 14
Hervey Bay Bombers 12 0 4 0 1750 754 232.10% 48 2nd Semi Across The Waves 15 7 97 Hervey Bay Bombers 11 10 76
Brothers Bulldogs 9 0 7 0 1746 1133 154.10% 36 Preliminary Brothers Bulldogs 17 11 113 Hervey Bay Bombers 12 13 85
Bay Power 2 0 14 0 840 1801 46.64% 8 Grand Brothers Bulldogs 10 8 68 Across The Waves 7 16 58
Maryborough 2 0 14 0 546 2281 23.94% 8

2011 AFL Wide Bay Ladder and Finals Results

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Across The Waves 15 4 0 1 2095 509 411.59% 78 1st Semi Hervey Bay Bombers 12 10 82 Bay Power 8 16 64
Brothers Bulldogs 8 4 7 1 1205 1168 103.17% 50 2nd Semi Across The Waves 14 9 93 Brothers Bulldogs 9 5 59
Bay Power 6 4 9 1 1109 1291 85.90% 42 Preliminary Hervey Bay Bombers 14 11 95 Brothers Bulldogs 7 9 51
Hervey Bay Bombers 6 4 9 1 969 1320 73.41% 42 Grand Across The Waves 20 8 128 Hervey Bay Bombers 9 7 61
Maryborough 3 4 13 0 875 1965 44.53% 28

2012 AFL Wide Bay Ladder and Finals Results

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Hervey Bay Bombers 15 4 0 1 2000 383 522.19 62 1st Semi Across The Waves 23 12 150 Maryborough 6 10 46
Brothers Bulldogs 11 4 5 0 1263 1178 107.22 44 2nd Semi Hervey Bay Bombers 16 18 114 Brothers Bulldogs 6 8 44
Across The Waves 8 4 7 1 1394 1080 129.07 34 Preliminary Across The Waves 13 8 86 Brothers Bulldogs 6 7 43
Maryborough 3 4 12 1 768 1937 39.65 14 Grand Hervey Bay Bombers 11 14 80 Across The Waves 10 10 70
Bay Power 1 4 14 1 773 1620 47.72 6

2013 Ladder

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Across The Waves 12 0 3 0 1454 1127 129.02% 48 Semi Hervey Bay Bombers 23 17 155 Brothers Bulldogs 6 7 43
Hervey Bay Bombers 11 0 4 0 1561 988 158.00% 44 Grand Hervey Bay Bombers 22 11 143 Across The Waves 9 10 64
Brothers Bulldogs 4 0 11 0 1019 1439 70.81% 16
Bay Power 3 0 12 0 1038 1518 68.38% 12

2014 Ladder

AFL Wide Bay Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Hervey Bay Bombers 14 0 2 0 2001 679 294.70% 56 Semi Across The Waves 15 11 101 Brothers Bulldogs 7 7 49
Across The Waves 12 0 4 0 1473 1115 132.11% 48 Grand Across The Waves 14 16 100 Hervey Bay Bombers 10 6 66
Brothers Bulldogs 5 0 11 0 853 1640 52.01% 20
Bay Power 3 0 13 0 941 1720 54.71% 12
Maroochydore Roos 1 0 1 0 192 128 150.00% 4
Gympie 0 0 1 0 71 89 79.78% 0
Pomona 0 0 2 0 68 119 57.14% 0
Glasshouse Hinterland 0 0 1 0 23 132 17.42% 0

AFL Wide Bay A Grade Grand Finals

Year Premiers Score Runners Up Score Venue
1987 West Bundaberg Bulldogs 12.12 (84) Hervey Bay Bombers 7.14 (56) Frank Coulthard Oval, Bundaberg
1988 Hervey Bay Bombers 17.17 (119) West Bundaberg Bulldogs 9.15 (69) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
1989 Hervey Bay Bombers 10.19 (79) West Bundaberg Bulldogs 10.12 (72) Dundowran Oval, Hervey Bay
1990 Hervey Bay Bombers 21.18 (144) West Bundaberg Bulldogs 9.9 (63) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
1991 Hervey Bay Bombers 9.9 (63) West Bundaberg Bulldogs 8.7 (55) N.E. Mclean Oval, Hervey Bay
1992 Hervey Bay Bombers 12.10 (82) South Bundaberg Magpies 11.10 (76) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
1993 Fraser Coast Lions 14.10 (94) South Bundaberg Magpies 10.14 (74) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
1994 Hervey Bay Bombers 13.8 (86) South Bundaberg Magpies 10.14 (74) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
1995 West Bundaberg Bulldogs 10.6 (66) South Bundaberg Magpies 8.8 (56) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
1996 Hervey Bay Bombers 12.5 (77) Maryborough Bears 9.10 (64) Newtown Oval, Maryborough
1997 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 15.13 (103) Fraser Coast Magpies 10.16 (76) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
1998 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 12.8 (80) Gympie Cats 7.6 (48) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
1999 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 10.14 (74) Hervey Bay Bombers 3.8 (26) Frank Coulthard Oval, Bundaberg
2000 Hervey Bay Bombers 10.7 (67) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 4.12 (36) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
2001 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 17.12 (114) Hervey Bay Bombers 7.11 (53) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
2002 Hervey Bay Bombers 16.12 (108) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 7.11 (53) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
*2003* *HERVEY BAY BOMBERS 8.8 (56) *ATW BUNDABERG EAGLES 6.17 (53) N.E.McLEAN OVAL, HERVEY BAY
2004 Hervey Bay Bombers 17.12 (114) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 8.7 (55) Frank Coulthard Oval, Bundaberg
2005 Hervey Bay Bombers 17.13 (115) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 9.11 (65) Keith Dunne Oval, Hervey Bay
2006 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 19.14 (128) Hervey Bay Bombers 14.15 (99) Ocean Reef Park, Maryborough
2007 Hervey Bay Bombers 17.15 (117) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 8.5 (53) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
2008 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 15.15 (105) Hervey Bay Bombers 15.13 (103) Frank Coulthard Oval, Bundaberg
2009 Hervey Bay Bombers 15.12 (102) Brothers Bulldogs 10.7 (67) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay
2010 Brothers Bulldogs 10.8 (68) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 7.16 (58) Keith Dunne Oval, Hervey Bay
2011 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 20.8 (128) Hervey Bay Bombers 9.7 (61) Ocean Reef Park, Maryborough
2012 Hervey Bay Bombers 11.14 (80) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 10.10 (70) Faircloth Oval, Bundaberg
2013 Hervey Bay Bombers 22.11 (143) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 9.10 (64) Frank Coulthard Oval, Bundaberg
2014 ATW Bundaberg Eagles 14.16 (100) Hervey Bay Bombers 10.6 (66) N.E. McLean Oval, Hervey Bay

NOTE: In 2003 all of the AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay Clubs participated in a Brisbane Competition before resuming the Regional League the following year.

AFL Wide Bay A Grade Grand Final Summary List

Club Seasons Grand Finals Premiers Runners Up
Hervey Bay Bombers 27 22 15 7
Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles 17 16 8 8
Brothers Bulldogs (West Bundaberg) 27 8 3 5
Fraser Coast Lions/Magpies 9 2 1 1
South Bundaberg (ATW Magpies) 10 4 0 4
Maryborough Bears (Formerly Tigers) 21 1 0 1
Gympie Cats 13 1 0 1
North Bundaberg Kangaroos 10 0 0 0
Bay Power 11 0 0 0
Pomona Demons 7 0 0 0

AFL Wide Bay Best and Fairest Award (Stedman Medal)

Year Stedman Medal Winner Club
1987 Darren Hunter Hervey Bay Bombers
1988 John Turnbull Hervey Bay Bombers
1989 Paul Longley West Bundaberg Bulldogs
1990 Gavin Rowe West Bundaberg Bulldogs
1991 John Turnbull Hervey Bay Bombers
1992 Doug Maxwell Fraser Coast Lions
1993 Rory Chapple Fraser Coast Lions
1994 Shannon Schonnewille Maryborough Tigers
1995 David Ward West Bundaberg Bulldogs
1996 Scott Banfield (TIED) Hervey Bay Bombers
1996 Grant Staunton (TIED) Hervey Bay Bombers
1997 Grant Staunton Hervey Bay Bombers
1998 Angus Nevin Gympie Cats
1999 Anthony McDonald Fraser Coast Magpies
2000 Josh Charles Hervey Bay Bombers
2001 Josh Charles Hervey Bay Bombers
2002 Jason Hodgkinson Brothers Bulldogs
2003 Competition in Recess Not awarded
2004 Will Connally Hervey Bay Bombers
2005 Matty Stevens Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2006 Matty Stevens Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2007 Shannon Beavis Maryborough Bears
2008 Hayden Anderson Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2009 Justin Sheehan Brothers Bulldogs
2010 Brendan Murchie (TIED) Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2010 Shaun Stone (TIED) Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2011 Michael Liverton Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles
2012 Brad Richards Hervey Bay Bombers

AFL Wide Bay Recent Reserve Grade Grand Finals

Year Premiers Score Runners Up Score
2005 Hervey Bay Bombers 9.6 (60) Maryborough Bears 3.6 (24)
2006 Hervey Bay Bombers 8.3 (51) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 3.6 (24)
2007 Hervey Bay Bombers 13.6 (78) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 6.5 (41)
2008 Hervey Bay Bombers Score N/A ATW Bundaberg Eagles by 1 point
2009 Brothers Bulldogs 6.13 (49) Hervey Bay Bombers 5.1 (31)
2010 Brothers Bulldogs 14.1 (85) Bay Power 11.10 (76)
2011 Hervey Bay Bombers 11.12 (78) Brothers Bulldogs 5.7 (37)
2012 Brothers Bulldogs 7.8 (50) Hervey Bay Bombers 7.4 (46)
2013 Brothers Bulldogs 7.4 (46) Hervey Bay Bombers 5.6 (36)
2014 Hervey Bay Bombers 10.7 (67) ATW Bundaberg Eagles 2.5 (17)

AFL Wide Bay Reserves Grand Final Summary List

Club Seasons Grand Finals Premiers Runners Up
Hervey Bay Bombers 25 24 13 11
Fraser Coast Lions/Magpies 7 5 4 1
Brothers Bulldogs (West Bundaberg) 25 6 4 2
Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles 14 7 1 6
South Bundaberg (ATW Magpies) 10 3 1 2
North Bundaberg Kangaroos 9 2 1 1
Maryborough Bears (Formerly Tigers) 15 2 1 1
Bay Power 9 1 0 1
Burnett Heads Saints 1 0 0 0
Pomona Demons 5 0 0 0
Gympie Cats 10 0 0 0

Note: The Reserve Grade Seniors was not contested from 2002-2004.

See also

References

  1. ↑ News Mail (Bundaberg, Queensland).

External links