North East Australian Football League
Current season, competition or edition: 2015 NEAFL season | |
 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 2010 |
| Inaugural season | 2011 |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Country |
 Australia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Aspley |
| Most titles | Brisbane Lions (2) |
| 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, the Northern Territory and the 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 seven 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 Football Club, 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]
Clubs
| Guernsey | Club | Nickname | Location | Home ground | First season | Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ainslie | |
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |
2011 | - |
 |
Aspley | |
Brisbane, Queensland | |
2011 | 2014 |
| Brisbane Lions (AFL reserves team) |
|
Brisbane, Queensland | |
2011 | 2012, 2013 | |
 |
Eastlake | |
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |
2011 | - |
 |
Gold Coast Suns (AFL reserves team) |
|
Gold Coast, Queensland | |
2011 | - |
| NT Thunder | |
Darwin, Northern Territory | |
2011 | 2011 | |
| Redland | |
Brisbane, Queensland | |
2011 | - | |
 |
Southport | |
Gold Coast, Queensland | |
2011 | - |
| Sydney Swans (AFL reserves team) |
|
Sydney, New South Wales | |
2011 | - | |
 |
Sydney University | |
Sydney, New South Wales | |
2012 | - |
 |
UWS Giants (AFL reserves team) |
|
Sydney, New South Wales | |
2011 | - |
Former clubs
| Club | Nickname | Location | Home ground | First season | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadbeach | |
Gold Coast, Queensland | |
2011 | 2013 |
| Belconnen | |
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |
2011 | 2014 |
| Labrador | |
Gold Coast, Queensland | |
2011 | 2013 |
| Morningside | |
Brisbane, Queensland | |
2011 | 2013 |
| Mount Gravatt | |
Brisbane, Queensland | |
2011 | 2013 |
| Queanbeyan | |
Queanbeyan, New South Wales | |
2011 | 2014 |
| Sydney Hills | |
Sydney, New South Wales | |
2012 | 2014 |
| Tuggeranong | |
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |
2011 | 2013 |
League Awards
Current league awards have been instituted since 2014.[6]
Premiers
| Season | Premier | Runner-up | Score | Margin | Venue |
| 2011 | Northern Territory | Ainslie | 16.18 (114) - 13.14 (92) | 22 points | Traeger Park, Northern Territory |
| 2012 | Brisbane Lions | Queanbeyan | 11.9 (75) - 22.12 (144) | 69 points | Manuka Oval, Australian Capital Territory |
| 2013 | Brisbane Lions | Sydney Swans | 12.9 (81) - 10.13 (73) | 8 points | Graham Rd Oval, Queensland |
| 2014 | Aspley | Sydney Swans | 15.12 (102) - 15.10 (100) | 2 points | Graham Rd Oval, Queensland |
NEAFL MVP Award
| Season | Player | Club | Votes |
| 2014 | Matthew Payne | Aspley | 102 |
NEAFL Rising Star
| Season | Player | Club |
| 2014 | Paul Hunter | Redland |
NEAFL Leading Goal Kicker
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
| 2014 | Cleve Hughes | Redland | 79 |
Source: NEAFL Stats 2014
NEAFL Coach of the Year
| Season | Player | Club |
| 2014 | Xavier Clarke | Northern Territory |
Former league awards
Grogan Medal (2011-2013)
Awarded to the best and fairest players in the Northern Conference.
| Season | Winner | Club | Votes |
| 2011 | Matthew Payne Cameron Ilett | Southport Sharks Northern Territory | 23 |
| 2012 | Ryan Davey Fraser Pope Tom Salter | Labrador Tigers Southport Sharks Redland Bombers | 14 |
| 2013 | Haydn Kiel[7] | Southport Football Club | 21 |
Mulrooney Medal (2011-2013)
For the best and fairest players in the Eastern Conference.
| Season | Winner | Club | Votes |
| 2011 | Daniel Currie Jarred Moore | Sydney Swans Sydney Swans | 16 |
| 2012 | Shane Harris | Belconnen Magpies | 16 |
| 2013 | James Bennett[8] | Belconnen Magpies | 21 |
NEAFL (Northern) Rising Star Award (2011-2013)
Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Northern Conference.
| Season | Winner | Club |
| 2011 | Ross Tungatalum | Northern Territory |
| 2012 | Andrew Boston[9] | Broadbeach |
| 2013 | Josh Smith[10] | Morningside |
NEAFL (Eastern) Rising Star Award (2011-2013)
Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Eastern Conference
| Season | Winner | Club |
| 2011 | Hayden Armstrong | Eastlake Demons |
| 2012 | Liam Flaherty[11] | Eastlake Demons |
| 2013 | Brent Macleod[12] | Tuggeranong Hawks |
Ray Hughson Medal (2011-2013)
Highest goalkicker award for player in Northern Conference
| Season | Winner | Club | Goals |
| 2011 | Darren Ewing | Northern Territory Thunder | 115 |
| 2012 | Tom Kavanagh | Queanbeyan | 92 |
| 2013 | Darren Ewing[13] | Northern Territory Thunder | 94 |
Most Successful Clubs
| Club | Year Established | Leagues | Premiership Years | Premierships (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainslie Football Club | 1927 | CANFL 1927-1974 |
Canberra Australian National Football League: 1929, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1970 Australian Capital Territory Football League: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
23 |
| Southport Football Club | 1961 | GCAFL 1961-1982 QAFL 1983-2010 |
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 |
21 |
| Eastlake Football Club | 1926 | CANFL 1926-1974 |
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 |
19 |
| Aspley Football Club | 1964 | SQAFA 1964-1992
BAFL 1993-2008 |
South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 Brisbane Australian Football League: 2002 |
9 |
| Sydney University Football Club | 1948 | NSWANFL 1948-1957, 1962-1968 SFA 1971-1987, 1995-2006 |
Sydney Football Association: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2003, 2005 Sydney Football League: 1992 |
7 |
| Redland Football Club | 1966 | SQAFA 1966-1992 BAFL 1993-1999 |
South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1975, 1987 Brisbane Australian Football League 1998, 1999 |
4 |
| Sydney Swans Football Club (reserves) | 1874 | VFL 1877-1990 |
AFL Canberra: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | 4 |
| Brisbane Lions Football Club (reserves) | 1998 | QAFL 1998-2010
NEAFL 2011- |
Queensland Australian Football League: 2001 North East Australian Football League: 2012, 2013 |
3 |
| Northern Territory Football Club | 2008 | QAFL 2008-2010 NEAFL 2011- |
North East Australian Football League: 2011 | 1 |
| Gold Coast Football Club (reserves) | 2011 | NEAFL 2011- | nil | 0 |
| Greater Western Sydney Football Club (reserves) | 2011 | NEAFL 2011- | nil | 0 |
See also
- List of Australian rules football leagues
- AFL Canberra
- Queensland Australian Football League
- Sydney AFL
References
- ↑ AFL's north east boost – AFL.com.au
- ↑ "New look NEAFL announced". North East Australian Football League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ "No North Queensland team for NEAFL". North East Australian Football League. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "Three teams to leave the NEAFL". North East Australian Football League. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ↑ Gaskin, Lee (5 August 2014). "Canberra down to two teams in the NEAFL after Queanbeyan and Belconnen pull out". The Canberra Times.
- ↑ NEAFL Awards 2014
- ↑ Southport's Kiel wins Grogan
- ↑ Bennett wins Mulrooney Medal
- ↑ Andrew Boston wins medal
- ↑ Southport's Kiel wins Medal: Other Awards
- ↑ Shane Harris Caps of an Impressive first NEAFL Season: Other awards
- ↑ Hawk Brent Macleod wins NAB Rising Star Award
- ↑ Other awards (2013)
External links
- North East Australian Football League (NEAFL)
- AFL description of league
- AFL announces new north-eastern comp
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