AFL London
AFL London is one of the largest organised Australian rules football leagues outside Australia.
The competition provides a competitive and fun game of football to the many Australians that live and work in London, as well as spreading the game to residents of non-AFL playing nations including, England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Italy and other European countries.
The league is currently made up of eight clubs, across three levels of competition (Premiership, Conference and Social) that participate in a competition running from May to August.
History
First formed in 1989, AFL London was formerly known as the British Australian Rules Football League (BARFL). The inaugural season was held in 1990 and featured eight teams; the London Hawks, West London Wildcats, North London Lions, Earls Court Kangaroos, Lea Valley Saints, Thames Valley Magpies, Wandsworth Demons and the Leicester-based East Midland Eagles. Of these eight foundation teams, West London, North London, Wimbledon (formerly the London Hawks) and Wandsworth continue to compete in the league.[1]
In 2001 AFL London was expanded to incorporate two levels of competition, known as the Premiership and Conference competitions. In addition, due to growing interest and numbers, a Social grade competition was added in 2007.
2008 saw an organisational restructure of Australian Rules Football in the UK, with the BARFL redeveloped to become AFL Britain. This change came about as a way of focusing the efforts of the organisation on supporting the growth of the game both in and outside the capital. [2] It was at this time that the London competition was rebranded as AFL London.
In 2015 a women's competition [3][4] was introduced, including three of the foundation teams; Wandsworth Demons, North London Lions and Wimbledon Hawks, and the Peckham-based South East London Giants. This was expanded in 2017 into two divisions of four teams, with the addition of teams from the West London Wildcats, London Swans, Putney Magpies, and a second side from Wandsworth.
Teams
- North London Lions
- Putney Magpies
- Reading Kangaroos
- South East London Giants
- Wandsworth Demons
- West London Wildcats
- Wimbledon Hawks
Premiership winners
The following teams have won the competition:[5]
| Year | Premiership | Conference | Social | Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | West London Wildcats | Clapham Demons (Wandsworth) | South London Demons (Wandsworth) | Wimbledon Hawks |
| 2015 | North London Lions | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | South London Demons (Wandsworth) | Wandsworth Demons |
| 2014 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | Ealing Emus (West London) | |
| 2013 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | Reading Roos | |
| 2012 | North London Lions | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | Reading Roos | |
| 2011 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | South London Demons (Wandsworth) | |
| 2010 | Wandsworth Demons | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | Ealing Emus (West London) | |
| 2009 | West London Wildcats | Clapham Demons (Wandsworth) | South London Demons (Wandsworth) | |
| 2008 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | Ealing Emus (West London) | |
| 2007 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | South London Demons (Wandsworth) | |
| 2006 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2005 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2004 | West London Wildcats | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2003 | Wandsworth Demons | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2002 | North London Lions | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2001 | North London Lions | Shepherds Bush Raiders (West London) | ||
| 2000 | West London Wildcats | |||
| 1999 | Wandsworth Demons | |||
| 1998 | Wimbledon Hawks | |||
| 1997 | Wandsworth Demons | |||
| 1996 | London Hawks | |||
| 1995 | Wandsworth Demons | |||
| 1994 | London Hawks | |||
| 1993 | London Hawks | |||
| 1992 | Wandsworth Demons | |||
| 1991 | Earls Court Kangaroos | |||
| 1990 | Wandsworth Demons |
Best and fairest
Context for "best and fairest" is missing.[6]
| Year | Premiership | Conference | Social | Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Andy Challis (West London Wildcats), Red (Wandsworth Demons) & Shoey (North London Lions) | Tim Wkear (Shepherds Bush Raiders) | tbc | tbc |
| 2015 | Lloyd Williams (West London Wildcats) | Chad Sellenger (Shepherds Bush Raiders) | Trav White (Reading Roos) | Jess Edwards (Wandsworth Demons) |
| 2014 | Trent Georgiou (Wandsworth Demons) | Jimmy Gottschalk (Shepherds Bush Raiders) & Jimmy Boot (Regents Park Lions) | Nathan Grindall (Reading Roos) | |
| 2013 | Joel Moloney (Putney Magpies) | Matt Halacas (Regents Park Lions) | ||
| 2012 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | ||
| 2011 | Chris Capsalis (North London Lions) | Chris Angus (London Swans) | ||
| 2010 | Danny Morland (North London Lions) | |||
| 2009 | Dean Nankervill (West London Wildcats) | Josh Stormont (Clapham Demons) | ||
| 2008 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2007 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2006 | Damian Stewart (West London Wildcats) | David Lumley (Clapham Demons) | ||
| 2005 | Paul Sheehan (Wandsworth Demons) | |||
| 2004 | Sam Parkinson (Wimbledon Hawks) & David Sheahan (Sussex Swans) | Mark Rudd (Shepherds Bush Raiders) | ||
| 2003 | Tim Ellis (North London Lions) | Ben Porter (City Swans) | ||
| 2002 | Ty Ty Lim (Regents Park Lions) | |||
| 2001 | Glen Wilkins (North London Lions) & Sam Parkinson (Wimbledon Hawks) | Adam Hough (Regents Park Lions) | ||
| 2000 | Joel O’Brien (Sussex Swans) | |||
| 1999 | Joel O’Brien (Sussex Swans) | |||
| 1998 | ||||
| 1997 | Michael Bolt (North London Lions) & Geoff Jackson (Wimbledon Hawks) | |||
| 1996 | Steve Schreuder (Earls Court Roos) | |||
| 1995 | ||||
| 1994 | Bruce Williams (London Hawks) | |||
| 1993 | Darren Jameson (West London Wildcats) & Andrew Worner (Lea Valley Saints) | |||
| 1992 | Michael Bolt (North London Lions) | |||
| 1991 | Colin Thompson (North London Lions) | |||
| 1990 | Mark Davies (Lea Valley Saints) |
See also
References
- ↑ "The story of the British Footy League". Australian Football. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ↑ "East London school embarks on AFL Program". Australian Times. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ↑ Kirby, Chloe (2015-03-12). "Women’s AFL making its mark in London, and they want you". Australian Times. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ↑ "It's all kicking off: the rise of a new Aussie rules women's league | Sport". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ↑ "AFL London Premiers | AFL London, Season 2017". Afllondon.com. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ↑ "AFL London Best & Fairest Winners | AFL London, Season 2017". Afllondon.com. Retrieved 2017-03-21.