# Queensland Football Association

The Queensland Football Association (QFA) is the largest Australian rules football league in Queensland and second largest in the world by number of senior clubs (after the Victorian Amateur Football Association). Dating back to 1969 and going by various names it is now run by AFL Queensland as a second tier competition under its semi-professional Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). There are 52 clubs spanning as far north as Gympie in Queensland to as far south as Ballina in New South Wales (NSW). Most clubs field men's and women's senior and reserve sides in the top divisions, with senior only teams in the lower divisions. The men's competition is known as the QFA and the women's is known as the QFAW.
The current competition is the result of merging Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast leagues with existing Brisbane leagues in the 1990s along with the addition of New South Wales clubs in the 2010s after numerous attempts to restructure QFA (Northern Rivers) and AFL North Coast (NSW) competitions. Successive restructuring has seen the number of teams balloon resulting in numerous divisions. The QFA covers more municipalities than any other competition in Queensland including Gympie Region, Shire of Noosa, Sunshine Coast Region, City of Moreton Bay, Somerset Region, Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Redland City and Ipswich City Council with a combined population of almost 4 million. Due to the enormous distances between clubs for a mostly amateur competition, which can reach 350 kilometres placing significant stress on clubs, the league restructured in 2021 into North/South sub-divisions.
It is one of the few Australian rules football leagues that operates a promotion and relegation system. AFL Queensland considers the QFA to be a development league for clubs to prove that they are sufficiently stable and successful to apply for a QAFL license. The most recent examples of QFA Division 1 clubs entering the QAFL are Redland-Victoria Point in 2021, Noosa Tigers in 2022, and Coorparoo Kings for 2025.
Traditionally an amateur competition, amateur status was enforced between 2014 and 2017 when it split off the Queensland Amateur Football Association (QAFA) competition. However with increasing professionalism in the QAFL and clubs seeking promotion, AFL Queensland accommodated for player payments in 2020 and it is now not uncommon for QFA Division 1 clubs to sign big name players. This has made it more difficult for truly amateur clubs to compete and get promoted from the lower divisions.

## History

In 1969, the "South Queensland Australian Football Association" (SQAFA) was established with the purpose of developing players for the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL). Most of the players were amateurs. In 1992, the league changed its name to the "Brisbane Australian Football League" (BAFL) and included clubs from the Sunshine Coast.
Another name change in 2000 brought about AFL South Queensland. In 2006, AFL South Queensland was taken under the umbrella of AFL Queensland and rebranded as the Queensland State Association. In 2012, it was renamed South East Queensland AFL. Finally in 2014 the local level was divided into two leagues, the Queensland Football Association (QFA) and the Queensland Amateur Football Association (QAFA). Again in 2017 the name will change again to the Queensland Football Association, now covering five divisions and the re-introduction of two regional based leagues (AFL Northern Rivers & AFL Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay).

## Competition structure

2017 to 2019:
Queensland Football Association (QFA) league system :
| Level | Leagues | N° of teams (Reserves) | N° of teams (Seniors) | ↑ Promotion | ↓ Relegation |
| 1 | QFA Division 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 $^{**}$ |
| 2 | QFA Division 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 $^*$ | 1 $^{**}$ |
| 3 | QFA Division 3 | 10 | 10 | 1 $^*$ | 0 |
| 4 | QFA Division 4 | | 9 | 0 | 1 $^{**}$ |
| 5 | QFA Division 5 | | 9 | 1 $^*$ | 0 |

### Notes

$^*$ Premiers
$^{**}$ Wooden spooners
2020 to 2024:
| Level | Leagues | Leagues |
| 1 | QFA Division 1 8 clubs | QFA Division 1 8 clubs |
| 2 | QFA Division 2 North 12 clubs | QFA Division 2 South 8 clubs |
| 3 | QFA Division 3 North 7 clubs | QFA Division 3 South 7 clubs |
| 4 | QFA Division 4 North 9 clubs | QFA Division 4 North 11 clubs |
2025 to present:
| Level | Leagues | Leagues | Leagues | Leagues |
| 1 | QFA Division 1 8 clubs | QFA Division 1 8 clubs | QFA Division 1 8 clubs | QFA Division 1 8 clubs |
| 2 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 2 South |
| 3 | QFA Division 3 Sunshine Coast | QFA Division 3 Brisbane North | QFA Division 3 Brisbane South | QFA Division 3 Gold Coast |

## Queensland Football Association clubs

Some clubs are listed multiple times as they field teams in multiple grades and divisions.

### Queensland Football Association Division 1

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Caloundra | Panthers | Carter Park. North Street, Golden Beach | 1973 |
| Hinterland | Blues | G Rae Oval, Palmwoods | 1970 |
| Mayne | Tigers | Enoggera Memorial Park, Enoggera | 1924 |
| Moreton Bay | Lions | Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park, Burpengary | 1987 |
| Sandgate | Hawks | Taigum Place Park, Taigum | 1943 |
| Springwood | Pumas | Lowe Oval, Underwood | 1972 |
| Uni. of Queensland | Red Lions | University of Queensland Playing Field 2, St Lucia | 1956 |

#### Notes

| Year | Club promoted to division | Notes |
| 2017 | Bond University | Promoted from QFA South in 2016 Relegated to QFA Division 2 in 2017 |
| 2017 | Burleigh | Promoted from QFA South in 2016 Relegated to QFA Division 2 South in 2019 |
| 2017 | Caloundra | Promoted from QFA North in 2016 |
| 2017 | Coorparoo | Promoted from QFA South in 2016 Promoted to QAFL in 2024 |
| 2017 | Maroochydore | Promoted from QFA North in 2016 Promoted to QAFL in 2019 |
| 2017 | Mayne | Promoted from QFA North in 2016 |
| 2017 | Noosa | Promoted from QFA North in 2016 Promoted to QAFL in 2020 |
| 2017 | Springwood | Promoted from QFA South in 2016 |
| 2017 | University of Queensland | Relegated from QAFL in 2016 |
| 2017 | Yeronga South Brisbane | Promoted from QFA South in 2016 Relegated to QFA Division 2 in 2018 |
| 2018 | Aspley (Reserves) | Promoted from QFA Division 2 in 2017 Promoted to QAFL Reserves in 2021 |
| 2020 | Beenleigh | Promoted from QFA Division 2 in 2019 Relegated to QFA Division 2 South in 2024 |
| 2022 | Moreton Bay | Promoted from QFA Division 2 North in 2021 |
| 2022 | Wynnum | Promoted from QFA Division 2 North in 2021 Relegated to QFA Division 2 North in 2022 |
| 2023 | Hinterland | Promoted from QFA Division 2 North in 2022 |
| 2025 | Sandgate | Promoted from QFA Division 2 North in 2024 |

### Queensland Football Association Division 2 North

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Alexandra Hills | Bombers | Keith Surridge Park, Alexandra Hills | 1980 |
| Gympie | Cats | Ray Warren Oval, Glanmire | 1971 |
| Jindalee | Jags | Jindalee Recreation Reserve. Wongaburra Street, Jindalee | 1971 |
| Kedron | Lions | EK (Ted) Anderson Oval, Kedron | 1937 |
| Kenmore | Bears | Chelmer Oval, Chelmer | 1967 |
| Park Ridge | Pirates | Park Ridge High School, Park Ridge | 2013 |
| Pine Rivers | Swans | Rob Akers Reserve, Strathpine | 1970 |
| Redcliffe | Tigers | Nathan Road Sports Complex, Kippa-Ring | 1974 |
| Wynnum | Vikings | Kianawah Oval, Wynnum West | 1971 |
| Yeronga South Brisbane | Devils | Leyshon Park, Yeronga | 1929 |
| Zillmere | Eagles | O'Callaghan Park, Zillmere | 1923 |
| Year | Club promoted to division | Notes |

### Queensland Football Association Division 2 South

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Beenleigh | Buffaloes | Guardian Gantry Hire Oval. Dauth Park, Beenleigh | 1998 |
| Bond University | Bullsharks | Bond University Oval, Robina | 2011 |
| Burleigh | Bombers | Bill Godfrey Oval, Burleigh Waters | c. 1979 |
| Carrara | Saints | Alan Nielsen Oval, Carrara | 2012 |
| Coolangatta Tweed Heads | Blues | EXIMM Oval, Coolangatta | 2012 |
| Coomera | Magpies | Coomera Sports Park, Coomera | 2009 |
| Robina | Roos | Scottsdale Reserve, Robina | 1996 |
| Tweed Coast | Tigers | Barry Sheppard Oval. Bogangar, New South Wales | 2009 |

### Queensland Football Association Division 3 North

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Aspley | Hornets | Graham Road, Carseldine | 1964 |
| Caloundra | Panthers | Carter Park, Golden Beach | 1973 |
| Coorparoo | Kings | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 |
| Marcellin Old Collegians | Gorillas | Hickey Park, Stafford | 1945 |
| Maroochydore | Roos | Neil Upton Oval, Maroochydore | 1969 |
| Moreton Bay | Lions | Moreton Bay Regional Sports Park, Burpengary | 1987 |
| North Shore | Jets | North Shore Multisports Complex, Mudjimba | 1999 |

### Queensland Football Association Division 3 South

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Collingwood Park | Power | Redbank Plains Recreational Reserve, Redbank Plains | 2012 |
| Coorparoo | Kings | Giffin Park, Coorparoo | 1996 |
| Jimboomba | Redbacks | Glenlogan Park, Glenlogan | 2000 |
| Moorooka | Roosters | Alexander Park, Moorooka | 2009 |
| Morningside | Panthers | Jack Esplen Oval, Hawthorne | 1947 |
| Ormeau | Bulldogs | Ormeau Sports Park, Kingsholme | 2008 |
| Pacific Pines | Power | McAuley Parade Oval, Pacific Pines | 2005 |
| Sherwood | Magpies | Powenyenna Oval, Chelmer | 1991 |

### Queensland Football Association Division 4 North

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Ferny Grove | Falcons | Ferny Grove Oval, Ferny Grove | 1991 |
| Glasshouse Hinterland | Lions | Landsborough Sport & Recreation Centre, Landsborough | 1997 |
| Hinterland | Blues | G Rae Oval, Palmwoods | 1970 |
| Kedron | Lions | EK (Ted) Anderson Oval, Kedron | 1937 |
| Mayne | Tigers | Enoggera Memorial Park, Enoggera | 1924 |
| Redcliffe | Tigers | Nathan Road Sports Complex, Kippa-Ring | 1974 |
| Sandgate | Hawks | Sandgate Hawks AFC, Taigum | 1943 |
| Uni. Of Queensland | Red Lions | University of Queensland Playing Field 2, St Lucia | 1956 |
| Yeronga South Brisbane | Devils | Leyshon Park, Yeronga | 1929 |

### Queensland Football Association Division 4 South

| Club Name | Nickname | Home Ground/s | Formed |
| Brisbane Valley | Rattlers | Fernvale Sports Park, Fernvale | 2016 |
| Carrara | Saints | Alan Nielsen Oval, Carrara | 2012 |
| Coolangatta Tweed Heads | Blues | EXIMM Oval, Coolangatta | 2012 |
| Coomera | Magpies | Coomera Sports Park, Coomera | 2009 |
| Ipswich | Cats | Ivor Marsden Memorial Sports Centre, Amberley | 1959 |
| Ipswich | Eagles | Limestone Park, Ipswich | 2001 |
| Greater Springfield | Storm | Springfield Central Sports complex, Springfield Central | 2022 |
| Labrador | Tigers | Cooke-Murphy Oval, Labrador | 1964 |
| Mount Gravatt | Vultures | Dittmer Park, Mount Gravatt | 1964 |
| Redland-Victoria Point | Sharks | Totally Workwear Park, Victoria Point | 2014 |
| Southport | Sharks | Fankhauser Reserve, Southport | 1961 |

#### Notes

* ↑ The club website indicates that its first president was appointed in 1979, with no more data about its foundation.
* 1 2 Established in 1996, one year after the original Coorparoo FC folded.

## Former clubs
### Notable Queensland Football Association clubs defunct, in recess or in other leagues

| Club Name | Nickname | City/Town | Suburb/s | State/Territory | Home Ground/s | Formed | Fate |
| Ballina | Bombers | Ballina | Ballina | New South Wales | Fripp Oval | 1984 | Senior men's team merged with Byron to form Southern Stingrays in 2024 |
| Banyo | Bloods | Brisbane | Banyo | Queensland | Nudgee Recreation Reserve | 1967 | Folded |
| Bribie Island | Bulldogs | Bongaree | Bribie Island | Queensland | Bribie Island Recreation Reserve | | In recess |
| Byron | Magpies | Byron Bay | Byron Bay | New South Wales | Cavanbah Centre | 1984 | Senior men's team merged with Ballina to form Southern Stingrays in 2024 |
| Calamvale | Leopards | Brisbane | Calamvale | Queensland | Calamvale Sportsfield | ???? | Folded, still field junior teams |
| Lismore | Swans | Lismore | Lismore | New South Wales | Gloria Mortimer Oval | 2002 | Moved to AFL North Coast, in recess since 2022 floods |
| Marsden | Hawks | Brisbane | Marsden | Queensland | Mudgee Street Park | 1992 | Folded |
| Murri | Mavericks | Brisbane | Kedron | Queensland | Melrose Park | 1998 | Merged with Ferny Grove |
| Pomona | Demons | Sunshine Coast | Pomona | Queensland | Reserve Street Oval | 1973 | Entered recess, re-formed in AFL Wide Bay in 2024 |

## Premiers: 1970–present

| Year | SQAFA Division 1 | SQAFA Division 2 | SQAFA Division 3 | | | | |
| 1970 | Sherwood | Deagon | ? | | | | |
| 1971 | Mt Gravatt | University Queensland | Stafford | | | | |
| 1972 | Mt Gravatt | Banyo | Mt Gravatt | | | | |
| 1973 | Sherwood | Banyo | Stafford | | | | |
| 1974 | Mt Gravatt | Wynnum | Aspley | | | | |
| 1975 | Sherwood | Banyo | Redland | | | | |
| 1976 | Sherwood | RAAF | Deagon | | | | |
| 1977 | Sherwood | Deagon | Beenleigh-Slacks | | | | |
| 1978 | Sherwood | Oakleigh | Everton | | | | |
| 1979 | Sherwood | Ipswich | RAAF | | | | |
| 1980 | Sherwood | Beenleigh | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1981 | Sherwood | Everton | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1982 | Sherwood | Banyo | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1983 | Mt Gravatt | Ashgrove | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1984 | Acacia Ridge | University Queensland | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1985 | Aspley | Beenleigh | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1986 | Aspley | Jindalee | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1987 | Aspley | Redland | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1988 | Aspley | Redcliffe | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1989 | Aspley | Springwood | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1990 | Aspley | Everton | (No competition) | | | | |
| 1991 | Strathpine | Ipswich | (No competition) | | | | |
| Year | BAFL Division 1 | BAFL Division 2 | BAFL Division 3 | | | | |
| 1992 | Aspley | Moorooka | Uni | | | | |
| 1993 | Maroochydore | Sandgate | Ipswich | | | | |
| 1994 | Maroochydore | Sandgate | Marsden | | | | |
| 1995 | Maroochydore | Alexandra Hills | Marsden | | |
| 1996 | Maroochydore | Alexandra Hills | Toowong | | | | |
| 1997 | Noosa | Wilston Grange | Kenmore | | | | |
| 1998 | Redland | Moorooka | Kenmore | | | | |
| 1999 | Redland | Caboolture | Redland | | | | |
| Year | AFLSQ Premier Division | AFLSQ Division 1 | AFLSQ Division 2 | AFLSQ Division 3 | AFLSQ Division 4 | | |
| 2000 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Coorparoo Kings | Gympie | ? | ? | | |
| 2001 | Coolangatta | Burleigh Heads | Coorparoo Kings | Gympie | ? | | |
| 2002 | Aspley | Springwood | Redcliffe | Kenmore | Wilston Grange | | |
| 2003 | Coolangatta | Strathpine | Wynnum | (No competition) | ? | | |
| 2004 | Burleigh | Strathpine | Robina | (No competition) | ? | | |
| 2005 | Burleigh | Redcliffe | Robina | (No competition) | ? | | |
| Year | AFLQ State League Div 2 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 1 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 2 | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 3 North | AFLQ State Assoc'n Div 3 Central | | |
| 2006 | Western Magpies | Yeronga | Kenmore | (No competition) | ? | | |
| 2007 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Yeronga | Kedron | Gympie | Western Magpies | | |
| 2008 | Western Magpies | Wynnum | Redcliffe | Nambour | Strathpine | | |
| 2009 | Palm Beach-Currumbin | Wynnum | Beenleigh | Nambour | Woodsmen | | |
| 2010 | Noosa | Caloundra | Robina | Nambour & Hinterland | Jimboomba | | |
| 2011 | Noosa | Coorparoo Kings | Nambour & Hinterland | Pomona | Jimboomba | | |
| Year | SEQAFL Division 1 | SEQAFL Division 2 | SEQAFL Division 3 | SEQAFL Division 4 North | SEQAFL Division 4 Central | SEQAFL Division 4 South | |
| 2012 | Western Magpies | Coorparoo Kings | Redcliffe | Caloundra | Pine Rivers | Tweed Coast | |
| 2013 | Springwood | Coorparoo Kings | Coomera | Pomona | Zillmere | Tweed Coast | |
| Year | QFA North | QFA South | QAFA A Grade | QAFA B Grade North | QAFA B Grade Central | QAFA B Grade South | |
| 2014 | Mayne | Springwood | Griffith Uni/Moorooka | Bribie Island | Woodsmen | Bond Uni | |
| 2015 | Mayne | Springwood | Bond Uni | Gympie | Kedron | Tweed Coast | |
| 2016 | Mayne | Coorparoo Kings | Southeast Suns | Maroochydore | Zillmere | Byron Magpies | |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 | QFA Division 3 | QFA Division 4 | QFA Division 5 | QFA Northern Rivers | |
| 2017 | Maroochydore | Aspley Hornets | Victoria Point | Zillmere | Mayne | Byron Magpies | |
| 2018 | Maroochydore | Park Ridge | Carrara | Maroochydore | Yeronga South Brisbane | Byron Magpies | |
| 2019 | Noosa | Bond University | Moreton Bay | Park Ridge | Bribie Island | Byron Magpies | |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 3 | QFA Division 4 | | |
| 2020 | Noosa | Moreton Bay | Kenmore | Morningside | Ormeau | | |
| 2021 | Springwood | Moreton Bay | Burleigh | Sherwood Districts | Collingwood Park | | |
| 2022 | Coorparoo | Hinterland Blues | Coolangatta-Tweed Heads | Sherwood | Pacific Pines | | |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 3 North | QFA Division 3 South | QFA Division 4 North | QFA Division 4 South |
| 2023 | Springwood | Alexandra Hills | Burleigh | Maroochydore | Pacific Pines | Caloundra | Mt Gravatt |
| 2024 | Mayne | Sandgate | Coolangatta-Tweed Heads | Caloundra | Coorparoo | University of QLD | Southport |
| Year | QFA Division 1 | QFA Division 2 North | QFA Division 2 South | QFA Division 3 Sunshine Coast | QFA Division 3 Brisbane North | QFA Division 3 Brisbane South | QFA Division 3 Gold Coast |
| 2025 |