# North East Australian Football League

The North East Australian Football League (NEAFL /ˈniːfəl/ NEE-fəl) 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 competition was in 2011. It was a second division league, sitting below the national Australian Football League (AFL) and featured the reserves teams of the region's four AFL clubs playing alongside six non-AFL affiliated NEAFL senior teams. Nine NEAFL seasons were contested between 2011 and 2019, before the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league was amalgamated into the Victorian Football League from 2021.

## 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 Suns (whose senior team joined the AFL in the same season); and the senior team of the Greater Western Sydney Giants, which was preparing to join the AFL in 2012.
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 QAFL, while Tuggeranong went back to the AFL Canberra Division One competition. The possibility of a North Queensland side entering the competition for 2014 was considered but ruled out.
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. The ongoing desire by the AFL for a single Canberra team led Ainslie to withdraw at the end of the 2015 season. Both Canberra clubs - Ainslie and Eastlake - had a NEAFL licence until the end of 2016, but Ainslie withdrew from the competition after the AFL rejected their proposal to be Canberra's sole team from 2017. The AFL wanted Canberra's team to be either a combined Ainslie-Eastlake side or a representative team funded largely by all the local clubs in the Canberra area.
Two teams changed their names prior to the 2016 season. Eastlake's NEAFL side started to play as the Canberra Demons in an attempt to be seen as Canberra's representative team in the NEAFL competition. The club wishes to provide a clear AFL pathway for local talent and to get rid of the baggage between other clubs in the ACT. As part of this decision the team also adopted a blue and gold guernsey for home games, reflecting the territory's traditional colours. The team still wears Eastlake's red and black colours in away matches. The Greater Western Sydney reserves team became known as the Western Sydney University Giants to reflect the re-branding of the University of Western Sydney.
At the end of the 2019 season, AFL Northern Territory announced the disbanding of the NT Thunder, citing financial and logistical difficulties. The competition scope therefore decreased to capture Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The 2020 season was then cancelled altogether, owing to the infeasibility of interstate travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2020, the AFL announced that the NEAFL would be amalgamated into the Victorian Football League in 2021, bringing an end to the competition's nine-season history. The NEAFL's clubs will all have the opportunity to join the Victorian Football League, though given the finances associated with travel the independent non-AFL clubs are considered unlikely to join the league.

## Clubs

Nine clubs were scheduled to play in the cancelled 2020 NEAFL season. An additional 10 had participated in the competition since it was founded, with NT Thunder the last to disband at the end of the 2019 season.

### Final clubs

| Club | Colours | Moniker | State/ Territory | Home ground | Seasons | Seasons | Premierships | Premierships | Current league |
| Club | Colours | Moniker | State/ Territory | Home ground | First | Last | Total | Years | Current league |
| Aspley | | Hornets | QLD | Graham Road Oval | 2011 | 2020 | 1 | 2014 | QAFL |
| Brisbane (R) | | Lions | QLD | Graham Road Oval | 2011 | 2020 | 4 | 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019 | VFL |
| Canberra (Eastlake) | | Demons | ACT | Manuka Oval | 2011 | 2020 | 0 | - | ACTAFL |
| Gold Coast (R) | | Suns | QLD | Metricon Stadium | 2011 | 2020 | 0 | - | VFL |
| Greater Western Sydney (R)* | | Giants | NSW | Spotless Stadium | 2011 | 2020 | 1 | 2016 | VFL |
| Redland | | Bombers | QLD | Tidbold Park | 2011 | 2020 | 0 | - | QAFL |
| Southport | | Sharks | QLD | Fankhauser Reserve | 2011 | 2020 | 1 | 2018 | VFL |
| Sydney (R) | | Swans | NSW | Sydney Cricket Ground | 2011 | 2020 | 0 | - | VFL |
| Sydney University | | Students | NSW | Henson Park | 2012 | 2020 | 0 | - | NSWAFL |
| (R) denotes that the club was the reserves affiliate team of an AFL club * Greater Western Sydney played as University of Western Sydney/Western Sydney University ||||||||||

### Former clubs

| Club | Colours | Moniker | State/ Territory | Home ground | Seasons | Seasons | Premierships | Premierships | Current league |
| Club | Colours | Moniker | State/ Territory | Home ground | First | Last | Total | Years | Current league |
| Ainslie | | Tricolours | ACT | Alan Ray Oval | 2011 | 2015 | 0 | - | ACTAFL |
| Belconnen | | Magpies | ACT | Kippax Oval | 2011 | 2014 | 0 | - | ACTAFL |
| Broadbeach | | Cats | QLD | H & A Oval | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | - | QAFL |
| Labrador | | Tigers | QLD | Cooke-Murphy Oval | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | - | QAFL |
| Morningside | | Panthers | QLD | Esplen Oval | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | - | QAFL |
| Mount Gravatt | | Vultures | QLD | Dittmer Park | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | - | QAFL |
| Northern Territory | | Thunder | NT | TIO Stadium | 2011 | 2019 | 2 | 2011, 2015 | Folded |
| Queanbeyan | | Tigers | NSW | Dairy Farmers Park | 2011 | 2014 | 0 | - | ACTAFL |
| Sydney Hills (East Coast) | | Eagles | NSW | Bruce Purser Reserve | 2012 | 2014 | 0 | - | NSWAFL |
| Tuggeranong | | Hawks | ACT | Greenway Oval | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | - | ACTAFL |

## League awards

Current league awards have been instituted since 2014.

### North East Australian Football League Premiers

| Season | Premier | Runner-up | Score | Margin | Venue | City/Town | State/Territory |
| 2011 | NT Thunder | Ainslie | 16.18 (114) – 13.14 (92) | 22 points | Traeger Park | Alice Springs | Northern Territory |
| 2012 | Brisbane Lions | Queanbeyan | 11.9 (75) – 22.12 (144) | 69 points | Manuka Oval | Canberra | A.C.T. |
| 2013 | Brisbane Lions | Sydney Swans | 12.9 (81) – 10.13 (73) | 8 points | Graham Road Oval | Brisbane | Queensland |
| 2014 | Aspley | Sydney Swans | 15.12 (102) – 15.10 (100) | 2 points | Graham Road Oval | Brisbane | Queensland |
| 2015 | NT Thunder | Aspley | 11.15 (81) – 11.14 (80) | 1 point | Marrara Oval | Darwin | Northern Territory |
| 2016 | WSU Giants | Sydney Swans | 11.16 (82) – 11.12 (78) | 4 points | Blacktown International Sportspark | Sydney | New South Wales |
| 2017 | Brisbane Lions | Sydney Swans | 12.13 (85) – 10.22 (82) | 3 points | Sydney Cricket Ground | Sydney | New South Wales |
| 2018 | Southport | Sydney Swans | 14.6 (90) – 5.5 (35) | 55 points | Fankhauser Reserve | Gold Coast | Queensland |
| 2019 | Brisbane Lions | Southport | 20.15 (135) – 8.11 (59) | 76 points | Fankhauser Reserve | Gold Coast | Queensland |

### NEAFL MVP award

| Season | Player | Club | Votes |
| 2014 | Matthew Payne | Aspley | 102 |
| 2015 | Tom Young | Sydney University | 86 |
| 2016 | Matthew Payne | Aspley | 87 |
| 2017 | Jordan Keras | Southport | 78 |
| 2018 | Matthew Payne | Aspley | 95 |

### NEAFL Rising Star

| Season | Player | Club |
| 2014 | Paul Hunter | Redland |
| 2015 | Matt Uebergang | Redland |
| 2016 | Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds | Redland |
| 2017 | Adam Sambono | NT Thunder |

### NEAFL leading goal kicker

| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
| 2014 | Cleve Hughes | Redland | 79 |
| 2015 | Darren Ewing | NT Thunder | 87 |
| 2016 | Darren Ewing | NT Thunder | 63 |
| 2017 | Darren Ewing | NT Thunder | 61 |
| 2018 | Matt Hammelmann | Redland | 60 |

### NEAFL coach of the year

| Season | Player | Club |
| 2014 | Xavier Clarke | NT Thunder |
| 2015 | Brett Hand | GWS Giants |
| 2016 | Rhyce Shaw | Sydney Swans |
| 2017 | Tom Morrison | Sydney University |

## 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 NT Thunder | 23 |
| 2012 | Ryan Davey Fraser Pope Tom Salter | Labrador Southport Redland | 14 |
| 2013 | Haydn Kiel | Southport | 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 | 16 |
| 2013 | James Bennett | Belconnen | 21 |

### NEAFL (Northern) Rising Star award (2011–2013)

Awarded to an outstanding young player in the Northern Conference.
| Season | Winner | Club |
| 2011 | Ross Tungatalum | NT Thunder |
| 2012 | Andrew Boston | Broadbeach |
| 2013 | Josh Smith | 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 |
| 2012 | Liam Flaherty | Eastlake |
| 2013 | Brent Macleod | Tuggeranong |

### Ray Hughson Medal (2011–2013)

Highest goalkicker award for player in Northern Conference
| Season | Winner | Club | Goals |
| 2011 | Darren Ewing | NT Thunder | 115 |
| 2012 | Tom Kavanagh | Queanbeyan | 92 |
| 2013 | Darren Ewing | NT Thunder | 94 |

## Most successful clubs

| Club | Year established | Leagues | Premiership years | Premierships (total) |
| Southport Football Club | 1961 | GCAFL 1961–1982 QAFL 1983–2010 NEAFL 2011–2020 | 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 North East Australian Football League: 2018 | 22 |
| Canberra Football Club | 1926 | CANFL 1926–1974 ACTFL 1975–1999 AFLC 2000–2010 NEAFL 2011–2020 | 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 AFL Canberra: 2001 | 19 |
| Aspley Football Club | 1964 | SQAFA 1964–1992 BAFL 1993–2008 QAFL 2009–2010 NEAFL: 2011–2020 | South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 Brisbane Australian Football League: 2002 North East Australian Football League: 2014 | 9 |
| Sydney University Football Club | 1948 | NSWANFL 1948–1957, 1962–1968 SFA 1971–1987, 1995–2006 SFL 1988–1994 SAFL 2007–2011 NEAFL 2012–2020 | Sydney Football Association: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1997, 2003, 2005 Sydney Football League: 1992 | 7 |
| Brisbane Lions (reserves) | 1998 | QAFL 1998–2010 NEAFL 2011–2020 | Queensland Australian Football League: 2001 North East Australian Football League: 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019 | 5 |
| Redland Football Club | 1966 | SQAFA 1966–1992 BAFL 1993–1999 QAFL 2000–2010 NEAFL 2011–2020 | South Queensland Australian Football Association: 1975, 1987 Brisbane Australian Football League 1998, 1999 | 4 |
| Sydney Swans (reserves) | 1874 | VFL 1877–1990 VSFL1991–1999 SAFL 2000 AFLC 2003–2010 NEAFL 2011–2020 | AFL Canberra: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | 4 |
| Northern Territory Football Club | 2008 | QAFL 2009–2010 NEAFL 2011–2019 | North East Australian Football League: 2011, 2015 | 2 |
| Gold Coast Football Club (reserves) | 2011 | NEAFL 2011–2020 | None | 0 |
| Greater Western Sydney Giants (reserves) | 2011 | NEAFL 2011–2020 | North East Australian Football League: 2016 | 1 |