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AFL Sydney

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AFL Sydney
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event AFL Sydney 2023 season
SportAustralian rules football
Founded12 February 1903; 121 years ago (12 February 1903)
No. of teams22
Region New South Wales
Most recent
champion(s)

Men's Premier Division: UNSW-ES Bulldogs

Women's Premier Division: East Coast Eagles
Official websitesydneyafl.com.au

AFL Sydney is an Australian rules football League, based in metropolitan Sydney, Australia which has been run since 1903. In 1980 was known as the "Sydney Football League" and renamed the "Sydney AFL" in 1998 before adopting its current name in 2009. It comprises 118 teams from 22 clubs which play across seven senior men's divisions, five women's divisions, a Master's Division and two under 19 men's competitions in season 2023.
The competition is technically Sydney's division of the New South Wales Australian Football League

History

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Harry Hedger, former Waratahs Southern Rugby Union player who founded the NSWFA in Sydney in 1880, was also a key player in the founding of the NSWFL in 1903[1] and elected its first life member in 1905.

Australian Rules football has been played in Sydney since 1866 however organised competition did not commence until the formation of the first New South Wales Football Association which operated between 1880 and 1893 and included East Sydney (founded 1880) as well as Sydney's oldest Australian rules club Sydney University (founded 1887) .

New South Wales Football Association / New South Wales Football League: 1903-1950

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John See, Premier of New South Wales, first president of the NSWFA

After a decade in hiatus a new governing body was formed under the same name in 1903 as the New South Wales Football Association on 12 February 1903 at a meeting held in the YMCA Hall in George Street. The competition was known as the New South Wales Football League. John See, Premier of New South Wales was elected the NSWFL's first president, and along with Phillip Sheridan of the Sydney Cricket Ground trust who was elected president of the NSWFA, helped to secure access to enclosed grounds for club and interstate matches.

11 clubs contested the opening season in 1903 (including: East Sydney FC, Ashfield Electorate FC, North Shore FC, North Sydney FC, South Sydney FC, YMCA FC, Paddington FC, Redfern FC, West Sydney FC, Newtown FC, Sydney FC and Balmain FC),[2] with East Sydney taking out the first premiership with a 6-point win over North Shore.

Alexandria grandstand in 1912. The league invested heavily in spectator facilities before being shut out after just a few years and forced to move to smaller grounds without them at Erskineville and Trumper Park.

By the 1920s, popularity had reached a point where the league was charging spectators at the gate and players were being paid with attendance to each match was in the thousands.[3] However at the same time rugby league was booming in popularity, dwarfing the popularity of the competition, particularly in representative matches between New South Wales and Queensland, but also at the local level.[4][5]

In the mid 1920s, the competition was split into two divisions: League and Association.[6] In 1926, each of the clubs: Sydney, Newtown, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, North Shore, and South Sydney had four teams across four grades including an Under 18 team.[7]

Newtown NSWFL premiers in 1929
East vs Newtown Trumper Park Oval in 1931

New South Wales Australian National Football League: 1950-1952

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By the 1950s, the competition had become highly popular with crowds for some matches attracting up to 5,000 spectators, however the league noted that there was a lack of juniors with no schools any longer playing the sport.[8] However faced with increasing competition from the rugby league, the competition switched all finals matches to Sundays in 1950.[9] It also faced increasingly bad behaviour of players, which it sought to curb through harsher suspensions.[10] However the tough sanctions resulted in a decrease in players so an amnesty on suspensions was declared in 1952.[11]

Sydney Football League: 1980-1997

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In 1980 the ‘NSW Australian Football Association’ became known as the ‘Sydney Football League’.

The impact of the introduction to the Sydney Swans into the VFL in 1982 on the Sydney Football League was heavy. By this time the competition had built up a strong following and was semi-professional.[12] That changed with the Swans introduction as supporters left the local competition. Among the casualties was the historic foundation club Newtown which folded in 1987.[13]

Sydney AFL: 1998-2008

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The league was renamed the ‘Sydney AFL’ in 1998. The league consisted of 7 teams – Balmain, Pennant Hills, North Shore, St George, East Sydney, Western Suburbs and Baulkham Hills.

AFL Sydney

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In 2009, the league became known as ‘AFL Sydney’, as it is known today.

1999

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In 1999, Campbelltown returned to the Sydney AFL after a 3-year stint in AFL Canberra. The Blues, as they were then known, were an exceptionally strong club at the time and dominated the league in their first year back in Sydney. In the grand final, Campbelltown 18.5 (113) were far too good for Balmain 13.13 (91) to take out the premiership by 22 points.

2000

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In 2000, after the AFL's reserve grade competition was abolished, the Swans fielded a team in the Sydney AFL, known as the Redbacks. This move didn't turn out to be successful, with the existing clubs unable to compete against full-time professional footballers who had far superior training resources. The games were generally one-sided, to the point where the rules were changed halfway through the season to allow other clubs to field an extra player against the Redbacks. The Redbacks finished top of the ladder, but elected not to compete in the finals; and in their absence Pennant Hills took out their first premiership with a 15.12 (102) to 12.7 (79) win over North Shore in the grand final. During the 2000 season, several Sydney AFL clubs had formed strategic alliances with clubs in the AFL. As part of this, some Sydney AFL clubs were to change their identity over the next few years. North Shore had always been black and red but took on the Bombers nickname of Essendon. St George renamed themselves the St George Crows and began wearing the navy, gold and blue strip of Adelaide. But the biggest change in identity was Baulkham Hills, who changed their colours to blue and gold and took on the new name of the East Coast Eagles. Other clubs were to follow suit. Another change in 2000 was the merger of traditional powerhouse East Sydney with the University of NSW club to form the UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs.

2001

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In 2001, with the Redbacks concept having not been considered a success, the Swans entered an alliance with Port Melbourne in the VFL and fielded their reserves with Port Melbourne. They continued to field a Redbacks team for the next 2 years, mainly as a junior development and talent-spotting team; but the Redbacks were never to make the top 4 again. Instead it was North Shore who led from start to finish in 2001, and although the grand final was tight the Bombers got critical goals when it mattered to record a 12.12 (84) to 10.9 (69) victory over Campbelltown.

2002

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2002 saw a resurgent Uni NSW-Eastern Suburbs team return to the top, and despite a strong challenge from North Shore the Bulldogs finished the season as minor premiers. But the Bulldogs would have to go the long way into the grand final after North Shore came from behind to beat them by 3 points in the major semi-final. But UNSW-ES bounced back to win the preliminary final and earn a grand final berth, something that no major-final loser has managed to do in the 4 years since. On grand final day, despite the bright sunshine and perfect conditions, no side was able to score for the first 17 minutes as the defences of both teams held tight. But eventually it was to be North Shore that cracked, and although they fought back in the third term to come into the last break only a few points behind, they never led. Instead, it was UNSW-ES who ran away with the game in the last quarter to record a 16.10 (106) to 11.6 (72) win and their first premiership since the merger. This was the last grand final to be played at Macquarie University.

2003

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The Redbacks finally withdrew from the Sydney AFL in 2003 and the competition was reduced to 8 teams. North Shore got the season off to a flying start and were undefeated for the first 14 rounds, the Bombers losing only 2 home & away games all season. Campbelltown returned to form early in the season, but after being badly beaten by North Shore at Gore Hill in round 7 they fell away and only just scraped into the finals and have yet to make the finals since. Instead it was St George that came in 2nd, with reigning premiers UNSW-ES coming third. North Shore qualified first for the grand final, while UNSW-ES eliminated Campbelltown. In the prelim final, St George were held goal-less in the second half and for the 4th year in a row had been defeated in the prelim final. And so the grand final in the league's centenary year, which was played at Monarch Oval in Campbelltown, would involve the same teams that played in the first grand final. And the result was to repeat. North Shore went in as the hottest of favourites, but poor kicking and excellent pressure from the Bulldogs saw them pull off a stunning upset. UNSW-ES 12.10 (82) defeated North Shore 10.16 (76), an exact repeat of the very first Sydney AFL grand final.

2004

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In 2004, the Sydney AFL adopted Henson Park as its finals venue. In later years, the Marrickville ground which also hosts the Newtown Jets in the NSW Rugby League would play a bigger role in Sydney football and be the venue for representative fixtures and night matches. North Shore were again front-runners, remaining undefeated until the second half of the season and again losing only 2 home & away games. Tennis ace Patrick Rafter played a few reserve grade games for the Bombers during this season but was never picked in the senior team. North Shore finished top after the home & away season, with UNSW-ES finishing 2nd. But this time the Bulldogs were to miss out on a grand final berth and instead St George finally broke through the preliminary final hurdle to qualify for the big day. Having lost the previous 2 grand finals the Bombers were nervous, and even more so when St George led by 4 points at half time. But the Bombers pulled away with the wind in the third term and the Crows were unable to respond when they had the win in the last quarter. So it was North Shore who took out the premiership, with a 10.11 (71) to 7.4 (46) victory.

2005

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In 2005, the Wollongong Lions were admitted to Premier Division, creating a 9-team league. The Lions are well-run off the field, and proved competitive on it. Western Suburbs and Pennant Hills were the leaders for much of the season, Wests remaining undefeated until round 9 and Pennant Hills until round 10. The round 9 loss was to be Wests' only loss in the home & away season. Pennant Hills lost much of their edge after captain Barnaby Howarth suffered a stroke after training and was unable to play again, but bounced back to finish 2nd after the home & away season. Wests and Pennant Hills were a long way in front of other teams and were widely fancied to play in the grand final. Wests made it through in the major semi-final, but in a stunning upset Pennant Hills went down in the preliminary final to reigning premiers North Shore. The Bombers were to turn on an even more stunning upset in the grand final, getting on top after half-time to record a 13.9 (87) to 6.10 (46) win over Wests and take out back-to-back flags. Premier Reserves: UNSW-ES def East Coast Eagles 1st Division Seniors: Sydney Uni Students def UTS Bats 1st Division Reserves: Sydney Uni Students def UTS Bats 2nd Division: Nor-West Jets 10.10 (70) def Sydney Uni Blue 4.11 (34)

2006

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Two ruckmen contest the bounce in a Sydney AFL game between the East Coast Eagles AFC and Campbelltown Kangaroos AFC, 2006.

Before the 2006 season, East Coast Eagles recruited heavily in a bid to get to the top. The Eagles had been close to the finals for years without making it into the top 4, but this was to change in 2006 and the Eagles took all before them in an undefeated home & away season. Sydney's drought had a major bearing on this season, with several grounds being hardened dustbowls and the turf on many grounds going out of shape; so that even small amounts of rain caused puddles to form and the grounds to be closed. All clubs faced rising injury tolls due to the ground conditions. After an undefeated home & away season and an easy win in the major semi-final, East Coast Eagles went into the grand final at Henson Park against Pennant Hills as the hottest of favourites. But this was the day the drought was to break, with conditions more resembling water polo than football. The Eagles' running game was negated by the conditions and by Pennant Hills' pressure tactics, while the Demons' tactic of peppering the goals from a distance and keeping the scoreboard paid dividends. Although the Eagles scored 2 more goals, the constant scoring got Pennant Hills over the line, 5.20 (50) to 7.6 (48). There have been many upsets in recent years in Sydney AFL grand finals, but this one more so than any of the others. Premier Reserves: East Coast Eagles def Pennant Hills 1st Division Seniors: UTS Bats def Sydney Uni Students 1st Division Reserves: UTS Bats def Sydney Uni Students 2nd Division: Nor-West Jets 8.9.(57) def UNSW/ES Bulldogs 6.5 (41)

2007

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In 2007, Sydney University was re-admitted to Premier Division, making a 10-team competition. 18 home & away rounds were played, with each team playing each other twice; although the first match between North Shore and Balmain was postponed twice, leading to the two clubs playing each other twice within 4 days. Reigning premiers Pennant Hills finished top of the ladder, and were joined in the finals by St George, North Shore and Campbelltown. But the Demons were upset in the major semi-final after St George got off to a flying start and maintained their lead to qualify first for the grand final. Campbelltown made the finals for the first time since 2003, but were no match for North Shore in the minor semi. North Shore maintained their winning form in the prelim final, comfortably accounting for Pennant Hills – the 5th year in a row the loser of the major semi has again lost in the prelim final. Grand final day was fine and warm, and in ideal conditions at Henson Park North Shore led by 15 points at half-time and extended the lead in the third term. But a determined charge by St George closed the gap to just 4 points at three-quarter time. The Crows looked to have the momentum, but North Shore steadied to score the only two goals in the last quarter and record a 12.15 (87) to 9.12 (66) victory. Ryan Davis was awarded the Podbury Medal for best on ground in the grand final. Premier Reserves: East Coast Eagles 11.7 (73) def Pennant Hills 10.12 (72) 1st Division Seniors: Manly-Warringah Wolves 10.14 (74) def Southern Sharks 9.9 (63) 1st Division Reserves: UTS Bats 9.10 (64) def Manly Warringah Wolves 5.4 (34) 2nd Division: Pennant Hills 10.4 (64) def UNSW/ES Bulldogs 6.4 (40)

2008

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2008 commenced with a marathon day at Henson Park, in which all five Premier Division Seniors matches for round 1 were played back to back. Bad weather and construction delays meant that East Coast Eagles were unable to move into their new home ground at Bruce Purser Reserve in 2008, but the Eagles put those frustrations behind them to qualify for the finals. Also returning to finals action in 2008 after missing out in 2007 was UNSW-ES, who finished top of the ladder after the home & away season. A five-team finals series was re-introduced for 2008; and reigning premiers North Shore bounced back from a slow start to the season to qualify for the finals. But the Bombers were to go no further than the first week of the finals. Also qualifying for the playoffs were Pennant Hills and St George. East Coast finished 4th after the home & away series, but won three finals matches to qualify for the grand final. Their opponent in the grand final was Pennant Hills. All finals matches were again played at Henson Park except for the second semi-final which was played in wet conditions at North Dalton Park. The grand final was played in 33-degree heat, the hottest grand final day in the history of the Sydney AFL competition. After a tight and low-scoring first half, Pennant Hills took complete control after half-time to cruise to a comprehensive 105-point victory. Pennant Hills' Scott Reed was awarded the Podbury Medal as best on ground, and will join Collingwood's rookie list for 2009.

Premier Division Seniors Pennant Hills 20.13 (133) def East Coast Eagles 3.10 (28) Premier Division Reserves East Coast Eagles 12.15 (87) def Sydney University 2.5 (17) U18s Premier Cup North Shore Bombers 15.11 (101) def East Coast Eagles 8.11 (59) 1st Division Seniors UTS Bats 13.16 (94) def. Manly-Warringah Wolves 11.12 (78) 1st Division Reserves UTS Bats 17.12 (114) def. Manly-Warringah Wolves 10.2 (62) U18s Challenge Cup UNSW/Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 23.18 (156) def. Southern Sharks 4.5 (29) 2nd Division Pennant Hills Demons 18.10 (118) def. Sydney Uni Blue Students 13.5 (83)

2009

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2009 saw the introduction of a Divisional structure, with promotion and relegation through the lower divisions (see the Divisional Structure section further down this page). 2009 was also notable for the opening of two new football venues in Sydney. Bruce Purser Reserve was opened in February when it hosted an AFL trial match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs, and through the course of the year served as the home ground for East Coast Eagles; as well as a backup venue for wet weather, with Pennant Hills, Western Suburbs and North Shore also playing home games at the venue. The Second Semi-Final was also played there. And later in the season, Blacktown Olympic Park began operations, firstly as the venue for the Representative fixture where Sydney AFL defeated AFL Canberra. In August the ground held a spectacular opening ceremony, with fireworks and Aboriginal dance as well as a match between Western Suburbs and Pennant Hills. The venue was then the host for all the finals except for the Second Semi Final. On the field, St George returned to tradition; going back to their traditional red and white colours and the Dragons name, but it was to be a tough year on the field as they missed the finals for the second time this decade. Also missing out on finals action for the second time since the turn of the millennium was North Shore. East Coast Eagles, strengthened by finally having a home ground to call their own, took out the minor premiership and were first to qualify for the Grand Final after a comfortable win over Wests in the Second Semi Final, a match where East Coast's full forward Gus Seebeck kicked his 100th goal for the season. Campbelltown returned to finals action after missing out in 2008, but were eliminated in the first week of finals action. Week 2 saw the demise of reigning premier Pennant Hills; while the Preliminary Final saw UNSW-ES qualify for the Grand Final at the expense of Wests. The Grand Final was played in perfect weather, but was to be a one-sided contest. East Coast took control of the game early and won every quarter to record a comfortable 54-point win. Gus Seebeck kicked 10 goals for the Eagles to win the Podbury Medal.

Premier Division – East Coast Eagles 22.12 (144) d UNSW-ES 13.12 (90) First Division – UTS 21.10 (136) d East Coast Eagles 5.7 (37) Second Division – Macquarie Uni 11.15 (81) d UTS 8.5 (53) Third Division – UNSW-ES 9.4 (58) d UTS 6.12 (48) Fourth Division – Sydney Uni 16.6 (102) d UNSW-ES 8.8 (56) Under 18s Premier – North Shore 8.9 (57) d St George 6.9 (45) Under 18s Challenge – Sydney Uni 16.14 (110) d Southern Power 2.5 (17)

2010

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Sydney Uni, on the back of a 14-game winning streak, were minor premiers. Also finishing in the final five were Wests, East Coast, North Shore and Pennant Hills.

East Coast Eagles win back to back premierships, defeating Sydney University in the Grand Final (13.9 – 87) (10.10 – 70).

UTSAFC are admitted to Premier Division.

2011

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UTSAFC finished 10th in their first year in the Premier Division winning 3 games. Campbelltown finished last, failing to win a game.

The East Coast Eagles won the minor premiership, joining them in the finals were Balmain, Sydney University, North Shore and Pennant Hills.

Results in the 2011 Finals Series: Qualifying Final: Balmain 14.8 (92) defeated Sydney University 10.12 (72) Elimination Final: North Shore 17.10 (112) defeated Pennant Hills 8.8 (56) Major Semi Final: East Coast 11.12 (78) defeated Balmain 7.18 (60) Minor Semi Final: Sydney University 24.11 (155) defeated North Shore 10.4 (64) Preliminary Final: Balmain 13.7 (85) defeated Sydney University 12.10 (82)

Grand Final: East Coast 17.12 (114) defeated Balmain 10.11 (71)

2012

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The same eleven teams competed in Premier Division in 2012, but with East Coast Eagles (now renamed Sydney Hills Eagles) and Sydney Uni joining the NEAFL, the Premier Division teams for those two clubs were their reserves teams. Neither made the finals, and the Eagles' run of premierships ended after their three-peat from 2009 to 2011. UNSW-ES were the form team of the 2012 season, spearheaded by a Phelan Medal performance from Dane Rampe that would result in him being drafted by the Swans. UNSW-ES finished top of the ladder, and would meet Balmain in the Grand Final. Pennant Hills, North Shore and St George completed the top five. The grand final was played as a twilight match at Blacktown International Sportspark. The lead see-sawed for three-quarters, with the Bulldogs leading by four points at the last change. But a run of seven goals to one in the final term saw the Bulldogs run our comfortable 42-point winners; their first premiership since 2003 and condemning Balmain to their second straight grand final defeat.

Premier Division: UNSW-ES 13.11 (89) d Balmain 7.5 (47) Division One – Manly 11.15 (81) d Southern Power 9.2 (56) Division Two – St George 7.8 (50) d UNSW-ES 6.10 (46) Division Three – UTS 15.4 (94) d Blacktown 8.5 (53) Division Four – Penrith 9.16 (70) d Gosford 8.6 (54) Division Five – Sydney Uni 10.6 (66) d UTS 9.7 (61) Under 18s One – Sydney Hills Eagles 14.14 (98) d Illawarra 11.10 (76) Under 18s Two – Southern Power 9.11 (65) d Manly 3.4 (22) Women – Balmain 7.9 (51) d Sydney Uni 2.1 (13)

2013

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The 2013 season saw Manly added to Premier Division, making a 12-team competition. This resulted in six games per round in an 18-round home and away season, with not all teams playing each other twice. Manly, the newcomers to the top division, would make an immediate impact as they won their first nine games in Premier Division; shooting straight to the top of the ladder on their way to the minor premiership. Sydney Uni and Sydney Hills Eagles fielded teams in the NEAFL in 2013; with their Premier Division teams being the clubs' reserves teams. Neither qualified for the finals in Premier Division; with the Eagles finishing on the bottom of the ladder. The season was a fall from grace for Balmain. The Dockers, after playing in the last two Grand Finals, crashed down the ladder in 2013; and internal tensions boiled over late in the season as 11 players staged a walk-out after five minutes, causing the club to forfeit a Premier Division clash against Wests. The walk-out was to be the end of Balmain in Premier Division, as AFL Sydney relegated them to Division One for 2014. Also playing their last season in Premier Division this year was Illawarra, after nine years in the top division without a finals appearance and winning only one game this season. This season would also be the last for Auburn Tigers as a men's club, after forfeiting several games in Division Two. However, Auburn would continue as a women's club until 2018. Manly finished the regular season as minor premiers, and defeated St George in the Major Semi-Final to be first team through to the Grand Final. Their opponents in the Grand Final would be Pennant Hills, who finished fourth in the regular season but defeated UNSW-ES, North Shore and St George in the finals to make their way through. The Demons led by eight points at the long break, but the Wolves made the decisive move in the premiership quarter with three goals to one to turn the half time deficit into a six-point lead at three quarter time. The Demons hit the lead early in the last, but the Wolves regained the momentum to regain the lead and take out the Grand Final by eight points; a remarkable achievement in their first season at the top level.

Grand Final winners 2013: Premier Division – Manly 11.14 (80) def Pennant Hills 11.6 (72) Division One – Southern Power 16.9 (105) def UNSW-ES 3.2 (20) Division Two – Sydney Uni 8.14 (62) def Manly 7.6 (48) Division Three – Blacktown 11.11 (77) def Randwick City 10.6 (66) Division Four – Pennant Hills 14.11 (95) def Sydney Uni 4.4 (28) Division Five – Randwick City 13.8 (86) def UTS 6.7 (43) Under 19s Division One – Pennant Hills 10.10 (70) def UNSW-ES 10.7 (67) Under 19s Division Two – Manly 20.24 (144) def Holroyd-Parramatta 3.5 (23) Women's Division One – Sydney Uni 7.9 (51) def Balmain 3.7 (25) Women's Division Two – Macquarie Uni 7.11 (53) def Southern Power 4.1 (25)

2018

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In 2018 AFL Sydney celebrated 115 years of senior football in Sydney, since the ‘NSW Australian Football Association’ was formed in 1903.

In season 2018 the Camden Cats were promoted to the Men's Premier Division to again bring the number of clubs in Sydney's top flight back to 10 after Campbelltown Blues withdrew at the conclusion of the 2014 season. AFL Sydney continues to grow with thirteen Divisions across men's, women's, U19s and Masters Football.

2018 Grand Finals
Premier Premier's Score

G.B (T)

Runners-up Runners-up Score

G.B (T)

Premier Division UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 8.10 (58) Sydney University Students 7.13 (55)
Premier Division Reserves Pennant Hills Demons 7.18 (60) Sydney University Students 6.9 (45)
Women's Premier Division UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 7.3 (45) Macquarie University 3.4 (22)
Platinum Division Penrith Rams 8.10 (58) Western Magic 6.5 (41)
Platinum Division Reserves Southern Power 9.5 (59) Macquarie University 7.8 (50)
Men's Division 1 Pennant Hills Demons 8.6 (54) Sydney University Students 6.10 (46)
Men's Division 2 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 6.9 (45) Sydney University Students 4.3 (27)
Men's Division 3 Sydney University Students 7.12 (54) Camden Cats 1.2 (8)
Under 19s Division 1 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 14.11 (95) North Shore Bombers 5.8 (38)
Under 19s Division 2 Southern Power 7.10 (52) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 6.3 (39)
Women's Division 1 Western Magic 6.4 (40) Wollongong Saints 0.4 (4)
Women's Division 2 Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas 7.8 (50) Camden Cats 1.5 (11)
Masters St George Dragons 12.7 (79) North West Sydney Redbacks 4.6 (30)

2019

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In 2019 the AFL Sydney competition consisted of two senior men's competitions with the Premier Division and Platinum Division each having seniors and reserves divisions and an extra Women's division created to accommodate the rapid grown of Women's football in Sydney. In this division, the St George Dragons finished in 5th place but 4 sudden-death finals win in a row saw them defeat minor premiers, Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas in the Grand Final. Similarly, the St George Dragons Premier Division Reserves team also came from 5th to defeat Minor Premiers, the Pennant Hills Australian Demons. In the Premier Division competition the UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs went back-to-back by defeating Sydney University. Macquarie University defeated East Coast Eagles by 6 points to win the Women's Premier Division Grand Final. This season saw the Western Suburbs Magpies change their name to Inner West Magpies to further distinguish between themselves and the South West Sydney Magpies (formerly Moorebank).

2019 Grand Finals
Premier Premier's Score

G.B (T)

Runners-up Runners-up Score

G.B (T)

Premier Division UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 10.9 (69) Sydney University Students 6.15 (51)
Premier Division Reserves St George Dragons 10.7 (67) Pennant Hills Demons 5.9 (39)
Women's Premier Division Macquarie University 5.5 (35) East Coast Eagles 4.5 (29)
Platinum Division Southern Power 10.10 (70) Macquarie University 5.8 (38)
Platinum Division Reserves Southern Power 4.4 (28) Western Magic 3.8 (26)
Men's Division 1 Sydney University Students 7.3 (45) Pennant Hills Demons 2.8 (20)
Men's Division 2 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 8.12 (60) St George Dragons 8.4 (52)
Men's Division 3 North Shore Bombers 3.10 (28) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 3.6 (24)
Under 19s Division 1 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 10.6 (66) Sydney University Students 4.8 (32)
Under 19s Division 2 Wests Goannas 6.12 (48) North Shore Bombers 1.4 (10)
Women's Division 1 Wollongong Saints 7.6 (48) Manly-Warringah Wolves 6.5 (41)
Women's Division 2 East Coast Eagles 9.5 (59) Macquarie University 2.1 (13)
Women's Division 3 St George Dragons 10.6 (66) Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas 7.12 (54)
Masters St George Dragons 6.13 (49) Inner West Magpies 2.2 (14)

2020

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The 2020 season was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and due to the NSW Government's restrictions only 9 Home and Away rounds were able to be played before the finals. The finals were played in September–October rather than the traditional August–September. Sydney University won their first Premier Division flag since 1992 with a win over UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs at Kanebridge Oval. Manly-Warringah, in their first season in the Women's Premier Division Premiership won the flag by defeating the Inner West Magpies. Southern Power made both the Platinum Division and Platinum Division Reserves Grand Finals at Rosedale Oval but lost to the Penrith Rams and Macquarie University (in a come-from-behind win) respectively. The Newtown Breakways inaugural men's team won the Men's Division 3 Grand Final by defeating North Shore. Grand Finals were played at Rosedale Ovals (for lower grades) and Kanebridge Oval due to the unavailability of Blacktown International Sportspark due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was also the reason there was no Master's Grand Final in 2020.

2020 Grand Finals
Premier Premier's Score

G.B (T)

Runners-up Runners-up Score

G.B (T)

Premier Division Sydney University Students 8.6 (54) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 6.9 (45)
Premier Division Reserves UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 5.11 (41) North Shore Bombers 4.4 (28)
Women's Premier Division Manly-Warringah Wolves 6.10 (46) Inner West Magpies 4.1 (25)
Platinum Division Penrith Rams 14.7 (91) Southern Power 5.7 (37)
Platinum Division Reserves Macquarie University 7.9 (51) Southern Power 7.7 (49)
Men's Division 1 Sydney University Students 11.11 (77) North Shore Bombers 11.1 (67)
Men's Division 2 Sydney University Students 11.6 (72) North Shore Bombers 4.4. (28)
Men's Division 3 Newtown Breakaways 7.12 (54) North Shore Bombers 0.3 (3)
Under 19s Division 1 North Shore Bombers 14.13 (97) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 7.7 (49)
Under 19s Division 2 Southern Power 6.8 (44) Sydney University Students 3.1 (19)
Women's Division 1 Parramatta Goannas 4.10 (34) Camden Cats 0.1 (1)
Women's Division 2 Western Magic 12.7 (79) St George Dragons 3.2 (20)
Women's Division 3 Campbelltown Blues 9.4 (58) Wollondilly Knights 4.3 (27)

2021

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The 2021 season saw the introduction of a 5th Division of Women's Football known as "Women's Division 4". 7 teams took part in this new division. There was also an additional 12 teams across all Men's and Women's divisions. On the 24th of June, the season was put on hold due to the outbreak COVID-19 Delta variant throughout Greater Sydney. The 2021 season was eventually cancelled on the 16th of August. Accordingly, no premierships, medals or awards were given for 2021 cancelled competitions.

2022

[edit]

The 2022 season saw a slight reduction in overall teams from 135 to 126. This season also saw the merger of South West Sydney Magpies and Campbelltown Blues to form the South Western Sydney Blues. This proved to be a successful season for the merged entity as they went on to win the Platinum Division Premiership and finish Runners-Up in the Platinum Division Reserves Competition. This wasn't the first time that the clubs had aligned, with the two clubs previously entering a combined U19s side in the Division 2 competition. Other club changes were Nor-West Jets being renamed to Hawkesbury Jets and the North West Sydney Redbacks no longer entering a team in the Masters competition.

2022 Grand Finals
Premier Premier's Score

G.B (T)

Runners-up Runners-up Score

G.B (T)

Premier Division UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 7.10 (52) North Shore Bombers 2.10 (22)
Premier Division Reserves St George Dragons 9.7 (61) Sydney University Students 7.11 (53)
Women's Premier Division East Coast Eagles 6.5 (41) Manly-Warringah Wolves 2.11 (23)
Platinum Division South West Sydney Blues 6.9 (45) Camden Cats 3.4 (22)
Platinum Division Reserves Southern Power 11.6 (72) South West Sydney Blues 3.6 (24)
Men's Division 1 North Shore Bombers 8.10 (58) Sydney University Students 3.9 (27)
Men's Division 2 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 7.9 (51) East Coast Eagles 4.3 (27)
Men's Division 3 Manly-Warringah Wolves 9.9 (63) Wollondilly Knights 2.6 (18)
Under 19s Division 1 Sydney University Students 9.6 (60) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 7.8 (50)
Under 19s Division 2 North Shore Bombers 9.6 (60) Manly-Warringah Wolves 6.5 (41)
Women's Division 1 Parramatta Goannas 3.5 (23) East Coast Eagles 2.3 (15)
Women's Division 2 Pennant Hills Demons 3.3 (21) Penrith Rams 3.1 (19)
Women's Division 3 North Shore Bombers 4.11 (35) Parramatta Goannas 1.2 (8)
Women's Division 4 South West Sydney Blues 1.9 (15) East Coast Eagles 1.1 (7)
Masters St George Dragons 7.4 (46) Southern Dingoes 6.3 (39)

2023

[edit]

The 2023 season saw another reduction in overall teams from 126 to 120. This season also saw the women's programs of the Macquarie University Warriors and Parramatta Goannas clubs merge to form the Macquarie University Goannas. This merged entity entered a team in 4 of the 5 women's divisions. Other notable changes were the 3rd and 4th grades men's sides from Sydney University and North Shore entering teams in the Platinum Division and Platinum Division Reserves competitions respectively. Also in 2023, Randwick City no longer entered teams in the Platinum Division or Platinum Divisions Reserves competition. Another notable change in the women's competitions was Inner West no longer entering a Premier Division side.

2023 Grand Finals
Premier Premier's Score

G.B (T)

Runners-up Runners-up Score

G.B (T)

Premier Division UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 10.6 (66) North Shore Bombers 6.10 (46)
Premier Division Reserves North Shore Bombers 6.7 (43) Sydney University Students 5.10 (40)
Women's Premier Division East Coast Eagles 8.8 (56) UTS Bats 1.6 (12)
Platinum Division South West Sydney Blues 10.8 (68) Camden Cats 4.12 (36)
Platinum Division Reserves North Shore Bombers 7.5 (47) Camden Cats 4.5 (29)
Men's Division 1 Randwick City Saints 8.8 (56) UTS Bats 4.12 (36)
Men's Division 2 North Shore Bombers 7.4 (46) Manly-Warringah Wolves 5.9 (39)
Men's Division 3 UTS Bats 10.8 (68) Camden Cats 2.2 (14)
Under 19s Division 1 Sydney University Students 9.8 (62) UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 9.7 (61)
Under 19s Division 2 Manly-Warringah Wolves 6.6 (42) Sydney University Students 2.6 (18)
Women's Division 1 St George Dragons 2.2 (14) UTS Bats 1.2 (8)
Women's Division 2 Randwick City Saints 11.12 (78) Newtown Breakaways 7.4 (46)
Women's Division 3 Camden Cats 6.5 (41) Macquarie University Goannas 6.0 (36)
Women's Division 4 Randwick City Saints 5.7 (37) Newtown Breakaways 2.0 (12)
Masters UTS Bats 4.7 (31) Pennant Hills Demons 3.5 (23)

Audience

[edit]

Attendances for the Sydney AFL are very small in comparison to state level leagues elsewhere in Australia, however Grand Final crowds sometimes reach as high as 3,000 though historically they were much higher towards 15,000 .

In 2007, in a first for Australian rules football in Sydney, it was announced that Foxtel would be televising an edited match of the week and a magazine-style segment on the public Television Channel Aurora. The program contained footy news from around NSW/ACT as well as showing highlights from the "Match of the Week". In 2008 the magazine style was dropped in favour of a 1-hour dedicated highlights show of the Match of the Week. Digital Sports Productions[14] continued this format in 2009 and the show is aired on the Main Event Channel each Friday night in NSW and QLD before the AFL Friday night game.[15]

2021 also saw the introduction of a Men's and Women's Premier Division Women's "Match of the Round" being live-streamed on Kayo Sports which could be watched for free.

Clubs

[edit]
Colors Football Club Name Nickname Location(s) Football Club's Home Ground(s) Founded
Balmain Tigers Marrickville HJ Mahoney Park 1903
Camden Cats Harrington Park Fairfax Reserve 1982
East Coast Eagles Kellyville Kanebridge Oval 1976
Inner West Magpies Croydon Park Picken Oval 1926
Manly-Warringah Wolves Curl Curl Weldon Oval 1969
Macquarie University Warriors Macquarie Park Macquarie University Oval 1969
Newtown Breakaways Marrickville HJ Mahoney Park 2002
North Shore Bombers St Leonards Gore Hill Oval 1903
Nor-West Jets Richmond Lowlands Bensons Lane 2001
Parramatta Goannas Smithfield Gipps Road Oval 1979
Pennant Hills Demons Cherrybrook Mike Kenny Oval 1971
Penrith Rams Cranebrook Greygums Oval 1981
Randwick City Saints Malabar Pioneers Park 2010
South West Sydney Blues Macquarie Fields,
Warwick Farm
Bob Prenter Oval,
Rosedale Oval
1975
Southern Dingoes Dingoes Sutherland Lincoln Oval (Waratah Park No 4) 2018
Southern Power Power Sutherland Lincoln Oval (Waratah Park No 4) 1972
St George Dragons Penshurst Olds Park 1929
Sydney University Students Camperdown University Oval 1887
UNSW-ES Bulldogs Daceyville Village Green 1880,
1999
UTS Bats Paddington Trumper Park Oval 2000
Western Magic Magic Rooty Hill Blacktown International Sportspark 2012
Wollondilly Knights Wilton Hannaford Oval 1989

Uniforms

[edit]
Newtown
South West Sydney
Southern Dingos
Wollondilly

Former Clubs

[edit]
Colours Football Club Name Nickname Location(s) Home Ground(s) Founded Years active in comp Fate
Ashfield Electorate FC 1903 1903-? Folded
Auburn Tigers Auburn Mona Park 2010 2010-2018 Folded - 2018
Campbelltown Blues Macquarie Fields Rosedale Park 1975 1975-? Merged with South West Sydney Magpies in 2022
to form South West Sydney Blues
East Sydney 1903 1903-1999 Merged with the University of New South Wales in 1999
Gosford Tigers West Gosford Adcock Park 1971 1971-? Moved to AFL Hunter Central Coast
Illawarra Lions Fairy Meadow North Dalton Park 1971 1971-? Moved to AFL South Coast.
Now known as Wollongong Lions
Liverpool 1951 1963 Merged with Bankstown and Parramatta to form Southern Districts
Newtown Blood Stained Angels Kellyville Erskineville Oval 1903 1903-1987 Folded - 1987
North Sydney 1903 1903-? Folded
North West Sydney Redbacks Kellyville Kanebridge Oval ? ?-2022 Folded - 2022
Paddington 1903 1903-1926 Folded
Parramatta 1961 1962-1963
R.A.A.F ? ? Folded
Redfern 1903 1903-? Known as South Sydney from 1911
South Sydney 1903 1903-?
Southern Districts 1963 1963-1982 Formed out of the merger of Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool. Renamed Liverpool in 1981. Left to the Sydney District Football Association in 1983.
South West Sydney Magpies Warwick Farm Bob Prenter Oval 1947 1947-? Merged with Campbelltown Blues in 2022
to form South West Sydney Blues
Sydney 1880 1903-? Folded
Sydney Naval Depot ? ? Folded
West Sydney 1903 1903-? Folded
Wollongong Saints Fairy Meadow North Dalton Park 2010 2010-? Moved to AFL South Coast.
Now known as Figtree Saints
Wollongong / Illawarra Swans, Lions Towradgi North Dalton Park 1966 1989-2014 Moved to AFL South Coast.
Y.M.C.A 1903 1903-1913 Folded

2024 Men's Divisions

[edit]
Club Premier Division Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Division 5 U19s Division 1 U19s Division 2 Masters Total Teams
Balmain Tigers Yes Yes Yes 3
Camden Cats Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
East Coast Eagles Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Hawkesbury Jets Yes Yes 2
Inner West Magpies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
Macquarie University Warriors Yes Yes 2
Manly-Warringah Wolves Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
Newtown Breakaways Yes Yes 2
North Shore Bombers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
Parramatta Goannas Yes Yes 2
Pennant Hills Demons Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7
Penrith Rams Yes Yes 2
Randwick City Saints Yes Yes 2
South West Sydney Blues Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
Southern Dingoes Yes 1
Southern Power Yes Yes Yes 3
St George Dragons Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
Sydney University Students Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5
UTS Bats Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7
Western Magic Yes 1
Wollondilly Knights Yes 1
Totals 10 9 9 9 10 13 10 6 8 84

2024 Women's Divisions

[edit]
Club Premier Division Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Under 20s Total Teams
Camden Cats Yes Yes 2
East Coast Eagles Yes Yes 2
Inner West Magpies Yes 1
Macquarie University Warriors Yes 1
Manly-Warringah Wolves Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Newtown Breakaways Yes Yes 2
North Shore Bombers Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Parramatta Goannas Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Pennant Hills Demons Yes Yes 2
Penrith Rams Yes 1
Randwick City Saints Yes Yes 2
South West Sydney Blues Yes Yes 2
Southern Power Yes 1
St George Dragons Yes Yes Yes 3
Sydney University Students Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs Yes Yes Yes 2
UTS Bats Yes Yes Yes Yes 4
Western Magic Yes 1
Wollondilly Knights Yes 1
Totals 9 9 10 10 6 44

First Grade (Men's) Premiers

[edit]

List of First Grade Men's (currently Premier Division) premiers.[16]

List of premiers

[edit]
Season Premiers Runners-up Score
1903 East Sydney (1) North Shore 6.4 (44) d. 4.2 (26)
1904 North Shore (1) Balmain 5.13 (43) d. 2.8 (20)
1905 Sydney (1) YMCA 7.9 (51) d. 7.8 (50)
1906 Newtown (1) Redfern 9.8 (62) d. 1.14 (20)
1907 Sydney (2) Newtown 9.6 (60) d. 1.4 (10)
1908 YMCA (1) East Sydney 15.6 (96) d. 5.8 (38)
1909 North Shore (2) YMCA 7.5 (47) d. 5.5 (35)
1910 YMCA (2) East Sydney 5.18 (48) d. 3.6 (24)
1911 East Sydney (2) Sydney 4.5 (29) d. 2.4 (16)
1912 Sydney (3) Paddington 5.13 (43) d. 2.3 (15)
1913 Sydney (4) Paddington 9.16 (70) d. 6.6 (42)
1914 South Sydney (1) Sydney 7.7 (49) d. 4.15 (39)
1915 Paddington (1) Newtown 9.5 (59) d. 5.11 (41)
1916 Paddington (2) Balmain 3.14 (32) d. 1.8 (14)
1917 Paddington (3) East Sydney 12.20 (92) d. 3.10 (28)
1918 East Sydney (3) Newtown 14.12 (96) d. 6.7 (43)
1919 Paddington (4) East Sydney 11.10 (76) d. 8.8 (56)
1920 Paddington (5) Newtown 15.5 (95) d. 9.15 (69)
1921 North Shore (3) Newtown 10.7 (67) d. 7.12 (54)
1922 Paddington (6) Newtown 8.6 (54) d. 5.14 (44)
1923 Sydney (5) Newtown 10.7 (67) d. 8.15 (63)
1924 Paddington (7) Newtown 11.8 (74) d. 9.14 (68)
1925 Sydney (6) Paddington 9.13 (67) d. 7.10 (52)
1926 Eastern Suburbs (4) Western Suburbs 6.10 (46) d. 4.7 (31)
1927 Eastern Suburbs (5) Newtown 9.16 (70) d. 6.13 (49)
1928 Newtown (2) Eastern Suburbs 10.16 (76) d. 4.5 (29)
1929 Newtown (3) North Shore 10.8 (68) d. 6.6 (42)
1930 Newtown (4) South Sydney 9.17 (71) d. 7.13 (55)
1931 Sydney (7) Newtown 6.7 (43) d. 4.14 (38)
1932 Newtown (5) South Sydney 7.12 (54) d. 5.5 (35)
1933 Newtown (6) Sydney 10.3 (63) d. 7.16 (58)
1934 South Sydney (2) Newtown 17.12 (114) d. 12.6 (78)
1935 South Sydney (3) St George 21.9 (135) d. 11.17 (83)
1936 Newtown (7) South Sydney 17.8 (110) d. 10.10 (70)
1937 St George (1) South Sydney 11.16 (82) d. 6.9 (45)
1938 St George (2) Newtown 6.20 (56) d. 1.9 (15)
1939 Newtown (8) St George 10.25 (85) d. 10.3 (63)
1940 Newtown (9) Eastern Suburbs 10.11 (71) d. 8.8 (56)
1941 Eastern Suburbs (6) South Sydney 7.10 (52) d. 8.3 (51)
1942 Newtown (10) South Sydney 14.14 (98) d. 9.10 (64)
1943 St George (3) South Sydney 12.19 (91) d. 9.10 (64)
1944 Sydney Naval (1) R.A.A.F 11.15 (81) d. 8.17 (63)
1945 Newtown (11) R.A.A.F 20.18 (138) d. 12.14 (86)
1946 Newtown (12) St George 16.13 (109) d. 10.6 (66)
1947 Newtown (13) Eastern Suburbs 18.14 (122) d. 10.6 (66)
1948 Newtown (14) Sydney Naval 16.17 (113) d. 6.15 (51)
1949 Newtown (15) Eastern Suburbs 15.10 (100) d. 14.15 (99)
1950 Newtown (16) Sydney Naval 13.16 (94) d. 8.7 (55)
1951 Western Suburbs (1) Eastern Suburbs 11.15 (81) d. 10.9 (69)
1952 North Shore (4) Western Suburbs 11.7 (73) d. 9.12 (66)
1953 Eastern Suburbs (7) Western Suburbs 21.22 (148) d. 15.12 (102)
1954 Eastern Suburbs (8) Newtown 13.20 (98) d. 11.8 (74)
1955 Eastern Suburbs (9) North Shore 13.12 (90) d. 7.10 (52)
1956 Eastern Suburbs (10) Western Suburbs 10.12 (84) d. 9.17 (71)
1957 Eastern Suburbs (11) Sydney Naval 12.18 (90) d. 9.16 (70)
1958 Eastern Suburbs (12) Western Suburbs 15.11 (101) d. 8.11 (59)
1959 Eastern Suburbs (13) Newtown 14.11 (95) d. 7.11 (53)
1960 Sydney Naval (2) Newtown 9.12 (66) d. 9.9 (63)
1961 North Shore (5) Sydney Naval 11.15 (81) d. 4.11 (35)
1962 Sydney Naval (3) Newtown 18.20 (128) d. 14.13 (97)
1963 Western Suburbs (2) Newtown 14.14 (98) d. 12.16 (88)
1964 St George (4) Western Suburbs 14.18 (102) d. 4.18 (42)
1965 Western Suburbs (3) St George 17.15 (117) d. 12.9 (81)
1966 Western Suburbs (4) St George 15.22 (112) d. 10.10 (70)
1967 Newtown (17) Western Suburbs 9.16 (70) d. 8.12 (60)
1968 Newtown (18) Western Suburbs 22.11 (143) d. 10.18 (78)
1969 Western Suburbs (5) Newtown 13.17 (93) d. 12.16 (88)
1970 Newtown (19) North Shore 15.16 (106) d. 10.16 (76)
1971 East Sydney (14) Western Suburbs 19.15 (129) d. 15.22 (112)
1972 Western Suburbs (6) East Sydney 22.23 (149) d. 12.14 (86)
1973 East Sydney (15) Western Suburbs 22.18 (144) d. 18.9 (117)
1974 Western Suburbs (7) East Sydney 18.25 (133) d. 17.21 (123)
1975 Western Suburbs (8) East Sydney 18.18 (126) d. 12.16 (88)
1976 East Sydney (16) North Shore 23.12 (150) d. 10.13 (73)
1977 Western Suburbs (9) North Shore 18.25 (133) d. 14.9 (91)
1978 North Shore (6) Western Suburbs 17.17 (119) d. 13.12 (90)
1979 North Shore (7) Western Suburbs 13.17 (93) d. 9.22 (76)
1980 East Sydney (17) North Shore 30.24 (204) d. 12.11 (83)
1981 East Sydney (18) Newtown 19.16 (130) d. 3.23 (41)
1982 East Sydney (19) Pennant Hills 8.8 (56) d. 5.8 (38)
1983 East Sydney (20) Balmain 18.23 (131) d. 15.3 (93)
1984 East Sydney (21) North Shore 20.13 (133) d. 5.4 (34)
1985 North Shore (8) Campbelltown 18.19 (127) d. 14.12 (96)
1986 Campbelltown (1) North Shore 17.13 (115) d. 13.14 (92)
1987 Campbelltown (2) St George 25.16 (166) d. 12.7 (79)
1988 Campbelltown (3) East Sydney 13.10 (88) d. 8.9 (57)
1989 Campbelltown (4) North Shore 10.12 (72) d. 6.9 (45)
1990 Holroyd-Parramatta (1) North Shore 9.15 (69) d. 9.8 (62)
1991 North Shore (9) Holroyd-Parramtta 10.13 (73) d. 7.9 (51)
1992 Sydney University (1) North Shore 18.16 (124) d. 8.11 (59)
1993 St George (5) North Shore 17.13 (115) d. 9.26 (80)
1994 Campbelltown (5) North Shore 13.16 (94) d. 12.15 (87)
1995 Campbelltown (6) Pennant Hills 16.19 (115) d. 9.5 (59)
1996 Western Suburbs (10) Pennant Hills 12.16 (88) d. 11.10 (76)
1997 Balmain (1) St George 17.13 (115) d. 11.14 (80)
1998 Balmain (2) Pennant Hills 12.13 (85) d. 9.11 (65)
1999 Campbelltown (7) Balmain 18.5 (113) d. 13.13 (91)
2000 Pennant Hills (1) North Shore 15.12 (102) d. 10.7 (67)
2001 North Shore (10) Campbelltown 12.12 (84) d. 10.9 (69)
2002 UNSW/ES (22) North Shore 16.10 (106) d. 11.6 (72)
2003 UNSW/ES (23) North Shore 12.10 (82) d. 10.16 (76)
2004 North Shore (11) St George 10.11 (71) d. 7.4 (46)
2005 North Shore (12) Western Suburbs 13.9 (87) d. 6.10 (46)
2006 Pennant Hills (2) East Coast 5.20 (50) d. 7.6 (48)
2007 North Shore (13) St George 12.15 (87) d. 9.12 (66)
2008 Pennant Hills (3) East Coast 20.12 (132) d. 3.10 (28)
2009 East Coast (1) UNSW/ES 22.12 (144) d. 13.12 (90)
2010 East Coast (2) Sydney University 13.9 (87) d. 10.10 (70)
2011 East Coast (3) Balmain 17.12 (114) d. 10.11 (71)
2012 UNSW/ES (24) Balmain 13.11 (89) d. 7.5 (47)
2013 Manly-Warringah (1) Pennant Hills 11.14 (80) d. 11.6 (72)
2014 Manly-Warringah (2) Pennant Hills 8.20 (68) d. 2.10 (22)
2015 Pennant Hills (4) East Coast 14.5 (89) d. 7.12 (54)
2016 East Coast (4) St George 17.5 (107) d. 9.12 (66)
2017 Pennant Hills (5) Sydney University 10.6 (66) d. 7.18 (60)
2018 UNSW/ES (25) Sydney University 8.10 (58) d. 7.13 (55)
2019 UNSW/ES (26) Sydney University 10.9 (69) d. 6.15 (51)
2020 Sydney University (2) UNSW/ES 8.6 (54) d. 6.9 (45)
2022 UNSW/ES (27) North Shore 7.10 (52) d. 2.10 (22)
2023 UNSW/ES (28) North Shore 10.6 (66) d. 6.10 (46)
2024 North Shore (14) Manly-Warringah 10.9 (69) d. 5.6 (36)

Number of Premierships by Club

[edit]
Number of Premierships Club Years
28 East Sydney/Eastern Suburbs/UNSW-
Eastern Suburbs
1903 1911 1918 1926 1927 1941 1953 1954 1955 1956
1957 1958 1959 1971 1973 1976 1980 1981 1982 1983
1984 2002 2003 2012 2018 2019 2022 2023
19 Newtown 1906 1928 1929 1930 1932 1933 1936 1939 1940 1942
1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1967 1968 1970
14 North Shore 1904 1909 1921 1952 1961 1978 1979 1985 1991 2001
2004 2005 2007 2024
10 Western Suburbs/Inner West 1951 1963 1965 1966 1969 1972 1974 1975 1977 1996
7 Sydney 1905 1907 1912 1913 1923 1925 1931
7 Paddington 1915 1916 1917 1919 1920 1922 1924
7 Campbelltown 1986 1987 1988 1989 1994 1995 1999
5 St George 1937 1938 1943 1964 1993
5 Pennant Hills 2000 2006 2008 2015 2017
4 East Coast 2009 2010 2011 2016
3 South Sydney 1914 1934 1935
3 Sydney Naval 1944 1960 1962
2 YMCA 1908 1910
2 Sydney University 1992 2020
2 Balmain 1997 1998
2 Manly-Warringah 2013 2014
1 Holroyd-Parramatta/Parramatta 1990

First Grade (Women's) Premiers

[edit]

List of First Grade Women's (currently Women's Premier Division) premiers.

Number of Premierships by Club

[edit]
Number of Premierships Club Years
6 Newtown Breakaways 2002 2003 2004 2005 2009 2010 2015
4 Sydney Uni. Bombers/Gold/
Sydney Uni.
2001 2007 2013 2014
3 Western Wolves/Inner West Magpies 2000 2006 2008
3 UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 2016 2017 2018
2 Balmain Dockers/Balmain Tigers 2011 2012
3 East Coast 2022 2023 2024
1 Macquarie University 2019
1 Manly-Warringah 2020

Best and fairest awards

[edit]

The Phelan Medal is an annual award given in the Sydney AFL. It is awarded to best and fairest player of the premier division competition each year. It is seen to be the AFL Sydney equivalent to the Brownlow Medal. The Mostyn Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player in the premier division of the women's league.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". The Referee. No. 857. New South Wales, Australia. 8 April 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "THE AUSTRALIAN GAME". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 20, 327. New South Wales, Australia. 4 May 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 29 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Australian Football is Established on Paying Basis in Sydney". The Herald. No. 14, 164. Victoria, Australia. 6 August 1921. p. 4 (Sporting Edition). Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". Arrow. No. 1303. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "AUSTRALIAN RULES". The Daily Telegraph. No. 14, 189. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "AUSTRALIAN RULES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 001. New South Wales, Australia. 19 July 1924. p. 18. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "The Australian Game". Sydney Mail. Vol. XXIX, no. 739. New South Wales, Australia. 26 May 1926. p. 21. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "'SYDNEY FOOTBALL IS STRONGER THAN EVER'". Sporting Globe. No. 2826. Victoria, Australia. 20 July 1949. p. 14 (Football Section). Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Sunday finals for "Rules" in Sydney". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 8731. Victoria, Australia. 16 September 1950. p. 44. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "AUST RULES". Daily Mirror. No. 2784. New South Wales, Australia. 4 May 1950. p. 31 (Cable Edition 2). Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Suspensions". Sporting Globe. No. 3113. Victoria, Australia. 9 April 1952. p. 12. Retrieved 31 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ Sydney AFL Round 9, 16th & 17th June 2007
  13. ^ Newtown Angels History
  14. ^ "Digital Sports Pty Ltd". Digital Sports. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  15. ^ Lane, Daniel (18 March 2007). "Dockers drop anchor on Swans' turf". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  16. ^ "First Grade Men's Premiers (Premier Division)". AFL Sydney. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
[edit]