Australian rules football in Queensland

Australian rules football in Queensland
Australian football at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast 2011
Governing body	AFL Queensland
First played	June 1866, Brisbane
Registered players	252,624
Club competitions
show List Queensland Australian Football League AFLQ State Association AFL Cairns AFL Capricornia AFL Darling Downs AFL Mackay AFL Mount Isa AFL Townsville AFL Wide Bay
Audience records
Single match	37,473 (2019). AFL Brisbane Lions vs Richmond (Gabba, Brisbane)[1]

Australian rules football in Queensland ( typically referred to as "AFL", or less frequently "Australian Football", "Aussie Rules" or "Australian Rules") has a history which dates back to the mid-1860s.^[2] By the early 1880s it was the most prominent football code in the colony, but was progressively overtaken by rugby football, resulting in the local game disbanding in the early 1890s. The sport was revived in the early 1900s and continued to grow steadily across the state throughout the twentieth century, in the shadow of the other football variants particularly rugby league and rugby union (see also Barassi Line).

The sport has surged in popularity in south east Queensland since the 1990s. The Brisbane Lions threepeat premiership era in the national Australian Football League (AFL) saw a participation boom, an increase in drafted players, and spawned the Gold Coast Suns expansion club. The Lions 3 Grand Final appearances in the national women's competition from its inaugural season in 2017 helped further fuel female participation despite a lack of success from the Lions and Suns senior men's teams. In recent years, AFL in Queensland has grown throughout the state, surpassing 250,000 players in 2017^[3] (40% are female). Premiership matches are now regularly played in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and since 2019, Townsville (AFL) and Mackay (AFLW).^[4][5]

Queensland was the first state to host the AFLW Grand Final (the inaugural 2017 AFL Women's Grand Final held at the Gold Coast) and the first state other than its traditional home of Victoria to host the AFL Grand Final, the 2020 AFL Grand Final held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.^[6][7] Apart from affecting the availability of AFL venues, the COVID-19 pandemic had an overall positive effect on the sport in Queensland, both in terms of AFL clubs being based in the state and grassroots participation,^[8] though the first Australian Football International Cup tournament scheduled to be hosted outside of Victoria (on the Sunshine Coast) was cancelled due to COVID.^[9]

History[]

1860s: Early Beginnings in South East Queensland[]

Queen's Park playing field (now City Botanic Gardens) at the far end

The earliest known record of the sport in Queensland was in May 1866, when the Brisbane Football Club was formed to play under "Victorian Rules" as it was then known.^[10] Defunct since this 1880s this club has no relationship to the modern Brisbane Bears or Lions. The club played its first match on Saturday 9 June 1866 at Queen's Park (now part of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens).^[11]

The game spread rapidly during the 1870s. By 1870 four more clubs had been created: Volunteer Artillery, Brisbane Grammar School, Civil Service and Ipswich, all adopting Victorian Rules (as it was then known) over rugby football. The first schoolboys match was between Brisbane Grammar and Ipswich Grammar in 1870. In 1876 several football from the local rugby union including Rangers, Bonnet Rouge, moved to switch to Victorian Rules^[12] citing the game's huge popularity in Melbourne.^[13] The game had spread to Toowoomba and the Darling Downs by 1876 with a match between Civil Service and the newly formed Toowoomba Club.^[14] As the game spread west of the Great Divide to places including Warwick, there was general confusion amongst clubs over which rules to adopt, though most adopted the Victorian rules^[15] and the competition went into recess a few years later until the sport was also played by Toowoomba Grammar School.^[16]

Queensland clubs affiliated with the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877, and the game became known in Queensland as the "Victorian Association rules", "Victorian association football" (or sometimes just "Association rules").

1880s: Rugby rebellion, local clubs and schools reject Victorian rules[]

The Queensland state team who played Melbourne in 1888

Victorian Association rules continued to grow in popularity during the 1880s. Competition began in Wide Bay–Burnett in 1881, with the establishment of clubs in Maryborough^[17] and Gympie.^[18] The Darling Downs competition also expanded to include Allora.^[19]

However competition was organised by the Queensland Football Association, formed 1880, which was coordinating matches between clubs in both Victorian Association rules and Rugby. Victorian Association remained popular, Queensland clubs, particularly the newly formed ones that were making hard decisions on rule adoption. Rules to protect players against dangerous pushing during contests for example were desperately sought, and some were claiming that rugby rules were safer as a result. Clubs were becoming increasingly disgruntled by the lack of representation or consultation on the laws of the game and governance from Melbourne.^[20] Queensland sent delegates to the Intercolonial Football Conference in Melbourne in 1883.^[21] By 1884 there were as many as 300 Victorian Association players in the Brisbane and Ipswich region, as contemporaneous newspaper records show that there were at least six active clubs (Brisbane, Excelsiors, Grammars, Wallaroos, Rovers and Athenians (Ipswich)), each of which had at least two teams ('senior' and 'junior' 20s). Matches were played at the Albert Ground, Kedron Park, Grammar School and Ipswich, with occasional matches at Queen's Park^[22][23] while the Darling Downs and Wide-Bay leagues were also flourishing and leagues began also in Cairns (1884),^[24] Townsville^[25] and Rockhampton (1886).^[26][27]

A growing rift between Victorian Association and Rugby came to a head in 1883 when QFA clubs began to vote yearly as to whether to play under Victorian Association rules or Rugby rules. There was increasing discontent among the QFA clubs with Melbourne's apparent disinterest in intercolonial matches with Queensland and disregard for the rugby rules.^[28] There was also pressure for Queensland to adopt a code that would enable it to play intercolonial matches against New South Wales.The first intercolonial was unders Victorian Rules between New South Wales and Queensland was held at Queens Park in front of a modest crowd of 300 spectators,^[29][30] playing each other in a two-game series in Brisbane in Auguts 1884 resulting in a 1-1 draw. Many of the New South Wales players also played rugby and the idea of regular rugby tests between the two states became increasingly popular. In an effort to uphold Victorian Rules, and with support absent from Melbourne, a motion was passed by the Association secretary that effectively barred players found to be playing rugby from playing at a Victorian Rules club.^[31] The move was to backfire as the breakaway Northern Rugby Union (NRU) formed, taking disgruntled clubs and players with it.^[32] These clubs in response, instituted the barring of rugby players from playing Victorian rules^[33] and Rugby players and officials began derogatively reverting to the term "Melbourne Association" and "Melbourne Rules" in reference to the QFA and rules^[34] fuelling a sentiment of it being increasingly anti-rugby and anti-Queensland.

Within just two years of its founding, the locally governed breakaway NRU competition came to dominate sport in Queensland and, according to one writer, "The defining moment in the code battle came with the 1886 Queensland [Rugby] side, who defeated NSW for the first time in Sydney. "The success of this team undoubtedly won the day for rugby game in Queensland. The Victorian game supporters were struggling hard to uphold the premier position they had gained but after the brilliant performance of the 1886 team, who lost only one match through their tour, the rugby game became very popular and the next season several new clubs were formed and the Victorian game began to wane".^[35] Independent Schools headmasters in 1887 voted by 1 vote to adopt rugby football.^[36] The majority of councillors objected on the basis that the reference of "Victorian" in the name of the sport did not represent the interests of Queenslanders. This dealt a significant blow to the sport and advantage to rugby union.

Despite the advances made by Queensland football, it was clear that Victoria was progressing faster than any other state. The first Melbourne team to visit was in June 1888, playing against a QAFA Queensland (made up of combined Brisbane and Ipswich players) team at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds which the home team lost 3-5 to the visitors 6-16 in front of 2,000 spectators.^[37] Several Melbourne clubs followed shortly thereafter including the Melbourne Football Club and on 21 June 1890, South Melbourne Football Club toured, playing against Queensland on Albion Park. The result of the match was a complete 6-17 to 1-0 humiliation (behinds were recorded in the scores at the time but did not actually count until 1897). The humiliation was obviously felt by the players as when Queensland defeated a New South Wales Rugby Union team shortly afterwards many of the former rugby players receded from the Australian football ranks and formed clubs of their own.^[38] With the gap left by the collapse of Victorian Association clubs, some of the clubs in Ipswich and Toowoomba later adopted what was then known as Anglo-Association or British Association Football.

1900s: Australasian Rules Revival[]

Australian Football Premiership Grand Final at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, 1907. Locomotives defeated Wynnum by 40 points

Taringa vs Wests Australian rules football match QANFL match at Perry Park in the 1930s

Australasian Rules as it was now known was revived when the Queensland Football League (QFL) was formed in July 1903. The first premiership was held in 1904 with most games being played at Queen's Park, a sporting facility within the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

From 1905 to 1914 games were regularly played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

In 1908, Queensland again sent delegates to the Australasian Football Council, this time, fielding a side in the Jubilee Australian Football Carnival which saw all Australian states as well as New Zealand compete.

In 1914 a carnival to promote the code was held in Brisbane. The participating teams were Collingwood, Perth, South Adelaide and Cananore.

Between 1915 and 1919 the competition went into recess owing to World War I. Since the inception of the QFL, more than fifty teams have played in the premiership competition.

In August 1927 at a meeting of the Australian National Football Council it was decided that each of the state leagues were to include the words 'Australian National' in their names. Accordingly, the QFL was renamed the Queensland Australian National Football League (QANFL) and football continued a steady growth in Brisbane.

1940s-70s: The Game Expands[]

AFL was introduced to Far North Queensland during both World Wars. In 1913, a team of servicemen briefly existed on Thursday Island. In 1944, a league of servicemen was formed around the Atherton Tableland. Teams represented included Wongabel, Wondelca, Kairi, Mareeba and Ravenshoe.

In 1952, the Brisbane Exhibition Ground hosted a VFL match between Essendon and Geelong and was the first official VFL match to be played under floodlights.

In 1955 a league was introduced to Townsville. In 1957 land was purchased in Cairns for the first dedicated field and competition began there. A league was also introduced to Mount Isa later.

Another VFL exhibition game was played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in 1959, attracting a large crowd.

In 1964 the QANFL became the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), a limited liability company.

In the early 1970s, the first permanent leagues appeared on the Sunshine Coast (1970)^[39] Mackay (1970), the Darling Downs (1971), Bundaberg (1971) and Rockhampton (1972).

1980s: Brisbane Bears Era[]

Born and bred Queenslander Jason Dunstall debuted for the Hawthorn Hawks in 1985 and quickly became one of the greatest players in the game, despite remaining almost unknown in his home state. He briefly represented a Queensland State of Origin team which played in a low key game against New South Wales in Sydney.

In 1986 it was announced that teams from Brisbane (Brisbane Bears) and Perth (West Coast Eagles) would compete in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1987. Much of the Bears team were South Australian players from the South Australian National Football League and Victorians from the Victorian Football League. Although the team was known as Brisbane, home games were played at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, nearly 100 km from Brisbane.

The Bears were hugely unsuccessful on the field, and with the admission of the successful Brisbane Broncos rugby league team into the New South Wales Rugby League, the popularity of Australian rules football plummeted, while the successful Broncos, made up primarily of local talent, thrived. The NSWRL had resisted the move for a team in Queensland for years but created the Broncos and the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants the very next season.

The admission of the Bears had a deleterious effect on the QAFL which weakened over the following years.

During this era, few local players, besides Jason Dunstall, were produced with the exception of Gavin Crosisca and Marcus Ashcroft who were successful at VFL level.

Demographic trends saw Victorian and South Australians (states where the code is extremely popular) migrating interstate in large numbers to Queensland. Support for Australian rules football grew, despite a lack of success from the Bears and support from fans.

1990s: AFL comes to Brisbane, New Governing Body[]

1990 saw the Brisbane Bears receive their first Wooden Spoon, which saw new coach Queensland-born Norm Dare sacked at the end of the season.

1991 was a mixed year for the Brisbane Bears. At the end of the home and away season, the Bears' Seniors team would receive the Wooden Spoon again while the Bears' Reserves team finished in 3rd position. They qualified for the Reserves Grand Final, where they scored a 34-point victory over the Melbourne Demons to become the first team from outside Victoria to win an AFL premiership.

1992 saw the debut for the Brisbane Bears of the most significant locally produced young talent to emerge from the state – Michael Voss. Although born in country Victoria, Voss spent most of his childhood in Queensland and represented the state at junior level where he shone, before going on to captaining the Brisbane Lions and becoming one of the all-time greats of the game. Voss was followed by a small number of players from Queensland to find their way into the newly named Australian Football League (AFL).

In 1993, the Brisbane Bears moved from the Gold Coast, to the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba. Interest, crowds and membership in the team increased considerably. Games between the Bears and popular Victorian sides Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn drew particular interest.

In 1995, the Bears made the AFL finals for the first time.

In 1996, six sell-out games at the Gabba caused the State Government to consider funding re-development of the ground, something that would be done several times over the following years to transform the small stadium into a world-class venue.

After the 1996 season, the QAFL, having weakened significantly with the introduction of the Bears, finally went into receivership. A new governing body, the Queensland Australian Football Council, was formed in 1997, alongside a new premiership competition, Queensland State Football League (QSFL).

Boom Times: Brisbane Lions Threepeat Era[]

Brisbane Lions players in training in 2007

The Brisbane Lions began in 1996, when the AFL approved a merger between the Brisbane Bears and the formerly Melbourne based Fitzroy Football Club and on-field success increased substantially with the injection of Fitzroy players, further boosting the popularity of the code.

In a breakthrough for Australian Football in late 1990s, GPS schools in South East Queensland began playing Australian Rules for the first time since the turn of the century. Previously to this, South East Queensland private schools had been a staunchly rugby union stronghold and many schools did not allow Australian Football to be played as it would compete with rugby for players. The Jason Dunstall Cup (named after champion Queensland product Jason Dunstall) was later begun, with independent schools such as BBC, ACGS and Nudgee College, represented with teams in the first division of the Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League (QISAFL). However interest soon waned and the trophy holds very little interest to the schools.

Also in the 1990s, the Cairns league experienced enormous growth financially on the back of gaming, with the Cazaly's social club quickly becoming the largest sporting club north of Brisbane. The Cazaly's Stadium received lights to play popular night football games and the western stand from the Gabba was transplanted to Cazaly's Stadium, enabling it to host AFL matches.

In 1999, the QSFL also went into voluntary liquidation, being replaced by a new organisation, AFL Queensland (AFLQ) in 2000. The new premiership competition was called the AFLQ State League. That year, Nick Riewoldt became the first Queensland produced player to be taken as number 1 pick in the AFL Draft, recognised as the best junior talent in the nation.

In 2001, a Women's Footy competition began in earnest.

Three successive premierships for the Brisbane Lions in 2001, 2002 and 2003 saw crowds to Australian Football League matches in Brisbane to grow to an average of over 30,000, and in terms of attendance and membership, the AFL team in 2003 was the most popular team of any football code in the state. However, despite increasing television ratings and media exposure, Australian rules football remains overall less popular than rugby league and rugby union in the state.

During the Lions premiership years, junior Aussie Rules numbers exploded in South East Queensland, and grew solidly right across the state.

2000s: Period of Stabilization[]

From 2005, the growing local State League expanded to two divisions.

A record number of 13 Queenslanders were invited to attend the 2006 AFL Draft camp, representing 18% of the 72 camp invitees.^[40]

Although state league crowds have dwindled with the increase in support for the Brisbane Lions AFL team, a healthy crowd of 3,257 saw the Southport Sharks defeat Morningside in the 2005 AFLQ Grand Final at the Gabba, while a crowd of over 3,000 saw the Southport Sharks win back-to-back premierships in 2006 at Carrara.

In 2006, support for the Brisbane Lions waned substantially due to two successive seasons out of the finals. From 2005 to 2006 total memberships decreased from 30,027 to 26,429 and the average home crowd fell from 33,101 to 28,305.

The impact of the Brisbane Lions fall from grace was felt at grassroots level by the sport in Brisbane. From 2006, the much celebrated Jason Dunstall Cup was no longer contested by its former powerhouse schools – ACGS or BBC. Most other major private schools ceased playing the sport at the top level. Despite the decline of school competitions, local junior club numbers continued to grow.

Nevertheless, Queensland performed extremely well in the 2006 AFL Draft with a record 11 recruits, including 8 of the first 32 picks. Surprisingly, the majority of the movement was in the regional areas, with some picks from previously undrafted regional areas such as Townsville, Toowoomba and Mackay providing AFL talent.^[41][42]

Queensland was the first state other than Victoria to host an AFL Grand Final, the 2020 AFL Grand Final held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.^[43][44] The had a positive effect on the sport in Queensland, both in terms of AFL clubs being based in the state and grassroots participation.^[45]

AFL on the Gold Coast[]

Australian football at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast: Adelaide vs Melbourne, 2006

Gold Coast vs Adelaide at Carrara Stadium in 2011

The Gold Coast, where a hole had been left once the Brisbane Bears moved away, had grown to become the 6th biggest urban area with nearly half a million people, many of which had migrated from states where Australian Rules is popular. In recent years, several bids were made for a new AFL franchise by the powerhouse Southport Sharks Australian Football Club, including attempts to lure a Melbourne-based club in 2004.^[46] Many of these attempts were knocked back due to the city's many failed sporting franchises. However demographic trends suggested a growing demand for Australian rules football and in 2005 a pre-season practice match between the Brisbane Lions and Essendon drew a healthy audience of 16,591. Following the match, the Australian Football League stepped up efforts to expand into the Gold Coast market. A series of pre-season games and a home and away match was scheduled at Carrara for 2006. In response, the rival NRL competition admitted a Gold Coast Titans franchise. Despite an average crowd of around 10,000 (comparatively low by AFL standards), the AFL officially announced a strategy to include a Gold Coast side in the next 5 years.^[47] A bitter turf war with the National Rugby League resulted over the use of Carrara stadium.^[48] In the same year, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou was quoted to declare that the league would compete directly with the NRL for marketshare in Queensland.

In July 2006, with the backing of the local government and the AFL, the Kangaroos did a deal which saw them move their home games scheduled at Manuka Oval in Canberra to play a number of home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast in 2007.^[49] The AFL began a heavily subsidised grassroots participation program and pushed for the number of AFL games, including pre-season matches to steadily increase to ready the region for its own side. Relocation of the Kangaroos was seen by many to be the safest option for the AFL, and an existing Queensland Government deal prevented use of the Brisbane Cricket Ground for a second Queensland side until 2010. The AFL's plans were further complicated by growing competition in the market. The entry of several licences from other sports into the market as well as the proposed expansion of A-League put additional pressure on the league to fast-track the relocation of the Kangaroos.

In December 2007, after two years of resisting the AFL's push for their relocation, the Kangaroos finally officially rejected the AFL's $100 million proposal.^[50] This was despite threats from the league to pull financial assistance from the club and cancel the Gold Coast home game agreement if they don't move. The failure of the AFL to secure a stadium deal for Carrara with the Queensland Government was seen as one of the deciding factors. A consortium was selected by the AFL in early 2008 and the GC17 set out to make an official bid for the licence with criteria defined by the league. The Queensland government finally committed to funding for a stadium in early 2009 after which the AFL was granted a provisional licence pending further federal government funding. In 2010 The Gold Coast Suns were created and entered a team in the NEAFL. In 2011 they made their debut playing in the AFL and vindicated the investment in creating the new AFL side by outdrawing the rival codes.

The Gold Coast Suns took to the AFL field in 2011.

2020s: COVID Impacts on Queensland football[]

Queensland was the first state other than Victoria to host an AFL Grand Final, the 2020 AFL Grand Final held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.^[51][52] The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive effect on the sport in Queensland, both in terms of AFL clubs being based in the state and grassroots participation.^[53]

Leagues[]

Since 2011 Queensland based teams have competed in the northern division of the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL, also contested by teams from New South Wales, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory).

This competition became the first division in the region, while Queensland Australian Football League (former "AFLQ State League", first started in 1903) became the 2nd division.

Clubs[]

There are two fully professional football clubs in Queensland, the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns who both play in the main national league, the Australian Football League (AFL). They also play (with reserve teams) in the interstate competition North East Australian Football League. Other teams from the region that take part of it are Aspley, Redland and Southport.

The main competition of Queensland, Queensland Australian Football League, has 9 teams participating of it.

Representative Side[]

Queensland representative team of 1906–07

The Queensland state team, known as the "Maroons" has played interstate representative matches against all other Australian states, as well as selecting State of Origin teams as both Queensland and later as part of a combined "Allies" side.

In inter-league matches since 1991, Queensland has defeated both Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, and has performed well against more accomplished states such as Western Australia without winning.

The Queensland under-18 representative side is known as the Scorpions.

Also there are representative sides for areas within Queensland used during inter-league matches with-in Queensland itself. They include:

• Bushrangers – representing the entire South East Queensland region Official Site
• Gold Coast Stingrays – representing the Gold Coast region
• Suncoast Power – representing the Sunshine Coast region Official Site
• Western Taipans – representing the western regions, including the cities of Ipswich and Toowoomba. Official Site
• Northern Raiders – representing the Northern Suburbs of Brisbane and Bribie Island. Official Site

Principal Venues[]

• 1866 – ca 1890: Queen's Park (now part of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens); the original Cricket Ground at the 'Green Hills' (now Petrie Terrace)
• 1904 – 1912: Queen's Park
• 1905 – 1914: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Exhibition Ground
• 1920 – 1950s: Perry Park, Exhibition Ground for some games, including the 1950 interstate carnival
• 1959 – 1971: Brisbane Cricket Ground
• 1970s – 1980s: Windsor Park
• 1998 – 2004: Giffin Park
• 2005–present: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Carrara Stadium, Cazaly's Stadium
• 2019-: Riverway Stadium

Brisbane	Gold Coast	Cairns
Brisbane Cricket Ground	Carrara Stadium	Cazaly's Stadium
Capacity: 42,000	Capacity: 25,000	Capacity: 13,500

Audience[]

Attendance record[]

• Mens: 37,473 (2019). AFL Brisbane Lions vs Richmond (Gabba, Brisbane)^[54]
• Women's: 15,610. (2017) AFLW Grand Final Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide (Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland)^[55]

Major Australian Rules Events in Queensland[]

• Australian Football League Premiership Season (Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns home games)
• AFLW Premiership Season (Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns home games)
• Queensland Australian Football League Grand Final

Players[]

Participation[]

In 2007, there were around 3,300 senior players in Queensland, and in 2009 there were a total of 103,358 participants.^[56] Although the overall participation per capita is around 2%, the sport is growing faster in Queensland than any other Australian state.^[57]

Great Queensland players[]

Over the years, Queensland has produced an array of talent for elite leagues such as the Australian Football League, such as Jason Dunstall, Marcus Ashcroft, Gavin Crosisca, Scott McIvor, Danny Dickfos, Che Cockatoo-Collins, Steven Lawrence, Clark Keating, Trent Knobel, Clint Bizzell, Brett Backwell, Brett Voss, Michael Voss, Mal Michael and Robert Copeland.

Notable Players[]

• 

  Aliir Aliir All Australian was schooled in Brisbane

• 

  Charlie Cameron is from Mt Isa and Mornington Island

• 

  Braydon Preuss is from Townsville

• 

  Jack Bowes is from Cairns

• 

  Dayne Zorko is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Jarrod Harbrow is from Cairns

• 

  Charlie Dixon is from Cairns

• 

  Dayne Beams premiership player is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Tom Hickey is from Brisbane

• 

  Kurt Tippett is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Michael Voss Brownlow Medallist and triple premiership player is from Beenleigh

• 

  Jason Akermanis Brownlow medallist and triple premierhips player was schooled in Brisbane

• 

  Simon Black Brownlow medallist and triple premiership player is from Mt Isa

• 

  Nick Riewoldt is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Tim Notting dual premiership player is from Cairns

• 

  Daniel Merrett is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Rhan Hooper is from Cunnamulla and Ipswich

• 

  Scott Harding is from Thursday Island

• 

  Robert Copeland dual premiership player is from Brisbane

• 

  David Hale Triple premiership player is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Brad Miller is from Brisbane

• 

  Mitch Hahn is from Brisbane

• 

  Tayla Harris is from Brisbane

• 

  Emma Zielke is from Bundaberg

• 

  Emily Bates is from Brisbane

• 

  Tahlia Randall is from Buderim

• 

  Leah Kaslar if from Cairns

• 

  Kate Lutkins is from Brisbane

• 

  Sharni Webb is from the Sunshine Coast

• 

  Jamie Stanton is from the Gold Coast

• 

  Lauren Bella is from Mackay

• Currently listed players are highlighted in bold

Bibliography[]

1. John Morton's Queensland Australian Rules Year Book 1960 by John Morton, 1960
2. Queensland Team of the Century Football Record Official Programme, AFL Queensland, 2003
3. Official Souvenir Programme of Collingwood v South Melbourne, Queensland Australian National Football League, 1935

See also[]

• AFL Queensland
• Australian rules football in South East Queensland
• List of Australian Football Leagues in Queensland
• Brisbane Australian Football Club
• 1961 Brisbane Carnival

References[]

External links[]

• Queensland Team of the Century (from Full Points Footy)
• QAFF – Queensland footy history group

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Australian rules football in Queensland.