AFL's north east boost
By Adam McNicol 11:49 AM Thu 11 Nov, 2010
Reprinted from the AFL Website
THE AFL has announced the formation of a new second-tier competition, which
includes teams from New South Wales, ACT, Queensland and the Northern
Territory.
Beginning next season, the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) is
expected to boost the standard of the game in the northern states.
The NEAFL is also aiming to provide greater competition for reserves teams
from the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, the Sydney Swans and GWS.
In short, the new league brings together two existing competitions - the
QAFL and AFL Canberra.
The Gold Coast reserves have been added to the QAFL - which already included
the Lions reserves and NT Thunder - and that competition has been renamed the
northern conference. It will have 10 clubs.
GWS has been added to the top division of AFL Canberra, which has been
renamed the eastern conference. The Swans' reserves were already part of that
competition, which will have seven clubs including local powerhouses Ainslie
and Belconnen.
There will be a grand final held in each conference, with the premiers
playing off for the NEAFL flag.
The other big difference from the status quo is that cross-conference games
will be played at various points throughout the season.
That allows the AFL-aligned Lions, Suns, Swans and GWS to play each other on
a regular basis.
In 2011, GWS will field only one team and this will play in the NEAFL. From
2012, GWS will have a side in the AFL and another in the NEAFL.
"This is a unique and exciting competition and further enhances the
AFL's presence in communities in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and NT," the AFL's general
manager of national and international development David Matthews said.
"We think it sends an important message to players, coaches, umpires,
volunteers and fans that there are vibrant and developing leagues and clubs in
these markets.
"Throughout the extensive consultation process it was at the forefront
of our minds that the AFL clubs based in NSW and Queensland should play in their own
backyards to stimulate further development in the regions."
Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft welcomed the new league.
"Our teams will be exposed to a wider audience and the local fans will
get a good chance to see developing players and some good quality football in
the community," he said.
Sydney Swans football manager Dean Moore also backed the introduction of the
NEAFL.
"We've had a successful association with Canberra for a number of years now," he
said.
"This development enables us to maintain those well established links
but also allows us to now compete against other AFL reserve grade teams."
Key features of the new competition
- The NEAFL will consist of two conferences - the northern conference (Qld and
NT teams) and the eastern conference (NSW and ACT teams)
- For the majority of the year, teams will play other teams within their
respective conferences
- A key point of difference between other state leagues is that the NEAFL will
provide opportunities for 'cross-conference' games for all clubs to play
interstate or host interstate clubs
- NT Thunder's presence in the northern conference will mean that Qld teams
will continue to travel to the Territory for games
- Local clubs will continue to play for the awards and premiership success
within their own conference, but will have the additional opportunity to win
the NEAFL grand final between the respective winner of each conference
- There will be increased AFL club content in each market, as AFL clubs will
play each other seven times during the season (five times in their own state
and two games interstate)