AFL Capricornia is an amateur Australian rules football competition played across Central Queensland between the months of March to September, which are typically the cooler months of the Queensland climate. Spanning across three main regions of Central Queensland including: Rockhampton, Gladstone and Livingstone. The league is only mildly popular with rugby league being the much more popular football code in Central Queensland.

Australian Football League Capricornia (AFLC)
General Information
Founded 1969; 55 years ago (1969), as Rockhampton Football Association
Sport(s) Australian Rules Football (1969–present)
Affiliation AFL Queensland (1998–present)
Participants Level Amateur
LGA's Rockhampton Region Council
Gladstone Region Council
Livingstone Shire Council
Known As
1969–1972 Rockhampton Football Association
1973–1975 Rockhampton Australian Football Association
1976–1980 Capricornia Australian Football Association
1981–1997 Capricornia Australian Football League
1998–present Australian Football League Capricornia
Competitions
Men's AFLC A Grade (since 1969–1973)
AFLC Reserves (since 1982–present)
Women's AFLC Women's (2010–present)
Junior's AFLC Under 17 (1978–present)
AFLC Under 15 (1982–present)
AFLC Under 13 (1982–present)
Auskick's AFLC Under 11
AFLC Under 9
AFLC Under 7

Traditionally the Grand Final is held in Rockhampton at the Rockhampton Cricket Ground or occasionally at Stenlake Park (last in 2011), however Gladstone has twice held the Grand Final at Clinton Park (2004 & 2015).

Brief history

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Rockhampton's first football club, the Rockhampton Football Club was formed by Dr. Roberston under Australian Rules in 1873, making it the third city in the colony after Brisbane and Ipswich to take up the sport.[1] Matches were played on the Rockhampton Cricket Reserve. By the 1880s, there was a full league running in Capricornia.[2][3] North Rockhampton Football Club[4] and Gladstone Football Club were both founded in 1885. However at the turn of the century, rugby football took hold across most of the state and the Australian rules competitions went into recess.

The existing competition commenced as an informal, social competition, and in 1972 the competition expanded with clubs playing in Rockhampton and Gladstone, and later variously Blackwater, Biloela, Boyne Island and Yeppoon. During the mid to late 1980s, there were eight clubs in the competition.

Since 1994, there have been six clubs in the competition, with all clubs having their own grounds to train and play on. Every club currently is fielding teams in all nine competitions (A-Grade, Reserves, Women's, Under 17, Under 15, Under 13, Under 11, Under 9, & Under 7). It is the only competition in Queensland outside of Cairns and Brisbane to run a full league that includes seniors to juniors at all six clubs.

Following the 1997 season, the neighbouring Central Highlands AFL collapsed leaving the then Capricornia AFL as the sole league for Australian Rules Football in Central Queensland. Since 1998 some fans have talked about the possibility of some former Central Highlands AFL clubs joining AFL Capricornia, however neither the leagues (AFL Capricornia or Central Highlands AFL) or any of their associated clubs have officially commented on the possibility that AFL Capricornia might expand West. Today many of the former Central Highlands AFL clubs still continue to operate, even though they are without a league to play-in, and even run Auskick programs.[5]

The region's representative team originally had colours of yellow, black and white, and were known as the "Taipans". During the reconfiguration of AFL Queensland another representative team closer to Brisbane was given the nickname "Taipans", this forced the AFL Capricornia to choose a different identity. The new colours are dark blue, sky blue and white, and are now known as the "Cyclones"

The Capricornia region has had a few success stories of ex-AFL Capricornia players now playing or have played in the AFL, some players include Zac Smith (Suns, Cats), Paul O'Shea (Bulldogs), Gavin Urquart (Kangaroos).

It was one of the first regional leagues in Queensland to introduce a Women's League. Today in Queensland Women's Leagues are also run by AFL Queensland, AFL Cairns, AFL Mackay, AFL Townsville, AFL Queensland Youth Girls Competition.

The first all women's Australian Football game in this region was played in 1983, with Sisters Roos AFC (Brothers) versus Boyne Island Tannum Sands Saints. The game was played before the seniors game, and the eventual winner was the Sisters Roos. Sisters Roos were also holders of the Champions Cup which was given to the winners of the then pre season challenge. There had been talk of a Women's League starting since 1992, though it took much longer to eventuate, but there were a couple of exhibition games played before the men's senior games in the nineties. AFL Capricornia encourages women and girls to participate in AFL and would like to see a women's or girls League start in the near future. Brothers Roos AFC do have a women's team, named 'The Sisters' but do not yet have an opposing club in the area to play against. In late 2010 the AFL Capricornia Women's League was formed. The format for the season is 5 home & away rounds, plus finals, beginning on 11 July. Matches take part on either Saturday or Sunday Afternoons. AFL Capricornia development officer Stuart Seager said "The games were of a high quality". The competition came about after Boyne Island Tannum Sands Saints AFC player Megan Hunt approached AFLQ and AFL Capricornia on behalf of women who could no longer play in age competitions against males.

The league is covered primarily by the local print media of Rockhampton's Morning Bulletin and Gladston's The Observer. TV highlights are also broadcast weekly on the local news sport segments of WIN News Rockhampton and Seven News Rockhampton. Weekly radio wrap segments are broadcast on the Saturday morning Local Grandstand segment of ABC Capricornia. Many of these may also include occasional interviews with players, coachers, and even league officials.

Clubs

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Current clubs

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15km
10miles
 
 
Yeppoon
 
Rockhampton
 
Glenmore Bulls
 
Gladstone Suns
 
Brothers
 
Boyne Island-Tannum Sands
Locations of the teams home grounds
Club Colours Moniker Ground Est. First
Season
Premierships
Seniors Reserves Women's Total
Boyne Island-Tannum Sands
 
Saints Boyne Island Oval, Boyne Island 1983 1984 13 14 1 28
Brothers*
 
Roos Kele Park, West Rockhampton 1981 1981 6 3 1 10
Gladstone
 
Suns* Clinton Park, Clinton 1972 1972 6 2 2 10
Glenmore
 
Bulls Stenlake Park, Kawana 1968 1969 8 7 3 18
Rockhampton
 
Panthers Rockhampton Cricket Ground, The Common 1968 1969 4 3 0 7
Yeppoon
 
Swans Swan Park, Yeppoon 1981 1985 8 5 1 14

Former clubs

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Club Colours Moniker Ground Est. Years in League Premierships
Seniors Reserves Women's Total
Allenstown AFC
 
All Blacks Kettle Park, Allenstown 1968 1969-1979 2 N/A N/A 2
Biloela AFC
 
Bombers Biloela Cricket Ground, Biloela 1985 19851987 0 0 N/A 0
Blackwater AFC
C.H.A.F.L. (1983-1997)
 
Cats Blackwater Cricket Ground, Blackwater 1981 19811982 0 0 N/A 0
Depot Hill AFC
 
Hawks Bartlem Park, Depot Hill 1968 19691979 0 N/A N/A 0
Parkana AFC
 
Demons Church Park/Capricorn Country Club, Park Avenue 1972 19721993 1 1 0 2

Auskick clinic locations

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Auskick Clinics are run by AFL Capricornia in conjunction with local schools. Some notable clinic locations both past & present include:[6]

League honours

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Seasons

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  • A Grade Senior Men

Below is a summary of the A Grade Premiership Tables at the end of the home and away fixtures and the Finals results for the most recent seasons of the AFL Capricornia.

1969–2007

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To be determined

2008

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Glenmore 9 0 4 2 1312 946 138.69% 40 1st Semi Panthers 20 17 137 Gladstone 7 11 53
BITS 9 0 5 1 1508 1120 134.64% 38 2nd Semi BITS 18 8 116 Glenmore 12 9 81
Panthers 8 0 7 0 1150 1071 107.38% 32 Preliminary Panthers 18 14 122 Glenmore 8 9 57
Gladstone 7 0 7 1 1136 1255 90.52% 30 Grand BITS 14 7 91 Panthers 8 10 58
Brothers 6 0 9 0 980 1604 61.10% 24
Yeppoon 4 0 11 0 1121 1211 92.57% 16

2009

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Yeppoon 13 0 2 0 1446 981 147.40% 52 1st Semi BITS 14 11 95 Glenmore 11 6 72
Panthers 10 0 5 0 1432 1176 121.77% 40 2nd Semi Yeppoon 13 13 91 Panthers 9 16 70
Glenmore 7 0 7 1 1314 1123 117.01% 30 Preliminary BITS 11 9 75 Panthers 10 12 72
BITS 7 0 8 0 1325 1239 106.94% 28 Grand Yeppoon 18 12 120 BITS 6 11 47
Gladstone 4 0 11 0 923 1487 62.07% 16
Brothers 3 0 11 1 1099 1533 71.69% 14

2010

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Brothers 13 0 2 0 1684 1074 156.80% 52 1st Semi BITS 12 7 79 Panthers 8 12 60
Yeppoon 10 0 5 0 1554 981 158.41% 40 2nd Semi Brothers 13 8 86 Yeppoon 8 10 58
BITS 6 0 9 0 1290 1318 97.88% 24 Preliminary BITS 17 7 109 Yeppoon 12 11 83
Panthers 6 0 9 0 1196 1539 77.71% 24 Grand Brothers 10 16 76 BITS 10 6 66
Gladstone 5 0 10 0 1040 1430 72.73% 20
Glenmore 5 0 10 0 983 1405 69.96% 20

2011

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
BITS 17 0 0 0 2461 945 260.42% 68 1st Semi Yeppoon 15 6 96 Gladstone 13 13 91
Glenmore 11 0 6 0 1855 1348 137.61% 44 2nd Semi BITS 20 15 135 Glenmore 8 8 56
Yeppoon 9 0 9 0 1515 1566 96.74% 36 Preliminary Yeppoon 14 5 89 Glenmore 9 14 68
Gladstone 5 0 9 2 1343 1544 86.98% 24 Grand BITS 17 13 115 Yeppoon 9 11 65
Brothers 4 0 9 2 983 1327 74.08% 20
Panthers 1 0 14 0 744 2171 34.27% 4

2012

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
BITS 12 0 3 0 1852 773 239.59% 48 1st Semi Gladstone 14 12 96 Yeppoon 6 8 44
Glenmore 11 0 4 0 1296 1060 122.26% 44 2nd Semi BITS 16 9 105 Glenmore 8 11 59
Gladstone 10 0 5 0 1659 1062 156.21% 40 Preliminary Gladstone 14 6 90 Glenmore 7 15 57
Yeppoon 6 0 9 0 1004 1114 90.13% 24 Grand BITS 17 14 116 Gladstone 7 9 51
Panthers 6 0 9 0 1178 1503 78.38% 24
Brothers 0 0 15 0 624 2101 29.70% 0

2013

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
BITS 13 0 2 0 1727 892 193.61% 52 1st Semi Glenmore 20 14 134 Panthers 5 3 33
Yeppoon 13 0 2 0 1468 781 187.96% 52 2nd Semi BITS 17 13 115 Yeppoon 10 6 66
Glenmore 9 0 6 0 1342 1114 120.47% 36 Preliminary Glenmore 10 5 65 Yeppoon 6 13 49
Panthers 6 0 9 0 1159 1220 95.00% 24 Grand BITS 12 7 79 Glenmore 5 7 37
Gladstone 3 0 12 0 959 1247 76.90% 12
Brothers 1 0 14 0 747 2148 34.80% 4

2014

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Glenmore 13 0 2 0 1747 712 245.37% 52 1st Semi BITS 18 17 125 Panthers 4 3 27
Yeppoon 12 0 3 0 1724 735 234.56% 48 2nd Semi Glenmore 14 10 94 Yeppoon 10 9 69
BITS 10 0 5 0 1298 922 140.78% 40 Preliminary Yeppoon 14 11 95 BITS 10 10 70
Panthers 5 0 10 0 992 1351 73.43% 20 Grand Glenmore 13 5 83 Yeppoon 7 5 47
Gladstone 3 0 12 0 984 1626 60.52% 12
Brothers 2 0 13 0 642 2041 31.46% 8

2015 Ladder

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Yeppoon 14 0 1 0 1950 575 339.13% 56 1st Semi Glenmore 9 13 67 Panthers 9 9 63
BITS 11 0 4 0 1324 902 146.78% 44 2nd Semi Yeppoon 17 15 117 BITS 5 11 41
Glenmore 8 0 7 0 862 945 91.22% 32 Preliminary BITS 17 7 109 Glenmore 5 12 42
Panthers 4 0 10 1 877 1345 65.20% 18 Grand Yeppoon 22 15 147 BITS 7 5 47
Gladstone 4 0 11 0 918 1334 68.82% 16
Brothers 3 0 11 1 851 1681 50.62% 14

2016 Ladder

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Yeppoon 14 0 0 1 2059 450 457.56% 58 1st Semi BITS 13 10 88 Glenmore 11 7 73
Gladstone 10 0 4 1 1378 984 140.04% 42 2nd Semi Yeppoon 22 13 145 Gladstone 4 5 29
Glenmore 10 0 4 1 1138 892 127.58% 42 Preliminary Gladstone 14 11 95 BITS 12 13 85
BITS 5 0 9 1 919 980 93.78% 22 Grand Yeppoon 16 21 117 Gladstone 8 3 51
Panthers 2 0 12 1 655 1416 46.26% 10
Brothers 1 0 13 1 632 2059 30.69% 6

2017 Ladder

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AFL Capricornia Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts Final Team G B Pts Team G B Pts
Yeppoon 15 0 0 0 2336 344 679.07% 60 1st Semi Panthers 21 11 137 Brothers 7 4 46
BITS 10 0 5 0 1342 840 159.76% 40 2nd Semi Yeppoon 15 13 103 BITS 4 4 28
Panthers 8 0 7 0 979 1619 60.47% 32 Preliminary BITS 16 12 108 Panthers 8 10 58
Brothers 6 0 9 0 993 1753 56.65% 24 Grand Yeppoon 19 14 128 BITS 6 3 39
Gladstone 3 0 12 0 956 1518 62.98% 12
Glenmore 3 0 12 0 871 1403 62.08% 12

AFL Capricornia Grand Final results

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The First Rockhampton A Grade Australian Football Grand Final

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Year Premiers Score Runners up Score
1972 Allenstown All Blacks 12.14 (96) Depot Hill Hawks 13.7 (95)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "WEEKLY SUMMARY". Rockhampton Bulletin. Vol. XII, no. 1751. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Morning Bulletin 17 May 1886 Page 4
  3. ^ Morning Bulletin 14 May 1887 Page 6 FOOTBALL
  4. ^ "Advertising". Morning Bulletin. Vol. XXXV, no. 4636. Queensland, Australia. 17 May 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 30 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ AFL Central Highlands - Twitter
  6. ^ AFL AusKick
  7. ^ "B.I.T.S Seniors".
  8. ^ "AFL Mackay Senior Rep Results 2017 - AFL Mackay".
  9. ^ "AFL Mackay Senior Rep Results 2017 - AFL Mackay".
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