Beautiful Burleigh Heads provided the perfect backdrop to launch the 150-year celebrations of footy in Queensland and 2016 AFL season today. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was joined by AFLQ Chief Dean Warren, as well as SUNS’ and Lions’ captains Gary…

It’s been a big couple of weeks for the AFL Queensland Umpires as they, like the players, prepare for a big 2016. It all started on February 20, when the Queensland Umpiring Academy held their annual conference. Aspley NEAFL coach,…

Surfs up Imagine heading down to the Gold Coast for a surf, paddling out, looking around, and seeing three-time world surfing champ Mick Fanning next to you. No it wasn’t a dream; it was reality for Wilston Grange’s Fletcher McIvor…

Benita Willis – a four time Olympian and World Cross Country gold medalist – has been appointed as the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Queensland NEAFL and QAFL umpires for 2016. Willis, who has competed internationally in events from…

The good news for Queenslanders realising their AFL dreams just keeps on coming, except this time, it’s from a different side of the game. Alex Whetton, a 20 year old who has been umpiring throughout Queensland for the last nine…

IF YOU took a guess at which club produced the most mature-age draftees from last month’s national and rookie drafts, where would you start? Somewhere in the VFL? Wrong. The WAFL? The SANFL? Wrong and wrong. How about Redland Football…

There were 11 Queenslanders drafted for the first time in 2015. There were 11 different stories of how they got there. The draft class of 2015 proved just how many options and pathways are available to Queensland players, from NAB…

“The family is already talking about buying two jerseys and sewing them together,” That’s Scott Wagner, a proud as punch father right now, after both his sons were drafted to the AFL last week. For most AFL fans, supporting more…

Seven Queenslanders were today selected in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft, bringing the total number of Queensland draftees in 2015 to 11, after four were selected in the NAB AFL Draft. On Tuesday night, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Corey Wagner…

Daniel Webster’s start in coaching may have come a few years sooner than he would have hoped, but since entering the system he hasn’t looked back. Webster, the 2015 AFL Queensland Assistant Talent Coach of the Year, wore a few…

For four Queenslanders, last night their dreams came true. Ben Keays, Eric Hipwood, Corey Wagner and Wylie Buzza all had their names read out by AFL clubs at the Adelaide Convention Centre on draft night, obtaining a spot on an…

Coaches from Rockhampton to the Gold Coast, from under 12’s through to the QAFL were present at the AFL Queensland Level 2 Coaching Course on the weekend. Fifty-six people took the opportunity to mix with other coaches from all levels…

Remember that kid growing up who seemed to be good at any sport they had a go at? Whether they had played it before or not, it was just natural, and they picked it up with ease? That’s Eric Hipwood.…

Rueben William, to the naked eye, is a line breaking, athletic, highly skilled player who can change the tempo of a game off his own boot, but his story runs so much deeper than that. Reuben was born in South…

It all started with a kid in a Brisbane Lions jumper with Jason Akermanis’ number on his back, kicking the footy around at Auskick in Melbourne. Fast-forward 14 years, and Ben Keays could be about to forge his own career…

A few mates with a few medals Way back 20 years ago, three mates laced up the boots to have a kick together in the under 6’s. 20 years later, they shared a senior premiership together at that same club.…

The man at the helm of Labrador’s 2015 QAFL Premiership, Steve Daniel, has been appointed as coach of the Gold Coast SUNS NEAFL team for 2016. Daniel, a man very familiar with the Queensland coaching pathway, has taken over from…

Sydney University midfielder Tom Young has capped off a fairytale return to his former club by taking out the NEAFL MVP Award by a single vote in a thrilling finish at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane on Sunday. Young, 23,…

15-year-old game changer Down 24-7 early in the game, Caloundra needed someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, and grab it quickly. It’s times like these that the senior players, the experienced heads, the leaders, find a…

The North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) has finalised its 23-player squad ahead of the representative clash against the Tasmanian State League (TSL) in Burpengary on Sunday. Coached by AFL Queensland Hall of Famer John Blair, the 2015 NEAFL squad…

Don’t tell Vic Metro, but last night we popped into Queensland training to have a look how the boys were tracking before Sunday’s big game. In their second last session before they head out to Burpengary, the ball was zipping…

When the ball is bounced at Tidbold Park on Saturday, there will be two fresh faces to the NEAFL ranks in green shirts. Andrew Adair and Peter Bock will take charge of the Redland vs. Ainslie game, with Adair on…

There has always been a strong connection between AFL and the armed forces, and since 1995 Collingwood and Essendon have battled it out on ANZAC Day to honour the men and women who have served our country. In Queensland the…

    This weekend’s Round 3 fixture will see two goal umpires make their NEAFL Debut. Kate Lushington will take up scoring duties at Graham Rd Oval for the Aspley vs. Ainslie clash, while Warren Derrick will head to Tidbold…

The North East Australian Football League has released its’ Official NEAFL App for the 2015 season. Fans are encouraged to search for “Official NEAFL” in App stores to download the Official NEAFL App, which offers significantly more than in previous…

Last week, the NEAFL mini draft was conducted. What is the mini draft? The NEAFL mini draft aligns every Queensland NEAFL primary listed player to a QAFL club through three mini drafts. Any player who didn’t have a previous alignment…

Aspley premiership coach and AFL Queensland Hall of Famer John Blair has been appointed coach of the 2015 NEAFL representative team. Blair, 59, is an icon of Queensland football, having played or coached in 14 Grand Finals since moving to…

By Sam Canavan