List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment

Barwon Heads 1922

This is a chronological list of Australian rules football clubs since their formation. Note that some of these football clubs that formed before 1866 (see Laws of Australian football) may not have originally played the game known today as Australian rules football. It is more than likely that most of these clubs were influenced by the Melbourne Rules of 1859 which were the dominant rules of the day. However many played by their own rules and often compromised rules when playing against other clubs.

Founding DateOriginal nameLocationStateCountryCurrent competitionNotes & References1858 St Kilda FC†St Kilda (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct The club was formed in April 1858 playing under its own rules (possibly rugby). First recorded game was on 28 May 1859 against Melbourne University. 1858 Church of England Grammar School FC Melbourne VictoriaAPS Schools Football 1858 Scotch College FC Melbourne VictoriaAPS Schools Football 1859 Melbourne University FCParkville (Melbourne)VictoriaVAFAFirst recorded game was on 28 May 1859 against the original St Kilda Football Club. Disbanded for some time after World War I, leaving the VFL, then reformed with multiple teams in the VAFA.1859 Castlemaine FC* CastlemaineVictoriaBendigo Football LeaguePossibly dormant for periods.1859 (9 June)Brighton FC†Brighton (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Considered unlikely to be connected to the Brighton Football Club (1885 1964)1859 (Prior to 25 June)Coast FC†Elsternwick (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1877)Date of formation unknown1859 Geelong FCGeelongVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueFormed under its own rules. Began to adopt Melbourne rules in early 1860s. One of the founding members of both the VFA and VFL.1859 (Prior to August)Prahran FC†Prahran (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Date of formation unknown Merged with St Kilda Football Club in 1888.1859 (Prior to August)Emerald Hill FC†Emerald Hill (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Date of formation unknown Not related to the Richmond Football Club that formed in 1885 and participates in the Australian Football League. Club dissolved in 1861. 1860 Old Adelaide FC† Adelaide South Australia Defunct (1881) Formed to play under its own rules. Staged games in the Adelaide North Parklands between sides selected from North and South of the River Torrens. Disbanded 1873 and reformed in 1875 after adopting the Victorian Rules. Founding member of SAFA in 1877. Merged with Kensington and disbanded after 5 games in SAFA 1881. Not to be confused with another SAFA Club called Adelaide which joined in 1885 or the present Adelaide Football Club in the AFL .1860 Williamstown FCWilliamstown (Melbourne) Victoria Unknown Very strong likeliness that this is the same as the current VFL club (Williamstown Football Club) though there is conflicting evidence. Was involved in the drafting of the 1860 rules.1860 Collingwood FCCollingwood (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (?) No connection to AFL club. Was involved in the drafting of the 1860 rules.1860 Ballarat FCBallarat VictoriaBallarat Football League Established as junior club. Senior club established in 18621860 Boroondara FC†Boroondara (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1860)Began with scratch matches, was involved in the 1860 rules committee however disappeared later that year. 1861 Warrnambool FCWarrnamboolVictoriaHampden FNLOn 28 May 1861, the Warrnambool Examiner published an advertisement of a "foot ball" game. 1861 Sandhurst FCBendigoVictoriaBendigo Football LeagueAlleged to have been founded by J. B. Thompson, one of the inventors of Australian rules football. 1862 Essendon and Flemington FCFlemington (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (?) No connection to AFL club1862 Royal Park FCBrunswick (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (?) 1862 Modbury FC and Teatree GullyAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football LeagueAccepted an invitation to play the Old Adelaide Football Club on 24 July 1862. Later split into two clubs being the current Modbury Football Club and Tea Tree Gully Football Club.1862 Williamstown FC†Williamstown (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct The first of two Williamstown clubs1862 Bendigo FC† BendigoVictoria Defunct Earliest record of matches are from 18621862 Kangaroo Flat FC† BendigoVictoria Defunct Earliest record of matches are from 1862. Joined the Bendigo Junior Football association in 1866. Current senior club formed in 1890.1864Campbells Creek FCCampbells CreekVictoriaMaryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League 1864Williamstown FC Williamstown (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian Football League May have been founded as early as 1860, though possible connection with earlier club remains unproven.1864 JulyCarlton FC Carlton (Melbourne) VictoriaAustralian Football League Founding member of the VFA and VFL.1864New Town FC†HobartTasmaniaDefunct Unlikely to have played under Victorian Rules1865 June 17Sydney FC†SydneyNew South WalesDefunct (1868?) First club in Sydney formed under its own rules (possibly Victorian), formally adopted the Victorian Rules in 1866 but survived only briefly.1865 Australian FC†SydneyNew South WalesDefunct (1868?) Likely to have played under its own rules however formally adopted Victorian rules in 1866 along with Sydney FC and played early matches against Sydney. Survived only briefly.1865 Brunswick FC†Brunswick (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (1991) 1865 August 12St Peter's College†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunctSt Peter's College Football Club founded in 1865. Played the Adelaide Educational Institute Football Club in 1865 under the Old Adelaide Football Club rules. An external St Peter's Old Collegians Football Club was established in 1928.1865 August 12Adelaide Educational Institute†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct (1880)Played the St Peter's Collegiate Football Club in 1865 under the Old Adelaide Football Club rules. Adelaide Educational Institute closed in 1880.1865PenolaPenolaSouth AustraliaKowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football LeagueClaims that the club was founded in 1865. Meeting held on 25 July 1868. Confirmed to have been challenged by the Mount Gambier Football Club in 1869.1866 KapundaKapundaSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFormed by Kapunda copper miners on 18 April 1866 in the North Kapunda Hotel.1866 May 12Hobart Town†HobartTasmaniaDefunctDid not play Victorian/Australian rules Its formation is frequently erroneously suggested as evidence of the game's early establishment in the colony.1866 May 22Brisbane†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct (1887c) Formed under Victorian rules. Club disbanded at the end of the 1887 season. Switched to soccer in 1870 then back to Australian rules and switched to rugby in 1879 and back to Australian rules again before disappearing around 1887 88. No connection to Brisbane Bears or Brisbane Lions1866 July Civil Service†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Newspapers mention plans for second Brisbane club in July 1866 scratch matches between Brisbane and Civil Service teams started later that month indicating that this club was formed as a splinter team to compete against Brisbane FC. However annual reports of Brisbane FC indicate that it was the only club in Queensland for many years. There are no records of its incorporation of the club that had emerged as a formal entity by 1870.1867 April Albert Park FC† Melbourne Victoria Defunct (1880) Renamed South Melbourne Football Club, Emerald hill then Albert park. Merged with South Melbourne (Sydney Swans) in 18801867 August 31Mount Gambier†Mount GambierSouth Australia Defunct (1897c)Club formed in 1867 and adopted the rules of Australian rules football The club dissolved around 1897.1867Newington College FCSilverwater (Western Sydney)New South Wales Independent School’s Competition Australian rules football was introduced in 1867 by its then headmaster and ex Geelong FC vice president George Metcalfe. It was the first school club in Sydney formed to play under Victorian Rules. It switched to rugby in 1869. The school reintroduced the sport in 2016.1867 Volunteer Artillery†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Appears to have begun as an 11 man soccer club before later (possibly late 1860s) switching between codes to facilitate matches against Brisbane Football Club which was the only available opposition. There are no records of its incorporation, however it is likely to have been early as it was one of Brisbane's main competitors.1868 May 23Woodville†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct (1877)Dissolved at the end of the 1877 SAFA season with a number of the club's players, including the captain, forming the Norwood Football Club. Not affiliated with the club of the same name that formed in 1938. Referred to as Port Suburban Football Club in its early years.1868 June 30Gawler†GawlerSouth Australia Defunct (1890)Amalgamated with Albion as Gawler Albion to join SAFA for 1887. Withdrew from SAFA 1891 season to form Gawler Football Association the precursor to the Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association.1868 Ipswich Grammar† IpswichQueensland Defunct Founded 1868 Switched to rugby in 1887. Participate in Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League for some time in the 2000s1868 Wharehousemen†MelbourneVictoria Defunct 1868 Kyneton KynetonVictoriaBendigo Football League 1869 MayTradesmen†Mount GambierSouth Australia Defunct1869 July 24CreswickCreswickVictoriaCentral Highlands Football LeagueFirst game against Kingston on 24 July 1869.1869North Melbourne FCNorth Melbourne (Melbourne) VictoriaAustralian Football League Founded as the "North Melbourne Football Club" in 1869. Amalgamated with "Albert Park" to form "Albert Park North Melbourne" in 1876. Reformed as the "Hotham Football Club" in 1877. Reverted to the name "North Melbourne Football Club" in 1888.1869 Northcote FC†Northcote (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (1987) 1870 May 11Young Australian†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct (1872)Founded at the Royal Oak Hotel in Adelaide on 11 May 1870.1870 May 12 Port Adelaide Adelaide South AustraliaAustralian Football League Fielding teams in the SANFL since foundation and in the AFL since 1997. Only pre existing non Victorian club to be competing in the Australian Football League.1870 Brisbane Grammar† BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Switched to rugby in 1885. New junior club established in 2005 to participate in Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League1870 May Ipswich†Ipswich Queensland Defunct Dormant in the 1890s, then reformed in 1906 lasted until the 1940s after which it either folded or became a soccer club1871 Railway Workshops†Ipswich Queensland Defunct 1871Kensington†AdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1881)Integral club to the codification of Australian rules in South Australia. Folded in 18811871Ararat* Ararat VictoriaWimmera Football League1871 RedanRedan VictoriaBallarat Football League 1872 Lilydale LilydaleVictoria 1st Div Eastern Football League Formerly Yarra Valley Football League, Mountain District Football League, Eastern Districts Football League 1872, 26 AprilKent Terrace†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct 1872 Essendon Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football League Founding member of the VFL.1872 Maryborough MaryboroughVictoriaBendigo Football League 1873MaldonMaldonVictoriaMaryborough Castlemaine District Football League1873 May 21Rockhampton†RockhamptonQueensland Defunct Formed at Leichart Hotel to play under Victorian Rules1873 Warwick†WarwickQueensland Defunct Club existed after 24 May 1873 and practiced, however had no opposition, appears to have gone dormant and reformed in 1875 there are no mention of matches against other clubs until the introduction of nearby Toowoomba in 1876.1873 April 2St Kilda Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football LeagueFounding member of the VFA and VFL.1873 Hawthorn†Melbourne VictoriaDefunct The continuity of clubs with this name is disputed. The existing Hawthorn Football Club is purported to have formed in 1901.1873Port DistrictAdelaideSouth AustraliaSAAFLFounded as the LeFevre Peninsula Football Club in 1873. Later renamed Semaphore Central in 1898. In 1979 absorbed the Exeter Football Club and renamed as the Port District Football Club.1874Victorian†AdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1885)Founding member of SAFA in 1877 and Joint Premiers. Renamed to the North Adelaide Football Club in 1883. Collected wooden spoons in final two seasons 1883 and 1884. Resigned from SAFA on eve of 1885 Season. It is not related to the present North Adelaide Football Club in SANFL. 1874 May 29 Willunga Willunga South AustraliaGreat Southern Football League 1877 foundation member of SAFA – which became SANFL. 1874 June 8Rochester Rochester VictoriaGoulburn Valley Football League Founded in 1874 so it could play against the Echuca Football Club1874 June 19 Cecil South Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football League Renamed South Melbourne four weeks after formation. Relocated to Sydney in 1982.1874 Sandridge Alma†South Melbourne VictoriaDefunct Formed from the Alma Cricket Club1874Port Melbourne Port Melbourne (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian Football League 1874 Penshurst Penshurst VictoriaMininera & District Football League 1874 Echuca EchucaVictoriaGoulburn Valley Football League 1875 May 22CastertonCastertonVictoriaWestern Border Football League 1875 JuneWangarattaWangarattaVictoria Ovens & Murray Football League 1875 July 16Launceston Launceston Tasmania Tasmanian Football League 1876 June 3AlburyAlburyNew South Wales Ovens & Murray Football League 1876 Toowoomba†ToowoombaQueensland Defunct 1876 April 12South Adelaide AdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian National Football League Formed by amalgamation after a 2nd breakaway group from the Old Adelaide Football Club who merged with a Club already called South Adelaide who had broken away in the previous year. First game of new club was on 20 May 1876.1876 Ballarat Imperial†Ballarat Victoria20 Defunct (1955) 1876Inglewood Inglewood VictoriaLoddon Valley Football League 1876Heidelberg Melbourne VictoriaNorthern Football League 1876Winchelsea Winchelsea VictoriaGeelong & District Football League 1876Portland FNCC Portland VictoriaHampden FNL 1877 April 7South Park†AdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1884)At the start of 1885 South Park disbanded, with a number of its better players transferring to South Adelaide.1877Corowa†CorowaNew South Wales Defunct (1979) 1877 Britannia†Collingwood Victoria Defunct (1892) Colours were blue, red and white. Played their first games in 1878. Played out of Victoria Park from 1882 and were a precursor to the Collingwood Football Club's formation in 1892.1877Camperdown Camperdown VictoriaHampden FNL 1877Sale Sale VictoriaGippsland Football League 1877 March 28Bankers†AdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1877)Weak fledgling club that was a founding member of the SAFA. Folded midway during the inaugural season 1877 after struggling with playing numbers.1877FootscrayMelbourneVictoriaAustralian Football LeagueThe club's name remains the Footscray Football Club Pty Ltd but now trades & is known as "Western Bulldogs". The letter FFC can still be located near the neck on the back of the jumpers identifying the clubs true name. In 1879 Prince Eugene Louis Napoleon, the 'Prince Imperial' and heir to the French throne, was ambushed and killed by Zulu warriors during the Anglo Zulu war in Africa. Out of respect to him, the Footscray Football Club changed their name to the prince Imperials Football Club. In 1882 it decided to revert to the name 'Footscray' and therefore 1883 can not have been its formation date. 1877BeechworthBeechworthVictoriaTallangatta & District Football League 1878 Clarendon FC†East Melbourne (Melbourne) Victoria Defunct (1882) Renamed East Melbourne1878 July 6WodongaWodongaVictoria Ovens & Murray Football League 1878Excelsior†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Formed at the start of the season. Played its first match in August 18781878Wallaroo†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct From 1880 interchanged between Australian rules and rugby 1878 Brunswick† Brisbane Queensland Defunct 1878 Feb 28 NorwoodAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian National Football League1878West Melbourne†MelbourneVictoria Defunct merged with North Melbourne Football Club1878New Norfolk DistrictNew NorfolkTasmaniaSouthern Football League (Tasmania)1878Toowoomba Grammar†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Switched to rugby in 18871879 March 27 Reform†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct First known club to be established outside Australia1879 May 14 Athenian†IpswichQueensland Defunct (~1892) Began as an Australian rules club in May 1879 however switched to rugby in 1889 starting with its juniors before fielding a full senior side in 1890 and breaking away from the QFA to the local rugby competition. It switched briefly back to Australian rules in 1892 hoping that an Ipswich competition would recommence however when this didn't eventuate it switched back to continuing on until the 1920s after which it switched into a rugby league in the West Moreton Rugby League until the 1940s after which it may have folded or renamed.1879 July 12AngastonAngastonSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football Association 1878 St Killian† Brisbane Queensland Defunct 1879 SunburySunbury VictoriaBallarat Football League 1879 MeltonMelton, Victoria VictoriaBallarat Football League 1879CobdenCobdenVictoriaHampden FNL 1879AldingaAldingaSouth AustraliaSouthern Football LeagueOne of four teams that founded what is now known as the Southern Football League in 1879.1879 Gisborne GisborneVictoriaBendigo Football League 1880 March 25Royal Park†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct1880 BeaufortBeaufort VictoriaCentral Highlands Football League 1880 Eaglehawk EaglehawkVictoriaBendigo Football League1880MacclesfieldAdelaideSouth AustraliaHills Football League1880 August 7Sydney†SydneyNew South WalesDefunct (1926) Formed in 1880 as the first Australian Rules club in Sydney, participating in the NSWAFA in 1881. 1880 August 7East Sydney†SydneyNew South WalesDefunct (1954) In 1926, it merged with Paddington AFC to become the Eastern Suburbs AFC. This club again merged with the University club to become the Uni NSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs AFC in 1999.1881 April 30†BlackwoodBlackwoodVictoria Defunct 1881 MurchisonMurchisonVictoriaKyabram District Football League 1881North HobartHobartTasmaniaTasmanian Football League1881 North Adelaide Adelaide South AustraliaSouth Australian National Football League Originally known as the Medindie Football Club which joined the Adelaide and Suburban Association in 1886 and then SAFA in 1888. Renamed North Adelaide in 1893.1881Balmain†Balmain (Sydney)New South WalesDefunct (?) 1881Woollahra†Woollahra (Sydney)New South WalesDefunct (?) 1882 April Rovers†PerthWestern Australia Defunct (1899) Started as a rugby club but switched to Australian rules in 1885. Inaugural premiers of the WA competition in 1885 and again in 1891. Disbanded in 1899.1882 AprilFremantle*†FremantleWestern Australia Defunct (1886) No relation to the present day club by the same name. Formed as a rugby club but switched to Australian rules in 1885. Disbanded at the end of 1886.1882Unions*†FremantleWestern Australia Defunct Formed as a rugby club in 1882, Unions switched to Australian rules in 1885. Its remnants were eventually folded into South Fremantle.1882 BallaratNorth Ballarat VictoriaBallarat Football League 1882 MaffraMaffra VictoriaGippsland Football League 1882 PrestonPreston (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian Football League 1882 Maryborough†MaryboroughQueensland Defunct 1882 Emu†MaryboroughQueensland Defunct 1882 Rover†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Started as Australian rules but switched to rugby and soccer1883 September 26FitzroyMelbourneVictoriaVAFA Playing operations merged with the Brisbane Bears in 1996, but the club continues to trade as standalone entity,1873 Union†Brisbane Queensland Defunct 1885 March 5 Old Adelaide FC† North Adelaide South Australia Defunct (1894) Formed from merger of North Adelaide Juniors and North Park. SAFA Premiers 1886. Not to be confused with the present Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.1885 June 9Brighton FC†Brighton (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1964)1885North Rockhampton†RockhamptonQueensland Defunct 1885Day DreamSilvertonNew South Wales1885SilvertonSilvertonNew South Wales1885Brighton†AdelaideSouth AustraliaDefunct (1938)In 1938 Brighton amalgamated with the Seacliff Football Club to form the Brighton and Seacliff Football Club (BSFC). At the end of the 1990 season the BSFC merged with Brighton High Old Scholars to form the Brighton Bombers. 1885 Richmond Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football League Joined the VFL in 1908.1885Victorians† Perth Western AustraliaDefunct (1890) In 1889, the club merged with the West Australian Football Club and became Metropolitans. Metropolitans folded at the end of 1890. 1885Rosewater Adelaide South AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football League 1886Charters Towers†Charters TowersQueensland Defunct 1886 Koroit Koroit VictoriaHampden FNL 1887 Kermandie† Geeveston TasmaniaDefunct (2010) 1887 Sydney University ANFCSydney New South WalesNEAFL SUANFC claims to be a spin off of Australia's oldest rugby union club, Sydney University Football Club founded in 1865, which experimented with Australian rules in its early years. If the claim is accepted, this would make SUANFC the oldest Australian rules football club in NSW. However it did not play an Australian rules fixture until 1887. 1887 Frankston Frankston VictoriaVictorian Football League 1888MitchamMitchamVictoriaAustraliaEastern Football Netball League 1888 Healesville Healesville VictoriaYarra Valley Mountain District Football League 1889 March 19Gawler CentralsGawlerSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 19531889 March 21South GawlerGawler SouthSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 19531889WillastonGawlerSouth AustraliaBarossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 19531889 Victoria†MaryboroughQueensland Defunct 1889YankalillaYankalillaSouth AustraliaGreat Southern Football Association 1889 Cranbourne Cranbourne VictoriaCasey Cardinia Football League 1891MarionAdelaideSouth AustraliaSAAFL1890 Kangaroo Flat Kangaroo FlatVictoriaBendigo Football League 1891 Coburg Coburg (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian Football League 1891Centrals†PerthWestern AustraliaDefunct1891West PerthPerthWestern AustraliaWest Australian Football LeagueThe oldest surviving football club in Western Australia, West Perth moved to the northern suburb of Joondalup in 1993 and has come under pressure to change its name to recognise its new location. 1891 Cheltenham Cheltenham VictoriaSouthern Football Netball League 1892 February 12 Collingwood Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football League A meeting was held at the Collingwood town hall on Friday 12 February 1892 to announce the foundation of the Collingwood Football Club.1892BunburyBunburyWestern AustraliaSouth West Football LeagueKnown as "Bunbury Railways Football Club" from 1906 until 1956.1892Imperials†PerthWestern AustraliaDefunct1892Corryong FNC* Corryong VictoriaUpper Murray Football Netball League 1892Cudgewa FNC* Cudgewa VictoriaUpper Murray Football Netball League 1892Federal FNC* Corryong VictoriaUpper Murray Football Netball League Founded as the "Mount Elliot Football Club" in 1892 before being renamed to "Federal Football Club" in 1901.1893 South Bendigo South BendigoVictoriaBendigo Football League1893 SebastopolSebastopol VictoriaBallarat Football League 1896AlburyAlburyNew South WalesOvens and Murray League1896Wanderers†JohannesburgSouth Africa Defunct (1909) Date of formation unknown1897South BunburyBunburyWestern AustraliaSWFLSouth West Football League1897MidlandMildandWestern AustraliaMetro Football League 1898 East Fremantle* Fremantle Western AustraliaWest Australian Football League 1898 Kelmscott* Kelmscott Western AustraliaSouth Suburban Murry Football League 1899North Broken HillBroken HillNew South WalesBroken Hill Football League 1900 April 20 South Fremantle Fremantle Western AustraliaWest Australian Football League 1900Durban†DurbanSouth Africa Defunct (1909) Date of formation unknown1900South Broken HillBroken HillNew South WalesBroken Hill Football League 1901SturtAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian National Football LeagueFormed by the Sturt Cricket Club1901KangarillaAdelaideSouth AustraliaHills Football League 1901 Walkerville Adelaide South AustraliaSouth Australian Amateur Football League 1901 Hawthorn Melbourne VictoriaAustralian Football League 1901 Spring Vale Springvale (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian football league 1902 Kalkee Kalkee VictoriaHorsham & District Football League 1903EchungaAdelaideSouth AustraliaHills Football League1903BalaklavaBalaklavaSouth AustraliaAdelaide Plains Football League 1903 North Shore Sydney New South WalesSydney Australian Football League 1903 Lefroy†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct Renamed City 1903 Federal†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Petone†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Newtown†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Wanderers†WellingtonNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Auckland Imperial†AucklandNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Austral†AucklandNew Zealand Defunct 1904 Victoria†AucklandNew Zealand Defunct Changed name to Eden in 19061904Commonwealth†JohannesburgSouth Africa Defunct (1909) Date of formation unknown. First appeared in 1904. Could have been related to the Wanderers club which appears to have disappeared in the 1890s.1904Quambatook Football ClubQuambatook Victoria Defunct (2022) Club was believed to be over 120 years old.1905Wynnum†BrisbaneQueenslandDefunctMerged with Gordon in 1910. Disappeared in the 1920s. Unrelated to the present day Wynnum Football Club that plays in the QAFL.1905Locomotives†BrisbaneQueenslandDefunct1905Valley†Fortitude Valley, BrisbaneQueenslandDefunct Merged with Brisbanes in 19281906 March 26Adelaide UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaSAAFL1906KoonibbaKoonibbaSouth AustraliaThe oldest surviving Aboriginal football club in Australia.1906Langhorne CreekLanghorne CreekSouth AustraliaGreat Southern Football League 1906 Oxford University Oxford United Kingdom AFL England (National University League) Oldest existing club in both Europe and outside of Australia. First recorded match was in 19111907Hamley BridgeHamley BridgeSouth AustraliaAdelaide Plains Football League 1908 Newtown†AucklandNew Zealand Defunct 1908LoxtonLoxtonSouth AustraliaRiverland Football League 1908 Clayton Melbourne VictoriaSouthern Football League Have been known as the Magpies, currently known as The Clays. 1909 Mt Roskill†AucklandNew Zealand Defunct 1909Columbia Park†San FranciscoUnited States Defunct (1919c)Founded as juniors club1909BerriBerriSouth AustraliaRiverland Football League 1908 Kingscote Football Club Kangaroo Island South Australia Kangaroo Island Football League 1910 South Brisbane† Brisbane Queensland Defunct Merged with Yeronga date unknown1910Seisoka†TokyoJapan Defunct 1911 Carrum†Carrum Victoria Defunct (1996) Went into recess in 1996. Reformed in 2013 as the Carrum Patterson Lakes Football Club (See entry below)1912South Melbourne DistrictsMelbourneVictoriaVictorian Amateur Football League 1913 Heatherton Heatherton VictoriaSouthern Football League Originally named the Heatherton Freighters they are now known as the Tunners 1916 Darwin Darwin, Northern Territory Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Football League 1916 Wanderers Darwin, Northern Territory Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Football League 1916 Waratah Darwin, Northern Territory Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Football League 1918 Murrumbeena Melbourne VictoriaSouthern Football League The club began as an Under 18 team in 1918, playing in the Caulfield Oakleigh Dandenong Junior Football League. 1919EdwardstownAdelaideSouth AustraliaSAAFL1920BencubbinBencubbinWestern AustraliaCentral Wheatbelt Football League1920Taringa†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Changed name to Western Districts Australian Football Club in 1946, merged with Sherwood Districts in 19911920GlenelgAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouth Australian National Football League1921Encounter BayEncounter BaySouth AustraliaGreat Southern Football League 1921 Cambridge University Cambridge United Kingdom AFL England (National University League) *Possibly formed in 1911 for first recorded match, though did not play regularly until 19211923ZillmereBrisbaneQueensland Queensland Australian Football League Merged with Windsor in 19621925Windsor†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Merged with Zillmere in 1962 1924 Boe Boe District Nauru Nauru Australian Football Association 1924 Denigomodu† Denigomodu District Nauru Defunct 1924 Acton Canberra Australian Capital Territory Defunct (1973) 1924 Queenbeyan Queanbeyan New South Wales AFL Canberra 1924 Mayne Everton Hills QueenslandAFLQ State Association (division 2) formed as a junior club and became senior club in 19251926 Colonel Light Gardens Mortlock Park Colonel Light Gardens South Australia SAAFL 1926 Eastlake Canberra Australian Capital Territory NEAFL Renamed Canberra in 20161927 Ainslie Canberra Australian Capital Territory AFL Canberra Renamed Canberra in 2016 1928 Yeronga Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State Association 1929Sandringham Sandringham (Melbourne) VictoriaVictorian Football League 1931ImperialMurray BridgeSouth AustraliaRiver Murray Football League1932 Golden Square Golden SquareVictoriaBendigo Football League1935 April Coorparoo Brisbane Queensland QANFL, QAFL Seniors folded in 1995 but the Junior club still operate out of Giffin Park. 1928 Kedron Kedron, Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State Association 1943SandgateBrisbaneQueensland Queensland Australian Football League Merged with Zillmere in 1991 then de merged 1945 Wilston Brisbane QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League Originally known as Wilston, renamed Wilston Grange in 1947 1947 Morningside Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State League 1955Port Moresby ARFCPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (?) Foundation club of the POM AFL1955Boroko BadiliPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (1970) Foundation club of the POM AFL 1956 University of Queensland Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State Association 1956Sherwood†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Formed as junior club. Merged with Sherwood Districts in 19911959Central DistrictElizabethSouth AustraliaSouth Australian National Football LeagueNew Club which played in SANFL reserves 1959 1963 before competing in the League from 1964 1961 Southport Southport QueenslandAFLQ State League 1961 Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League 1961 Central Australian Palm Beach QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League Name changed to Palm Beach Currumbin in 19651963Christies BeachAdelaideSouth AustraliaSouthern Football League 1964 Labrador Palm Beach QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League 1964Mount Gravatt Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State League 1964Aspley Brisbane QueenslandAFLQ State League 1965Koboni DemonsPort MoresbyPapua New GuineaPort Moresby Rules Football League One of the oldest surviving clubs in Papua New Guinea 1966Victoria Point†BrisbaneQueensland Defunct Changed name to Redlands in 1972 1969 Maroochydore Maroochydore QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League 1969Aviat†Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (1971)1969Defence Port MoresbyPapua New GuineaPort Moresby Rules Football League Formed as Murray Barrack Football Club 1970 Noosa Noosa QueenslandQueensland Australian Football League 1970Goroka GorokaPapua New GuineaGoroka Football League 1970PIR Regiment†Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct 1970 October 4 Coolaroo Toowoomba QueenslandAFL Darling Downs 1971 Turner Canberra Australian Capital Territory AFL Canberra Merged with West Canberra Football Club in 1986 to become Belconnen1971Broadbeach Broadbeach QueenslandAFLQ State League 1971 Dysart* DysartQueensland Central Queensland Highlands AFL Defunct League Club still continues but has no league to play in. 1972 Springwood Springwood (Logan City) QueenslandQFA Division 1 1972 West Bundaberg Bundaberg QueenslandAFL Wide Bay Now known as Brothers Bulldogs Bundaberg (1996 ) 1973 Caloundra Caloundra QueenslandQueensland Football Association 1973Eastern Suburbs BulldogsWellingtonNew ZealandWellington AFLOldest surviving club in New Zealand
1974 West Canberra Football Club Canberra Australian Capital Territory AFL Canberra Merged with West Canberra Football Club in 1986 to become Belconnen1974North Shore TigersAucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFL1974Halagu† Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct 1975University Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football League 1975West New Britain KimbePapua New GuineaKimbe Football League 1977 Hervey Bay Hervey Bay QueenslandAFL Wide Bay Started as Seahawks – now Bombers (1985 )1977 Maryborough Maryborough QueenslandAFL Wide Bay Started as Tigers – now Bears(1995 ) 1978Boroko† Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct Merger of the Bomana and Elcom clubs1979West Port MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football League 1981University BluesAucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFL1981 Takapuna†Takapuna, AucklandNew Zealand Defunct Former Auckland AFL club 1981 Brothers Rockhampton Rockhampton QueenslandAFL Capricornia 1983, NovemberNarooma LionsNaroomaNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1983Pambula PanthersTathraNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1983Pambula PanthersPambulaNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1983Merimbula DiggersMerimbulaNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1983Eden WhalersEdenNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1986 Brisbane Bears† Brisbane QueenslandDefunct (1996) Participated in the VFL/AFL from 1987 until 1996, then merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions.1986West Coast Eagles Perth Western AustraliaAustralian Football League Participant in the VFL/AFL since the 1987 VFL season.1989Hong Kong DragonsHong KongChinaSouth China AFL1990 February 14Wandsworth DemonsLondonEnglandAFL London 1990 September 12 Adelaide Crows Adelaide South AustraliaAustralian Football League Participant in the Australian Football League since the 1991 AFL season.1990Bermagui BreakersBermaguiNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League 1991 NovemberTokyo GoannasTokyoJapanJapan AFL Top League1991Manurewa RaidersManurewa, AucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFLLater renamed South City Raiders1991Mt Roskill SaintsMt Roskill, AucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFL1993 April 24 Singapore WombatsSingaporeSingaporeAFL Asian Championships1994Munich KangaroosMunichGermanyAustralian Football League GermanyThe oldest team in the Australian Football League Germany1995Wellington City SaintsWellingtonNew ZealandWellington AFL 1995 Fremantle Fremantle Western AustraliaAustralian Football League Participant in the Australian Football League since the 1995 AFL season.1995 Frankfurt RedbacksFrankfurtGermany Australian Football League Germany 1996 Brisbane Lions Brisbane QueenslandAustralian Football League Merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. Participating in the Australian Football League since the 1997 AFL season.1996Cincinnati Dockers Cincinnati United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1996Louisville Kings Louisville United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1996Peel Thunder Mandurah Western AustraliaWest Australian Football League Participant in the West Australian Football League since the 1997 WAFL season. 1997 Across The Waves Bundaberg Eagles Bundaberg QueenslandAFL Wide Bay Merger of Norths and Souths1997Boston Demons Boston United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1997Nashville Kangaroos Nashville United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1997North Carolina Tigers Raleigh United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1997St. Louis Blues St. Louis United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1997Denver BulldogsDenverUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League1997San Diego Lions San Diego United StatesUnited States Australian Football League 1998Atlanta Kookaburras AtlantaUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League1998Chicago SwansChicagoUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League1998Paris CockerelsParisFranceChampionnat de France de Football Australien1999Waitakere MagpiesWaitākere, AucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFL2001 JanuaryVancouver CougarsVancouverCanadaBritish Columbia Australian Football League 2001 Belfast Redbacks Belfast Northern IrelandAustralian Rules Football League of Ireland 2002Austin CrowsAustinUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League 2004 Bay Power Hervey Bay QueenslandAFL Wide Bay Replacement Club for Fraser Coast2007Young Saints FC†YoungNew South WalesDefunct (2018) 2006Pyramid Power†GordonvaleQueensland Defunct (2020) 2009Gold Coast SunsGold CoastQueenslandAustralian Football League Participant in the Australian Football League since the 2011 AFL season.2009Greater Western Sydney GiantsSydneyNew South WalesAustralian Football LeagueParticipant in the Australian Football League since the 2012 AFL season.2010Los Angeles DragonsLos AngelesUnited StatesUnited States Australian Football League2012Howick HornetsHowick, AucklandNew ZealandAuckland AFL 2013 Carrum Patterson Lakes Carrum VictoriaSouthern Football League Takes on the history of the Carrum Football Club Est. 1911. Now named 'Carrum Patterson Lakes' to incorporate the suburb of Patterson Lakes which was developed adjacent to Carrum in the 1970s 2013Bega BombersBegaNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League

* = defunct, disputed, poorly documented or dormant for a period.