Wikipedia

Australian rules football in New South Wales

Australian rules football has been played in New South Wales since the colonial era in 1866, with organised competitions being continuous since the 1880s. Today, it is popular in several regions of the state, including areas near the Victorian and South Australian borders—in the Riverina, Broken Hill, and South Coast. These areas form part of an Australian cultural divide described as the Barassi Line. To the east of the line, it is known as "AFL", named after the elite Australian Football League competition. AFL NSW/ACT is the main development body, and includes the Australian Capital Territory.

Australian rules football in New South Wales
Two ruckmen contest the bounce in a suburban western Sydney AFL game between the East Coast Eagles AFC and Campbelltown Kangaroos AFC.
Governing bodyAFL NSW/ACT
Representative teamNSW/ACT
First playedSydney 17 June 1865; 158 years ago (17 June 1865)[1]
Registered players71,481 (2023)[2]
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match72,393 (2003). Sydney Swans Football Club v. Collingwood Football Club. (Telstra Stadium, Sydney)

Two teams currently compete in the professional Australian Football League (AFL): the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. The Swans in 1982 became the first professional Australian sporting team to move interstate. The Giants debuted in the 2012 AFL season and compete against the Swans in the Sydney Derby (also known as "The Battle of the Bridge").

The representative team, nicknamed the Blues, played Interstate matches against other Australian states and Territories between 1881 and 1988. Its long standing rivalry with Queensland saw them evenly matched since their first meeting in 1880. The Blues defeated Victoria in 1923, and in 1990 under State of Origin rules at the Sydney Cricket Ground. WR 'Billy' McKoy holds the record for the number of representative caps for New South Wales with 31.[3] Sydney hosted the national carnivals of 1914, 1933, 1960 and 1974. The underage Blues also claimed national AFL Under-19 Championships in 1974 and 1975 as well as a Division 2 title in 1993. The 1993 merger by the AFL into a composite NSW/ACT team ended over a century of representative competition.

Two leading pioneers of the sport, cousins Tom Wills and H. C. A. Harrison, were born in New South Wales. Hundreds of New South Welshmen have competed in the AFL, with notable players being Haydn Bunton Sr. and Jock McHale, now Legends in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Current player Tom Hawkins holds the AFL record for playing the most games and scoring the most goals for a born and raised male with 332 games and 741 goals. Sophie Casey and Zarlie Goldsworthy hold the record for the most games (63) and most goals (16) respectively for a born and raised female.

History edit

First clubs and matches (1865–1867) edit

On 26 May 1865, calls were put out to form a Sydney Football Club. The club was incorporated on 17 June 1865 with Richard Driver as its first president and up to 60 members, of whom were mostly cricketers.[1] It played its first match shortly thereafter in Hyde Park, Sydney, and in August against Sydney University.[4] Two other clubs, the Australian Club and a Sydney University team, played football matches against the Sydney club in 1865.[5] Though it is not known under what code, de Moore (2021) notes that accounts point to strong similarities with the Victorian code but with a strong influence of rugby.[6] Early matches were low scoring, cancelled mid game, and were subjected to frequent disputes over the rules. The Sydney University club is often noted as "The Birthplace of Australian Rugby" in 1863; however, historical records show its incorporation in 1865 and that it did not begin playing regularly under rugby rules until 1869.

At its first annual meeting on 8th May 1866,[7] the Sydney Football Club announced that it had formally adopted the Victorian football rules and encouraged Victorian clubs to travel north for intercolonial matches.[8] On 26 May 1866, the rules were published in Bells Life in Sydney.[8] The Australian Club formally adopted the code shortly after.[6]

During the 1860s, Sydney being a much smaller city than Melbourne had far fewer clubs than Melbourne's 12.[9] Like Brisbane, it struggled to recruit enough football players for organised football matches. Without intercolonial competition and with few playing, newcomer clubs soon disbanded.[10] Newcastle revised the Rules of Football (the Victorian Rules), and was published in the press in that city.[8]

One of the first Sydney schools to adopt the code was Newington College in 1867.[11] With a growing rivalry between the New South Wales and Victorian colony, local journalists panned the code in 1868, protesting that the "old English game of football" would be preferable to Sydneysiders than any game imported from the rival colony.[12] As a result by 1869, Newington College had switched codes, and in doing so became the first Australian school to play rugby.[11]

Despite the formation of football clubs adopting English rules, rugby footballers could manage just four matches prior to the 1870s.

Revival and rugby takeover (1868–1876) edit

In 1868, a new Sydney Football Club was founded with Victorian rules to play over rugby, citing the popularity of the code in Melbourne as a reason for choosing those rules. Details of matches played under the Victorian rules were scant; however, a match was held against the 60th Queen's Own Regiment on 11 July 1868.[13] The new Sydney club would soon suffer the same fate as its predecessor and organised football team disappeared completely.

In the 1870s, rugby was integrated into schools, later producing organised competitions between clubs. Soon after, rugby spread throughout the colony. The cause of the code's disappearance in New South Wales was that the newly formed New South Wales Rugby Union in 1874 banned member clubs from playing matches under Victorian rules.

Intercolonial competition, NSWFA in Sydney, Newcastle and Broken Hill (1877–1893) edit

Some players, I am aware, can't swallow the idea of adopting the Victorian Game, simply because it is supposed to hail from the sister colony.

Reporter, The Sydney Mail[14]

In June 1877, Sydney's Waratah Rugby Football Club (now defunct) accepted a challenge from Victoria's Carlton Football Club to reciprocal matches in their respective codes. The first match, hosted by Waratah, was played at the Albert Ground under rugby rules in front of 3,000 spectators—then the largest ever football crowd in Sydney—was won by Waratah 2–0. Defunct newspaper publication The Argus noted that the Victorians were not lacking in skills, just their knowledge of the game.[15] The second match was played in front of a smaller crowd of about 1,500 at the Albert Ground with the result being Carlton 6–0. Among the best players were George Coulthard, who showed a particular prowess in both codes despite having never played rugby. When Waratah toured Victoria in July 1878, a crowd of 8,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed Carlton and Waratah draw scores in rugby, while a smaller crowd of 6,000 witnessed a surprise victory against Carlton by 2 goals in Victorian rules.[16]

 
Waratah Football Club (pictured in 1890); the club was pivotal in the revival of Australian rules in Sydney from the 1870s.

By 1880, Waratah and other Sydney clubs began initiating changes to rugby rules.[17] Rugby interests, however, repeatedly rejected suggestions to switch codes or even play intercolonial matches under alternating rules against Victoria.[citation needed] In response, the proponents of the Australian game formed the New South Wales Football Association (NSWFA) in 1880. In 1881, the first Australian rules game between NSW and Victoria was played in Sydney.[18] The NSWFA only had a few clubs, including Waratah which switched codes in 1882. Until 1889, competition wasn't present when clubs competed for the Flanagan Cup. Despite this, the Sydney Rugby Football Union, seeing the new competition as a threat, enforced a strict ban on every one of its member clubs playing Victorian rules.[19]

Australian Football was introduced to the Riverina region of New South Wales in Wagga Wagga in 1881, with a match between sides from the Wagga Wagga Football Club and Albury Football Club.[20] Subsequently, a local competition formed in 1884 around Wagga Wagga.

South Melbourne was the second club to visit New South Wales in 1883, defeating Sydney by just a single goal in front of a large crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground,[21] and in a goal in front of 600 spectators during a game against East Sydney Football Club.[22] Waratah played against South Australia in 1884 at Moore Park.[23]

In 1883, a touring South Melbourne Football Club defeated a combined Northern District team by only one goal. In 1888, a touring defeated Wallsend by 10–5. The following year, Wallsend defeated Fitzroy. Isaac Heeney was drafted by the Sydney Swans in 2014, making him the first Newcastle-born footballer to play in the AFL.

The game was introduced to Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1883 when the Wallsend and Plattsburg Football Club was formed by miners from Ballarat.[24] By 1888, the Black Diamond Cup, Australia's oldest existing and active sporting trophy, was first awarded to the champion team in the region.[24][25][26] In 1889, a donation of five guineas[clarification needed] each from Northern Districts Football Association (Australian Rules) patron[27] Mr. Stewart Keightley and the proprietors of the Newcastle Morning Herald led to the procurement of the Junior Challenge Cup.[28] This Cup was supplied by A. J. Potter (Alfred John Potter), watchmaker, and jeweller of Hunter Street Newcastle.[29] Five clubs were established in the Newcastle area: Newcastle City, Wallsend and Plattsburg, Northumberland, Lambton, and Singleton.

 
Northumberland Football Club Newcastle premiered in 1887 and was founded in 1881. It was the first club to adopt the code in the Northern District.
 
Wallsend Football Club Newcastle in 1889

New South Wales competed against Queensland in 1884, initially losing to its northern neighbour before gaining primacy in their 1886 matches. It also competed against a touring New Zealand Native football team on 29 June 1889, with the result being a 4–4 draw.[30]

Australian football was first played in Broken Hill in 1885 between Day Dream and Silverton. Informal competition began in 1888 between four clubs. The Barrier Ranges Football Association formed in 1890, which later became the Broken Hill Football League.

The Northern District Football Association around Newcastle began in 1886, with teams from 1888 competing for the Black Diamond Cup, though participation by local clubs continued to be sporadic from 1881.[31]

The NSWFA had trouble gaining access to enclosed grounds and gate receipts. With its two clubs divided, it collapsed in 1893.[32]

Post-Federation, NSW Football League era (1903–1917) edit

With the Federation of Australia, the Australian code was revived. The NSW Football League, later the NSW Australian Football League (NSWAFL), was formed on 12 February 1903 at a meeting held in the YMCA Hall in George St. The NSWAFL promoted the game in schools and lobbied for VFL exhibition matches in Sydney to promote the code.

 
A match between VFL clubs Fitzroy and Collingwood at the SCG in 1903 attracted more than 20,000 spectators. The league would not see crowds like this in Sydney for another 50 years.

The first Victorian Football League match played in Sydney was with Fitzroy Football Club 7–10, defeating the Collingwood Football Club 6–9 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 24 May 1903.[33] The large attendance of 20,000 saw the exhibition hailed as a success and inspired the league to continue scheduling more matches in Sydney. However, follow-up matches quickly began to attract cynicism from the Sydney football public, as a VFL push when Geelong Football Club 8.7 (55) defeated Carlton Football Club 6.9 (45) at the SCG a few months later. The matches were seen by the Sydney media as an attempt to force-feed the Victorian game to Sydneysiders who had plenty of rugby to attract their ongoing interest. The crowd of 5,000 was much smaller than those of rugby games in the city.[34] In 1904, Melbourne Football Club 9–17 (71) defeated Essendon Football Club 6–3 (39) in front of 6,000 people.[35] Without any interest, top-level VFL disappeared from Sydney for decades.

 
Broken Hill representative team that toured Adelaide in 1904

In contrast to the reception of the game at professional level, the grassroots level was having enormous success, growing the game in the schools with 48 in Sydney, including all the Roman Catholic schools playing Australian Football, by 1905.[36]

 
Newcastle club Rovers Northern Districts Football Association Premiers 1905

In 1907, New South Wales defeated South Australian powerhouse Port Adelaide Football Club 8–9 to 5–14 in front of 4,000 spectators at Sydney Showground.[37] Another South Australian club, Norwood Football Club, toured with Victorian club Carlton, playing a match in front of 7,000 at the Showgrounds.[38] North Adelaide Football Club also toured in 1910 to play against New South Wales at Erskineville Oval, which attracted 2,000 spectators.[39] In 1911, Geelong toured and played a combined Sydney side at Alexandria in front of 6,000 spectators.[40] Dally Messenger contributed to the paid football code of rugby league; as a result, rugby established itself into the culture of Sydney in 1908.

 
The NSWFL invested heavily in grounds that it was ultimately not able to use. The new NSWFL grandstand at Alexandria in 1912, it was available for just a few years before the NSWFL was shut out.

Although Australian football remained popular, the NSWAFL was still denied access to enclosed grounds, and the new professional code of rugby league further lured players from Australian rules. By 1911, however, Australian rules were supported more than the rugby union, according to The Referee.[41]

 
Combined Sydney played Geelong FC in front of 6,000 in 1912 at Alexandria.

Interwar popularity surge, interstate success, and proposed Rugby League amalgamation (1918–1939) edit

Popularity peaked in 1921 when attendances at the Sydney competition grew from hundreds to thousands.[42] While increased gate takings were funding an increase in playing standard and junior development, the local league had exclusive access only to Erskineville Oval and Hampden Oval, relatively small grounds, and had difficulty scheduling matches used by the rugby authorities.[42]

 
New South Wales' had their first ever defeat against Victoria by 15 points at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1923.

During the 1920s, funded by a NSWAFL in Sydney and a thriving schoolboys competition, NSW defeated Victorian sides on several occasions at home, notably Melbourne Football Club on 28 July 1923,[43] the VFL at the SCG in 1923, and again at Erskineville Oval by one point on 15 August 1925.[44]

 
East vs. Newtown Trumper Park Oval, 1931

The Australian National Football carnival of 1933 was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Several matches drew large crowds, particularly those involving New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and West Australia.

 
A New South Wales player marks over a West Australian opponent in the goal square at the 1933 Sydney Carnival held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, photographed by Sam Hood.

Following the successful interstate football carnival in 1933, a proposal by the New South Wales Rugby League to amalgamate Australian football and rugby league was investigated. A report, with a set of proposed rules known as Universal football, was prepared by the secretary of the NSWRL, Harold R. Miller, and sent to the Australian National Football Council. A trial game was held in secret, but plans were never instituted.

 
Newcastle vs. Sydney North Shore at the Newcastle Showground in 1935

Three of the original NSWAFL clubs are still in existence and currently play in the Sydney AFL: North Shore, East Sydney (now UNSW-ES), and Balmain, but the league remained almost entirely amateur[clarification needed] with limited audience following and sponsorship.

Post-war decline and growth along the south and north coasts (1940s-1970s) edit

 
Richmond vs. Collingwood at Sydney Cricket Ground, 1952

World War II proved a massive setback for the code in Sydney; the government insisted that the league cease operations. Struggling Sydney clubs were propped up by visiting servicemen from traditional Australian rules states. Despite this, between 1953 and 1957, the game survived in parts of Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong. Several junior clubs and leagues were established.[45] The St. George and Sutherland Shire Junior Australian Football Association was established in southern Sydney and consisted of Penshurst Junior Australian Football Club (JAFC) Panthers, Miranda JAFC Bombers, St. Patrick's Ramsgate (later Ramsgate JAFC Rams), Heathcote JAFC Hawks, Cronulla JAFC Sharks, Peakhurst, Como-Jannali, Boys' Town, Cronulla Blues, and St. Patrick's Sutherland.

Top level VFL returned to the SCG on 14 June 1952 when Collingwood 10–12 (72) defeated Richmond 5–6 (36) in front of 24,174 spectators. However, the league would not return for another few decades.

The game was first played on the South Coast at a senior level in 1969.[46] There are eight teams that compete in the AFLSC senior's competition and 11 teams in the reserves. In terms of junior numbers, there has been a significant expansion since 1999.[47] AFL players originating from the South Coast include Arthur Chilcott, Aidan Riley, and Ed Barlow.[48]

The game was first played in the Coffs Harbour area as late as 1978. The North Coast Australian Football League was formed in 1982 and grew rapidly with up to eight clubs by 2000. In recent years, the number of clubs has declined due to Woolgoolga, Nambucca, Kempsey, and Urunga folding. North and South Coffs were forced to merge before the start of the 2015 season due to lack of player numbers.

Establishment of a Sydney VFL team and relocation of the Swans (1977-1981) edit

In 1977, Ron Barassi proposed the VFL setting up a club in Sydney, which he offered to coach believing that it would help spread the code in the state.[49] The following year, the league investigated playing Sunday matches at the SCG.[50] The VFL scheduled 2 premiership matches for the SCG in 1979. One of them, between the previous year's grand finalists North Melbourne and Hawthorn, drew a record 31,395 to the gates. Researching and testing the market, the VFL scheduled four matches for the SCG in 1980 with an average attendance of 19,000. In April 1980, the VFL stated that its market study showed there was sufficient support for a Sydney team, finding that there was an increase in television ratings in Sydney and sustained attendance at matches and that it intended to have a team in Sydney, possibly as soon as 1982.[51] Fitzroy Lions, in a financial struggle, was prevented from conducting a feasibility study into the possibility of moving to North Sydney; a proposal was put forward, but was voted down by its board in 1980.[52]

A 1981 report by Graham Huggins concluded that there was an "untapped market in Sydney which represented an excellent opportunity for the league."[53] The report claimed that 60,000 people in Sydney had stated that they would regularly support the new club: 90% of these supporters would watch VFL on television from Sydney, 80% of these supporters had not attended rugby, and 92% believed that Australian rules could become popular in Sydney.[54] Following the report, the VFL announced that the league had decided to put a team in Sydney in 1982.[53] Financially struggling VFL club South Melbourne, fearing a missed opportunity to establish a new market, announced its decision to play all 1982 home games in Sydney. After playing, the VFL formally approved the Swans shift to Sydney on 29 July 1981,[55] becoming the first team based outside of Victoria.

One team town, Sydney Swans era (1982-1999) edit

In 1982, the club was renamed the Sydney Swans. The relocation of Swans from South Melbourne to Sydney included sponsorship away from the local Australian rules football clubs and leagues, and there was an initial decline in the sport locally. The Swans' debt, much of it to the AFL, not only hung over attempts to establish the Sydney Swans but now burdened Australian rules football in New South Wales.

During the 1980s there was a small increase in professional players recruited from Sydney, one of the highest profile of which was Russell Morris. Up to this point however the majority of the Swans players were either Victorian or from the Riverina. This began to change as the Swans were given a dedicated zone from which to recruit players from the local competition. One of the first locally recruited players was Mark Roberts who debuted in 1985.

On 31 July 1985, Dr. Geoffrey Edelsten, through Powerplay Limited, bought the Sydney Swans for $2.9 million[clarification needed] in cash with debt payments, funding and other payments spread over five years. Powerplay was floated and sold shares to supports and the public, but with only a licence for the team and debts, the uptake was poor. Within less than twelve months, Edelsten resigned as chairman, and by 1988, the licence was sold back to the VFL for just $10. The AFL appointed a board to operate the team in order to take control of the club's financial losses. Board members Mike Willesee and Craig Kimberley, together with Basil Sellers Peter Weinert as a consortium known as the Private Ownership Group, purchased the licence and operated the Sydney Swans until 1993, when the AFL again took over ownership of the team.

With substantial monetary and management support from the AFL, the Sydney Swans continued and with player draft concessions in the early 1990s, has fielded a competitive team throughout the decade. In 1996, the Swans lost the grand final to North Melbourne, which had been their first appearance in a grand final since 1945. The game was played in front of 93,102 at the MCG.

In 1999, the AFL established the AFL NSW/ACT Commission Limited to govern its expansion in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The league began a push for a second team, with Sydney becoming the target for the proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club. However, poor attendance at the club's home matches, low television viewership, and strong opposition from the Sydney Swans soon saw an end to the initiative.[56]

The culmination of the recent success was the 2005 premiership against the West Coast Eagles, played in front of 91,898 at the MCG, taking the flag to Sydney for the first time and breaking a 72-year drought for the club from when it was based in South Melbourne. It also broke the longest premiership drought in the history of the competition.[57]

In 2005, the AFL went on a Sydney-centric recruitment drive, offering a NSW scholarships program and young apprentice scheme.[58] By 2007, at least two of the NSW and ACT scholarship recipients had been officially promoted to AFL rookie lists, qualifying them for selection in the senior squad in the event of long-term injury to listed players.

In 2008, the AFL stated their intention to establish a second team in Sydney to be based in the western suburbs, as part of the expansion of the competition.

The Swans again came to prominence with the club's win in the 2012 AFL Grand Final.[59]

Two team era: Greater Western Sydney Giants (2010s-) edit

 
Banner at the inaugural GWS game against the Sydney Swans

The Greater Western Sydney Giants were established in 2011, playing a season in the North East Australian Football League prior to commencing competition in the Australian Football League in 2012. The Giants struggled in their early years, winning only three games in their first two seasons, but since then, made gradual progress up the ladder, culminating in a Grand Final appearance in 2019.[60] Although the Giants have been somewhat successful on the field, despite more than $200 million in AFL investment, the club has made little impact in growing attendance, television viewership, or participation in the region.[61][62]

During the 2010s there was a dramatic increase in AFL players coming from the Sydney region, and in 2007, a total of 11 AFL players identified themselves as coming from this region.[63]

GWS was awarded a license for the inaugural AFL Women's season with the Sydney Swans, deciding not to bid for entry until later.[64]

 
A new record crowd for women's Australian rules football in New South Wales was set at the North Sydney Oval on 27 August 2022 with 8,264 in attendance.[65]

Sydney was awarded a license in 2021 and made its debut in round 1 AFL Women's Season 7 match against St Kilda at the North Sydney Oval. It set a new record for a crowd in a stand-alone women's Australian rules football in New South Wales on 27 August 2022, with 8,264 in attendance.[65] In 2023, the Swans had the highest average home attendance of any club in the league, at 4,637 – over 500 clear of minor premiers Adelaide. This included a season-high attendance of 5,722 for their round nine clash against Collingwood at Henson Park.[66][67] Also that season, the Swans conjured a remarkable turnaround; after going winless in its inaugural season in 2022, they finished eighth and defeated Gold Coast in its elimination final before losing to Adelaide by 67 points in the semi-final.[68]

Participation edit

Ausplay reported that there were 69,168 regular participants in Australian rules in New South Wales in 2019.[69]
While lower than the AFL reported figure for 2011 of 131,829 (which included the ACT and 41,626 Auskick registrations), the state has now eclipsed rugby union participation in New South Wales.[70]

In 2012, the figure was 148,230 people of which 48,965 were Auskick registrations.[71] In 2013, the number of Australian football participants in NSW, and the ACT had jumped up to 177,949, of which 47,888 were Auskick participants.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics "Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, Apr 2009" estimated 18,000 Australian rules football participants in NSW and 1,400 in the ACT.[72] The ABS used a small sample size of 20,126 private dwelling in obtaining their data of participation numbers for the 2011/12 season.[73]

In 2007, there were 7,225 senior players in NSW and the ACT and in 2006, a total of around 95,100 participants.[74] Although Australian rules football was one of the fastest growing sports in the state, the overall participation per capita was only about one percent, the lowest in Australia.[1][dead link]

Registered players (Excluding Auskick registrations) edit

[2]

2016 2019 2023
51,177 69,168 71,481

Audiences edit

Attendance Record edit

Attendances edit

In 2006, the Sydney Swans averaged 41,205 people through the gate per home match. In 2013, the average had decreased to 29,104, with the suggestion that this was partly due to the redevelopment of the Bradman Stand at the SCG.[75]

Major Australian rules football events in New South Wales edit

Players edit

See also: Category:Australian rules footballers from New South Wales
 
Australian football pioneer Tom Wills was born in New South Wales.

Past Greats and Hall of Fame members edit

A number of notable players have been born in New South Wales or played the majority of their junior careers in New South Wales; many of these players have been from the traditional Australian rules football areas of Broken Hill or the Riverina. Australian football pioneers Tom Wills and H. C. A. Harrison were born in New South Wales in the 1830s.

Notable players from the Riverina include: Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Albury), who was the first player born in New South Wales to win the Brownlow Medal and the Sandover Medal, in 1931 and 1938 respectively; Bill Mohr of Wagga who kicked 735 league goals; Paul Kelly from Wagga the first New South Welshman to win the Brownlow; Shane Crawford (Finley) who won the Brownlow in 1999; and Wayne Carey (Wagga), who won the Leigh Matthews Trophy twice in the 1990s. Notable players from Broken Hill include Dave Low, Robert Barnes and Bruce McGregor, who all won Magarey Medals in the 1910s and 1920s, and Jack Owens, a three-time South Australian National Football League (SANFL) leading goalkicker.

Players from Broken Hill include Steve Hywood one of the best back flankers ever to play the game,[76] Dean Solomon, Brent Staker, and Taylor Walker.

Many notable players have also been recruited from Sydney, with football having been played in the city since 1880, pre-dating other major sports.[77] Despite the lack of media attention the game has received, Sydney has still generated many players of high quality. Notable people include Bob Merrick (a leading goal kicker in the 1920s recruited from East Sydney), Roger Duffy (1954 premiership player who was recruited from Newtown), Mark Maclure (multi-premiership player and Carlton FC captain), Michael Byrne (1983 premiership player with Hawthorn who was recruited from the Sydney club of North Shore), Mark Roberts (202-game AFL player from 1985 to 1999 who played junior football for Ramsgate AFC and senior football for St. George AFC before playing in the AFL for the Sydney Swans), Brisbane Bears, and North Melbourne, notably in their 1996 premiership, Greg Stafford (a 200-game player recruited from Western Suburbs in Sydney), Jarrad McVeigh (2012 AFL premiership captain) and his brother Mark (who played for Essendon), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (2005 and 2012 premiership player for the Swans) and Lenny Hayes (2010 Norm Smith Medallist), amongst others.[78]

Men's edit

Current players edit

AFL players from NSW edit

Currently on an AFL senior list
Player NSW junior/senior club/s Representative honours AFL Draft Pick AFL Years AFL Games AFL (Goals) Connections to NSW, Notes & References
Shadeau Brain Finley, GWS Giants Academy 2023 Rookie (Category B) 2024- - - Raised in Finley
Connor O'Sullivan St Patricks Junior, Thurgoona, Albury U17 (NSW-ACT) 2023 #11 2024- - - Raised in Albury
Harvey Thomas Turvey Park, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2023 #59 2024- 1 0 Raised in Wagga
Lachlan McAndrew Manly-Warringah, St Augustine's College, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney Swans reserves, Sydney 2021 (Mid Season rookie) Rookie (#12) 2023- 1 0 Raised in Sydney
Marc Sheather Pennant Hills, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2020 (Rookie) Category B Rookie 2023- 2 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Jacob Bauer Wollondilly Redbacks (U12), Western Suburbs (U17), Inner West Magpies, Sydney Swans Academy 2022 (Mid Season rookie) Rookie (#10) 2023- 1 0 Raised in South Western Sydney
Harry Rowston Griffith, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2022 #16 2023- 1 0 Raised in Binya and Griffith
Tylar Young North Albury 2022 (Rookie) Rookie (#26) 2023- 1 0 Raised in Albury
Campbell Chesser Lavington Panthers 2022 #14 2023- 1 0 Raised in Albury (Lavington)
Patrick Parnell Albury 2021 Rookie (mid-season) 2021- 15 0 Raised in Albury
Errol Gulden Maroubra Saints, UNSW-Easts, Sydney 2020 #32 2021- 40 32 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Matt Flynn Narrandera, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #41 2021- 24 9 Raised in Narrandera and recruited from Sydney
Braeden Campbell Westbrook, Pennant Hills, Sydney 2020 #5 2021- 22 3 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Alex Davies - 2020 Pre-draft selection 2021- 18 8 Born in Wollongong
James Peatling Pennant Hills, GWS Giants (VFL), Greater Western Sydney 2021- 29 10 Raised in Western Sydney
Cooper Sharman Leeton-Whitton, GWS Giants Academy Rookie 2021- 15 13 Raised in Leeton
Kieren Briggs Pennant Hills, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2018 #34 2021- 9 3 Raised in Sydney
Samson Ryan Merimbula, Pambula 2020 #40 2021- 1 0 Raised in Pambula
Daniel Turner Albury 2021 (Rookie) Rookie (#24) 2021- 1 0 Raised in Albury
Nick Murray Henty, Ganmain-Grong Grong Matong 2021 (Pre season) 2021- 29 1 Raised in Henty
Matt Rowell - 2019 #1 2020- 42 10 Born in Sydney
Luke Parks St Ives, North Shore, Sydney Swans Academy 2020 (Rookie) Rookie (#8) 2020-2021 6 - Raised in St Ives (Sydney) and recruited from Sydney
Sam Wicks Manly Bombers, Sydney Swans Academy, Manly Warringah Wolves/Giants, Sydney 2018 (Rookie) Category B Rookie 2019- 70 19 Born and raised in and recruited from Manly (Sydney)
Nick Blakey East Sydney Bulldogs, UNSW-Easts, Sydney 2018 #10 2019- 75 32 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Lachie Schultz - 2018 #57 2019- 75 32 Raised in Moama
Tarryn Thomas - 2018 #8 2019-2023 69 56 Born and raised in Sydney
Jacob Koschitzke Albury, GWS Giants Academy 2018 #53 2019- 36 45 Born, raised in and recruited from Albury
James Bell Shellharbour Swans Junior, Sydney 2017 Category B Rookie 2019- 28 10 Born, raised in and recruited from Shellharbour
Liam Stocker - 2018 #19 2019- 28 2 Born in Sydney (Camperdown)
Zach Sproule GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2016 Category B Rookie 2019-2022 17 13 Raised in Albury
Jarrod Brander Wentworth District, Greater Western Sydney 2017 #13 2019-2022 27 9 Raised in Wentworth
Michael Gibbons Lavington Rookie 2019-2021 3 2 Raised in Albury
Doulton Langlands North Albury Rookie 2019-2020 47 35 Raised in Lavington
Charlie Spargo NSW/ACT Rams, Albury, GWS Giants Academy 2017 #29 2018- 83 52 Born, raised in and recruited from Albury
Esava Ratugolea - 2016 #43 2018- 59 38 Born and raised in Griffith
Nick Shipley St George, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2017 #65 2018-2021 6 0 Born and raised in Campbelltown
Josh Dunkley - 2015 #25 2017- 118 65 Born in Sydney
Jack Buckley Maroubra Saints, UNSW-Easts, Sydney Swans Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2017 Category B Rookie 2017- 15 - Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Harry Perryman Collingullie-Glenfield Park, GWS Giants Academy 2016 #14 2017- 70 19 Born, raised in Collingullie and recruited from Sydney
Isaac Cumming North Broken Hill, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #20 2017- 23 1 Raised in Broken Hill
Todd Marshall GWS Giants Academy 2016 #16 2017- 76 102 Raised in Deniliquin
Jamaine Jones - 2016 #48 2017- 43 20 Born in Broken Hill (Barkindji)
Will Setterfield Albury, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #5 2017- 36 10 Raised in Albury
Max Lynch Jindera, Albury 2017 (Rookie) Rookie (#15) 2017- 10 4 Raised in Jindera and Albury
Ryan Garthwaite Lavington Panthers, Corowa-Rutherglen 2016 #72 2017-2021 14 0 Raised in Corowa
Ben Davis UNSW-Easts, Sydney Swans Academy 2016 #75 2017- 6 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Jake Stein Greater Western Sydney 2016 Category B Rookie 2017-2022 20 1 Born, raised in and recruited from Penrith (Sydney)
Harry Himmelberg Mangoplah-CUE, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #16 2016- 126 149 Born and raised in Wagga Wagga
Daniel Lloyd Kilarney Vale, Greater Western Sydney 2016 (Rookie) Rookie (#26) 2016- 67 58 Raised in and recruited from Central Coast
Callum Mills Mosman Swans, North Shore, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney U18 (2014, 2015) 2015 #3 2016- 132 17 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Matthew Kennedy Collingullie-Glenfield Park, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #13 2016- 78 36 Raised in Collingullie, recruited from Sydney
Jacob Hopper Leeton-Whitton Crows, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #7 2016- 114 42 Born and raised in Leeton, recruited from Sydney
Isaac Heeney Cardiff, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2014 #18 2015- 152 195 Born in Maitland, raised in Newcastle, recruited from Sydney
Jeremy Finlayson Culcairn Lions, Sydney Hills, Greater Western Sydney 2014 #69 2015- 76 104 Born in Jindera, raised in Culcairn, recruited from Sydney
Dougal Howard - 2014 #56 2015- 102 15 Born and raised in Wagga Wagga
Aaron vandenBerg Tathra 2015 (Rookie) Rookie (#2) 2015- 47 23 Raised in Tathra
Sam Naismith North Shore, Gunnedah, Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#59) 2014- 30 3 Born in Narrabri, raised in Gunnedah, recruited from Sydney
Jake Barrett Temora, NSW/ACT Rams, Greater Western Sydney 2013 #97 2014-2018 23 19 Raised in and recruited from Temora
Dane Rampe UNSW-Easts, Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#37) 2013- 214 7 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Zac Williams Narrandera, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#55) 2013- 127 32 Born, raised in Normanhurst (Sydney), recruited from Sydney
Dan Robinson NSW/ACT Rams, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#51) 2013-2018 25 6 Raised in Sydney
Harry Cunningham Turvey Park, Sydney 2012 (Rookie) Rookie (#93) 2012- 161 48 Born, raised in and recruited from Wagga Wagga
Jarrod Witts St Ives, Sydney University 2011 #67 2012- 143 29 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Michael Hartley Penrith 2012 (Rookie) Rookie (#87) 2012-2021 49 2 Born, raised in Sydney (Penrith)
Anthony Miles Howlong, NSW/ACT Rams, Greater Western Sydney Zone 2012-2020 88 31 Born in Albury, raised in and recruited from Howlong (Albury)
Jacob Townsend Leeton-Whitton, Greater Western Sydney U16, U18 (2010) Zone 2012-2021 62 44 Born and raised in Leeton
Luke Breust Temora 2009 (Rookie) Rookie (#47) 2011- 260 481 Born, raised in and recruited from Temora
Taylor Duryea NSW/ACT Rams 2009 #69 2010- 173 25 Raised in Corowa
Isaac Smith Wagga Hawks, Wagga Tigers 2010 #19 2011- 258 195 Born in Young, raised in Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga
Taylor Walker North Broken Hill, NSW/ACT Rams 2007 #75 2009- 238 536 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Nic Naitanui - 2008 #2 2009- 213 112 Born in Penrith
Tom Hawkins Finley 2006 #41 (father-son) 2007- 327 732 Born and raised in Finley
Matt Suckling East Wagga-Kooringal, Wagga 2007 (Rookie) Rookie (#22) 2007-2020 178 85 Raised in Wagga
Daniel Pratt 2000 #42 2004-2011 119 10 Born in Sydney
Darren Bennett 1988 #13 1987-1993 78 305 Born in Sydney
Stan Enfield 1897 3 3 Born in Sydney

Women's edit

Current players edit

ALFW players from NSW edit

Currently on an AFLW senior list
Player NSW junior/senior club/s Representative honours AFLW Draft Selection AFLW Years AFLW Games AFLW (Goals) Connections to NSW, Notes & References
Zara Hamilton GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney - - - Raised in Wagga
Teagan Germech Bathurst, East Coast Eagles, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2023- 1 - Raised in Bathurst
Alice Mitchell Pittwater, Mosman, Gunnedah, Sydney 2023- 1 - Raised in Sydney
Tanya Kennedy Inner West Magpies, UTS, Sydney 2023- 1 - Recruited from Sydney
Brianna McFarlane Lower Clarence 2023- 1 - Raised in Yamba
Dominique Carruthers North Shore, Macquarie University 2023- 1 - Raised in Sydney
Madeline Hendrie East Sydney, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Swans Academy 2023- 1 - Raised in Sydney
Eleri Morris Northern Districts, Wollongong, Inner West Magpies, GWS Giants Academy 2023 Supplementary (#13) 2023- 1 - Raised in and recruited from Illawarra
Isadora McLeay Willoughby-Mosman, North Shore, Greater Western Sydney 2023- 3 - Raised in Sydney
Jessica Doyle Pittwater, Manly Warringah, Sydney Swans Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2021 #49 2022- 24 12 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Zarlie Goldsworthy Lavington Panthers, Western Magic, Greater Western Sydney 2022 #20 2022- 18 16 Raised in Albury
Eilish Sheerin Inner West Magpies, Newtown Breakaways 2022 #58 2022- 22 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Ella Heads Inner West Magpies, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2022- 22 - Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Grace Hill UTS 2022-2024 9 - Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Georgina Fowler St Ives, East Coast Eagles, GWS Giants Academy 2022- 3 - Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Brodee Mowbray Camden, Southern Power 2022- 12 3 Raised in Camden, Greater Western Sydney
Browdee Mowbray Camden, Southern Power, Greater Western Sydney 2022- 20 4 Raised in Sydney
Ally Dallaway East Coast Eagles, Greater Western Sydney 2022- 30 - Raised in Sydney
Cambridge McCormick Port Macquarie, Greater Western Sydney 2022- 18 - Raised in Port Macquarie
Ally Morphett East Wagga-Kooringal, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney 2022- 16 1 Raised in Gumly Gumly (Wagga)
Jasmine Simmons North Broken Hill, Gol Gol 2022- 8 - Raised in Broken Hill
Ruby Sargent-Wilson Southern Power, Sydney Swans Academy U18 (2019) 2022- 4 - Raised in and recruited from Wollongong (Woonona)
Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster Wollongong 2022- 1 0 Raised in Wollongong (Wiradjuri)
Ruby Svarc - 2021- 23 6 Raised in Corowa
Tarni Evans Tathra, Queanbeyan, Greater Western Sydney 2020 #9 2021- 19 1 Raised in Tathra, recruited from Queanbeyan
Cathy Svarc - 2020- 43 12 Raised in Corowa
Gabrielle Colvin - 2019 #77 2020- 25 0 Raised in and recruited from Wagga Wagga
Lisa Steane Nelson Bay, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney 2019 #23 2020- 27 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Nelson Bay
Georgia Garnett East Coast Eagles, Greater Western Sydney 2019 #90 2020- 24 7 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Brenna Tarrant Emu Plains Glenmore Lions (juniors), Kellyville Rouse Hill Magpies (juniors), East Coast Eagles (seniors), Sydney 2019 #72 2020- 25 1 Raised in Blaxland (Blue Mountains), recruited from Sydney
Emily Goodsir East Coast Eagles, Greater Western Sydney 2019 #76 2020- 10 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Tarnee Tester West Broken Hill 2019 #56 2020-2021 4 1 Born and raised in Broken Hill (Barkindji)
Alyce Parker Thurgoona, Greater Western Sydney 2018 #12 2019- 42 4 Raised in Holbrook, recruited from Thurgoona
Chloe Dalton Greater Western Sydney 2018 Rookie 2019- 22 6 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Taylah Davies Greater Western Sydney Rookie 2018- - - Born, raised in and recruited from Wollongong
Jodie Hicks Greater Western Sydney 2017 #5 2018- 30 4 Born, raised in and recruited from Hay
Ashleigh Brazill - 2017 #34 2018- 24 4 Born, raised in and recruited from Wollondilly (Sydney)
Sophie Casey Holbrook, Riverina 2016 Free agent 2017- 53 2 Raised in Holbrook, recruited from Wagga Wagga
Rebecca Beeson UNSW-Eastern Suburbs, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #32 2017- 41 7 Born in Sydney, raised on Central Coast
Erin McKinnon Mosman, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #48 2017- 46 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Nicola Barr Sydney University, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #1 2017- 48 9 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Maddy Collier UNSW-Eastern Suburbs, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney 2016 Priority 2017- 39 3 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Haneen Zreika Auburn-Penrith Giants, Greater Western Sydney 2017 (Rookie) Rookie (#1) 2017- 39 7 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Hannah Dunn Queanbeyan, Greater Western Sydney Backup 2017- 35 0 Recruited from Queanbeyan
Leah Kaslar - 2016 #31 2017-2021 36 3 Born Caringbah (Sydney)
Ellie Brush Greater Western Sydney 2016 Rookie 2017-2020 20 1 Recruited from Sydney
Amanda Farrugia Macquarie University, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #64 2017-2019 21 2 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Renee Tomkins Greater Western Sydney 2016 #96 2017-2019 12 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Nikki Wallace Sawtell Toormina Saints 2016 #114 2017 8 0 Raised in Coffs Harbour
Kristy De Pellegrini Southern Power, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #81 2017 6 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Stephanie Walker Sydney University, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #113 2017 3 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Codie Briggs Newtown, Greater Western Sydney 2016 Free agent 2017 3 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney

Representative team edit

 
New South Wales team, 1908
 
Parade of the New South Wales team, 1933 Sydney Carnival

The New South Wales representative team, nicknamed the Blues, played Interstate matches against other Australian states and Territories. The team wore a blue uniform with a Waratah symbol badge and, until the 1970s, was the only representative team to buck the trend of sleeveless guernseys fit with the fashions in rugby. The Blues defeated the Victoria team in 1923 and again in 1990 under State of Origin rules at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Its final appearance was at the 1988 Adelaide Bicentennial Carnival.

In 1993, the game's new governing body, the AFL Commission created a composite team with the Australian Capital Territory, the NSW/ACT Rams. Notable New South Welshmen in this team included Wayne Carey and Brownlow Medalist Shane Crawford. Senior players have not represented the state since.

NSW was an inaugural participant in the National underage titles. It competed from 1993 to 2016 as NSW/ACT, after which it was dropped from the national championships and instead now competes in the TAC Cup.

Principal venues edit

The following venues are the largest that meet AFL Standard criteria and have been used to host AFL (National Standard) or AFLW level matches (Regional Standard) and have hosted such matches in the last decade:[79]

Sydney Sydney Sydney
Stadium Australia Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Showground Stadium
Capacity: 82,500 Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 25,500
Record: 72,393 (2003)[80] Record: 46,323 (2017)[81] Record: 21,924 (2013)[82]
     
Sydney Sydney Albury
Henson Park North Sydney Oval Lavington Sports Ground
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 13,000
Record: 5,722 (2023)[83] Record: 9,654 (2005)[84] Record: 20,169* (2013)[85]
     
Wagga Wagga Western Sydney Sydney
Robertson Oval Blacktown ISP Oval Drummoyne Oval
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 6,000
Record: 7,944 (2014)[86] Record: 10,000* (2011)[87] Record: 4,952 (2018)[88]
     
Western Sydney
Tom Wills Oval
Capacity: 3,000

Sydney edit

Regional NSW edit

Books edit

  1. de Moore, Greg; Hess, Rob; Nicholson, Matthew; Stewart, Bob (2021). Australia's Game: The History of Australian Football. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 9781-74379-657-3.
  2. Blake, Martin (2013). The rise of the Swans : a decade of success : 2003-12. Melbourne, Vic.: Penguin Group (Australia). ISBN 978-1-921901-69-0. OCLC 829056262.

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ a b Ausplay Participation by Activity/State
  3. ^ AFL Sydney Hall of Fame
  4. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LII, no. 8501. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1865. p. 4. Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "NOTES OF THE WEEK". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LII, no. 8507. New South Wales, Australia. 26 August 1865. p. 8. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b de Moore et al. 2021, p. 187.
  7. ^ "Football in Sydney". The Australasian. Vol. I, no. 10. Victoria, Australia. 9 June 1866. p. 11. Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b c de Moore et al. 2021, p. 186.
  9. ^ Bell's Life in Sydney. 18 July 1867
  10. ^ Bell's Life in Sydney. 3 August 1867
  11. ^ a b de Moore et al. 2021, p. 188.
  12. ^ "FROM THE 3RD JULY TO THE 10TH JULY". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LVIII, no. 9408. New South Wales, Australia. 15 July 1868. p. 5. Retrieved 1 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "TOWN AND COUNTRY". Sydney Mail. Vol. IX, no. 419. New South Wales, Australia. 11 July 1868. p. 5. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 190.
  15. ^ "INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 9, 680. Victoria, Australia. 25 June 1877. p. 6. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "SPORTING". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LXXVIII, no. 12, 520. New South Wales, Australia. 5 July 1878. p. 5. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Football Notes". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXX, no. 1045. New South Wales, Australia. 17 July 1880. p. 124. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "THE INTERCOLONIAL FOOTBALL MATCH". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 10, 931. Victoria, Australia. 1 July 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 192.
  20. ^ "1881 - Football". Wagga Wagga Advertiser. Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW). 2 August 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
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  80. ^ 23 August 2003 AFL Sydney Swans vs Collingwood FC
  81. ^ 9 September 2017 Sydney Swans v Essendon FC
  82. ^ 15 July 2017 AFL GWS Giants v. Sydney Swans
  83. ^ 29 October 2023 AFLW Sydney Swans vs Collingwood FC
  84. ^ 11 February 2005 Sydney Swans v Essendon FC
  85. ^ 20 March 1995 AFL Pre-Season Essendon v Carlton (venue record)
  86. ^ 1 March 2014 AFL NAB Cup GWS Giants vs St Kilda FC
  87. ^ 19 February 2011 NAB Cup GWS Giants v Sydney Swans (venue record)
  88. ^ 9 February 2018 AFLW GWS Giants v Carlton

External links edit

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