AFL has a strong history in the Illawarra and the South Coast
Organised Australian football has been in existence in the region for over 40 years. However the most exciting changes to hit the region in the long history occurred in 2011 with the restructure of the AFL management on the Illawarra and South Coast. The appointment of a Board and creation of the association AFL South Coast Inc (AFL SC) to look after Community Football occured.
The new association amalgamates 3 previously separate leagues.
- the South Coast AFL is now AFL South Coast Seniors
- the South Coast Juniors AFL is now AFL South Coast Shoalhaven Juniors
- and the AFL Greater Sydney Juniors Illawarra is now AFL South Coast Illawarra Juniors.
We have created an association that prides itself of welcoming all members of the community of varying abilities. We cover a diverse range of the population, both junior and senior, that represents all levels of the workforce, education and affluence. Our association embraces its community minded spirit, and prides itself on being involved.
History
Senior AFL in the South Coast region was formed in 1969 and comprised of Albatross, Creswell, Nowra and Wollongong. In 1970 Bomaderry formed a team and shortly after in 1972 Dapto joined AFLSC. East Nowra, Batemans Bay and finally Milton Ulladulla also joined the competition. Today there are 11 clubs competing in AFLSC’s First Grade and Reserve Grade competition, which is the most clubs we have had competing since the combining of our competitions in 1988.
AFLSC has had a rich history of achievements and success including between 1974 and 1984 South Coast won 5 country championships and were runner up twice. This included South Coast only losing to Central Australia’s representative side by 11 points in 1975. Four of the South Coast league’s players (Glen Taylor, Graham Charles, Bill McBride and Adam Harris) have represented the state and many others have graduated to the Sydney competition in recent years.
Two players from the South Coast region have played in the AFL, one being Aiden Riley who is currently playing for the Adelaide Crows. Aiden Riley is the son of Peter Riley, who is the current AFL South Coast Chairman. Aiden debut in 2011 against Port Adelaide in round 19 and since then he has been elevated to the Adelaide Crows senior players list. The second player was Arthur Chilcott, who had a short career with the Sydney Swans between 1984 and 1985, in which he played 13 games and scored 14 goals.
Junior AFL in the Illawarra region began in 1997 when Graham Wells entered the Wollongong Lions in the St George Junior Australian Football Association. For the next 2 years the Wollongong Lions successfully competed in all age groups. The Lions received some assistance from Mike Kenny, Sydney Junior AFL Head, because they were trying to grow junior AFL in the Sydney region. In 1999 five more junior teams were interested in playing AFL and this formed the Wollongong District Junior AFL. The original teams were Wollongong Lions, Northern District Tigers, Western Kangaroos (Figtree), Shellharbour Cats, Port Kembla Magpies and Kiama Power. In 2002 Southern Highlands joined the competition, and replaced the vacant spot left by the Shellharbour Cats exit. In the following years the formation of the South Coast Storm development squad gave local players the opportunity to greater develop their skills. In 2005 Wollongong District Junior AFL became AFL Illawarra Juniors and since then they have experienced a boost in more age groups and clubs.