Six local clubs will represent their designated regions in next season’s AFL Canberra First Grade competition, with the Gungahlin Jets nominating to make the jump back up into the top tier of football in the ACT.
The First Grade competition will consist of the Ainslie Tri-colours, Belconnen Magpies, Eastlake Demons, Gungahlin Jets, Queanbeyan Tigers and the Tuggeranong Hawks.
Following Belconnen and Queanbeyan’s decision to withdraw from the NEAFL, it was identified that the AFL Canberra competitions required a shake up to provide a viable and competitive league for 2015 and beyond.
The six First Grade sides will also make up the structure of the Second Grade and Rising Stars competitions, with the exception of Marist who will field a side in the Rising Stars for 2015.
The season will kick off on Saturday May 2nd 2015 with the Grand Finals to be played on Saturday 20th September.
Having clubs feature in all the three senior grades will allow for a stronger game day atmosphere, with the three grades following each other on the same day at the same venue.
ACT Regional Manager, Steve Mahar, said it was the best outcome for the Canberra region.
“We want to re-establish the AFL Canberra competition as a strong and vibrant competition where teams are playing three games at one venue and have a strong connection to the community and other players within their club. We also want players to see a very clear pathway to play at the highest level without leaving the club they grew up playing juniors for,” he said
“The restructure is about building a competition for the next generation of players to aspire to play in, where there is a lot of history and culture”
Under the new structure, every player in the ACT Region will be provided with a viable pathway to play NEAFL level football at one of the two remaining NEAFL clubs, Ainslie and Eastlake.
Conversely, players not required in Ainslie or Eastlake’s NEAFL teams each week will also have the opportunity to filter back into the First Grade competition.
In other changes, the Mulrooney Medal will be reinstated as the AFL Canberra First Grade Best & Fairest, after a short stint as the NEAFL Eastern Conferences Best & Fairest medal from 2011-13.
The Alex Jesaulenko Medal will be awarded to the Best on Ground in the Grand Final, while the Jack Dorman Cup will also make a comeback as the Premiership Cup.
An AFL Canberra match of the round will also be live-streamed each week for the first time in our leagues history.
There have also been changes to the Women’s competition for 2015, with the process of pre-determining the two divisions now changing to a self regulated system.
The ten clubs will now play each other once in the first nine rounds of the season, then following the Round 10 general bye, teams will be split into Divisions based on ladder position – top five and bottom five. The remaining rounds, including finals, will then be played within their division.
ACT Club Development Manager, Adrian Pavese, said it would allow for a fairer and more even competition.
“We have taken on board the club feedback, and with the Women’s Competition becoming more competitive every year it was a simple solution to allow teams to perform every week for the right to be in the highest Division,” he said.
The Women’s league will also be phasing in more Sunday fixtures in 2015, in anticipation of bringing in a full female game day experience with the Youth Girls competition from 2016 and beyond.
“Sunday football allows the Youth Girls competition to link with their senior club and provide the ultimate female game day experience. This will also provide a defined pathway for the future female stars of the game” Pavese said.
The structure of the AFL Canberra lower grades will be confirmed on Monday.
Last Modified on 19/12/2014 11:41