List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment

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.

Football clubs by date of establishment

Founding DateOriginal nameLocationStateCountryCurrent competitionNotes & References
1858 AprilSt Kilda FCSt Kilda (Melbourne)Victoria DefunctThe club was formed in April 1858 playing under its own rules (possibly rugby).[1] First recorded game was on 28 May 1859 against Melbourne University.[2] Played at Alpaca Park until council bailiff did not allow them in 1865. Money from the club went to the cricket club. Most players went to South Yarra, others may have formed the bowls club. In 1872 when a ground was found the club started again with players returning from South Yarra. Not related to the current St Kilda Football Club.
1858 July 10Melbourne FCMelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueOfficially incorporated in 1859, its origins can be traced to an informal playing team prior to a prominent July 1858 letter in which Tom Wills calls for the formation of a "foot-ball club" with the need of a "code of laws".[3][4][5]
1858 August 7Church of England Grammar School FCMelbourneVictoria APS Schools Football[6]
1858 August 7Scotch College FCMelbourneVictoria APS Schools Football[6]
1858 September 25South Yarra FCSouth Yarra (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1873)Formed to play under its own rules (unknown - likely rugby football). Played it first game against Melbourne on 25 September 1858. Was joined by players of St Kilda in 1865. Merged with the St Kilda Cricketers' Club in 1873 to form the present-day St Kilda Football Club.[7]
1859 May 28Melbourne University FCParkville (Melbourne)Victoria VAFAFirst recorded game was on 28 May 1859 against the original St Kilda Football Club.[2] Disbanded for some time after World War I, leaving the VFL, then reformed with multiple teams in the VAFA.
1859 June 15Castlemaine FC*CastlemaineVictoria Bendigo Football LeaguePossibly dormant for periods.[8]
1859 (9 June)Brighton FCBrighton (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Considered unlikely to be connected to the Brighton Football Club (1885-1964)[9]
1859 (Prior to 25 June)Coast FCElsternwick (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1877)Date of formation unknown[10]
1859 July 18Geelong FCGeelongVictoria Australian 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 FCPrahran (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Date of formation unknown[11] Merged with St Kilda Football Club in 1888.
1859 (Prior to August)Emerald Hill FCEmerald Hill (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (unknown)Date of formation unknown[11]
1860 April 25Richmond FCRichmond (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1861)Formed at the Royal Hotel in Melbourne on 25 April 1860.[12] Not related to the Richmond Football Club that formed in 1885 and participates in the Australian Football League. Club dissolved in 1861.[13]
1860 April 26Old Adelaide FCAdelaideSouth 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 May 18Williamstown FCWilliamstown (Melbourne)Victoria UnknownVery strong likeliness that this is the same as the current VFL club (Williamstown Football Club) though there is conflicting evidence.[14] Was involved in the drafting of the 1860 rules.
1860 May 19Collingwood FCCollingwood (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (?)No connection to AFL club. Was involved in the drafting of the 1860 rules.
1860 May 20Ballarat FCBallaratVictoria Ballarat Football LeagueEstablished as junior club. Senior club established in 1862[15]
1860 June 16Boroondara FCBoroondara (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1860)Began with scratch matches, was involved in the 1860 rules committee however disappeared later that year.
1861 May 28Warrnambool FCWarrnamboolVictoria Hampden FNLOn 28 May 1861, the Warrnambool Examiner published an advertisement of a "foot-ball" game.[16]
1861Federal FCWaggaNew South Wales Riverina Football Netball LeagueNow known as the Wagga Tigers[17]
1861 June 3Sandhurst FCBendigoVictoria Bendigo Football LeagueAlleged to have been founded by J.B. Thompson, one of the inventors of Australian rules football.[18]
1862 May 7Essendon and Flemington FCFlemington (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (?)No connection to AFL club[19]
1862 May 12Royal Park FCBrunswick (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (?)[20]
1862 July 24Modbury FC and Teatree GullyAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian Amateur Football LeagueAccepted an invitation to play the Old Adelaide Football Club on 24 July 1862.[21] Later split into two clubs being the current Modbury Football Club and Tea Tree Gully Football Club.
1862Williamstown FCWilliamstown (Melbourne)Victoria DefunctThe first of two Williamstown clubs
1862Bendigo FCBendigoVictoria DefunctEarliest record of matches are from 1862
1862Kangaroo Flat FCBendigoVictoria DefunctEarliest record of matches are from 1862. Joined the Bendigo Junior Football association in 1866. Current senior club formed in 1890.[22]
1864Campbells Creek FCCampbells CreekVictoria Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League
1864Williamstown FCWilliamstown (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian Football LeagueMay have been founded as early as 1860, though possible connection with earlier club remains unproven.
1864 JulyCarlton FCCarlton (Melbourne)Victoria Australian Football LeagueFounding member of the VFA and VFL.
1864New Town FCHobartTasmania DefunctUnlikely to have played under Victorian Rules
1865 June 17Sydney FCSydneyNew South Wales Defunct (1868?)First club in Sydney formed under its own rules (possibly Victorian), formally adopted the Victorian Rules in 1866 but survived only briefly.
1865Australian FCSydneyNew South Wales Defunct (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.
1865Brunswick FCBrunswick (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1991)
1865 August 12St Peter's CollegeAdelaideSouth Australia DefunctSt Peter's College Football Club founded in 1865.[23] Played the Adelaide Educational Institute Football Club in 1865 under the Old Adelaide Football Club rules.[24] The school was still fielding a football team in 1905? Under what club?[25] An external St Peter's Old Collegians Football Club was established in 1928.
1865 August 12Adelaide Educational InstituteAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1880)Played the St Peter's Collegiate Football Club in 1865 under the Old Adelaide Football Club rules.[24] Adelaide Educational Institute closed in 1880.
1865PenolaPenolaSouth Australia Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football LeagueClaims that the club was founded in 1865. Meeting held on 25 July 1868.[26] Confirmed to have been challenged by the Mount Gambier Football Club in 1869.[27]
1866 April 18KapundaKapundaSouth Australia Barossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFormed by Kapunda copper miners on 18 April 1866 in the North Kapunda Hotel.[28]
1866 May 12Hobart TownHobartTasmania DefunctDid not play Victorian/Australian rules[29][30] Its formation is frequently erroneously suggested as evidence of the game's early establishment in the colony.
1866 May 22BrisbaneBrisbaneQueensland 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 Lions[31]
1866 JulyCivil ServiceBrisbaneQueensland DefunctNewspapers mention plans for second Brisbane club in July 1866[32] scratch matches between Brisbane and Civil Service teams started later that month[33] 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 AprilAlbert Park FCMelbourneVictoria Defunct (1880)Renamed South Melbourne Football Club, Emerald-hill then Albert-park. Merged with South Melbourne (Sydney Swans) in 1880
1867 August 31Mount GambierMount GambierSouth Australia Defunct (1897c)Club formed in 1867 and adopted the rules of Australian rules football[34] The club dissolved around 1897.[35]
1867Newington College FCSilverwater (Western Sydney)New South Wales Independent School’s CompetitionAustralian 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.
1867Volunteer ArtilleryBrisbaneQueensland DefunctAppears 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.[36] 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 23WoodvilleAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (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 30GawlerGawlerSouth 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.
1868Ipswich GrammarIpswichQueensland DefunctFounded 1868[37] Switched to rugby in 1887. Participate in Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League for some time in the 2000s
1868WharehousemenMelbourneVictoria Defunct
1868KynetonKynetonVictoria Bendigo Football League
1869 MayTradesmenMount GambierSouth Australia Defunct
1869 July 24CreswickCreswickVictoria Central Highlands Football LeagueFirst game against Kingston on 24 July 1869.
1869North Melbourne FCNorth Melbourne (Melbourne)Victoria Australian Football LeagueFounded 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.
1869Northcote FCNorthcote (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1987)
1870 May 11Young AustralianAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1872)Founded at the Royal Oak Hotel in Adelaide on 11 May 1870.[38]
1870 May 12Port AdelaideAdelaideSouth Australia Australian Football LeagueFielding teams in the SANFL since foundation and in the AFL since 1997.[39] Only pre-existing non-Victorian club to be competing in the Australian Football League.
1870Brisbane GrammarBrisbaneQueensland DefunctSwitched to rugby in 1885. New junior club established in 2005 to participate in Queensland Independent Schools Australian Football League
1870 MayIpswichIpswichQueensland DefunctDormant in the 1890s, then reformed in 1906[40] lasted until the 1940s after which it either folded or became a soccer club
1871Railway WorkshopsIpswichQueensland Defunct
1871KensingtonAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1881)Integral club to the codification of Australian rules in South Australia. Folded in 1881
1871Ararat*AraratVictoria Wimmera Football League
1871RedanRedanVictoria Ballarat Football League
1872LilydaleLilydaleVictoria 1st Div Eastern Football LeagueFormerly Yarra Valley Football League, Mountain District Football League, Eastern Districts Football League
1872, 26 AprilKent TerraceAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct[41]
1872EssendonMelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueFounding member of the VFL.
1872MaryboroughMaryboroughVictoria Bendigo Football League
1873MaldonMaldonVictoria Maryborough -Castlemaine District Football League
1873 May 21RockhamptonRockhamptonQueensland DefunctFormed at Leichart Hotel to play under Victorian Rules[42]
1873WarwickWarwickQueensland DefunctClub 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.[43]
1873 April 2St KildaMelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueFounding member of the VFA and VFL.[44]
1873HawthornMelbourneVictoria DefunctThe continuity of clubs with this name is disputed. The existing Hawthorn Football Club is purported to have formed in 1901.
1873Port DistrictAdelaideSouth Australia SAAFLFounded 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.
1873West AdelaideAdelaideSouth Australia SANFL
1874VictorianAdelaideSouth 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 29WillungaWillungaSouth Australia Great Southern Football League1877 foundation member of SAFA – which became SANFL.[45]
1874 June 8RochesterRochesterVictoria Goulburn Valley Football LeagueFounded in 1874 so it could play against the Echuca Football Club[46]
1874 June 19CecilSouth MelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueRenamed South Melbourne four weeks after formation. Relocated to Sydney in 1982.
1874Sandridge AlmaSouth MelbourneVictoria DefunctFormed from the Alma Cricket Club
1874Port MelbournePort Melbourne (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian Football League
1874PenshurstPenshurstVictoria Mininera & District Football League
1874EchucaEchucaVictoria Goulburn Valley Football League
1875 May 22CastertonCastertonVictoria Western Border Football League[47]
1875 JuneWangarattaWangarattaVictoria Ovens & Murray Football League
1875 July 16LauncestonLauncestonTasmania Tasmanian Football League[48]
1876 June 3AlburyAlburyNew South Wales Ovens & Murray Football League
1876ToowoombaToowoombaQueensland Defunct
1876 April 12South AdelaideAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian National Football LeagueFormed 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.
1876Ballarat ImperialBallaratVictoria20 Defunct (1955)
1876InglewoodInglewoodVictoria Loddon Valley Football League[49]
1876HeidelbergMelbourneVictoria Northern Football League
1876WinchelseaWinchelseaVictoria Geelong & District Football League
1876Portland FNCCPortlandVictoria Hampden FNL
1877 April 7South ParkAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (1884)At the start of 1885 South Park disbanded, with a number of its better players transferring to South Adelaide.
1877CorowaCorowaNew South Wales Defunct (1979)
1877BritanniaCollingwoodVictoria 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.
1877CamperdownCamperdownVictoria Hampden FNL
1877SaleSaleVictoria Gippsland Football League
1877StratfordStratfordVictoria |Victoria]

]

East Gippsland Football Netball LeagueThe ‘Stratty Swans’ FC wear a red and white vertical stripe guernsey. EGFL premierships 3 and 3 premierships in the now defunct Riviera Football League.
1877 March 28BankersAdelaideSouth 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.
1877FootscrayMelbourneVictoria Australian 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.
1877BeechworthBeechworthVictoria Tallangatta & District Football League
1878Clarendon FCEast Melbourne (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1882)Renamed East Melbourne
1878 July 6WodongaWodongaVictoria Ovens & Murray Football League
1878ExcelsiorBrisbaneQueensland DefunctFormed at the start of the season. Played its first match in August 1878[50]
1878WallarooBrisbaneQueensland DefunctFrom 1880 interchanged between Australian rules and rugby
1878BrunswickBrisbaneQueensland Defunct
1878 Feb 28NorwoodAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian National Football League
1878West MelbourneMelbourneVictoria Defunctmerged with North Melbourne Football Club
1878New Norfolk DistrictNew NorfolkTasmania Southern Football League (Tasmania)
1878Toowoomba GrammarBrisbaneQueensland DefunctSwitched to rugby in 1887
1879 March 27ReformWellingtonNew Zealand DefunctFirst known club to be established outside Australia
1879 May 14AthenianIpswichQueensland 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 Australia Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association
1878St KillianBrisbaneQueensland Defunct
1879SunburySunburyVictoria Ballarat Football League
1879MeltonMelton, VictoriaVictoria Ballarat Football League
1879CobdenCobdenVictoria Hampden FNL
1879AldingaAldingaSouth Australia Southern Football LeagueOne of four teams that founded what is now known as the Southern Football League in 1879.
1879GisborneGisborneVictoria Bendigo Football League
1880 March 25Royal ParkAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct 1882Joined SAFA in 1882 and folded after 5 games.
1880 April 16GlenelgGlenelg, South AustraliaSouth Australia DefunctDecided not to join proposed Junior Association[51]
1880 May 1Kent TownAdelaideSouth Australia DefunctPlayed first game in 1880. [52] and was a member of the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association.
1880BeaufortBeaufortVictoria Central Highlands Football League
1880EaglehawkEaglehawkVictoria Bendigo Football League
1880MacclesfieldAdelaideSouth Australia Hills Football League
1880 August 7SydneySydneyNew South Wales Defunct (1926)Formed in 1880 as the first Australian Rules club in Sydney, participating in the NSWAFA in 1881.
1880 August 7East SydneySydneyNew South Wales Defunct (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 30BlackwoodBlackwoodVictoria Defunct[53]
1881MurchisonMurchisonVictoria Kyabram District Football League
1881North HobartHobartTasmania Tasmanian Football League
1881North AdelaideAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian National Football LeagueOriginally 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.
1881BalmainBalmain (Sydney)New South Wales Defunct (?)
1881WoollahraWoollahra (Sydney)New South Wales Defunct (?)
1882 AprilRoversPerthWestern 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 DefunctFormed as a rugby club in 1882, Unions switched to Australian rules in 1885. Its remnants were eventually folded into South Fremantle.
1882BallaratNorth BallaratVictoria Ballarat Football League
1882MaffraMaffraVictoria Gippsland Football League
1882PrestonPreston (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian Football LeagueNow Northern Bullants
1882MaryboroughMaryboroughQueensland Defunct
1882EmuMaryboroughQueensland Defunct
1882RoverBrisbaneQueensland DefunctStarted as Australian rules but switched to rugby and soccer
1883 September 26FitzroyMelbourneVictoria VAFA[54] Playing operations merged with the Brisbane Bears in 1996, but the club continues to trade as standalone entity,
1873UnionBrisbaneQueensland Defunct
1885 March 5Old Adelaide FCNorth AdelaideSouth 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 March 26East TorrensKent Town, South AustraliaSouth Australia DefunctFormed from merger of Kent Town and Zingari.[55] Later an East Torrens Football Association was formed. Which Kent Town was a member.
1885 June 9Brighton FCBrighton (Melbourne)Victoria Defunct (1964)
1885North RockhamptonRockhamptonQueensland Defunct[56]
1885Day DreamSilvertonNew South Wales
1885SilvertonSilvertonNew South Wales
1885BrightonAdelaideSouth Australia Defunct (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.
1885RichmondMelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueJoined the VFL in 1908.
1885VictoriansPerthWestern Australia Defunct (1890)In 1889, the club merged with the West Australian Football Club and became Metropolitans. Metropolitans folded at the end of 1890.
1885RosewaterAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian Amateur Football League[57]
1886Charters TowersCharters TowersQueensland Defunct[58]
1886KoroitKoroitVictoria Hampden FNL
1887KermandieGeevestonTasmania Defunct (2010)
1887Sydney University ANFCSydneyNew South Wales NEAFLSUANFC 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.[59]
1887FrankstonFrankstonVictoria Victorian Football League
1888MitchamMitchamVictoriaAustraliaEastern Football Netball League
1888HealesvilleHealesvilleVictoria Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League
1889 March 19Gawler CentralsGawlerSouth Australia Barossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 1953
1889 March 21South GawlerGawler SouthSouth Australia Barossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 1953
1889WillastonGawlerSouth Australia Barossa Light & Gawler Football AssociationFounding member of Gawler Football Association renamed Gawler and Districts Football League in 1953
1889VictoriaMaryboroughQueensland Defunct
1889YankalillaYankalillaSouth Australia Great Southern Football Association
1889CranbourneCranbourneVictoria Casey Cardinia Football League
1891MarionAdelaideSouth Australia SAAFL
1890Kangaroo FlatKangaroo FlatVictoria Bendigo Football League
1891CoburgCoburg (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian Football League
1891CentralsPerthWestern Australia Defunct
1891West PerthPerthWestern Australia West 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.
1891CheltenhamCheltenhamVictoria Southern Football Netball League
1892 February 12CollingwoodMelbourneVictoria Australian Football LeagueA meeting was held at the Collingwood town hall on Friday 12 February 1892 to announce the foundation of the Collingwood Football Club.
1892BunburyBunburyWestern Australia South West Football LeagueKnown as "Bunbury Railways Football Club" from 1906 until 1956.

[60]

1892ImperialsPerthWestern Australia Defunct
1892Corryong FNC*CorryongVictoria Upper Murray Football Netball League
1892Cudgewa FNC*CudgewaVictoria Upper Murray Football Netball League
1892Federal FNC*CorryongVictoria Upper Murray Football Netball LeagueFounded as the "Mount Elliot Football Club" in 1892 before being renamed to "Federal Football Club" in 1901.
1893South BendigoSouth BendigoVictoria Bendigo Football League
1893SebastopolSebastopolVictoria Ballarat Football League
1896AlburyAlburyNew South Wales Ovens and Murray League
1896WanderersJohannesburgSouth Africa Defunct (1909)Date of formation unknown
1896SubiacoPerthWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1897South BunburyBunburyWestern Australia SWFLSouth West Football League
1897MidlandMildandWestern Australia Metro Football League
1898East Fremantle*FremantleWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1898Kelmscott*KelmscottWestern Australia South Suburban Murry Football League
1899North Broken HillBroken HillNew South Wales Broken Hill Football League
1899PerthPerthWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1900 April 20South FremantleFremantleWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1900DurbanDurbanSouth Africa Defunct (1909)Date of formation unknown
1900South Broken HillBroken HillNew South Wales Broken Hill Football League
1901SturtAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian National Football LeagueFormed by the Sturt Cricket Club[61][62]
1901KangarillaAdelaideSouth Australia Hills Football League
1901WalkervilleAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian Amateur Football League
1901HawthornMelbourneVictoria Australian Football League
1901Spring ValeSpringvale (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian football leagueNow Casey Demons
1902KalkeeKalkeeVictoria Horsham & District Football League
1903EchungaAdelaideSouth Australia Hills Football League
1903BalaklavaBalaklavaSouth Australia Adelaide Plains Football League
1903North ShoreSydneyNew South Wales Sydney Australian Football League
1903LefroyWellingtonNew Zealand DefunctRenamed City
1903FederalWellingtonNew Zealand Defunct
1904PetoneWellingtonNew Zealand Defunct
1904NewtownWellingtonNew Zealand Defunct
1904WanderersWellingtonNew Zealand Defunct
1904Auckland ImperialAucklandNew Zealand Defunct
1904AustralAucklandNew Zealand Defunct
1904VictoriaAucklandNew Zealand DefunctChanged name to Eden in 1906
1904CommonwealthJohannesburgSouth 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 ClubQuambatookVictoria Defunct (2022)Club was believed to be over 120 years old.[63]
1905WynnumBrisbaneQueensland DefunctMerged with Gordon in 1910. Disappeared in the 1920s. Unrelated to the present day Wynnum Football Club that plays in the QAFL.
1905LocomotivesBrisbaneQueensland Defunct
1905ValleyFortitude Valley, BrisbaneQueensland DefunctMerged with Brisbanes in 1928
1906 March 26Adelaide UniversityAdelaideSouth Australia SAAFL
1906KoonibbaKoonibbaSouth Australia The oldest surviving Aboriginal football club in Australia.
1906Langhorne CreekLanghorne CreekSouth Australia Great Southern Football League
1906Oxford UniversityOxfordUnited Kingdom AFL England (National University League)Oldest existing club in both Europe and outside of Australia. First recorded match was in 1911[64][65]
1906East PerthPerthWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1907Hamley BridgeHamley BridgeSouth Australia Adelaide Plains Football League
1908NewtownAucklandNew Zealand Defunct
1908LoxtonLoxtonSouth Australia Riverland Football League
1908ClaytonMelbourneVictoria Southern Football LeagueHave been known as the Magpies, currently known as The Clays. [1]
1909Mt RoskillAucklandNew Zealand Defunct
1909Columbia ParkSan FranciscoUnited States Defunct (1919c)Founded as juniors club
1909BerriBerriSouth Australia Riverland Football League
1908Kingscote Football ClubKangaroo IslandSouth Australia Kangaroo Island Football League
1910South BrisbaneBrisbaneQueensland DefunctMerged with Yeronga date unknown
1910SeisokaTokyoJapan Defunct
1911CarrumCarrumVictoria Defunct (1996)Went into recess in 1996. Reformed in 2013 as the Carrum Patterson Lakes Football Club (See entry below)[2]
1912South Melbourne DistrictsMelbourneVictoria Victorian Amateur Football League
1913HeathertonHeathertonVictoria Southern Football LeagueOriginally named the Heatherton Freighters they are now known as the Tunners [3]
1916DarwinDarwin, Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Northern Territory Football League
1916WanderersDarwin, Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Northern Territory Football League
1916WaratahDarwin, Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory Northern Territory Football League
1918MurrumbeenaMelbourneVictoria Southern Football LeagueThe club began as an Under 18 team in 1918, playing in the Caulfield-Oakleigh-Dandenong Junior Football League. [4]
1919EdwardstownAdelaideSouth Australia SAAFL
1920BencubbinBencubbinWestern Australia Central Wheatbelt Football League
1920TaringaBrisbaneQueensland DefunctChanged name to Western Districts Australian Football Club in 1946, merged with Sherwood Districts in 1991
1920GlenelgAdelaideSouth Australia South Australian National Football League
1921Encounter BayEncounter BaySouth Australia Great Southern Football League
1921Cambridge UniversityCambridgeUnited Kingdom AFL England (National University League)*Possibly formed in 1911 for first recorded match, though did not play regularly until 1921
1921ClaremontPerthWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1923ZillmereBrisbaneQueensland Queensland Australian Football LeagueMerged with Windsor in 1962
1925WindsorBrisbaneQueensland DefunctMerged with Zillmere in 1962
1924BoeBoe DistrictNauru Nauru Australian Football Association
1924DenigomoduDenigomodu DistrictNauru Defunct
1924ActonCanberraAustralian Capital Territory Defunct (1973)
1924QueenbeyanQueanbeyanNew South Wales AFL Canberra
1924MayneEverton HillsQueensland AFLQ State Association (division 2)formed as a junior club and became senior club in 1925
1926Colonel Light GardensMortlock Park Colonel Light GardensSouth Australia SAAFL
1926EastlakeCanberraAustralian Capital Territory NEAFLRenamed Canberra in 2016
1927AinslieCanberraAustralian Capital Territory AFL CanberraRenamed Canberra in 2016
1928YerongaBrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State Association
1928KedronKedron, BrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State Association
1929SandringhamSandringham (Melbourne)Victoria Victorian Football League
1931ImperialMurray BridgeSouth Australia River Murray Football League
1932Golden SquareGolden SquareVictoria Bendigo Football League
1934Swan DistrictsPerthWestern Australia West Australian Football League
1935 AprilCoorparooBrisbaneQueensland QANFL, QAFLSeniors folded in 1995 but the Junior club still operate out of Giffin Park.
1936Box HillBox HillVictoria Victorian Football League
1943SandgateBrisbaneQueensland Queensland Australian Football LeagueMerged with Zillmere in 1991 then de-merged
1945WilstonBrisbaneQueensland Queensland Australian Football LeagueOriginally known as Wilston, renamed Wilston-Grange in 1947
1947MorningsideBrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State League[5]
1955Port Moresby ARFCPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (?)Foundation club of the POM AFL[66]
1955Boroko-BadiliPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (1970)Foundation club of the POM AFL[67]
1956University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State Association[6]
1956SherwoodBrisbaneQueensland DefunctFormed as junior club. Merged with Sherwood Districts in 1991
1959Central DistrictElizabethSouth Australia South Australian National Football LeagueNew Club which played in SANFL reserves 1959-1963
before competing in the League from 1964
1961SouthportSouthportQueensland AFLQ State League[7]
1961Surfers ParadiseSurfers ParadiseQueensland Queensland Australian Football League
1961Central AustralianPalm BeachQueensland Queensland Australian Football LeagueName changed to Palm Beach Currumbin in 1965
1963Christies BeachAdelaideSouth Australia Southern Football League
1964LabradorPalm BeachQueensland Queensland Australian Football League
1964Mount GravattBrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State League
1964AspleyBrisbaneQueensland AFLQ State League
1965Koboni DemonsPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football LeagueOne of the oldest surviving clubs in Papua New Guinea[68]
1965WerribeeWerribeeVictoria Victorian Football League
1966Victoria PointBrisbaneQueensland DefunctChanged name to Redlands in 1972
1969MaroochydoreMaroochydoreQueensland Queensland Australian Football League
1969AviatPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct (1971)
1969DefencePort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football LeagueFormed as Murray Barrack Football Club[69]
1970NoosaNoosaQueensland Queensland Australian Football League
1970GorokaGorokaPapua New Guinea Goroka Football League[70]
1970PIR RegimentPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct[71]
1970 October 4CoolarooToowoombaQueensland AFL Darling Downs
1971TurnerCanberraAustralian Capital Territory AFL CanberraMerged with West Canberra Football Club in 1986 to become Belconnen
1971BroadbeachBroadbeachQueensland AFLQ State League[8]
1971Dysart*DysartQueensland Central Queensland Highlands AFL Defunct LeagueClub still continues but has no league to play in.
1972SpringwoodSpringwood (Logan City)Queensland QFA Division 1
1972West BundabergBundabergQueensland AFL Wide BayNow known as Brothers Bulldogs Bundaberg (1996-)
1973CaloundraCaloundraQueensland Queensland Football Association
1973Eastern Suburbs BulldogsWellingtonNew Zealand Wellington AFLOldest surviving club in New Zealand
1974West Canberra Football ClubCanberraAustralian Capital Territory AFL CanberraMerged with West Canberra Football Club in 1986 to become Belconnen
1974North Shore TigersAucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFL
1974HalaguPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Defunct
1975UniversityPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football League
1975West New BritainKimbePapua New Guinea Kimbe Football League
1977Hervey BayHervey BayQueensland AFL Wide BayStarted as Seahawks – now Bombers (1985-)
1977MaryboroughMaryboroughQueensland AFL Wide BayStarted as Tigers – now Bears(1995-)
1978BorokoPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea DefunctMerger of the Bomana and Elcom clubs[72]
1979WestPort MoresbyPapua New Guinea Port Moresby Rules Football League
1981University BluesAucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFL
1981TakapunaTakapuna, AucklandNew Zealand DefunctFormer Auckland AFL club
1981Brothers RockhamptonRockhamptonQueensland AFL 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
1986Brisbane BearsBrisbaneQueensland Defunct (1996)Participated in the VFL/AFL from 1987 until 1996, then merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions.
1986West Coast EaglesPerthWestern Australia Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the VFL/AFL since the 1987 VFL season.
1989Hong Kong DragonsHong KongChina South China AFL
1990 February 14Wandsworth DemonsLondonEngland AFL London
1990 September 12Adelaide CrowsAdelaideSouth Australia Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the Australian Football League since the 1991 AFL season.
1990Bermagui BreakersBermaguiNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League
1991 NovemberTokyo GoannasTokyoJapan Japan AFL Top League
1991Manurewa RaidersManurewa, AucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFLLater renamed South City Raiders
1991Mt Roskill SaintsMt Roskill, AucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFL
1991Woodville-West TorrensWoodvilleSouth Australia South Australian National Football LeagueFormed from merger of neighbouring Woodville and West Torrens clubs
1993 April 24Singapore WombatsSingaporeSingapore AFL Asian Championships
1994Munich KangaroosMunichGermany Australian Football League GermanyThe oldest team in the Australian Football League Germany
1995Wellington City SaintsWellingtonNew Zealand Wellington AFL
1995FremantleFremantleWestern Australia Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the Australian Football League since the 1995 AFL season.
1995Frankfurt RedbacksFrankfurtGermany Australian Football League Germany
1996Brisbane LionsBrisbaneQueensland Australian Football LeagueMerger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. Participating in the Australian Football League since the 1997 AFL season.
1996Cincinnati DockersCincinnatiUnited States United States Australian Football League
1996Louisville KingsLouisvilleUnited States United States Australian Football League
1996Peel ThunderMandurahWestern Australia West Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the West Australian Football League since the 1997 WAFL season.[73]
1997Across The Waves Bundaberg EaglesBundabergQueensland AFL Wide BayMerger of Norths and Souths
1997Boston DemonsBostonUnited States United States Australian Football League
1997Nashville KangaroosNashvilleUnited States United States Australian Football League
1997North Carolina TigersRaleighUnited States United States Australian Football League
1997St. Louis BluesSt. LouisUnited States United States Australian Football League
1997Denver BulldogsDenverUnited States United States Australian Football League
1997San Diego LionsSan DiegoUnited States United States Australian Football League
1998Atlanta KookaburrasAtlantaUnited States United States Australian Football League
1998Chicago SwansChicagoUnited States United States Australian Football League
1998Paris CockerelsParisFrance Championnat de France de Football Australien
1999Waitakere MagpiesWaitākere, AucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFL
2001 JanuaryVancouver CougarsVancouverCanada British Columbia Australian Football League
2001Belfast RedbacksBelfastNorthern Ireland Australian Rules Football League of Ireland
2002Austin CrowsAustinUnited States United States Australian Football League
2004Bay PowerHervey BayQueensland AFL Wide BayReplacement Club for Fraser Coast
2007Young Saints FCYoungNew South Wales Defunct (2018)
2006Pyramid PowerGordonvaleQueensland Defunct (2020)
2009Gold Coast SunsGold CoastQueensland Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the Australian Football League since the 2011 AFL season.
2009Greater Western Sydney GiantsSydneyNew South Wales Australian Football LeagueParticipant in the Australian Football League since the 2012 AFL season.
2010Los Angeles DragonsLos AngelesUnited States United States Australian Football League
2012Howick HornetsHowick, AucklandNew Zealand Auckland AFL
2013Carrum Patterson LakesCarrumVictoria Southern Football LeagueTakes 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 [9]
2013Bega BombersBegaNew South Wales Sapphire Coast Australian Football League

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

References