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Australian rules football in New South Wales

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In New South Wales, Australian rules football dates back to the 1860s colonial era, with organised competitions being continuous since the 1880s. It is traditionally popular in the outback areas of the state near the Victorian and South Australian borders— in the Murray Region (along the Murray River), in the Riverina and in Broken Hill. These areas form part of an Australian cultural divide described as the Barassi Line. To the west of the line it is commonly known as "football" or "Australian Football" and to east of the line, it is promoted under the acronym "AFL" by the main development body AFL NSW/ACT. There are more than 15 regional leagues though some are run from other states, the highest profile are AFL Sydney and the Riverina Football Netball League. With 80,572 registered players, it has the third most of any jurisdiction.

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; 159 years ago (17 June 1865)[1]
Registered players80,572 (adult)
42,396 (child)[2]
Clubs260
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match72,393 (2003). Sydney Swans Football Club v. Collingwood Football Club. (Telstra Stadium, Sydney)

The representative team, nicknamed the Blues, played interstate matches against other Australian states and Territories between 1881 and 1988. The Blues have a strong record, defeating every state and territory except South Australia. They have long standing rivalries with Victoria accounting for them in 1923, 1925, and in 1990 under State of Origin rules at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and Queensland which was evenly contested from 1884. WR 'Billy' McKoy holds the record for the number of representative caps for New South Wales with 31.[3] Sydney hosted national carnivals in 1914, 1933, 1960 and 1974. The underage Blues also claimed Under 19 national championships in 1974 and 1975 as well as a Division 2 title in 1993. The team's 1993 merger with ACT to become a composite side ended over a century of representative competition.

Two clubs based in the state capital Sydney currently compete in the professional Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women's (AFLW): the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. The Swans in 1982 became the first professional Australian sporting team to move interstate, and entered the AFLW in Season 7 (2022). The Giants debuted in the 2012 AFL season and 2017 AFL Women's season and compete against the Swans in the Sydney Derby (also known as "The Battle of the Bridge").

Some of the greatest names in the sport hail from the state including its leading pioneers, cousins Tom Wills and H. C. A. Harrison, who were born there. Over 400 players have competed in the AFL including two Legends in the Australian Football Hall of Fame: Haydn Bunton Sr. and Jock McHale. The New South Wales born and raised player with the most AFL games and most AFL goals is Tom Hawkins with 359 games and 796 goals while Sophie Casey has the most AFLW games with 63, and Zarlie Goldsworthy has the most AFLW goals with 16.

History

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First clubs and matches (1861–1867)

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The Federal Football Club was formed at the Imperial Hotel in Wagga Wagga in 1861, making it the oldest Australian rules football club outside of Victoria and the oldest football club of any code in New South Wales, however little else of the early history of the club now known as the Wagga Tigers is known.[4] Its first recorded interclub matches did not appear for at least another decade.[5][4]

 
Richard Driver, founding president of the Sydney Football Club, Sydney's first, which formally adopted the code in May 1866

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 the Sydney University Football Club.[6] Another club, the Australian Club also competed with the Sydney FC in 1865.[7] Though it is not known under what code, de Moore (2021) notes that according to accounts it was very similar to the Victorian code but with an influence of rugby.[8] 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[9] and that it did not begin playing regularly under rugby rules until 1869.

At its first annual meeting on 8 May 1866,[10] the Sydney Football Club announced that it had formally adopted the Victorian football rules and encouraged Victorian clubs to travel north for intercolonial matches.[11] On 26 May 1866, the rules were published in Bells Life in Sydney.[11] The Australian Club formally adopted the code shortly after.[8]

Unlike football in other colonies, early football in Sydney struggled to take root. During the 1860s, Sydney being a much smaller city had a handful of clubs compared to at least a dozen active at the time in the code's heartland in the Victorian colony of Melbourne.[12] As was the case for the fledgling contemporary Brisbane Football Club in the Queensland colony, Sydney's clubs (unlike those of Melbourne and Adelaide in the colony of South Australia) struggled to recruit enough football players for organised matches. Without intercolonial competition and with few playing, newcomer clubs soon disbanded.[13] The growing city of Newcastle, however defied the trend, revising the Rules of Football (the Victorian Rules), and publishing it in its press.[11]

One of the first Sydney schools to adopt the code was Newington College in 1867 by its then headmaster and ex-Geelong FC vice-president George Metcalfe.[14]

In 1868, a new Sydney Football Club was founded also adopting the Victorian rules, citing their popularity in Melbourne as the main reason for the choice. Few details survive of their matches apart from one held against the 60th Queen's Own Regiment on 11 July 1868.[15]

Rugby rebellion and the Southern Rugby Football Union ban (1868–1876)

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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[16]

A strong rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne has existed since the Victorian gold rush, when the latter first outgrew its older sister. With the rapid growth of Victorian rules, Sydney journalists panned it in 1868, protesting that the "old English game of football" would be preferable to Sydneysiders than any game imported from the rival colony.[17] As a result, following the end of Metcalfe's term at Newington College, the school in 1869 had switched codes, and in doing so became the first Australian school to play rugby union.[14] The Sydney Football Club would soon suffer the same fate as its predecessor and disappeared completely. Sydney University also began to heavily promote rugby football over the Victorian code in 1869.

Rugby clubs could manage just four matches prior to the 1870s, however it was being successfully integrated into schools and later began producing organised senior competition. Soon after, it spread throughout the colony. Some clubs continued to experiment with playing under Victorian rules which threatened the control of rugby authorities. Subsequently, in 1874 the newly formed Southern Rugby Football Union (SRFU) instituted a ban on its member clubs from playing any matches under those rules. This led to the extinction of the Victorian code in Sydney. In the Riverina closer to Victoria however, clubs were able to somewhat survive it. The Albury Football Club (founded in 1876 under Victorian rules) did so by crossing the border to play against northern Victorian clubs[18][19] though even it was all but defunct the following year, requiring resuscitation some time later.[20] Other early northern Riverina clubs such as Wagga were left with little other option than to organise local scratch matches[21] as most other clubs in the colony were adopting rugby. Calls from Victoria in May 1877 for intercolonial tests were dismissed by the SRFU in an effort to prevent the Victorian code from being promoted in Sydney.[22]

Intercolonial football and establishment of competitions in the Riverina, Sydney, Newcastle and Broken Hill (1877–1893)

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Harry Hedger the former Waratahs Southern Rugby Union player, who founded the NSWFA in Sydney in 1880, was also a key player in the founding of the NSWFL in 1903[23] and its first life member in 1905.

In June 1877, Sydney's Waratah Rugby Football Club (formed in 1873 but now defunct) accepted a challenge from Victoria's Carlton Football Club to reciprocal matches in their respective codes, and in doing so, risked expulsion from the union.[24] The SRFU refused to sanction the match, and fearing the effect of promoting the Victorian code, fixtured a competing match at Paramatta. The 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.[25] 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.[26]

 
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 proposed changes to rugby amid growing dissatisfaction over the game's rules.[27][28] Rugby interests, however, repeatedly rejected suggestions to switch codes or even play intercolonial matches under alternating rules against Victoria despite the NSW Cricket association making its grounds available for the proposed matches.[29] In response, the proponents of the Australian game, led by Harry Hedger and George Walker, formed the New South Wales Football Association (NSWFA) in 1880.[30] One of the vice-presidents of the SRFU resigned from his position to take position on the newly formed NSWFA board. Among the founding members were Sydney (the third club by that name) and East Sydney. In 1881, the first Australian rules game between NSW and Victoria was played in Sydney.[31] The NSWFA only had a few clubs, including Waratah which switched codes in 1882. A splinter University club from the rugby club, the Sydney University Australian National Football Club also formed in 1887 to join the competition. From 1889, 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.[32]

In the Riverina several clubs had formed prior to 1882 including two in Wagga and Albury and one in Narrandera however they initially struggled to coordinate with nearby clubs due to the SRFU ban.[33] The first recorded match there was in 1881 between Federal (Wagga) and Albury Football Club in Wagga,[34] just a year before the first rugby matches were held in the region.[18] Local competition between clubs commenced in earnest in 1884 around Wagga Wagga which became the Wagga Football Association.[18]

 
Northumberland Football Club, Newcastle premiers in 1887. The club was founded in 1881 and was the first club to adopt the code in the Northern District.

The game was introduced to Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1883 when the Wallsend and Plattsburg Football Club was formed by miners from Ballarat, though some sources claim that it has been played in the Northern District even earlier than 1881.[35] 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. The Northern District Football Association around Newcastle began in 1886, with teams from 1888 competing for the Black Diamond Cup,[36] Australia's oldest existing and active sporting trophy.[35][37][38] Five clubs were established in the Newcastle area: Newcastle City, Wallsend and Plattsburg, Northumberland, Lambton, and Singleton.

South Melbourne was the second club to visit New South Wales in 1883, defeating the Sydney Football Club by just a single goal in front of a large crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground,[39] and in a goal in front of 600 spectators during a game against East Sydney Football Club.[40] Waratah played against South Australia in 1884 at Moore Park.[41]

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.[42]

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 NSWFA had trouble gaining access to enclosed grounds and gate receipts. With its two clubs divided, it collapsed in 1893.[43]

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

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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.

With the Federation of Australia, the Australian code in Sydney 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 competition started with extreme enthusiasm with a total of 11 clubs signing up to contest the opening season in 1903 (including: East Sydney FC, Ashfield Electorate FC, North Shore FC, North Sydney FC, South Sydney FC, YMCA FC, Paddington FC, Redfern FC, West Sydney FC, Newtown FC, Sydney FC and Balmain FC),[44] with East Sydney taking out the first premiership with a 6-point win over North Shore. The NSWAFL promoted the game in schools and lobbied for VFL exhibition matches in Sydney to promote the code.

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.[45] 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.[46] In 1904, Melbourne Football Club 9–17 (71) defeated Essendon Football Club 6–3 (39) in front of 6,000 people.[47] Without any interest, top-level VFL disappeared from Sydney for decades.

The first played on the North Coast was at Lismore in June 1903 was between two local teams and initially proved popular.[48]

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.[49]

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.[50] Another South Australian club, Norwood Football Club, toured with Victorian club Carlton, playing a match in front of 7,000 at the Showgrounds.[51] North Adelaide Football Club also toured in 1910 to play against New South Wales at Erskineville Oval, which attracted 2,000 spectators.[52] In 1911, Geelong toured and played a combined Sydney side at Alexandria in front of 6,000 spectators.[53] Dally Messenger contributed to the paid football code of rugby league; as a result, rugby established itself into the culture of Sydney in 1908.

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.[54]

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    Broken Hill representative team that toured Adelaide in 1904
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    The new NSWFL grandstand at Alexandria in 1912 was available for just a few years before the NSWFL was shut out of the ground.
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    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)

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New South Wales' had their first ever victory against Victoria by 15 points at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1923. It proved not to be a once off as the Blues repeated the feat in 1925.

Popularity peaked in 1921 when attendances at the Sydney competition grew from hundreds to thousands.[55] 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.[55]

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,[56] the VFL at the SCG in 1923, and again at Erskineville Oval by one point on 15 August 1925.[56]

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.

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.

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.

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    East vs. Newtown Trumper Park Oval, 1931
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    A New South Wales player marks over a West Australian opponent in the goal square at the 1933 Sydney Carnival held at the SCG.
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    Newcastle vs. Sydney North Shore at the Newcastle Showground in 1935

Post-war decline and VFL intervention (1940s–1970s)

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Richmond vs. Collingwood match at SCG in 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.[57] 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 in wet conditions as part of "National Day Round". Another match in the same round in Albury at the Albury Sports Ground attracted a record crowd of 15,000. However, the league would not return for another decade.

In the early 1960s the game began to set roots in parts of the state it had not been played in before. The first game played in New England occurred in Armidale between the University of New England and Moree in 1962 which grew briefly to 3 teams and regular competition from 1963. The game also became established on the South Coast at a senior level with the establishment of the South Coast AFL in 1969.[58]

The NSWAFL, under immense pressure due to dwindling interest had called upon the VFL to help jumpstart the code. In response in 1967 the VFL arranged a television broadcast arrangement to Sydney for the first time via Channel 2 replays watched by approximately 70,000 Sydneysiders. The league also VFL agreed to play annual matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground to assist in lifting the profile of the local competition. As part of this initiative in 1967 Essendon played Geelong in front of 23,777; in 1968 St Kilda played Carlton in front of 22,472; and in 1969 Melbourne played Collingwood in front of 14,610. However falling interest and gate takings saw the league pull out of the Sydney experiment once again.

In 1971 the VFL game of the round was broadcast live into Sydney for the first time on TCN 9 with an average audience of around 100,000.

Establishment of a Sydney VFL team and relocation of the Swans (1976–1981)

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In 1976, Melbourne journalist Jim Main began to break a story that a leading Melbourne businessman who had relocated to Sydney, Mannie Bongornio, had been meeting with Allen Aylett about luring a VFL club to Sydney. The idea began to gain traction and 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.[59] Upon becoming league president, Aylett had the league investigated playing Sunday matches at the SCG.[60] 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.[61] 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.[62]

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.

A 1981 report by Graham Huggins concluded that there was an "untapped market in Sydney which represented an excellent opportunity for the league."[63] 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.[64] Following the report, the VFL announced that the league had decided to put a team in Sydney in 1982.[63] 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,[65] becoming the first team based outside of Victoria.

In 1981 and 1982 the code expanded into the Central West with clubs established in Parkes, and Dubbo followed by clubs in Cowra, Orange and Young commencing the Central West Australian Football League.

One team town, Sydney Swans era (1982–2012)

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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.

In 1983 five clubs in on the southern coast formed the Sapphire Coast Australian Football League.

During the mid 1980s there was a small increase in professional players recruited from Sydney, one of the highest profile of which was Russell Morris who debuted in 1984. 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.

The impact of the Swans on the Sydney Football League was heavy. The competition had built up a following and was semi-professional. That changed with the Swans introduction as supporters left the local competition. Among the casualties was the historic foundation club Newtown which folded in 1987.[66][67]

In 1988 the number of schools playing the code was 110, which had grown to 160 in 1994.[68]

With substantial monetary and management support from the AFL, the Sydney Swans continued and with player draft concessions in the early 1990s, and fielded a competitive team throughout the decade.

Sydney's first Grand Final appearance, Super League War and AFL audience growth (1996–1998)

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The Swans under Ron Barassi successfully recruited Tony "Plugger" Lockett in 1995 who became a cult figure in Sydney, with an instant impact and along with the Super League war ravaging Sydney's popular rugby league competition, helped the Swans to become a powerhouse Sydney icon.[69] Lockett's heroics spearheading the club included the Preliminary final in which his kick after the siren saw the Swans win by a point against Essendon to secure a spot in the 1996 Grand Final, the club's first since moving to Sydney.[70] While the club ultimately lost the 1996 AFL Grand Final to North Melbourne,[69] the publicity of the Grand Final saw audiences peak and a great many Sydneysiders experiencing the sport for the first time.[71] Average home crowds for the Swans peaked at 36,612 in 1997.

With two rival national rugby league competitions running in 1997 saw the popularity of the Swans reach new heights as disenfranchised rugby league fans began to take an interest in the code.[71] AFL audiences grew dramatically and average home crowds for the Swans peaked at 36,612 in 1997.

First AFL premiership for Sydney and AFL expansion plans (1999-2011)

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AFL pre-season matches began at North Sydney Oval between Sydney and Essendon in the early 2000s with a record 9,654 attending in 2005

On the back of four subsequent years of Swans finals appearances, junior numbers, stagnant for many decades, began to move in Sydney and across the state. The AFL in 1999 established the AFL NSW/ACT Commission Limited to govern its expansion in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The league began a strong push for a second team in Sydney, considering the proposed relocation of the North Melbourne Football Club as the best option, facilitating home matches in Sydney and dropping North Melbourne from its name to become the "Kangaroos" in an effort to grow the audience. However, poor attendance at the Kangaroos Sydney matches, low television viewership, and strong opposition from the Sydney Swans soon saw an end to the push.[72]

Junior numbers began to increase, particularly in the south of Sydney and Wollongong Region from 1999.[73]

 
Sydney's first AFL premiership team running through the banner at the start of the 2005 AFL Grand Final

After a period of success in Sydney, the Swans reached once again reached the Grand Final and won 2005 premiership against the West Coast Eagles taking the flag to Sydney for the first time. It also broke the longest premiership drought in the history of the competition.[74]

In 2005, the AFL went on a Sydney-centric recruitment drive, offering a NSW scholarships program and young apprentice scheme.[75] 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.[76]

Two team era: Greater Western Sydney Giants and the AFL Women's (2012–)

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GWS Giants banner at the inaugural "Sydney Derby" at Stadium Australia in 2012

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.[77] 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.[78][79]

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.[80]

GWS was awarded a license for the inaugural AFL Women's season with the Sydney Swans, deciding not to bid for entry until later.[81]

 
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.[82]

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.[82] 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.[83][84] 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.[85]

Audiences

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Attendance Record

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Attendances

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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.[86]

Major Australian rules football events in New South Wales

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Competitions

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Club Competitions

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Location of regional governing bodies and active competitions (yellow is competitions run from other juridictions with NSW clubs with points indicating approximate epicentres of NSW clubs)

Men's

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Active competition
League Years with NSW clubs Senior NSW clubs Divisions Headquarters Notes
New South Wales Football Association 1880-1893 19 1 Sydney Folded
Newcastle Australian Football League 1886-1999 21 1 Newcastle Merged with Central Coast Australian Football League in 1999
Wagga Football Association 1888-1889 Wagga Wagga[87] Folded
Broken Hill Football League 1890- 4 1 Broken Hill [88] Affiliated with the South Australian Football Commission. Current clubs date to 1900
Murray Border Football Association 1895-1902 6 1 Barooga Also known as the Federal Football Association
Ovens & Murray Football Netball League 1896- 4 1 Rutherglen, Victoria [89] Albury was the league's first NSW club followed by South Albury and Corowa by 1898
Wagga United Football Association 1897 Wagga Wagga[90] Folded
Murrumbidgee District Football Association 1897 Folded
Federal District Football Association 1897–1902 3 1 Cobram, Victoria Folded
Wagga United Football Association 1898–1921 Wagga Wagga Folded
Deniliquin Football Association 1900-1932 13 1 Deniliquin Folded
McLaurin Football Competition 1901 Folded
AFL Sydney 1903- 22 7 Sydney [91]
Southern Riverina Football Association 1905–1931 3 1 Berrigan Folded
Greengunyah Football Association 1906 Folded
Corowa & District Football Association 1906–1907 Corowa Folded
Central Riverina Football League 1907 3 1 Narrandera Folded
Coreen & District Football League 1909-2007 7 1 Coreen Folded
South West Football League 1910-1981 14 1 Riverina Absorbed into Riverina District Football League / Farrer Football League two division system
Faithful & District Football Association 1920-1940 10 1 Kywong Folded
Riverina Main Line Football Association 1922 7 1 Wagga Wagga Folded
Riverina Football Association 1924-1929 7 1 Wagga Wagga Folded
Northern Riverina Football League 1924- 5 1 Tullibigeal [92]
AFL Canberra 1925- 6 4 Canberra [93] Queanbeyan and more recently from surrounding towns Cooma, Yass, Cootamundra, Batemans Bay and Murrumbateman
Central Hume Football Association 1928-1935 19 1 Folded
Central Riverina Football League 1930-1957 25 1 Folded
Murray Football Netball League 1932- 5 1 Shepparton, Victoria [94]
Hume Football Netball League 1933- 12 1 Walla Walla [95]
Albury & District Football League 1941-1981 19 1 Albury Folded
Sunraysia Football and Netball League 1942- 1 1 Mildura, Victoria [96]
Golden Rivers Football League 1945- 3 1 Kerang, Victoria [97]
Milbrulong & District Football League 1945-1948 9 1 Milbrulong Folded
Farrer Football League 1957- 9 1 Wagga Wagga [98]
New England Australian Football League 1962-1984 7 1 Armidale Folded
AFL South Coast Seniors 1969- 10 1 Wollongong [99]
Picola and District Football Netball League 1969– 7 1 Picola, Victoria [100][101]
North West Australian Football League 1970s-1993 7 1 Tamworth Folded
Upper Murray Football Netball League 1971- 1 1 Corryong, Victoria [102]
Illawarra Australian Football League 1975-1988 6 1 Wollongong Folded
Central Coast Australian Football League 1976-1999 8 1 Central Coast Merged with Newcastle Australian Football League in 1999
Millewa Football League 1980- 1 1 Mildura, Victoria [103]
Riverina Football Netball League 1982- 9 1 Wagga Wagga [104]
AFL North Coast 1982- 5 1 Coffs Harbour [105]
AFL Central West 1982- 6 2 Bathurst [106]
VFL/AFL 1983- 2 1 Melbourne, Victoria [107]
Australian Football Championships night series 1983-1986 1 1 Melbourne, Victoria Discontinued
Summerland Australian Football League 1984-2021 11 1 Ballina Taken over by AFL Queensland as QFA Northern Rivers in 2011 before folding in 2021
AFL Sapphire Coast 1984- 4 1 Tilba [108]
Tallangatta & District Football League 1988- 1 1 Tallangatta, Victoria [109]
AFL North West NSW 1997- 4 1 Coffs Harbour [110]
Central Murray Football Netball League 1997- 3 1 Swan Hill, Victoria [111]
AFL Hunter Central Coast Seniors 2000- 15 1 Newcastle [112]
Queensland Football Association 2009- 2 1 Brisbane, Queensland Tweed Coast (Bogangar), Southern Stingrays (Ballina)
North East Australian Football League 2011-2020 4 1 Sydney Amalgamated with the Victorian Football League in 2021
League Championship Cup 2011-2013 3 1 Melbourne, Victoria Discontinued
AFLQ Northern Rivers 2014-2021 4 1 Byron Bay Run by AFL Queensland. Folded
Victorian Football League 2020- 2 1 Melbourne, Victoria [113]

Women's

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Active competition
League Years with NSW clubs NSW clubs Divisions Headquarters Notes
AFL Sydney Women's Premiership Division 1999- 9 1 Sydney [114]
Southern NSW Womens League 2018- 8 1 Wagga Wagga [115]
AFL South Coast Womens Premier Division 2018- 6 1 Wollongong [116]

Junior

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Active competition
League Years with NSW clubs Divisions NSW clubs Headquarters Notes
AFL Sydney Juniors 2016- Mixed: U8-U14; M: U8-U17; F: U9-U17 50 Sydney [117]
Sydney Independent Schools Competition 2016- M: U12-U18; F: U10-U12 68 Sydney [118]
Talent League 2019- Mixed: U19; M: U16-U18; F: U16-18 2 Melbourne [119]

Representative teams

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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 on 5 March 1988 where it defeated Western Australia at Football Park.[120]

In 1993, the game's new governing body, the AFL Commission created a composite team with the Australian Capital Territory, the NSW/ACT Rams to contest the 1993 State of Origin Championships. Captained by Wayne Carey all but 4 of the players were from New South Wales. Unlike the standalone team, the combined team did not experience any success. The state has not fielded a standalone senior men's team 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 competed in the TAC Cup (now Talent League).

Senior Men's Captains

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NSWAFL Era

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Name Years as captain
Ralph Robertson 1908, 1911, 1914
Reg Ellis 1924
Arthur Gloster 1927
Dave Elliman 1930
Alan Smythe 1947
Alf Penno 1958

State of Origin Era

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Laurie Pendrick 1979
Terry Daniher 1988
Wayne Carey 1993*
  • as NSW/ACT

Players

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See also: Category:Australian rules footballers from New South Wales

Participation

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According to Ausplay the participation rate is 1.2%, with 80,572 players in 2024 up from 71,481 participants in 2023.[121] Although it is one of the fastest growing sports in the state, the overall participation per capita is around one percent, the lowest for the sport in Australia.[122] Prior to official Ausplay data, the AFL reported significantly higher participation numbers, reaching a peak of 177,949 in 2013 however these figures were inflated due to the inclusion of players from the ACT and participants in Auskick sessions (as many as 50,000) which could not be classified as regular players.[123][124] Nevertheless, the code has grown substantially and it now has many more participants than rugby union, but trails behind soccer and rugby league.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics "Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, Apr 2009" estimated that there were only 18,000 Australian rules football participants[125] however the ABS used a small sample size of 20,126 private dwelling in obtaining their data of participation numbers for the 2011/12 season.[126]

Registered players
2007 2011 2016 2019 2022/23 2023/24
7,225[127] 18,000[125] 51,177[122] 69,168[122] 71,481[121] 80,572[2]
 
Australian football pioneer Tom Wills was born and raised at Burra
 
H. C. A. Harrison, the "Father of Australian Football" was born in Picton

Past Greats and Hall of Fame members

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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; the Daniher family from West Wyalong, particularly Terry Daniher and Anthony Daniher but also Neale and Chris who all played at Essendon for much of their career and represented the state on multiple occasions; 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 Roy Bent, Steve Hywood one of the best back flankers ever to play the game,[128] Dean Solomon, Brent Staker, and Taylor Walker.

Many notable players have also been recruited from Sydney, with Australian rules being played since 1880 and pre-dating other major sports.[129] Despite the lack of media attention the game has received, Sydney has still generated many players of high quality. Notable Sydneysiders have included: 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.[130]

Some notable players made their name in leagues outside of Victoria include Lithgow born and Sydney raised West Australian Football Hall of Famer William "Nipper" Truscott, South Australian Football Hall of Famer Geoff Kingston and Balmain and Port Adelaide's Jack Ashley and West Torrens Dave Low.

Men's

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Current players

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AFL players from NSW

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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
Caiden Cleary Glebe Juniors, Trinity Grammar, Newtown Swans, Sydney University, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2023 #24 2024– 3 1 Raised in Sydney[131]
Shadeau Brain Finley 2023 Rookie (Category B) 2024– 8 0 Raised in Finley[132]
Connor O'Sullivan St Patricks Junior, Thurgoona, Albury U17 (NSW-ACT) 2023 #11 2024– 1 0 Raised in Albury[133]
Patrick Voss Turvey Park, GWS Giants Academy 2023 (Preseason) 2024– 3 2 Raised in Wagga[134]
Harvey Thomas Turvey Park, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2023 #59 2024– 1 0 Raised in Wagga[135]
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 Killarney Vale, Pennant Hills, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2020 (Rookie) Category B Rookie 2023– 2 1 Raised in Forresters Beach, Central Coast[136]
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[137][138]
Tylar Young North Albury 2022 (Rookie) Rookie (#26) 2023– 1 0 Raised in Albury[139]
Campbell Chesser Lavington 2022 #14 2023– 1 0 Raised in Albury (Lavington)[140]
Patrick Parnell Albury, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy U16 (2018) 2021 Rookie (mid-season) 2022– 17 0 Raised in Albury[141]
Daniel Turner Albury 2021 (Rookie) Rookie (#24) 2022– 1 0 Raised in Albury[141]
Errol Gulden Maroubra Saints, Sydney Swans Academy, UNSW-Easts, Sydney U16 (2018) 2020 #32 2021– 40 32 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney[142]
Braeden Campbell Westbrook, Pennant Hills, Sydney Swans Academy, 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 Academy, 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
Nick Murray Henty, Ganmain-Grong Grong Matong, GWS Giants Academy 2021 (Pre season) 2021– 29 1 Raised in Henty and Albury
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 0 Raised in St Ives (Sydney) and recruited from Sydney
Sam Wicks Manly Bombers Junior, Sydney Swans Academy, Manly Warringah Wolves/Giants, Sydney 2018 (Rookie) Category B Rookie 2019– 59 42 Born and raised in and recruited from Manly (Sydney)
Nick Blakey East Sydney Bulldogs, Sydney Swans Academy, UNSW-Easts, Sydney 2018 #10 2019– 105 33 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Lachie Schultz Moama 2018 #57 2019– 108 123 Raised in Moama
Tarryn Thomas – 2018 #8 2019–2023 69 56 Born and raised in Sydney (Kamilaroi)
Jacob Koschitzke Albury, Albury High School, GWS Giants Academy 2018 #53 2019– 36 45 Born, raised in and recruited from Albury
James Bell Shellharbour Swans Junior, Sydney Swans Academy, UNSW-Easts, 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 Albury, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2016 Category B Rookie 2019–2022 17 13 Raised in Albury
Jarrod Brander Wentworth District, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2017 #13 2019–2022 27 9 Raised in Wentworth
Michael Gibbons Coolamon, Lavington Rookie 2019–2021 3 2 Raised in Albury
Doulton Langlands North Albury Rookie 2019–2020 47 35 Raised in Lavington
Derek Eggmolesse-Smith Wentworth 2018 (Rookie) Rookie 2018–2021 9 0 Raised in Wentworth (Barkandji)
Elliott Himmelberg - 2016 #51 2018– 41 41 Raised in Wagga
Charlie Spargo 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 Camden Junior, Kellyville Rouse Hill, St George, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2017 #65 2018–2021 6 0 Born and raised in Campbelltown and Macarthur
Josh Dunkley – 2015 #25 2017– 140 67 Born in Sydney
Jack Buckley Maroubra Saints, UNSW-Easts, Sydney Swans Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2017 Category B Rookie 2017– 15 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Harry Perryman Collingullie-Glenfield Park, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #14 2017– 124 28 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 Deniliquin, GWS Giants Academy 2016 #16 2017– 111 158 Raised in Deniliquin[143]
Jamaine Jones – 2016 #48 2017–2024 66 23 Born in Broken Hill (Barkindji)
Will Setterfield Albury, Scots School Albury, GWS Giants Academy, 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, Corowa-Rutherglen 2016 #72 2017–2021 14 0 Raised in Corowa
Ben Davis UNSW-Easts, Sydney Swans Academy 2016 #75 2017–2022 11 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Jake Stein St Dominic's College Penrith, Greater Western Sydney 2016 Category B Rookie 2017–2022 20 1 Born, raised in and recruited from Penrith (Sydney)
Harry Himmelberg Mangoplah, NSW/ACT Rams, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #16 2016– 152 161 Born and raised in Wagga Wagga
Daniel Lloyd Kilarney Vale, Greater Western Sydney 2016 (Rookie) Rookie (#26) 2016–2023 101 75 Raised in and recruited from Central Coast
Callum Mills Mosman Swans, Sydney Swans Academy, North Shore, Sydney U18 (2014, 2015) 2015 #3 2016– 155 27 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Matthew Kennedy Collingullie-Glenfield Park, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #13 2016– 110 53 Raised in Collingullie, recruited from Sydney
Jacob Hopper Leeton-Whitton, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #7 2016– 114 42 Born and raised in Leeton, recruited from Sydney
Matt Flynn Narrandera, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2015 #41 2016– 24 9 Raised in Narrandera and recruited from Sydney
Paul Hunter Warners Bay 2016 Rookie (#13) 2016–2021 7 1 Raised in Redhead
Isaac Heeney Cardiff, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2014 #18 2015– 197 252 Born in Maitland, raised in Newcastle, recruited from Sydney
Jeremy Finlayson Culcairn, Sydney Hills, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2014 #69 2015– 117 160 Born in Jindera, raised in Culcairn, recruited from Sydney (Yorta Yorta)
Dougal Howard East Wagga Kooringal, Wagga Tigers 2014 #56 2015– 102 15 Born and raised in Wagga Wagga[144]
Aaron vandenBerg Tathra 2015 (Rookie) Rookie (#2) 2015–2021 47 23 Raised in Tathra
Jordan Foote UNSW-Easts, Sydney 2015–2018 6 1 Raised in Tathra
Jack Hiscox Sydney University, Sydney 2015–2016 1 0 Raised in Sydney
Sam Naismith Gunnedah, Sydney Swans Academy, North Shore, Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#59) 2014–2024 33 3 Born in Narrabri, raised in Gunnedah, recruited from Sydney
Sam Lloyd Deniliquin 2013 #66 2014–2020 89 114 Raised in and recruited from Deniliquin
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, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#37) 2013– 251 9 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Zac Williams Narrandera, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney 2013 (Rookie) Rookie (#55) 2013– 151 46 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
Brandon Jack Westbrook Junior, Pennant Hills, Sydney 2013 Rookie Rookie (#58) 2013–2017 28 16 Raised in Sydney
Jarrod Witts St Ives, Sydney University 2011 #67 2012– 178 38 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Harry Cunningham Turvey Park, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2012 (Rookie) Rookie (#93) 2012– 197 52 Born, raised in and recruited from Wagga Wagga
Michael Hartley Penrith, Sydney University 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, NSW/ACT Rams, GWS Giants Academy, Greater Western Sydney U16, U18 (2010) Zone 2012–2021 62 44 Born and raised in Leeton
Kurt Aylett Leeton-Whitton, Greater Western Sydney Zone 2012–2015 3 0 Born and raised in Leeton
Luke Breust Temora, NSW/ACT Rams 2009 (Rookie) Rookie (#47) 2011– 300 549 Born, raised in and recruited from Temora
Will Langford East Sydney Bulldogs, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs 2011 (Rookie) Rookie (#85) 2011–2018 72 24 Born and raised in Sydney
Nathan Gordon Baulkham Hills, East Coast Eagles, Sydney 2010 (Rookie) Rookie (#71) 2011–2015 23 19 Raised in Sydney
Isaac Smith Wagga Hawks, Wagga Tigers, Albury, NSW/ACT Rams 2010 #19 2011–2023 280 205 Born in Young, raised in Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga
Tom Young Wollondilly Junior, Campbelltown, Sydney University, NSW/ACT Rams U18 (2009) 2010 #104 (NSW Scholarship list) 2011–2014 28 5 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Jackson Ferguson Pennant Hills 2011 (Rookie) Rookie (#72) 2011–2013 1 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Taylor Duryea NSW/ACT Rams 2009 #69 2010– 200 25 Raised in Corowa
Dustin Martin Ingleburn Magpies Junior, Campbelltown 2009 #3 2010–2024 302 338 Raised in Sydney
Taylor Walker North Broken Hill, NSW/ACT Rams 2007 #75 2009– 275 636 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Nic Naitanui – 2008 #2 2009–2023 213 112 Born in Penrith
Ryan Davis Willoughby Wildcats, North Shore Bombers, NSW/ACT Rams 2008 #62 2008–2017 35 19 Raised in Sydney
Tony Armstrong Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2007 #58 2008–2015 35 2 Born and raised in Albury (Barranbinya)
Craig Bird NSW/ACT Rams, Nelson Bay, Sydney NSW/ACT U18 (2007) 2007 #59 2008–2017 157 59 Raised in Nelson Bay
Tom Hawkins Finley 2006 #41 (father-son) 2007– 359 796 Born and raised in Finley
Kieren Jack Pennant Hills, Sydney NSW/ACT U18 (2005) 2005 Rookie Rookie 2007–2019 256 166 Born and raised in Sydney
Matt Suckling East Wagga-Kooringal, Wagga Tigers 2007 (Rookie) Rookie (#22) 2007–2020 178 85 Raised in Wagga
Ed Barlow U15 (2006) 2006 (Rookie) Rookie (#60) 2007–2011 34 22 Raised in Tathra
Bryce Campbell Wagga Tigers 2006 #7 2007–2008 8 1 Raised in Wagga
Malcolm Lynch Saint Ignatius College 2007 2 0 Schooled in Sydney
Dylan Addison St George, Greater Western Sydney U18 (2005) 2005 #27 2006–2015 93 30 Raised in Sydney
Sam Gilbert - 2005 #33 2006–2018 208 38 Raised in Terranora
Setanta Ó hAilpín – 2011 #79 2005–2013 88 82 Born in Sydney
Daniel Pratt – 2000 #42 2004–2011 119 10 Born in Sydney
Jarrad McVeigh Killarney Vale, Pennant Hills, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2002 #5 2003–2019 325 201 Born and raised on the Central Coast
Brent Staker West Broken Hill, NSW/ACT Rams 2002 #37 2003–2015 160 119 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Adam Schneider Osborne, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2001 #60 2003–2014 228 259 Born in Wagga, raised in and recruited from Osborne
Lewis Roberts-Thomson North Shore, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2001 #29 2003–2014 179 54 Raised in Sydney
Paul Bevan Western Suburbs, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2003 Rookie draft Rookie (#64) 2003–2011 129 39 Raised in Central Coast and Sydney
Henry Playfair Holbrook, North Shore, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2001 #41 2003–2010 68 43 Born and raised in Holbrook
Daniel Cross St Patricks Junior, Albury High School, Albury 2000 #56 2002–2015 249 34 Raised in Albury
Chris Hyde Barooga 2002–2008 93 39 Raised in and recruited from Barooga
Aaron Rogers St George, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 2001 #26 2002–2004 2 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney[145]
Justin Koschitzke Brocklesby 2000 #2 2001–2013 200 247 Born and raised in Albury
Stuart Bown West Broken Hill 2001 4 1 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Mark Hilton North Albury 2001 1 0 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Aaron Henneman Corowa 2000-2006 58 5 Raised in and recruited from Corowa
Ben Fixter Ungarie, Wagga Tigers, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 1999 #6 2000-2005 54 11 Raised in Ungarie
Lenny Hayes Pennant Hills, NSW/ACT Rams 1998 #11 1999–2014 297 95 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Mark McVeigh Killarney Vale, Pennant Hills, NSW/ACT Rams 1998 #9 1999–2012 232 107 Raised on the Central Coast and Sydney
Brett Kirk North Albury, Sydney Rookie 1999–2010 241 96 Born and raised in Albury
Nick Davis Ramsgate, St George, NSW/ACT Rams, Sydney 1998 #19 1999–2008 168 235 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Ray Hall Balmain, Woy Woy, NSW/ACT Rams 1999–2007 99 28 Raised in Sydney
Ben Hollands North Albury 1999 8 5 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Mark Alvey – 1998–2005 59 31 Raised in Curlwaa
Adam Chatfield Pennant Hills U17 (1997) 1997 #23 1998–2001 1 0 Raised in Sydney
Cameron Mooney Turvey Park, NSW/ACT Rams 1996 #56 1997–2017 221 297 Born and raised in Wagga
Josh Wooden Lockhart, NSW/ACT Rams 1997 #24 1997–2007 96 18 Raised in Lockhart
Adam Houlihan Corowa 1997–2004 94 99 Recruited from Corowa
Stefan Carey Pennant Hills, Sydney U17 (1993) 1996–2000 48 23 Raised in Sydney
Leo Barry Deniliquin, Sydney U17 (1993) 1994 Zone selection 1995–2009 237 56 Born and raised in Deniliquin
Justin Crawford Tocumwal, Sydney U17 (1993) 1994 Zone selection 1995–1998 46 32 Born and raised in Finley
Nigel Lappin - 1993 #2 1994–2008 279 174 Born in Corowa
Brett Cook Central Broken Hill 1994–1999 43 12 Raised in Broken Hill
Tim Hargreaves Berrigan 1994–1998 62 69 Raised in Berrigan
Damian Lang Leeton, Sydney 1994–1998 8 5 Raised in and recruited from Leeton
Andrew Bomford North Shore, Sydney 1994 Pre Season (#22) 1994–1996 28 9 Raised in Sydney
Peter Green Barellan 1994 1 0 Raised in Barellan
Greg Stafford Western Suburbs, Sydney 1993–2006 204 141 Raised in Sydney (Ashbury)
Nathon Irvin Mangoplah 1993 1 0 Raised in Mangoplah
Shane Crawford Finley 1993 1991 #13 1992–2008 305 224 Raised in Finley
Ben Doolan Albury, Sydney 1991–1999 101 11 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Darren Holmes (footballer) Lavington, Sydney 1991–1996 63 9 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Neil Brunton Holroyd-Parramatta, Sydney 1992, 1993 1991–1995 71 10 Raised in Sydney
Jamie Lawson Wentworth, Sydney 1992, 1993 1991–1995 61 29 Raised in Wentworth
Paul Kelly Wagga Tigers, Sydney 1992, 1993 1990-2002 234 200 Born in West Wyalong, raised in Wagga
Brett Hungerford Tooleybuc 1990 2 0 Raised in Tooleybuc
Wayne Carey North Wagga 1990, 1993 (c) 1989–2004 272 727 Born and raised in Wagga
John Longmire Corowa-Rutherglen 1988–1999 200 511 Born, raised in and recruited from Corowa
David Willis Henty, Sydney 1988–1991 25 3 Raised in and recruited from Henty
Michael Kennedy Queanbeyan 1988–1990 23 3 Raised in and recruited from Queanbeyan
David Brown Pennant Hills 1988–1990 12 18 Raised in Sydney
John Brinkkotter Barooga 1986 #10 1988–1989 5 1 Raised in and recruited from Barooga
Gerard Butts North Albury 1988–1989 3 0 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Chris Daniher Ungarie, Ariah Park-Mirrool, Coolamon 1988, 1990, 1993 1987–1997 124 40 Born and raised in West Wyalong
Leon Higgins Tocumwal 1987–1996 122 80 Raised in and recruited from Tocumwal
Darren Bennett - 1988 #13 1987–1993 78 305 Born in Sydney
Matt Lloyd Mangoplah - Cookardinia United, Sydney 1987–1991 22 5 Raised in Mangoplah and Wagga
Peter Baldwin Finley 1987–1990 5 1 Raised in Finley
Chris Duthy South Broken Hill 1986 #37 1987 3 0 Raised in Broken Hill
Billy Brownless Jerilderie 1998–1992, 1993 1986–1997 198 441 Born and raised in Jerilderie
Michael Gayfer Corowa-Rutherglen 1993 1986–1993 142 1 Raised in Corowa
Grant Bartholomaeus Forbes 1988 1986–1997 4 0 Raised in Forbes
Robert Caprioli North Broken Hill, St George, Sydney U17 (1984) 1986 1 0 Raised in Broken Hill
Graham Jones Western Suburbs, Sydney 1986 1 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Mark Roberts St George, Sydney 1985–1999 202 169 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Paul Spargo Albury 1985–1993 90 118 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Rudy Yonson North Albury 1985 3 3 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Hilton Kotzur Walbundrie, Sydney 1985 1 0 Raised in and recruited from Walbundrie
Russell Morris North Shore 1990, 1993 1984–1994 159 84 Recruited from Sydney
David Murphy Finley, Wagga Tigers 1988, 1993 1984–1993 90 118 Born, raised in Finley and recruited from Wagga
David Honybun Coleambally 1988 1984–1992 60 41 Raised and recruited from Coleambally
Paul Hawke Wagga Tigers, Sydney 1988 1984–1991 114 102 Born in, raised and recruited from Wagga
Arthur Chilcott Western Suburbs, Sydney 1984-1985 13 14 Raised in Illawarra, recruited from Sydney
Tony Hughes Albury, Sydney 1984-1985 6 2 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Robb Hawkins Finley 1984 3 0 Raised in Finley
Darren Jackson Finley 1984 2 1 Raised in Finley
Peter Densley Scots School Albury 1984 11 4 Recruited from Albury
Brian Winton Wentworth 1983 47 11 Raised in and recruited from Wentworth
Jack Lucas Ariah Park Mirool, Sydney 1982–1984 19 18 Raised in and recruited fromAriah Park
Simon O'Donnell 1982–1983 24 18 Born in Deniliquin
Anthony Daniher Ungarie, Turvey Park, Sydney 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993 1981–1994 233 80 Born and raised in West Wyalong
Dennis Carroll Albury, Sydney 1988, 1992 1981–1993 219 117 Born and raised in Ganmain
Darryl Henderson Corowa, Sydney 1981–1983 14 0 Recruited from Corowa
Glenn Coleman Southern Districts, Sydney 1988, 1992, 1993 1980–1993 194 115 Raised in Sydney
Andy Bennett Central Broken Hill 1980–1985 35 19 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Stephen Eather Turvey Park 1980–1981 5 0 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Victor Hugo Narrandera 1980 2 0 Raised in and recruited from Narrandera
Robert Anderson Queanbeyan 1980–1984 16 6 Recruited from Queanbeyan
Neale Daniher Ungarie 1990 1979–1990 82 32 Born and raised in West Wyalong
Wayne Carroll Ganmain, Queanbeyan, Mangoplah 1979–1985 56 57 Raised in Ganmain
Max Kruse, Sydney Leeton 1979–1985 88 32 Raised in and recruited from Leeton
John Durnan Narrandera 1979–1982 22 2 Raised in and recruited from Narrandera
Kim Kershaw Wagga Tigers 1979–1982 9 0 Raised in and recruited from Wagga
Mark Fraser Turvey Park 1979–1981 20 1 Raised in and recruited from Wagga
Phil Bradmore North Shore 1978–1981 15 17 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Russell Campbell Ganmain 1978–1980 4 3 Raised in and recruited from Ganmain
Mick Byrne North Shore 1988 1977–1989 161 150 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Wayne Evans Grong Grong Matong 1977 11 7 Recruited from Matong
Terry Daniher Ungarie, Ariah Park-Mirrool 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993 1976–1992 313 469 Born and raised in West Wyalong
Gary Gray Albury 1976 2 0 Raised in Albury
Colin Hounsell Collingullie, Sydney 1975-1985 122 98 Born and raised in Wagga, recruited from Collingullie
Rod Coelli Ardlethan 1975 3 0 Raised in Ardlethan
Mark Maclure East Sydney 1974–1986 243 327 Raised in and recruited from Sydney as teenager
Peter Doyle Berrigan 1974–1978 38 15 Raised in and recruited from Berrigan
Jack Hawkins Finley 1973-1981 182 20 Recruited from Finley
Michael Hawkins Finley 1973 2 0 Raised in Finley
Christopher Lynch North Broken Hill 1972-1974 5 2 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Steve Hywood South Broken Hill 1972 13 0 Raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Neil Brown Albury 1972 2 0 Raised in Albury
Col Anderson Mulwala 1972 2 0 Raised in Mulwala
Ross Henshaw North Albury 1971–1983 167 11 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Phil Baker Finley 1971–1979 106 125 Raised in Albury
Trevor Carrodus Lockhart 1971–1972 3 3 Raised in Lockhart
Frank Gumbleton Ganmain 1970–1979 147 19 Born, raised in and recruited from Ganmain
Reg Gleeson Osborne 1970–1976 128 11 Born and raised in Albury
John Pitura Wagga Tigers 1969–1977 139 95 Born, raised in and recruited from Wagga
John Duthie Albury 1969–1972 11 5 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Lindsay Jacob Walla Walla, Corowa 1969 2 2 Raised in Walla Walla
Peter Chisnall – 1968–1976 80 14 Raised in Corowa
George Lakes West Broken Hill 1968–1972 55 22 Recruited from Broken Hill
Ross Elwin Leeton 1968–1970 10 6 Recruited from Leeton
Greg Lambert Corowa 1966–1979 167 22 Recruited from Corowa
Terry Leahy North Albury 1966–1970 65 17 Recruited from Albury
Barry Richardson – 1965–1974 125 134 Born in Albury
Geoff Strang Albury 1965–1971 88 0 Raised in Albury
John Perry – 1964–1974 83 27 Born in Albury
Mick Dowdle Jerilderie 1964–1971 98 89 Raised in and recruited from Jerilderie
Robert Longmire Corowa 1964 2 0 Raised in and recruited from Corowa
Barry Fitzgerald Sydney Naval Depot 1963–1965 35 4 Recruited from Sydney
Geoff Doubleday North Albury 1963 1 0 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Ron Birch Wagga Tigers 1963 1 0 Raised in Wagga
Neville Forge Walla Walla, Albury 1962 2 0 Raised in Walla Walla
Tom Carroll Ganmain 1961–1963 55 143 Born and raised in Ganmain
Jim Carroll Ganmain 1961–1962 2 2 Raised in Ganmain
John Leady North Albury 1961 2 0 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Brian Leahy North Albury 1960–1965 79 2 Raised in and recruited from Albury
John Fox Marrar 1960–1965 60 7 Recruited from Marrar
Bob Chisolm Berrigan 1960–1962 22 20 Raised in Berrigan
Brian Chisholm Berrigan 1960 12 1 Raised in Berrigan
Des Lyons 1960 2 1 Raised in Barellan
Dick Grimmond Albury 1959-1964 102 6 Raised in Albury
Phil Gehrig Moulamein 1959-1960 16 11 Raised in Moulamein
Jim Little Tooleybuc 1959 7 2 Recruited from Tooleybuc
Doug Clarke Liverpool 1958-1959 8 7 Raised in Sydney
Bill Box Whitton 1958 9 4 Born and raised in Whitton
Jim Broockmann Finley 1958 3 0 Raised in Finley
Terry Ingersoll Western Suburbs 1957-1958 17 36 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Bill Clements Berrigan 1957-1959 14 2 Raised in Berrigan
Bill Byrne Corowa, Mangoplah 1957 1 0 Raised in Corowa
Vin Bourke Henty, North Albury 1957 1 0 Born and raised in Henty
Allan Jeans Finley 1955–1959 77 26 Born, raised in and recruited from Finley
Bill Barton North Albury 1955–1956 2 2 Raised in Albury
Neil Davies Balmain, Central Broken Hill 1955 2 1 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Peter Curtis Coolamon, Griffith, North Albury 1955 2 1 Raised in Coolamon
Bob Henderson Deniliquin 1953–1962 137 1 Raised in and recruited from Deniliquin
Terry Gleeson Berrigan 1953–1962 100 27 Raised in Berrigan
Brian Gleeson Berrigan 1953–1957 70 47 Raised in Berrigan
Ian Egerton Deniliquin 1953–1957 56 7 Raised in and recruited from Deniliquin
Roger Duffy Newtown 1952–1958 117 117 Raised in Sydney
Ray Houston Eastern Suburbs 1952-1955 34 4 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
John Harding East Sydney 1952-1954 27 7 Raised in Sydney
Roy Williams Queanbeyan 1952 8 7 Raised in and recruited from Queanbeyan
Lance Mann Albury 1951–1959 80 22 Recruited from Albury
Ray Ednie Berrigan 1950-1953 56 7 Raised in and recruited from Berrigan
Max Jeffers Tocumwal 1950 6 5 Raised in and recruited from Tocumwal
Jack Gaffney Broken Hill YCW, South Broken Hill 1949–1953 80 0 Raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Alan Stevens – 1948–1950 22 1 Born and raised in Sydney (Coogee)
Laurie Carroll Ganmain 1948–1959 11 2 Born and raised in Ganmain
Arthur Hodgson - 1948–1952 76 7 Born in Sydney
Chris Carroll St George, Central Broken Hill 1947–1948 13 18 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Allan Strang Albury, St George 1947–1948 15 17 Born and raised in Albury
Jack Eames South Albury Juniors 1946 14 1 Born and raised in Albury
Stan Obst West Albury 1945 2 0 Born and raised in Albury
Bill Wood Albury, South Sydney 1944–1951 115 294 Raised in Albury, recruited from Sydney
Ron Hall St George 1944–1947 17 2 Recruited from Sydney
Les Gregory Albury 1944–1946 2 0 Born in Howlong raised in and recruited from Albury
Kevin Deagan RAAF Sydney 1944–1946 5 2 Recruited from Sydney
Merv Brooks – 1943–1944 2 0 Born in Ariah Park
George Withers Culcairn 1943 2 0 Born in Holbrook
Reg Garvin Newtown 1942 130 33 Born raised in and recruited from Sydney Surry Hills
Jim Matthews Albury 1942 6 3 Born in Culcairn, raised in Albury
Ivor Clay Henty 1941-1946 31 19 Recruited from Henty
Bert Clay Henty 1940-1951 157 48 Recruited from Henty
Jack Cliff West Broken Hill 1940-1942 32 8 Raised in Broken Hill
Dom Seymour Albury 1939 2 0 Born and raised in Albury
Tom Davey – 1939 2 0 Born and raised in Albury
Jack Lowry - 1938–1946 53 7 Born in Lambton (Newcastle)
Reg Garvin Newtown 1937–1946 130 33 Born, raised in (Surry Hills) and recruited from Sydney
Norm McDermott – 1937–1939 21 13 Born in Albury
Jack Hacker Oaklands 1937–1944 111 7 Born in New South Wales, recruited from Corowa
Stan Livingstone Lockhart 1937–1940 16 3 Recruited from Lockhart
Vic Carroll Corowa 1937 12 2 Raised in Corowa
Perc Bushby – 1936–1948 142 46 Born in Narrandera
Alf Hacker Oaklands 1936–1943 24 0 Born in Urana, recruited from Corowa
Bernie Hore – 1936–1940 60 2 Born and raised in Albury
Tom Ledwidge – 1936–1938 6 3 Born and raised in Hay
Denis Ryan Albury Rovers 1935–1939 70 64 Born and raised in Albury
Stan Lloyd Newtown 1934-1942 117 0 Born in Whitton, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Alby De Luca - 1934-1936 42 21 Born in Woolongong
Brian Goodhart North Broken Hill 1934-1935 15 4 Raised in Broken Hill
Colin Braid South Broken Hill 1934 1 0 Raised in Broken Hill
Alfred Andrew-Street – 1933–1934 6 0 Born in Sydney (Bondi)
Noel Barnett West Albury, Albury Rovers, St Patricks Junior 1933 11 2 Born in Holbrook, raised in Albury
Bert Clarke Albury, Corowa 1933 4 2 Raised in Albury
Colin Strang East Albury 1933 2 3 Born in Sydney, raised in Albury
Stan Castles Sydney 1932 2 3 Raised in Sydney
Jack Loes - 1932 4 0 Born and raised in Tumbarumba
Charlie Kolb Albury Rovers 1932 3 1 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Ken Bracken St George 1932 1 0 Raised in Sydney
Haydn Bunton Sr. Albury Rovers, Albury, West Albury 1931–1942 119 207 Born and raised in Albury
Gordon Strang Jindera, East Albury 1931–1938 116 108 Born in Sydney (Waverley), raised in Albury
Doug Strang Albury Rovers, East Albury 1931–1935 64 180 Born in Sydney (Waverley), raised in Albury
Jack Hanson South Broken Hill 1931–1933 29 0 Born and raised in Broken Hill
Jack Anderson Balldale 1931–1933 42 46 Raised in Balldale
Alex Clarke Albury 1931–1933 15 0 Raised in Albury
Jack Hayes South Sydney 1927, 1930 1931 13 7 Born and raised in and recruited from Sydney
Lionel Hastie Newtown 1931 13 15 Recruited from Sydney
Alex Fraser East Albury 1931 3 0 Recruited from Albury
Doug Ayres Newtown 1927, 1930 1931 1 1 Born and raised in Sydney (Randwick)
Fred Davies Eastern Suburbs 1927 1930–1934 63 11 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Victor Lucas Federal 1930 1 0 Recruited from Wagga
Bill Mohr Royal Stars, Federal 1929–1941 195 735 Born and raised in Wagga
Clarrie Hearn 1929–1935 92 90 Born in Tocumwal
Maurie Hunter St Patricks Albury 1929–1933 81 159 Raised in and recruited from Albury
Ray Usher Albury, Eastern Suburbs 1927 1928–1933 82 2 Recruited from Sydney
Jack Haw Leeton 1928–1929 13 6 Recruited from Leeton
Bob Smith Newtown 1927 1928 16 0 Born, raised and recruited from Sydney
Bill McDowell – 1927–1928 11 7 Born in Albury
Bill Donald Hume Weir 1927 3 0 Recruited from Hume Weir
Frank Bult East Sydney 1927 20 4 Recruited from Sydney
Tom Everuss South Broken Hill 1926 17 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Les Witto West Broken Hill 1926 6 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Lindsay Beck South Broken Hill 1926 2 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Broken Hill
Hope Evans Albury 1925 7 0 Recruited from Albury
Charlie Whitely Hume Weir 1925–1926 2 1 Born and raised in Albury
Alby Anderson Mangoplah, Royal Stars, Wagga United Football Association 1924–1926 14 7 Born and raised in Wagga
Jim Tarbotton Railways 1923–1926 37 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Tim Archer Mangoplah 1923–1924 22 12 Born and raised in Wagga
Gordon Hislop Balmain 1922 1923–1924 22 0 Recruited from Sydney
Tom Elliot Junee Junction 1923–1924 11 2 Recruited from Junee
Syd Hutcheson 1920 11 0 Born in Wagga
Paddy Kelly Paddington 1920 7 0 Recruited from Sydney
Bob Merrick East Sydney 1919–1926 59 181 Born and raised in Sydney (Darlinghurst)
Ivor Warne-Smith - 1919–1932 146 110 Born in Sydney
Chris Laird Paddington 1918–1922 59 99 Recruited from Sydney
Harry Morgan – 1914-1921 86 191 Born in Parramatta
Bert Chapman – 1914 7 1 Born in Sydney
Chris Lethbridge Y.M.C.A. 1913-1922 148 19 Raised in Wagga and recruited from Sydney
Reg Ellis Y.M.C.A. 1911, 1924 (c) 1913–1920 53 1 Born and raised in Sydney (Randwick)
Johnny Allan – 1913 10 2 Born and raised in Albury
Charlie Armstrong – 1912-1919 45 4 Born and raised in Holbrook
Paddy Abbott Albury 1911–1917 62 2 Born and raised in Albury
George Anderson – 1911–1917 104 8 Raised in Wagga
Clarrie Dall Redfern 1911–1912 9 9 Recruited from Sydney
Les Frauenfelder Albury 1910 2 2 Recruited from Albury
Arthur Caldwell – 1908 8 1 Born in Young
Marshall Herbert Redfern 1908–10 51 8 Recruited from Sydney
John Stephenson Balmain 1907 10 0 Recruited from Sydney
Frank Boynton - 1906–1910 39 14 Raised in Balranald
Harry Lever - 1905–1922 218 6 Born in Parramatta
Frank Dunne Albury 1905 1 1 Recruited from Albury
Bill Strang Albury 1904–1913 69 80 Born in and raised in Albury
Peter McCann 1904–1907 2 0 Born in Blayney
Joe Johnson 1904–1906 55 15 Born in Newcastle
Syd Wright Albury 1904 3 0 Born in Sydney (Petersham) and raised in Albury
Peter McCann Albury 1904 2 0 Born in Blayney and raised in Albury
Arthur Percy Albury 1904 2 0 Born in and raised in Albury
Jock McHale – 1903–1920 261 18 Born and raised in Sydney (Botany)
Arthur Adamson – 1902–1903 28 0 Born in Gulgong, recruited from Broken Hill
Stan Watsford – 1900 2 0 Raised in Albury
Bob Kenny Sydney 1899 2 0 Raised in Sydney
Harry Lampe 1899-1907 135 57 Born and raised in Wagga
Tommy Ryan 1899-1904 66 71 Born in Sydney
Conrad ten Brink Albury 1898 12 10 Raised in Albury
Stan Enfield – 1897 3 3 Born in Sydney

Women's

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Current players

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ALFW players from NSW

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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
Holly Cooper Wallsend West Jnr, Cardiff, Manly Warringah Wolves, Sydney Swans Academy, Sydney 2023 Expansion pre-sign 2024- - – Raised in Newcastle[146]
Cleo Buttifant Turvey Park, GWS Giants Academy 2024- 1 – Raised in Wagga[147]
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 Wagga High School, 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– 29 7 Raised in Corowa
Libby Graham Manly Warringah Wolves, Greater Western Sydney 2021– 28 0 Raised in Sydney
Olivia Barber New South Wales country U16 & U18 2020 #21 2021–2023 14 5 Born and raised in Balldale
Tarni Evans Tathra, Queanbeyan, Greater Western Sydney 2020 #9 2021– 29 1 Raised in Tathra, recruited from Queanbeyan
Cathy Svarc – 2020– 55 14 Raised in Corowa
Orla O'Dwyer – 2019 Rookie Rookie 2020– 55 21 Born in Sydney
Gabrielle Colvin – 2019 #77 2020– 27 0 Raised in and recruited from Wagga Wagga
Lisa Steane Nelson Bay, Greater Western Sydney, Sydney 2019 #23 2020– 39 0 Born, raised in and recruited from Nelson Bay
Georgia Garnett East Coast Eagles, Greater Western Sydney 2019 #90 2020– 33 11 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– 37 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
Sarah Halvorsen Newcastle City, Greater Western Sydney 2019 #61 2020–2021 4 1 Raised in Newcastle
Tarnee Tester West Broken Hill 2019 #56 2020–2021 4 1 Born and raised in Broken Hill (Barkindji)
Alyce Parker Holbrook, Thurgoona, Greater Western Sydney 2018 #12 2019– 49 8 Born and raised in Holbrook, recruited from Thurgoona[148]
Chloe Dalton Greater Western Sydney 2018 Rookie 2019– 32 8 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Jess Foley – 2018 #30 2019–2020 13 4 Raised in Bega
Taylah Davies Greater Western Sydney Rookie 2018– – – Born, raised in and recruited from Wollongong
Jodie Hicks Greater Western Sydney 2017 #5 2018– 40 5 Born, raised in and recruited from Hay
Ashleigh Brazill – 2017 #34 2018– 32 5 Born, raised in and recruited from Campbelltown (Sydney)
Stacey Livingstone – 2016 #70 2017– 66 0 Born[149][150]
Sophie Casey Holbrook, Riverina 2016 Free agent 2017– 63 2 Born and raised in Holbrook, recruited from Wagga Wagga
Rebecca Beeson Macquarie University, UNSW-Eastern Suburbs, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #32 2017– 50 10 Born in Sydney, raised on Central Coast
Gabriella Pound Albury High School, Wagga Tigers 2016 #30 2017– 37 3 Raised in Albury[151]
Erin McKinnon Mosman, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #48 2017– 46 1 Raised in and recruited from Sydney
Nicola Barr Queenwood School for Girls, Sydney University, Greater Western Sydney 2016 #1 2017– 58 10 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– 48 9 Born, raised in and recruited from Sydney
Hannah Dunn Queanbeyan, Greater Western Sydney Backup 2017– 45 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
Monique Hollick UNSW-Eastern Suburbs 2016 #136 2017 3 0 Raised in and recruited from Sydney

Principal venues

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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:[152]

Sydney Sydney Sydney
Stadium Australia Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Showground Stadium
Capacity: 82,500 Capacity: 48,000 Capacity: 25,500
Record: 72,393 (2003)[153] Record: 46,323 (2017)[154] Record: 21,924 (2013)[155]
     
Sydney Sydney Albury
Henson Park North Sydney Oval Lavington Sports Ground
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 13,000
Record: 5,722 (2023)[156] Record: 9,654 (2005)[157] Record: 20,169* (2013)[158]
     
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)[159] Record: 10,000* (2011)[160] Record: 4,952 (2018)[161]
     
Western Sydney
Tom Wills Oval
Capacity: 3,000

Sydney

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Regional NSW

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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

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References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Football in Sydney". The Australasian. Vol. I, no. 10. Victoria, Australia. 9 June 1866. p. 11. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b Commission, Australian Sports Commission; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Sports. "AusPlay results". Sport Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "AFL Sydney Hall of Fame" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b "Club History". Wagga Tigers.
  5. ^ Almanac Footy: Bill Mohr – The Wizard from Wagga Wagga 10 November 2021
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b de Moore et al. 2021, p. 187.
  9. ^ Hickie, Thomas V., A Sense of Union. The History of the Sydney University Football Club, 1998, ISBN 0949853623
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ a b c de Moore et al. 2021, p. 186.
  12. ^ Bell's Life in Sydney. 18 July 1867
  13. ^ Bell's Life in Sydney. 3 August 1867
  14. ^ a b de Moore et al. 2021, p. 188.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 190.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ a b c A Brief History of Football in Wagga. The Riverina Weekender. 23 February 2013
  19. ^ "1876 – Beechworth FC v Albury FC". Trove Newspapers. Ovens and Murray Advertiser. 11 July 1876. p. 2.
  20. ^ "1878 – Albury FC – Meeting". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 May 1878. p. 3.
  21. ^ "Advertising". Wagga Wagga Advertiser. Vol. IX, no. 333. New South Wales, Australia. 27 July 1878. p. 4. Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "NOTES BY LEATHERSTOCKING". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXIII, no. 880. New South Wales, Australia. 12 May 1877. p. 597. Retrieved 12 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL". The Referee. No. 857. New South Wales, Australia. 8 April 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "FOOTBALL GOSSIP". The Australasian. Vol. XXII, no. 582. Victoria, Australia. 26 May 1877. p. 11. Retrieved 12 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "REFORM IN FOOTBALL RULES". The Sydney Daily Telegraph. No. 315. New South Wales, Australia. 1 July 1880. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "SOUTHERN RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXIX, no. 1035. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1880. p. 875. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Football". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XXII, no. 547. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1880. p. 35. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 192.
  33. ^ "YASS FOOTBALL CLUB". The Yass Courier. Vol. XXV, no. 2334. New South Wales, Australia. 9 June 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "1881 – Football". Wagga Wagga Advertiser. Wagga Wagga Advertiser (NSW). 2 August 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Football gold mined in coal country". Australian Football 150 Years. Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  36. ^ 1888 Northern Districts Football Association NSW Australian Football Historical Society
  37. ^ "History of football in this league". Black Diamond AFL. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  38. ^ "Black Diamond Football League Kicking Goals in Grassroots Administration". SportingPulse. 30 September 2002. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
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  42. ^ New South Wales vs New Zealand from NSW Australian Football History Society
  43. ^ M. P. Sharp, Football in Sydney before 1914 Archived 3 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Sporting Traditions Vol 4 No 1 November 1987.
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  46. ^ "FOOTBALL GOSSIP". Leader. No. 2483. Victoria, Australia. 8 August 1903. p. 17. Retrieved 7 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  47. ^ "MATCH IN SYDNEY". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 18, 057. Victoria, Australia. 30 May 1904. p. 9. Retrieved 24 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  48. ^ "THE GAME IN THE COUNTRY". The Sunday Sun. No. 12. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1903. p. 7. Retrieved 18 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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  51. ^ "Football in Sydney: Rugby and Australian". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXXXV, no. 2432. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1908. p. 1583. Retrieved 29 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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  54. ^ S. Fagan, 'Rules' Almost Had Sydney's Paddock Archived 17 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine in rl1908.com, 2006.
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  57. ^ NSW Football History – St George Junior Association 4 June 2015
  58. ^ "AFLSC Seniors". GameDay. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  59. ^ "Call to include Sydney in VFL". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 14, 965. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 December 1977. p. 12. Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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  92. ^ Northern Riverina Football League PlayHQ
  93. ^ AFL Canberra PlayHQ
  94. ^ Murray Football League PlayHQ
  95. ^ Hume Football Netball League PlayHQ
  96. ^ Sunraysia Football and Netball League PlayHQ
  97. ^ Golden Rivers Football League PlayHQ
  98. ^ Farrer Football League PlayHQ
  99. ^ AFL South Coast Seniors PlayHQ
  100. ^ Picola and District Football Netball League GameDay
  101. ^ Picola and District Football Netball League PlayHQ
  102. ^ Upper Murray Football Netball League PlayHQ
  103. ^ Millewa Football League PlayHQ
  104. ^ Riverina Football League PlayHQ
  105. ^ AFL North Coast PlayHQ
  106. ^ AFL Central West PlayHQ
  107. ^ AFL Fixtures & Results
  108. ^ AFL Sapphire Coast PlayHQ
  109. ^ Tallangatta & District Football League PlayHQ
  110. ^ AFL North West NSW PlayHQ
  111. ^ Central Murray Football Netball League PlayHQ
  112. ^ AFL Hunter Central Coast Seniors PlayHQ
  113. ^ VFL PlayHQ
  114. ^ AFL Sydney Women's Premier Division PlayHQ
  115. ^ Southern NSW Womens League PlayHQ
  116. ^ AFL South Coast Womens Premier Division PlayHQ
  117. ^ AFL Sydney Juniors PlayHQ
  118. ^ Sydney Independent Schools Competition PlayHQ
  119. ^ Talent League PlayHQ
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  131. ^ Caiden joins Sydney Swans in the AFL big time from Trinity Grammar School 21 November 2023
  132. ^ Shadeau's AFL call-up By Alexandra Wilson for Southern Riverina News. 6 December 2022
  133. ^ Albury product Connor O'Sullivan outlines most difficult aspect of debut by Andrew Moir for the Border Mail 19 April 2024
  134. ^ Voss not wasting time as Bombers tenure begins By Jon Tuxworth for the Daily Advertiser 28 December 2021
  135. ^ 'I'm just soaking it in': Thomas to make AFL debut for Giants against 'Pies By Matt Malone for the Daily Advertiser. 8 March 2024
  136. ^ Marc Sheather drafted by Sydney Swans by Marc Sheather for Coast Community News 17 December 2020
  137. ^ 'Hopefully we can get the job done': Rowston confident GWS can back up success By Jimmy Meiklejohn 4 March 2024
  138. ^ Binya teenager Harry Rowston scores with first touch as family watches AFL debut in Perth from Region Riverina 27 March 2023
  139. ^ Tylar Young selected by Richmond in AFL Rookie Draft By Liam Nash for The Border Mail 1 December 2022
  140. ^ Campbell Chesser 'stoked' to be picked up by West Coast with pick 14 by Brent Godder 26 November 2021
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