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Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory

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Australian rules football has been played continuously in the Australian Capital Territory since 1911 and was the most popular football code in the nation's capital Canberra between 1978 and 1982. The current governing body is AFL Canberra founded 1922, while the development body is AFL NSW/ACT established in 1999.

Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory
Goal posts at Manuka Oval in 2006, home of Australian rules football in Canberra
Governing bodyAFL Canberra, AFL NSW/ACT
Representative teamAustralian Capital Territory
First playedCanberra 29 July 1911; 113 years ago (29 July 1911)
Registered players9,129[1]
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match14,974 (4 June 2016), AFL Greater Western Sydney Giants v Richmond Football Club (Manuka Oval, Canberra)

Until 1982, the sport was widely covered in the local media and the premier local competition attracted significant interest. The ACT was one of the first proponents for a national Australian rules football competition, now known as the Australian Football League (AFL) and it became the first state or territory outside of Victoria to make an official bid to join the league. The (rejected) Canberra bid in 1981 was dismissed in favour of a team in Sydney, which became the Sydney Swans. Canberra has made numerous failed bids since, including bids to move the Swans when they became insolvent. However, the popularity of Australian rules football suffered substantially after the introduction of the Raiders (rugby league in 1982) and Brumbies (rugby union in 1996). As a result it fell behind both rugby codes and also soccer and is now classified as a minor sport with the lowest media profile and attendance of the four major football codes.

While it remains by far the second most participated football code and retains a loyal support base as well as a strong local competition, it has continued its slow decline since the 1980s. The ACT hosted its first AFL match in 1995 and AFL matches have been played every year since 2001 except 2020. Since 2012 the AFL has positioned Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) as a local side, scheduling three home games a year at Manuka Oval. In 2013, 2016, 2021 and 2022 the stadium's average attendance was higher than that of the Giants home, the Sydney Showgrounds, despite having 10,000 less available seats and a schedule of lower drawing opposition clubs. At least 6,400 GWS members were ACT-based at the end of 2022.[2][3] The club in 2015 set a target to overtake the Raiders membership in 2018 with more than 10,000+ ACT-based members,[4] however Raiders membership rapidly outpaced it growing its record to more than quadruple that of GWS.[5]

The ACT debuted at representative level in 1925 against New South Wales but has not appeared since 1988. Its first win came in 1941 against New South Wales; it also went on to defeat Queensland and the National Amateur team numerous times between the 1950s and 1980s culminating in defeats of the powerhouses of the VFL in 1980 and Tasmania in 1981. Kevin "Cowboy" Neale captained the side to many of these victories. The junior side was the third team to enter the Teal Cup in 1973.

Home grown hero Alex Jesaulenko and Australian Football Hall of Fame legend was a household name in the 1970s in Canberra. Jesaulenko has played more games and kicked more goals in the AFL than any other player from the ACT. James Hird is the only Canberran to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal. Both are multi premiership players. Britt Tully (games) and Jacqueline Parry (goals) share the honours in the AFLW. The ACT is classed as a development region by the AFL and in the AFL Draft, ACT is designated priority AFL recruitment zoning for the Greater Western Sydney Giants (and previously Sydney Swans), so most of the local players recruited from the ACT to the AFL (unless overlooked) generally start their careers at one of these two New South Wales based clubs.

History

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Australian football pioneer Tom Wills was born and raised on the Molonglo Plain, the future site of Canberra.
 
Federal Football team 1926 Federal Territory premiers
 
Acton Premiers of the ANF 1927

Prior to Australian Capital Territory (ACT) being established and Canberra being planned as the Federal capital, the region was part of the Colony of New South Wales and was known as the Molonglo Plain, or the Queanbeyan-Yass region, a sparsely populated mainly pastoral area. Tom Wills, founder of Australian rules was born on the Mongolo Plain near what is now the ACT from 1835-1839 prior to his family's move to Victoria.

In 1861, the Federal Football Club was established in nearby Wagga Wagga (which was originally proposed to be the Federal capital). However rugby arrived first from Sydney to the Molonglo in the 1870s with clubs formed in Queanbeyan in 1875 and Yass in 1878. No records exist of interclub matches for either sport, however, until at least 1880. Without sufficient player numbers to contest, the earliest contests were likely intraclub scratch matches. In 1874, the newly formed Southern Rugby Union (SRU), which governed football in the colony of New South Wales, placed a ban on clubs playing Australian rules as such, the clubs risked expulsion from the union if they competed against nearby Victorian rules sides. The local football clubs which sought to play against nearby Albury and Wagga due to a lack of nearby competition, were not able to.[6] By the time that regular club competition was established in the nearby Riverina in 1884,[7] rugby had become firmly established along with soccer which had arrived around the turn of the century.

Following the Federation of Australia in 1908, Canberra became the new planned national capital. Between 1901 and 1927, Melbourne had served as the National Capital. The gradual migration of civil servants from Melbourne to Canberra helped fuel strong early enthusiasm for the Australian rules.[8]

The first recorded match of Australian rules in what was informally known as "Canberra" happened in 1911. It was an exhibition match between the Royal Military College and employees of the Home Affairs Department on the 29th July.[9]

Three teams (Canberra, Duntroon and Federals) contested matches at the Acton Racecourse (now covered by Lake Burley Griffin) and at Blanfordia (now Manuka Oval).[citation needed]

The Federal Territory League Australian Rules Football League began in 1924 with founding members Acton and Queanbeyan.[10] The following year, the premiership was contested by 4 clubs including Canberra, Federal and Duntroon.[11] By 1926, the competition had gained popularity and was contested by five clubs.[10]

New clubs gradually entered the league, when it became known as the Canberra Australian National Football League (CANFL) in 1927.

In 1931, the Canberra Australian National Junior League was formed.

World War II

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Canberra representative team making its national carnival debut parading the SCG at the 1933 Sydney Carnival.
 
Football match featuring Ainslie in 1951

The ACTAFL lost 95% of its players during World War II.[12]

1970s Building on strong foundations

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In 1974, the ACT hosted an Aboriginal Australian rules tournament, which included one of the earliest international matches.[13] The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team visited to play an Indigenous Australian side in 1974 and played at Ainslie Oval defeating the Australian side.[14][15]

Gate takings increased by 40% in 1975,[citation needed] and the CANFL changed to ACTAFL.

In 1977, the ACT was officially invited to join the NFL Night Series.[16] The ACT competed in the 1978 and 1979 seasons. However the move created tensions with the VFL which had sought to establish its own rival national competition.[17] The ACT, along with other states joined the Australian Football Championships Night Series in 1979, and competed also in 1980 and 1981.

1980s & 1990s: AFL declines a licence, rugby popularity grows

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In 1981, the ACTAFL, had just begun to edge out rugby league in popularity with an increase in participation.[18] Under significant pressure from rugby league junior development in the territory and fearing the impact on its strong local competition of entry of a Sydney team, a formal bid for license to enter a Canberra team into the VFL was made with expected crowd projections of 15,000 per match and a significant television audience. However VFL dismissed the Canberra bid, stating that the VFL would consider Canberra for a license "within the next 10 years".[19] The league was insistent that the license should go to Sydney and proceeded instead to push for South Melbourne's Swans to relocate there.

The following year, the NSW Rugby League entered the Canberra market with a new Canberra Raiders club.[20] The Raiders were based at Queanbeyan in nearby New South Wales and weren't immediately successful with a wooden spoon in its first season and very small crowds, but the home team began to rapidly attract public support within two years began to outdraw the VFL's Canberra attendances.

In 1984, the ACTAFL applied to the National Football League to join the national competition which was under consideration at the time.[21] That year the ACTAFL also began discussions with several VFL clubs about moving their home games so that Sydney could play the bulk of its away games in Canberra and Brisbane, but without success.[22] With the VFL denying the Canberra bids entry and with the rising popularity of the Raiders, the ACT between 1983 and 1984 sought admission to the South Australian National Football League.[22]

The VFL designated the ACT an exclusive recruitment zone for the Swans in 1986, which the ACTAFL was not pleased with.[23] In 1986, the Canberra bid was again overlooked in favour of Perth and Brisbane.[24]

In 1988 when the Sydney Swans folded and the licence was put out to tender, the AFLACT moved to buy the club and move it to Canberra;[25] further calls were made to move the Swans to Canberra as they struggled through the early 1990s.[26] The ACTAFL also sought to entice a struggling Melbourne club to relocate (which it claimed to be North Melbourne), without success.[27]

In 1990, a sold out Ansett Cup (pre-season) match between Hawthorn and Sydney Swans at Bruce Stadium set an ACT attendance record of 11,500.[28]

In 1991, the VFL cancelled a Fosters Cup match scheduled for Bruce Stadium shifting it to Albury.[29] ACT interests cited falling attendance and interest in Canberra, however the VFL denied this.[29]

A local lobby group, increasingly frustrated with the national league became very vocal in the 1990s. In 1993 an official "AFL For Canberra Bid" led by Ron Cahill and backed by the ACT government was launched.[30]

The Fitzroy Football Club expressed interest to the AFL in playing home games in Canberra, and the first premiership match to be played in Canberra for Round 9, 1995 match between the Fitzroy and the West Coast Eagles. The match was played at the rectangular Bruce Stadium rather than Manuka Oval. Despite a frost, the match attracted a large amount of interest and a crowd of just under 12,000 attended and the Eagles defeated the struggling Lions by 28 points.[31]

2000s: AFL takes control

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In 1998, the AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission took over operations of the ACTAFL. It scheduled North Melbourne Football Club's (the Kangaroos) first premiership match at Manuka Oval which attraced a crowd of 11,321. Canberra also began hosting the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament.

"Australian rules football has a rich history in Canberra. We have neglected it over the past periods of time"

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, 2015[32]

In 2001, the AFL club the Kangaroos signed a deal with the ACT government to play some home matches at Manuka Oval. The move was seen by many as part of a potential relocation of the club to Canberra an idea which had its origins in the mid 1980s.[22][33][34] The Kangaroos drew crowds averaging around 10,000 at Manuka Oval. However, in 2007 the club received a more lucrative offer, to play some home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and signed a deal to that effect, which was met with significant disgust from Canberra.[35][36] In August 2006, the AFL announced that the Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs would each play home games at Manuka, to fill the void left by the Kangaroos.

GWS adopts Canberra as a 'Second home'

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"Canberra have their own [AFL] team, the GWS Giants. They play a number of games down here."

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, 2015[32]

Canberra continued to bid for its own AFL team. This was rejected in 2009 in favour of the Greater Western Sydney license.[37] However, in 2012, the ACT government signed a contract with the GWS Giants to play four home games per season at Manuka Oval (three regular season, one preseason), having signed a 10-year deal worth $23 million. A Canberra logo (incorporating the Black Mountain Tower as a symbol) is incorporated on its guernsey, with a slightly altered Canberra-specific guernsey used for the games at Manuka. The Giants also played in a special guernsey as part of the centenary of Canberra celebrations, stating that the team is "part of the Canberra community".[38] A GWS/ACT Academy has also been envisioned, and the territory has representation on the club's board.[39][40]

The 2016 round 19 AFL match between GWS Giants and Richmond attracted a record crowd of 14,974, just overtaking the previous 2006 record for the match between the Kangaroos and Sydney.[41]

The first AFLW premiership match played at Manuka, a Giants home game, with free entry attracted at territory record women's attendance of 6,460[42] however the league did not schedule any other matches and AFLW did not return to the ACT for another 4 years, and it did so with paid entry to significantly reduced crowds.

The round 21, 2019 match between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn was notable as it was the first professional Australian rules football match to be played in snowfall.[43][44]

Players

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Participation

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Registered players
2021/22 2023/24
8,274[45] 9,129[1]

Greats

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Over the years, the ACT has produced many top players for elite professional leagues such as the Australian Football League, including Alex Jesaulenko, James Hird, Mick Conlan, Craig Bolton, Don Pyke, Shaun Smith, Adrian Barich, Brett Allison, and Aaron Hamill.

AFL Recruitment Zone

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The ACT was made a Sydney Swans exclusive zone by the VFL in 1986;[23] however, the Swans made poor use of the zone until the late 1990s, missing most of the top players. In 2012, the ACT zone was transferred to the AFL's GWS Giants. The Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy created a Canberra sub-academy, giving GWS has first pick of the most talented players from the ACT. The Giants have made much better use of the recruitment zone and as a result, most of the current players from the ACT now have begun their careers with the Giants.

Men's

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  •  
    Tom Green with GWS in 2019
  •  
    Jack Steele, All-Australian playing for St Kilda in 2019
  •  
    Jackson Hately playing for GWS Giants in 2019
  •  
    Tom Highmore playing for St Kilda in 2019
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    Ivan Soldo playing for Richmond (VFL) in 2018
  •  
    Aaron vandenBerg training with Melbourne in 2018
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    Harrison Himmelberg with GWS Giants in 2017
  •  
    Josh Bruce playing for St Kilda in 2017
  •  
    Phil Davis playing for GWS Giants in 2017
Currently on an AFL senior list
Player ACT junior/senior club/s Representative honours AFL Draft Selection AFL Years AFL Games AFL (Goals) Connections to ACT, Notes & References
Josh Fahey Queanbeyan 2021 42 2023- 1 Born and raised in Canberra[46]
Tom Highmore Tuggeranong Lions/Tuggeranong Hawks/Canberra 2020 45 2021- 13 0 Born, raised, recruited
Tom Green Marist College Canberra 2019 10 2020- 29 14 Raised in Canberra
Jackson Hately - 2018 14 2019- 16 2 Born
Harry Himmelberg Canberra 2015 16 2016- 126 149 Recruited
Jack Steele Belconnen U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) (2013) 2014 24 2015- 129 50 Born, raised, recruited
Aaron vandenBerg Ainslie 2015 (rookie) Rookie (#2) 2015- 47 23 Recruited
Ivan Soldo - 2015 (rookie) Rookie (#68) 2015- 43 16 Born, raised, recruited
Logan Austin Belconnen 2014 69 2015–2020 20 0 Born and raised in Canberra
Adam Oxley - 2013 (rookie) Rookie (#35) 2013–2018 34 10 Born
Josh Bruce Eastlake 2011 Zone 2012–2023 150 233 Born, raised and recruited
Jason Tutt Ainslie 2009 31 2010–2016 40 27 Born and raised in Canberra
Phil Davis Marist College Canberra 2008 10 2009-2023 187 7 Born and raised in Canberra till age 14[47][48]
James Meiklejohn Tuggeranong U18 (NSW/ACT Rams 2003) 2003 (rookie) Rookie (#71) 2003–2004 6 0 Raised and recruited
Craig Bolton Eastlake U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) 1998 33 2000–2010 199 25 Raised and recruited
Brad Fuller Tuggeranong / Marist College Canberra / Eastlake U18 (NSW/ACT Rams) 1996 87 1997–1998 16 5 Raised in Canberra
Jacob Anstey Tuggeranong 1995 63 1997–1998 16 5 Raised in Canberra
Justin Blumfield Tuggeranong 1995 62 1996–2004 148 91 Recruited
Aaron Hamill Tuggeranong 1994 79 1995–2007 190 239 Raised in Canberra
Troy Gray St Edmunds College 1992–1997 60 26 Raised in Canberra
Robert Neill - 1990 Zone 1992–1997 44 16 Raised in Canberra
James Hird Ainslie NSW/ACT (1993) 1990 79 1991–2007 253 343 Born and raised in Canberra
Wayne Weidemann Eastlake 1990 1991–1996 68 26 Played there prior to AFL career
Don Pyke Belconnen NSW/ACT (1993) 1988 2 (pre-draft) 1989–1996 132 70 Raised in Canberra
Michael Werner Queanbeyan 1988, NSW/ACT (1993) 1988 9 1989–1994 60 80 Raised in Canberra
Matthew Mahoney Eastlake 1988 69 1989–1992 6 0 Raised in Canberra
Michael Kennedy Manuka-Weston / Eastlake 1988 1987 41 1988–1990 23 3 Raised in Canberra
Brett Allison Belconnen 1988 1987–2000 228 285 Raised in Canberra
Shaun Smith Ainslie 1988 1987–1998 109 134 Raised in Canberra
Adrian Barich Marist College Canberra / Manuka 1988 1987–1992 47 27 Born and raised in Canberra
Adam Garton West Canberra 1987–1988 3 1 Raised in Canberra
Peter Kenny Manuka 1979 1986 11 20 Raised in Canberra
Geoff Hocking Belconnen 1988 1981 6 0 Played there
Robert Anderson Queanbeyan 1979 1980-1984 16 6 Born and raised in Canberra
Neil Bristow Ainslie 1979 1979 10 4 Raised in Canberra
Michael Conlan Manuka 1979 1977-1989 210 395 Raised in Canberra
Richard Murrie - 1975-1983 111 13 Raised in Canberra
Ian Low Manuka 1975-1980 78 79 Raised in Canberra, recruited
Keith Miller Eastlake 1979 1974 2 0 Played there
Geoff Craighead Australian National University FC 1973 7 0 Raised
Robert Whatman Manuka 1973 34 17 Raised
Geoff Harrold Ainslie / West Canberra / Queanbeyan 1973, 1979 1972 2 0 Raised
Rob Smith Ainslie 1979 1971–77 48 48 Raised
Laurie Moloney Belconnen 1979 1971–76 80 8 Played there
Alan Bloomfield Ainslie 1970–1971 13 7 Recruited
Paul Feltham Eastlake 1970–1978 135 86 Lived there, Recruited
Alex Jesaulenko Eastlake 1967-1981 279 444 Raised in Canberra
Kevin Neale Ainslie 1979c 1965-1977 256 301 Played there
Jack Douglas Eastlake 1952-1953 14 0 Recruited
John McGreevy Duntroon Military College 1952 3 0 Recruited
Alan Stevens Ainslie / Eastlake / Manuka 1948-1950 22 1 Raised

Women's

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  •  
    Hannah Dunn playing for Port Adelaide in 2022
  •  
    Jodie Hicks playing for GWS Giants in 2018
  •  
    Britt Tully playing for GWS Giants in 2018
  •  
    Jacqueline Parry playing for Melbourne in 2021
  •  
    Talia Radan playing for West Coast in 2020
  •  
    Ellie Brush playing soccer for Canberra United in 2019 also plays AFLW with Greater Western Sydney
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    Rhiannon Metcalfe playing for Adelaide in 2018
  •  
    Heather Anderson playing for Adelaide in 2017
Currently on an AFLW senior list
Player ACT junior/senior club/s Representative honours AFLW Draft Selection AFLW Years AFLW Games AFLW (Goals) Connections to ACT, Notes & References
Zara Hamilton Belconnen - - - Recruited from Canberra
Maggie Gorham Belconnen, Ainslie 2023- 1 - Raised in Canberra
Cynthia Hamilton Belconnen, Queanbeyan 2022 11 2022- 21 10 Raised in Canberra
Cambridge McCormick Eastlake 2022- 18 - Recruited from Canberra
Emily Pease Belconnen 2022- 16 4 Raised in Canberra
Catherine Brown - 2022 pre-list 2022- - - Born, raised in and recruited from Canberra
Ally Morphett Belconnen 2021 37 2022- 12 0 Recruited from Canberra
Najwa Allen Eastlake 2019 37 2022- 16 0 Recruited from ACT
Tess Cattle Ainslie 2022- 1 - Recruited from ACT
Tarni Evans Queanbeyan, Tathra Sea Eagles 2020 9 2021- 9 0 Raised in Canberra, Recruited from ACT
Jacqueline Parry Queanbeyan, ANU Griffins 2019 54 2020- 15 6 Recruited from ACT
Alexia Hamilton Queanbeyan, Canberra 2019 38 2020- 3 0 Recruited from ACT
Maddie Shevlin Gungahlin 2017 (rookie) Rookie (#13) 2018- 13 1 Recruited from ACT
Jodie Hicks Belconnen 2017 5 2018-2021 20 3 Recruited from ACT
Britt Tully Gungahlin 2016 80 2017- 29 4 Recruited from ACT
Rhiannon Metcalfe Gungahlin 2016 74 2017- 26 1 Born and recruited from ACT
Hannah Dunn Queanbeyan 2017- 25 0 Raised in Canberra
Talia Radan Belconnen 2016 58 2017- 16 0 Recruited from ACT
Ellie Brush - 2016 (rookie) Rookie 2017-2020 20 1 Born and recruited from ACT
Heather Anderson Belconnen 2016 10 2017 8 0 Born and raised
Ella Ross Queanbeyan 2016 112 2017 7 0 Recruited from ACT
Hannah Wallett Belconnen 2016 Free agent 2017 4 1 Recruited from ACT

Governing body

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The governing body is AFL NSW/ACT.

Leagues

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Open

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Masters

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Women's

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Representative Side

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An Australian Capital Territory representative side played Interstate Football matches against other states and territories.[49] [50][51][52][53][54]

Australian Capital Territory's first National Football Carnival appearance was at the 1933 National Football Carnival. The side placed second in Division 2 of the 1958 National Football Carnival, and second in the 1968 Minor States National Football Carnival. In the 1990s, the Australian Capital Territory team was merged with the New South Wales team to form NSW/ACT; and from 1995, Australian Capital Territory was represented in interstate football as part of Australian Alliance, which also incorporated players from New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Principal venues

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There are several grounds around the ACT used by AFL Canberra, but only two with spectator facilities suitable for finals matches. In the 1990s, politician and former Canberra Raiders rugby league player Paul Osborne began a successful campaign to exclude the AFL from use of Canberra Stadium which ultimately resulted in its conversion into a rectangular field.[55][56] As a result Manuka Oval remains the only venue in the ACT that meets AFL Standard criteria and have been used to host AFL (National Standard) or AFLW level matches (Regional Standard).[57]

Canberra Canberra
Manuka Oval Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
Capacity: 16,000 Capacity: 5,000
   

Audience

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Attendance record

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Books

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  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.

References

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  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ GWS Giants eye new 10-year deal with ACT government from Canberra Times 18 Apr 2022
  3. ^ Landmark Long-Term Partnership Extension with ACT Government by GIANTS Media 11 December 2022
  4. ^ Giants boss David Matthews aiming for 10,000 Canberra Canberra Times 20 Apr 2015
  5. ^ Raiders set new membership record in 2022 from Raiders.com.au 22 July 2022
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ A Brief History of Football in Wagga. The Riverina Weekender. 23 February 2013
  8. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 291.
  9. ^ "Football". Queanbeyan Age. New South Wales, Australia. 1 August 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 16 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b "AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL". Federal Capital Pioneer. No. 18. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 June 1926. p. 2 (Supplement to The Federal Capital Pioneer,). Retrieved 13 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "FOOTBALL". Federal Capital Pioneer. No. 3. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 February 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 13 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 331.
  13. ^ Aboriginal carnival in ACT. The Canberra Times 4 Oct 1974 Page 18
  14. ^ pg.10 The Canberra Times Mon 7 Oct 1974
  15. ^ PNG defeats Aborigines. The Canberra Times 7 Oct 1974 Page 10
  16. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 468.
  17. ^ de Moore et al. 2021, p. 469.
  18. ^ "Swans might be Canberra's lever into AFL". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 19, 730. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 October 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Weaknesses exposed in VFL transfer plan". The Canberra Times. Vol. 55, no. 16, 746. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 August 1981. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Raiders only bright spot of ACT year". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 276. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 January 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "VFL deferral 'offers breathing space' ACT looking better for national league". The Canberra Times. Vol. 59, no. 17, 909. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 October 1984. p. 38. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ a b c "Submission to VFL task force Swans matches in ACT sought". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 783. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 June 1984. p. 46. Retrieved 23 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ a b "Swans given OK to 'annex' Canberra ACTAFL irate at VFL ruling". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 627. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 October 1986. p. 42. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "VFL no longer exists as sport moves interstate". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 188. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 April 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 2 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "TIMES Sport Canberra gets Swans: Bidder". The Canberra Times. Vol. 62, no. 19, 057. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 December 1987. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Would the Swans be more successful in Canberra?". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 20, 130. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 May 1990. p. 24. Retrieved 9 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "V.F.L. MOVE TO A.C.T UNLIKELY". The Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 972. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 September 1987. p. 7 (Sunday Sport). Retrieved 23 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "It's time for the sleeping giant to lie kicked out of bed". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 953. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 May 1995. p. 36. Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ a b "ACT to miss out on Foster's Cup match". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 663. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 November 1991. p. 28. Retrieved 12 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ The Canberra Times 18 Nov 1993 Page 26 Canberra's AFL bid launch
  31. ^ AFL Record. Round 9, 2009. Slattery Publishing. p. 35
  32. ^ a b AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says success in Canberra 'inevitable' by David Polkinghorne for The Age 19 August 2015
  33. ^ "Rumours scotched that ACT will become host to Vic club". The Canberra Times. Vol. 64, no. 20, 000. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 January 1990. p. 15. Retrieved 23 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ Should we have a Canberra team in the AFL? By Megan Doherty May 22, 2022
  35. ^ A fair go for local footy fans Released 30/05/2009
  36. ^ "North Melbourne Kangaroos eye return to Canberra" from The Australian by Greg Denham | May 06, 2009
  37. ^ Canberra, Dan Silkstone (16 June 2009). "Canberra rejects AFL bid as it waits for 18th club". The Age.
  38. ^ "GIANTS add gold for Canberra". 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  39. ^ "GWS-Canberra deal 'good value for money'". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  40. ^ John-Paul Moloney and Jon Tuxworth (10 November 2010). "ACT secures deal with GWS". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  41. ^ Cordy, Neil (30 July 2016). "Reference at www.theaustralian.com.au". The Australian.
  42. ^ Western Bulldogs masterclass gifts GWS Giants inaugural AFL Women's wooden spoon by Caden Helmers for Canberra Times. 24 April 2018
  43. ^ Tiernan, Eamonn (9 August 2019). "Snow way! Giants and Hawks brave the elements in Canberra". afl.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  44. ^ McCutchan, Ellen (22 August 2019). "The Hawks and the Giants played AFL in the snow, but was it the first time ever?". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  45. ^ Ausplay Sports Report 2022 - Soccer, Australian Football, Rugby League & Rugby Union
  46. ^ Local star Josh Fahey drafted to the GWS Giants by Denholm Samaras for Canberra Weekly. 26 November 2021
  47. ^ Colman, Elizabeth (8 March 2017). "Single and scandal-free GWS Giants defender Phil Davis is all class". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  48. ^ Lovett, M. AFL Record Season Guide 2013 (2013) AFL Media ISSN 1839-8383
  49. ^ The Teams, The Age, (Friday, 4 July 1980, p.24
  50. ^ Rollings, Barry, "As Good as in 1978", The Canberra Times, (Sunday, 6 July 1980), p 26.
  51. ^ Interstate Football Details, The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.26.
  52. ^ Carter, R., "ACT disgrace has Aylett jumping mad", The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.28.
  53. ^ Balderstobe, S., "Whole new ACT as stars forget script", The Age, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p.26.
  54. ^ Rollings, Barry, "ACTAFL defeats VFL", The Canberra Times, (Monday, 7 July 1980), p 16.
  55. ^ "Ossie's plans for Bruce Stadium development get AFL off-side". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 873. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 March 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 14 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  56. ^ "Ossie v AFL". The Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 873. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 March 1995. p. 1. Retrieved 14 September 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  57. ^ AFL PREFERRED FACILITY GUIDELINES Aflcommunityclub.com.au
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