AFL South Coast
Australian rules football competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The AFL South Coast is an Australian rules football competition in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of New South Wales. The AFLSC has two divisions of senior men's football and senior women's football. In 2012 The South Coast AFL became "AFL South Coast" incorporating the three leagues of South Coast AFL Seniors, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors.
| |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Country | Australia |
Most recent champions | Premier Division 2025.svg){kind=small} Figtree - Mens Figtree - WomensReserve Grade 2025  Bay and Basin - Men Wollongong - Women |
| Most titles |  Albatross (13) |
| Website | |
The competition is technically South Coast's division of the New South Wales Australian Football League.
History
The South Coast AFL was formed in 1969, composed of players from the military bases of HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell, and the cities of Nowra and Wollongong. In 1970 the Bomaderry club was formed and in 1972 Dapto joined the competition.
In 1975, Wollongong and Dapto left the league to create the Illawarra Australian Football League. They were joined by Bulli-Woonona (now known as Northern Districts), Port Kembla and Shellharbour, three clubs who had run junior programs but were introducing senior football. The sixth foundation club of the senior league was the University of Wollongong.
In 1988, the Wollongong Lions moving to the Sydney Football League causing the league to disband and the remaining clubs joining the South Coast AFL, which was renamed the Leisure Coast Australian Football League. The league returned to the name "South Coast AFL" in 2002.
In 2012 The South Coast AFL became "AFL South Coast" incorporating the three leagues of South Coast AFL Seniors, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors.
Clubs
Locations
15km
9.3miles
9.3miles
Ulladulla
Albion Park
Shoalhaven
Port Kembla
Bay & Basin
Wollongong Bulldogs
Shellharbour City
Shellharbour Swans (junior-only)
Shellharbour Swans (junior-only)
Northern Districts
Kiama
Figtree
Bomaderry
Locations of the AFL South Coast clubs. Red clubs field senior teams, yellow reserves only and green juniors only
Teams are listed by their highest grade.
Men
Premier
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Premierships | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | Reserves | ||||||||
| Total | Premierships | Premierships | |||||||
| Bomaderry |  |
Tigers | Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry | – | 1969 | 1970- | 8 | 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | 2018 |
| Figtree | |
Kangaroos | Figtree Oval, Figtree | – | 1999 | 2010- | 4 | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2015, 2020, 2024 |
| Kiama |  |
Power | Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama | – | 1999 | 2002- | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2018 | 2009, 2017 |
| Northern Districts (Bulli-Woonona 1988-?) | .svg) |
Tigers | Hollymount Park, Woonona | IAFL | 1971 | 1988- | 0 | - | - |
| Shellharbour City |  |
Suns | Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour | – | 2011 | 2011- | 0 | - | - |
| Wollongong | |
Bulldogs | Keira Oval, Mount Keira | – | 2008 | 2008- | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Wollongong |  |
Lions | North Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows | SAFL | 1966 | 1971-1974, 2015- | 5 | 1969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 | - |
Reserves
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Premierships | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | Reserves | ||||||||
| Total | Premierships | Premierships | |||||||
| Bay & Basin | |
Bombers | Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia | – | 1999 | 2019, 2023- | 1 | 2025 | 2025 |
| Bomaderry | |
Tigers | Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry | – | 1969 | 1970- | 8 | 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | 2018 |
| Figtree A | |
Kangaroos | Figtree Oval, Figtree | – | 1999 | 2010- | 4 | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2015, 2020, 2024 |
| Figtree B | |
Kangaroos | Figtree Oval, Figtree | – | 1999 | 2010- | 4 | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2015, 2020, 2024 |
| Kiama | |
Power | Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama | – | 1999 | 2002- | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2018 | 2009, 2017 |
| Northern Districts (Bulli-Woonona 1988-?) | |
Tigers | Hollymount Park, Woonona | IAFL | 1971 | 1988- | 0 | - | - |
| Port Kembla |  |
Blacks | Kully Bay Oval, Warrawong | IAFL | 1966 | 1989- | 2 | 1993, 1999 | - |
| Shellharbour City | |
Suns | Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour | – | 2011 | 2011- | 0 | - | - |
| Wollongong | |
Bulldogs | Keira Oval, Mount Keira | – | 2008 | 2008- | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Wollongong | |
Lions | North Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows | SAFL | 1966 | 1971-1974, 2015- | 5 | 1969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 | - |
Women
Premier
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Premierships | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | Reserves | ||||||||
| Total | Premierships | Premierships | |||||||
| Bomaderry | |
Tigers | Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry | – | 1969 | 1970- | 8 | 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | 2018 |
| Figtree | |
Saints | Figtree Oval, Figtree | – | 1999 | 2010- | 4 | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2015, 2020, 2024 |
| Kiama | |
Power | Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama | – | 1999 | 2002- | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2018 | 2009, 2017 |
| Wollongong | |
Bulldogs | Keira Oval, Mount Keira | – | 2008 | 2008- | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Wollongong | |
Lions | North Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows | SAFL | 1966 | 1971-1974, 2015- | 5 | 1969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 | - |
Reserves
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Premierships | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | Reserves | ||||||||
| Total | Premierships | Premierships | |||||||
| Bay & Basin | |
Bombers | Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia | – | 1999 | 2019, 2023- | 1 | 2025 | 2025 |
| Bomaderry | |
Tigers | Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry | – | 1969 | 1970- | 8 | 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | 2018 |
| Figtree | |
Saints | Figtree Oval, Figtree | – | 1999 | 2010- | 4 | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 | 2015, 2020, 2024 |
| Kiama | |
Power | Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama | – | 1999 | 2002- | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2018 | 2009, 2017 |
| Northern Districts (Bulli-Woonona 1988-?) | |
Tigers | Hollymount Park, Woonona | IAFL | 1971 | 1988- | 0 | - | - |
| Port Kembla | |
Blacks | Kully Bay Oval, Warrawong | IAFL | 1966 | 1989- | 2 | 1993, 1999 | |
| Wollongong | |
Bulldogs | Keira Oval, Mount Keira | – | 2008 | 2008- | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024 | 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Wollongong | |
Lions | North Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows | SAFL | 1966 | 1971-1974, 2015- | 5 | 1969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 | - |
Junior
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Est. | Years in SCAFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion Park |  |
Crows | Croome Road Sporting Complex, Croom | 2008 | 2008- |
| Bay & Basin | |
Bombers | Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia | ||
| Bomaderry | |
Tigers | Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry | ||
| Figtree | |
Kangaroos | Figtree Oval, Figtree | 1999 | 1999- |
| Kiama | |
Power | Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama | ||
| Northern Districts (Bulli-Woonona 1988-?) |
|
Tigers | Hollymount Park, Woonona | ||
| Shellharbour |  |
Swans | Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour | 2005 | 2005- |
| Shoalhaven |  |
Giants | West Street Oval, Nowra | ?-present | |
| Ulladulla |  |
Dockers | Ulladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla | 1980s | 2009- |
| Wollongong | |
Lions | North Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows |
Former Clubs
Senior Men
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Premierships | ||||||||
| Albatross | |
Demons | Tom Smith Oval, HMAS Albatross | – | 1969 | 1969-2014 | 13 | 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 | Merged with Nowra to form Nowra Albatross after 2014 season |
| Albion Park | |
Crows | Croome Road Sporting Complex, Croom | – | 2008 | 2019-2021 | 0 | - | Senior team entered recess after 2021 season |
| Batemans Bay |  |
Seahawks | Hanging Rock Sports Grounds, Batemans Bay | MAFL | 1976 | 1980s-1988 | 4 | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 | Moved to Sapphire Coast AFL following 1988 season |
| Camden |  |
Cats | Fairfax Reserve, Harrington Park | SFA | 1982 | 1996-2007 | 2 | 2003, 2005 | Moved to AFL Sydney after 2007 season |
| Dapto | |
Hawks | IAFL | 1972 | 1972-1974, 1989 | 0 | - | Moved to Illawarra AFL following 1974 season. Folded after 1989 season | |
| Dapto City |  |
Stallions | Keira Oval, Mount Keira | – | 2014 | 2015-2019 | 0 | - | Folded after 2019 season |
| East Nowra | – | 1980 | 1980-1987 | 1 | 1981 | Folded after 1987 season | |||
| Goulburn-Bargo | |
Hawks | 1997-1998 | 0 | - | Folded after 1998 season | |||
| HMAS Creswell | – | 1969 | 1969 | 0 | - | Folded after 1969 season | |||
| Nowra |  |
Blues | Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra | – | 1969 | 1969-2014 | 9 | 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1998, 2001, 2002 | Merged with Albatross to form Nowra Albatross after 2014 season |
| Nowra-Albatross |  |
Vikings | Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra | – | 2015 | 2015-2023 | 0 | - | Folded after 2023 season |
| Southern Highlands | |
Hawks | Loseby Park, Bowral | – | 1998 | 1998-2021 | Juniors only | Folded after 2021 season | |
| Ulladulla |  |
Dockers | Ulladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla | – | 1980s | 2009-2024 | 0 | - | Senior team entered recess after 2024 season |
| Wollondilly |  |
Knights | Hannaford Oval, Wilton | SAFL | 1989 | 2008-2013 | 0 | - | Moved to AFL Sydney following 2013 season |
Senior Women
| Club | Colours | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in SCAFL | SCAFL Senior Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Premierships | ||||||||
| Albion Park | |
Crows | Croome Road Sporting Complex, Croom | – | 2008 | 2019, 2021 | 0 | - | Senior team in recess since 2021 season |
| Dapto City | |
Unicorns | Fred Finch Park, Berkeley | – | 2014 | 2019 | 0 | - | Folded after 2019 season |
| Nowra-Albatross | |
Vikings | Nowra Showgrounds, Nowra | – | 2015 | 2019-2020 | 0 | - | Folded after 2023 season |
| Shellharbour City | |
Suns | Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour | – | 2011 | 2019-2020 | 0 | - | Senior team in recess since 2020 season |
| Ulladulla | |
Dockers | Ulladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla | – | 1980s | 2019, 2021 | 0 | - | Senior team in recess since 2021 season |
Premierships
| Year | Senior Men's | Men's Reserves | Men's Division Two | Senior Women's | Women's Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SOUTH COAST AFL | |||||
| 1969 | Wollongong Lions | ||||
| 1970 | Wollongong Lions | ||||
| 1971 | Albatross | ||||
| 1972 | Albatross | ||||
| 1973 | Nowra | ||||
| 1974 | Nowra | ||||
| 1975 | Albatross | ||||
| 1976 | Nowra | ||||
| 1977 | Nowra | ||||
| 1978 | Albatross | ||||
| 1979 | Albatross | ||||
| 1980 | Nowra | ||||
| 1981 | East Nowra | ||||
| 1982 | Nowra | ||||
| 1983 | Albatross | ||||
| 1984 | Albatross | ||||
| 1985 | Batemans Bay | ||||
| 1986 | Batemans Bay | ||||
| 1987 | Batemans Bay | ||||
| 1988 | Batemans Bay | ||||
| LEISURE COAST AFL | |||||
| 1989 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 1990 | Albatross | ||||
| 1991 | Albatross | ||||
| 1992 | Albatross | ||||
| 1993 | Port Kembla | ||||
| 1994 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 1995 | Albatross | ||||
| 1996 | Albatross | ||||
| 1997 | Albatross | ||||
| 1998 | Nowra | ||||
| 1999 | Port Kembla | ||||
| 2000 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2001 | Nowra | ||||
| THE SOUTH COAST AFL | |||||
| 2002 | Nowra | ||||
| 2003 | Camden | ||||
| 2004 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2005 | Camden | ||||
| 2006 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2007 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2008 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2009 | Kiama | Kiama | |||
| 2010 | Bomaderry | ||||
| 2011 | Kiama | Figtree | |||
| AFL SOUTH COAST | |||||
| 2012 | Wollongong Bulldogs | ||||
| 2013 | Wollongong Bulldogs | ||||
| 2014 | Wollongong Bulldogs | ||||
| 2015 | Wollongong Bulldogs | Figtree | |||
| 2016 | Wollongong Lions | Wollongong Bulldogs | |||
| 2017 | Wollongong Lions | Kiama | |||
| 2018 | Kiama | Bomaderry | Bomaderry | Bomaderry | |
| 2019 | Wollongong Lions | Wollongong Bulldogs | Ulladulla | Wollongong Bulldogs | Ulladulla |
| 2020 | Figtree | Figtree | Figtree | Figtree | Shellharbour |
| 2021 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 | ||||
| 2022 | Figtree | Wollongong Bulldogs | Wollongong Bulldogs | Wollongong Lions | Northern Districts |
| 2023 | Figtree | Wollongong Bulldogs | Wollongong Bulldogs | Wollongong Lions | Kiama |
| 2024 | Wollongong Bulldogs | Figtree | Figtree | Wollongong Lions | |
| 2025 | Figtree | Bay & Basin | Figtree | Wollongong Bulldogs | |
Best & Fairest Winners
| Year | Senior Men's
Tunbridge Medal |
Men's Reserves
Tom Smith Medal |
Men's Division Two | Senior Women's
Maddy Collier Medal |
Women's Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SOUTH COAST AFL | |||||
| 1969 | Chris Golding
(Nowra) |
||||
| 1970 | Terry Menadue
(Albatross) |
||||
| 1971 | Chris Golding
(Nowra) |
||||
| 1972 | |||||
| 1973 | |||||
| 1974 | |||||
| 1975 | |||||
| 1976 | |||||
| 1977 | |||||
| 1978 | |||||
| 1979 | |||||
| 1980 | |||||
| 1981 | |||||
| 1982 | |||||
| 1983 | |||||
| 1984 | |||||
| 1985 | |||||
| 1986 | |||||
| 1987 | |||||
| LEISURE COAST AFL | |||||
| 1988 | |||||
| 1989 | |||||
| 1990 | |||||
| 1991 | |||||
| 1992 | |||||
| 1993 | |||||
| 1994 | |||||
| 1995 | |||||
| 1996 | |||||
| 1997 | |||||
| 1998 | |||||
| 1999 | |||||
| 2000 | |||||
| 2001 | |||||
| THE SOUTH COAST AFL | |||||
| 2002 | |||||
| 2003 | |||||
| 2004 | M.Ganderton & R.Meyers
(Bomaderry) & (Nowra) |
||||
| 2005 | M.Ryan
(Albatross) |
||||
| 2006 | R.Simpson | ||||
| 2007 | P.Herbert & A.Mazey | ||||
| 2008 | S.Phillips | ||||
| 2009 | S.Dowling & R.Neels | ||||
| 2010 | M.Faulkner & S.Phillips | ||||
| 2011 | M.Pelda & L.Pound | ||||
| AFL SOUTH COAST | |||||
| 2012 | Nick Mitchell | ||||
| 2013 | J.Miller
(Bomaderry) |
||||
| 2014 | T.Charles
(Bulldogs) |
||||
| 2015 | D.Perrett
(Northern Districts) |
||||
| 2016 | J.Mahony
(Kiama) |
||||
| 2017 | B.Williams
(Kiama) |
||||
| 2018 | L.Maples
(Lions) |
Jack Boxsell
(Bomaderry) |
Sophie Phillips
(Bomaderry) |
||
| 2019 | Jacob Hennessy
(Figtree) |
Sophie Phillips
(Bomaderry) |
|||
| 2020 | Brandon Lagana
(Figtree) |
Aimee Barnard
(Kiama) |
|||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 | ||||
| 2022 | Jacob Hennessy
(Figtree) |
Ryan Kelly
(Bomaderry) |
Alicia Anderson
(Figtree) |
||
| 2023 | Jack Woeckel-Hynes
(Bulldogs) |
Jack Boxsell
(Bomaderry) |
|||
| 2024 | Kirsty Philpott
(Lions) |
||||
| 2025 | Brandon Lagana
(Figtree) |
Sophie Phillips
(Bomaderry) | |||
Honours
Life Members
- Ray Tunbridge, 1975
- Alan Blacker, 1977
- Tom Smith, 1979
- John Collier, 1980
- Stewart Stephens, 1981
- Ian Biggs, 1983
- Eddie Smith, 1985
- Greg Perry, 1987
- John Ford, 1996
- D. Cornish, 1997
- K. Blundell, Reg Douglas and N. Hickmott, 1998
- K. Bright, L. Bright and J. Tatnell, 2005
- Terry Ashton, 2011
- Max Avery, 2009
Tom Smith Memorial Trophy
A lightning premiership played at the start of the season.
- 1977 Bomaderry
- 1978 Albatross
- 1979 Nowra
- 1980 East Nowra
- 1981 Nowra
- 1982 Nowra
- 1984 Albatross
- 1990 Bomaderry
- 1991 Bomaderry
- 1992 Albatross
- 1993 Port Kembla
- 1994 Bomaderry
- 1995 Nowra
- 1996 Bomaderry
- 1997 Bomaderry
- 1998 Port Kembla
- 1999 Camden
- 2001 Albatross
- 2002 Bomaderry
- 2003 Camden
- 2004 Albatross
- 2005 Albatross
- 2006 Camden
- 2007 Nowra
- 2008 Bomaderry
- 2009 Kiama
- 2010 Northern Districts
- 2011 Wollongong University
- 2012 Kiama
- 2013 Kiama
- 2017 Figtree
Hall of Fame
- 2017 Neville Hickmott
- 2018 Ray Tunbridge
- 2019 Tom Smith
- 2022 Max Avery
- 2022 Dave Johnson
AFL players
- Arthur Chilcott had a short career with the Sydney Swans between 1984 and 1985. He played 13 games and scored 14 goals.
- Aidan Riley was rookie listed by the Adelaide Crows via the NSW scholarship program, making his debut in 2011 in their round 19 match against Port Adelaide. In 2014 he joined the Melbourne Football Club and after playing the 2014 and 2015 seasons returned to Adelaide to play with the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL. Aidan Riley retired from Sturt in 2019.
- James Bell played his debut game for the Sydney Swans in 2019 against Port Adelaide. A former Shellharbour Junior, James signed with the Swans as a Rookie in 2017.
AFLW players
- Amelia Martin was drafted by the Sydney Swans with pick No.56 in the 2024 AFL Women's draft. Amelia played her debut game in 2025 in round 2 against the Gold Coast Suns and went on to play 6 games in her debut season with the club.
- Ellie Veerhuis debuted for the Gold Coast Suns in round 1 2025 against West Coast Eagles. A former Figtree AFC junior, Ellie signed with the Gold Cost Suns as an injury replacement in 2025 and went on to play 11 games in her first season with the club.
