AFL Darling Downs


AFL Darling Downs is an Australian rules football competition based in the area around the city of Toowoomba west of Brisbane, Queensland. The competition was formed as the Darling Downs Australian Football League in 1971. The senior representative team is known as the Demons and wear guernseys modelled on the Melbourne Demons guernseys.

History of Australian Football in the Darling Downs, Queensland

The Darling Downs Australian Football League was first played as an official organised competition in 1971. Signals, Coolaroo and Aviation were the three foundation clubs and were joined by a fourth club, South Toowoomba in 1972.
The League has had many changes to the number of clubs participating since then, with ten A Grade Senior Clubs currently competing, and now known as AFL Darling Downs. It is the largest regional League in Queensland. There are four Senior clubs based in Toowoomba, and the other senior clubs come from Dalby, Goondiwindi, Highfields, and Warwick. New teams from Kingaroy, and Chinchilla are participating in the 2013 revamped competition.
University Cougars AFC is the most successful club with 13 premierships, 4 under the banner of "Institute Eagles" and 5 under the moniker of "University Eagles". Coolaroo Roos has 9 premierships and Goondiwindi Hawks has 8. South Toowoomba Bombers and Toowoomba Tigers have 6 premiership flags each.

AFL Darling Downs Senior Clubs

There have been many different towns in the Darling Downs of Queensland fielding Australian Rules Football teams over the forty plus years of Senior Competition. Coolaroo Roos have played every season from the inaugural year, and Toowoomba Tigers have played the second most seasons. Below is a full list of Current and Former Clubs in the region.

Current Senior Clubs

;Notes

Former Senior Clubs

NOTE: Some clubs listed above played in Reserve Grade only for many seasons, but were not part of the A Grade competition and those years are not included in the above table.

AFL Darling Downs A Grade Premiers List

Inaugural Darling Downs AFL Grand Final Results

GOALS:
Signals - B.Fletcher 2, W. Sampson, T. Osborne, M. Darby.
Coolaroo Roos - A. Jericho 2, I. Shaw, J. Oska.
BEST:
Signals - T. Osborne, D. Akesson, J. Davis, J. Walsh, K. Zeller.
Coolaroo Roos - R. Smith, J. Hagerstrom, J. Smith, A. Jericho, C. Wells.

AFL Darling Downs Premiership Tables and Finals Results

Below is a summary of AFL Darling Downs A Grade Ladders at the end of the home and away fixtures, and the Finals Results for the major rounds:

2006 Ladder

2007 Ladder

2008 Ladder

2009 Ladder

2010 Ladder

2011 Ladder

2012 Ladder

2013 Ladder

AFL Darling Downs Best and Fairest Award (Holman Medalist)

Reserve Grade

The Reserve Grade competition ran from 1975 to 1999, and 2001, before player numbers for some clubs became a problem and therefore the "Adrian Jericho Trophy" had not been contested for a full decade.
In 2012, the Reserves competition returned with a three team competition involving University, Coolaroo, and Souths. It was the first time the competition has been staged since Kingaroy defeated Coolaroo in the 2001 Grand Final.
South Toowoomba Longhorns are the most successful team in Reserve Grade with 10 Premierships from 14 Grand Finals.
University are the next best with 7 flags from 9 Grand Finals, winning the 2012 title over Coolaroo.

Recent Reserve Grade Grand Final Results

;Note: The Reserve Grade Seniors Competition was not contested in 2000 and between 2002-2011 and 2015-2016 along with recess in 2018.

Future of AFL Darling Downs

Three areas are proposing Senior Football teams in the coming years:
The League has the potential to expand to 12 Senior Clubs if these areas can field enough players, and with Junior competitions also expanding, the future is looking bright for AFL across the region.
In late 2012 it was made official that South Burnett and Chinchilla would enter the Senior Competition, to play in an eleven club League in 2013.

Divisional Football

League president Andrew Foley said splitting the 11-team competition into two divisions for 2014, including the three current reserve grade sides, would help the newer clubs to be more competitive. The senior competition grew last season with the formation of Chinchilla and South Burnett but those clubs struggled on-field.
First division has Coolaroo, Goondiwidi, Highfields, Lockyer Valley, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba, University and Warwick.
Second division has Chinchilla, Dalby, South Burnett as well as clubs seconds from Coolaroo, Highfields, South Toowoomba, University and Warwick.

2014 Ladder

AFL Darling Downs Div 2WinsByesLossesDrawsForAgainst%PtsFinalTeamGBPtsTeamGBPts
South Burnett 12 0 2 1 1634 633 258.14% 501st Semi Dalby 12 12 84 Highfields 11 9 75
University 11 0 2 2 1118 385 290.39% 482nd Semi South Burnett 13 14 92 University 9 6 60
Dalby 9 0 6 0 1312 852 153.99% 36Preliminary University 12 12 84 Highfields 3 1 19
Highfields 8 0 7 0 1194 785 152.10% 32Grand University 11 14 80 South Burnett 4 7 31
Chinchilla 7 0 8 0 1135 1193 95.14% 28---------
South Toowoomba 5 0 9 1 763 1452 52.55% 22---------
Coolaroo 3 0 10 2 685 973 70.40% 16---------
Warwick 2 0 13 0 454 2022 22.45% 8---------