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.
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
Teams are listed by their highest grade.
Men
Premier ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL PremiershipsSeniorsReservesTotalPremiershipsPremiershipsBomaderry Tigers Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry– 1969 1970-81989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20102018 Figtree Kangaroos Figtree Oval, Figtree– 1999 2010-42020, 2022, 2023, 20252015, 2020, 2024 Kiama Power Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama– 1999 2002-32009, 2011, 20182009, 2017 Northern Districts Tigers Hollymount Park, Woonona 1971 1988-0 - - Shellharbour City Suns Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour– 2011 0 - -Wollongong Bulldogs Keira Oval, Mount Keira– 2008 52012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 20242016, 2019, 2022, 2023Wollongong Lions North Dalton Park, Fairy MeadowsSAFL 1966 1971-1974, 2015-51969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 -
Reserves ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL PremiershipsSeniorsReservesTotalPremiershipsPremierships Bay & BasinBombers Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia– 1999 2019, 2023-1 20252025Bomaderry Tigers Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry– 1969 1970-81989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20102018 Figtree A Kangaroos Figtree Oval, Figtree– 1999 2010-42020, 2022, 2023, 20252015, 2020, 2024Figtree BKangaroosFigtree Oval, Figtree–19992010-42020, 2022, 2023, 20252015, 2020, 2024 Kiama Power Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama– 1999 2002-32009, 2011, 20182009, 2017 Northern Districts Tigers Hollymount Park, Woonona 1971 1988-0 - - Port Kembla Blacks Kully Bay Oval, Warrawong 1966 1989-21993, 1999 - Shellharbour City Suns Myimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour– 2011 0 - -Wollongong Bulldogs Keira Oval, Mount Keira– 2008 52012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 20242016, 2019, 2022, 2023Wollongong Lions North Dalton Park, Fairy MeadowsSAFL 1966 1971-1974, 2015-51969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 -
Women
Premier ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL PremiershipsSeniorsReservesTotalPremiershipsPremiershipsBomaderry Tigers Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry– 1969 1970-81989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20102018 Figtree Saints Figtree Oval, Figtree– 1999 2010-42020, 2022, 2023, 20252015, 2020, 2024 Kiama Power Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama– 1999 2002-32009, 2011, 20182009, 2017Wollongong Bulldogs Keira Oval, Mount Keira– 2008 52012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 20242016, 2019, 2022, 2023Wollongong Lions North Dalton Park, Fairy MeadowsSAFL 1966 1971-1974, 2015-51969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 -
Reserves ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL PremiershipsSeniorsReservesTotalPremiershipsPremierships Bay & BasinBombers Bay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia– 1999 2019, 2023-1 20252025Bomaderry Tigers Royal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry– 1969 1970-81989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20102018 Figtree Saints Figtree Oval, Figtree– 1999 2010-42020, 2022, 2023, 20252015, 2020, 2024 Kiama Power Bonaira Playing Field, Kiama– 1999 2002-32009, 2011, 20182009, 2017 Northern Districts Tigers Hollymount Park, Woonona 1971 1988-0 - - Port Kembla Blacks Kully Bay Oval, Warrawong 1966 1989-21993, 1999Wollongong Bulldogs Keira Oval, Mount Keira– 2008 52012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 20242016, 2019, 2022, 2023Wollongong Lions North Dalton Park, Fairy MeadowsSAFL 1966 1971-1974, 2015-51969, 1970, 2015, 2016, 2019 -
Junior ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundEst.Years in SCAFLAlbion ParkCrowsCroome Road Sporting Complex, Croom20082008-Bay & BasinBombersBay & Basin Leisure Centre, Vincentia BomaderryTigersRoyal Artie Smith Oval, Bomaderry FigtreeKangaroosFigtree Oval, Figtree19991999- KiamaPowerBonaira Playing Field, Kiama Northern DistrictsTigersHollymount Park, Woonona ShellharbourSwansMyimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour2005 2005- ShoalhavenGiantsWest Street Oval, Nowra?-present UlladullaDockersUlladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla1980s 2009- WollongongLionsNorth Dalton Park, Fairy Meadows
Former Clubs
Senior Men ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalPremierships AlbatrossDemonsTom Smith Oval, HMAS Albatross–1969 1969-2014131971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997Merged with Nowra to form Nowra Albatross after 2014 season Albion ParkCrowsCroome Road Sporting Complex, Croom–20082019-20210 -Senior team entered recess after 2021 season Batemans BaySeahawksHanging Rock Sports Grounds, Batemans Bay19761980s-198841985, 1986, 1987, 1988Moved to Sapphire Coast AFL following 1988 season CamdenCatsFairfax Reserve, Harrington Park1982 1996-200722003, 2005Moved to AFL Sydney after 2007 season Dapto Hawks1972 1972-1974, 19890 -Moved to Illawarra AFL following 1974 season. Folded after 1989 season Dapto CityStallionsKeira Oval, Mount Keira–2014 2015-20190 -Folded after 2019 season East Nowra–1980 1980-198711981Folded after 1987 seasonGoulburn-BargoHawks1997-19980 -Folded after 1998 season HMAS Creswell–1969 19690 -Folded after 1969 season Nowra BluesNowra Showgrounds, Nowra–1969 1969-201491973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1998, 2001, 2002Merged with Albatross to form Nowra Albatross after 2014 season Nowra-Albatross VikingsNowra Showgrounds, Nowra–2015 2015-20230 - Folded after 2023 seasonSouthern HighlandsHawksLoseby Park, Bowral–19981998-2021Juniors onlyFolded after 2021 seasonUlladullaDockersUlladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla–1980s2009-20240 -Senior team entered recess after 2024 season Wollondilly KnightsHannaford Oval, WiltonSAFL1989 2008-20130 -Moved to AFL Sydney following 2013 season
Senior Women ClubColoursNicknameHome GroundFormer LeagueEst.Years in SCAFLSCAFL Senior PremiershipsFateTotalPremiershipsAlbion ParkCrowsCroome Road Sporting Complex, Croom–20082019, 20210 -Senior team in recess since 2021 seasonDapto CityUnicornsFred Finch Park, Berkeley–201420190 -Folded after 2019 seasonNowra-AlbatrossVikingsNowra Showgrounds, Nowra–20152019-20200 -Folded after 2023 seasonShellharbour CitySunsMyimbarr Community Park, Shellharbour–20112019-20200 -Senior team in recess since 2020 seasonUlladullaDockersUlladulla Sports Park, Ulladulla–1980s2019, 20210 -Senior team in recess since 2021 season
Premierships +YearSenior Men'sMen's ReservesMen's Division TwoSenior Women'sWomen's Reserves THE SOUTH COAST AFL1969Wollongong Lions1970Wollongong Lions1971Albatross1972Albatross1973Nowra1974Nowra1975Albatross1976Nowra1977Nowra1978Albatross1979Albatross1980Nowra1981East Nowra1982Nowra1983Albatross1984Albatross1985Batemans Bay1986Batemans Bay1987Batemans Bay1988Batemans Bay LEISURE COAST AFL1989Bomaderry1990Albatross1991Albatross1992Albatross1993Port Kembla1994Bomaderry1995Albatross1996Albatross1997Albatross1998Nowra1999Port Kembla2000Bomaderry2001Nowra THE SOUTH COAST AFL2002Nowra2003Camden2004Bomaderry2005Camden2006Bomaderry2007Bomaderry2008Bomaderry2009KiamaKiama2010Bomaderry2011KiamaFigtree AFL SOUTH COAST2012Wollongong Bulldogs2013Wollongong Bulldogs2014Wollongong Bulldogs2015Wollongong BulldogsFigtree2016Wollongong LionsWollongong Bulldogs2017Wollongong LionsKiama2018KiamaBomaderryBomaderryBomaderry2019Wollongong LionsWollongong BulldogsUlladullaWollongong BulldogsUlladulla2020FigtreeFigtreeFigtreeFigtreeShellharbour2021Cancelled due to Covid-192022FigtreeWollongong BulldogsWollongong BulldogsWollongong LionsNorthern Districts2023FigtreeWollongong BulldogsWollongong BulldogsWollongong LionsKiama2024Wollongong BulldogsFigtreeFigtreeWollongong Lions2025FigtreeBay & BasinFigtreeWollongong Bulldogs2026
Best & Fairest Winners YearSenior Men's Tunbridge MedalMen's Reserves Tom Smith MedalMen's Division TwoSenior Women's Maddy Collier MedalWomen's Reserves THE SOUTH COAST AFL1969Chris Golding (Nowra)1970Terry Menadue (Albatross)1971Chris Golding (Nowra)1972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987 LEISURE COAST AFL19881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001 THE SOUTH COAST AFL200220032004M.Ganderton & R.Meyers (Bomaderry) & (Nowra)2005M.Ryan (Albatross)2006R.Simpson2007P.Herbert & A.Mazey2008S.Phillips2009S.Dowling & R.Neels2010M.Faulkner & S.Phillips2011M.Pelda & L.Pound AFL SOUTH COAST2012Nick Mitchell2013J.Miller (Bomaderry)2014T.Charles (Bulldogs)2015D.Perrett (Northern Districts)2016J.Mahony (Kiama)2017B.Williams (Kiama)2018L.Maples (Lions)Jack Boxsell (Bomaderry)Sophie Phillips (Bomaderry)2019Jacob Hennessy (Figtree)Sophie Phillips (Bomaderry)2020Brandon Lagana (Figtree)Aimee Barnard (Kiama)2021Cancelled due to Covid-192022Jacob Hennessy (Figtree)Ryan Kelly (Bomaderry)Alicia Anderson (Figtree)2023Jack Woeckel-Hynes (Bulldogs)Jack Boxsell (Bomaderry)2024Jacob May (Figtree)Kirsty Philpott (Lions)2025Brandon Lagana (Figtree)Sophie Phillips (Bomaderry)2026Lachlan Highfield (Figtree)Dane Hallinan & Scott Proctor (Bay and Basin)Sophie Phillips (Bomaderry)Luisa Marzotto (Bulldogs)
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 Max Avery, 2009 Terry Ashton, 2011 John Dyball, 2026
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.