AFL Canberra is the name of the local governing body for and premier competition of Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory (and the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales).

It acts as an umbrella to several competitions beneath it. These competitions are Seniors First Grade, Seniors Second Grade, Thirds, Fourths and a Rising Stars League. A women's league, the Australian Capital Territory Women's Australian Football League operates separately though most AFL Canberra clubs also field women's teams.

The competition is technically Canberra's division of the Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League.

The league was founded as the Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League in 1924 with founding members Acton and Queanbeyan.^[1] The following year, the premiership was contested by 4 clubs including Canberra, Federal and Duntroon.^[2] By 1926 the competition had gained popularity and was contested by 5 clubs.^[1]

AFL Canberra was once a very popular local league, however since the introduction of the Swans and matches featuring AFL clubs being played at Manuka Oval, the league's home ground, and the growth of local rugby union, rugby league and association football competitions, AFL Canberra has experienced the loss of clubs and spectator support.

In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League.^[3] From 2011 onwards, the AFL Canberra Premier Division together with the reserve sides from the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants would form the NEAFL Eastern Conference. However the NEAFL was later dissolved due primarily to the COVID pandemic and associated financial pressures.

The AFL Canberra has been through a number of forms.

• 1924–1926 Federal Territory Australian Rules Football League (FTARFL);
• 1927–1974 Canberra Australian National Football League (CANFL);
• 1975–1999 Australian Capital Territory Australian Football League (ACTAFL);
• 2000–2010 AFL Canberra
• 2011–2020 North East Australian Football League - Eastern Conference
• 2011–present AFL Canberra

Clubs listed by highest grade of competition.

More information Football Club, Colours ...

Football Club	Colours	Mascot	City	State	Home Ground	Est.	Years in comp
First Grade & Second Grade
Ainslie		Tricolours	Canberra	ACT	Alan Ray Oval	1927	1927-
Belconnen		Magpies	Canberra	ACT	Aderow Law Nest	1987	1987-
Eastlake		Demons	Canberra	ACT	Kingston Oval	1991	1991-
Gungahlin		Jets	Canberra	ACT	Enclosed Oval	1981	2006-
Queanbeyan		Tigers	Queanbeyan	NSW	Allinsure Park	1925	1925-
Tuggeranong Valley *		Valley	Canberra	ACT	Greenway Oval	1968	1979-
Community Divisions 1 & 2
ADFA		Rams	Canberra	ACT	ADFA Oval	1986	1986-
ANU		Griffins	Canberra	ACT	South Oval	1961	1961-
Batemans Bay		Seahawks	Batemans Bay	NSW	Hanging Rock Oval	1984	2011-
Googong *		Hogs	Queanbeyan	NSW	Rockley Oval	1976	1976-
Molonglo *		Juggernauts	Canberra	ACT	Stirling Oval	1994	1994-
Woden Valley		Blues	Canberra	ACT	Football Park	1996	1996-
Community Division 3
Cootamundra		Blues	Cootamundra	NSW	Clarke Oval	1960	2004-
Goulburn City		Swans	Goulburn	NSW	Goodhew Park	2004	2004-
Murrumbateman		Eagles	Murrumbateman	NSW	Murrumbateman Recreational Oval	2019	2020-
Southern Cats *		Cats	Canberra/Cooma	ACT/NSW	Snowy Oval	1976	1976-
Yass Roos		Roos	Yass	NSW	Joe O'Connor Park	2002	2002-
Rising Stars (U18)
Marist		Blue and Blues	Canberra	ACT	Lindwall Oval	1973	1973-

Close

• = Googong formerly Harman
• = Molonglo formerly Murrumbidgee
• = Southern Cats formerly Cooma
• = Tuggeranong Valley formerly Tuggeranong Hawks

• Mulrooney Medal
• List of Australian rules football leagues in Australia