AFL Darling Downs
AFL Darling Downs History
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 amount of clubs participating since then, with nine A Grade Senior Clubs currently competing, and now known as AFL Darling Downs.
University Cougars AFC is the most successful club with 11 premierships, some under the banner of "Institute Eagles".
Goondiwindi Hawks and Coolaroo Roos have 7 premierships each. South Toowoomba longhorns/Bombers have 6 flags.
AFL Darling Downs Senior Clubs
Current Senior Clubs
| Club | Former Name | Colors | Debut | Flags | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coolaroo Roos | - | 1971 | 7 | Gold Park, Toowoomba | |
| Dalby Swans | - | 1980 | 0 | Dalby AFL Oval, Dalby | |
| Goondiwindi Hawks | - | 1980 | 7 | Riddles Oval, Goondiwindi | |
| Highfields Lions | - | 2010 | 0 | Kratzke Oval, Highfields | |
| Lockyer Valley Demons | Magpies | 1981 | 2 | Gatton Showgrounds, Gatton | |
| South Toowoomba Bombers | Longhorns | 1972 | 6 | Harristown Park, Toowoomba | |
| Toowoomba Tigers | Pinkies | 1974 | 4 | Rockville Oval, Toowoomba | |
| University Cougars | Institute Eagles | 1976 | 11 | USQ AFL Oval, Toowoomba | |
| Warwick Redbacks | - | 1999 | 0 | Slade Park, Warwick |
Former Senior Clubs
- Signals (1971-1972)
- Aviation (1971-1977)
- Combined Services (1973)
- QAC Gatton (1974, 1977)
- Lockyer-Warwick (1980)
- South Burnett (1982-1984)
- Moonie (1985-1986)
- Goondiwindi-Moonie (1987)
- Kingaroy (1988-1994, 2001-2004, 2006)
- Goondiwindi 2 (2000)
- Roos (2002)
Recent A Grade Grand Final Results
- 2011 Toowoomba Tigers 10.10-70 defeated Warwick Redbacks 7.7-49
- 2010 Toowoomba Tigers 10.17-77 defeated South Toowoomba Bombers 10.14-74
- 2009 Coolaroo Roos 10.13-73 defeated South Toowoomba Bombers 5.9-39
- 2008 South Toowoomba Bombers 11.14-80 defeated Coolaroo Roos 11.7-73
- 2007 University Cougars 14.9-93 defeated Coolaroo Roos 13.6-84
AFL Darling Downs Premiership Tables and Finals Results
2010 A Grade Ladder
| Club | Games | Won | Lost | For | Against | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba Tigers | 16 | 13 | 3 | 1970 | 948 | 207.81 | 52 |
| University | 16 | 13 | 3 | 1917 | 1052 | 182.22 | 52 |
| Coolaroo | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1955 | 959 | 203.86 | 44 |
| South Toowoomba | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1901 | 1019 | 186.56 | 44 |
| Warwick | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1925 | 1087 | 177.09 | 44 |
| Goondiwindi | 16 | 6 | 10 | 1576 | 1575 | 100.06 | 24 |
| Highfields | 16 | 5 | 11 | 1166 | 1832 | 63.65 | 20 |
| Dalby | 16 | 2 | 14 | 1042 | 2065 | 50.46 | 8 |
| Lockyer Valley | 16 | 0 | 16 | 367 | 3282 | 11.18 | 0 |
2010 A Grade Finals Results
| Final | Club | Score | Club | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Semi | South Toowoomba | 17.14-116 | Coolaroo | 7.7-49 |
| 2nd Semi | Toowoomba Tigers | 14.13-97 | University | 9.15-69 |
| Preliminary | South Toowoomba | 13.18-96 | University | 12.17-89 |
| GRAND FINAL | Toowoomba Tigers | 10.17-77 | South Toowoomba | 10.14-74 |
2011 A Grade Ladder
| Club | Games | Won | Lost | For | Against | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba Tigers | 16 | 13 | 3 | 1698 | 877 | 193.61 | 52 |
| Warwick | 16 | 12 | 4 | 1876 | 867 | 216.38 | 48 |
| South Toowoomba | 16 | 12 | 4 | 1853 | 968 | 191.43 | 48 |
| University | 16 | 11 | 5 | 1560 | 941 | 165.78 | 44 |
| Coolaroo | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1642 | 1128 | 145.57 | 40 |
| Highfields | 16 | 8 | 8 | 1262 | 1247 | 101.20 | 32 |
| Dalby | 16 | 4 | 12 | 1033 | 1778 | 58.10 | 16 |
| Goondiwindi | 16 | 2 | 14 | 1078 | 1735 | 62.13 | 8 |
| Lockyer Valley | 16 | 0 | 16 | 323 | 2784 | 11.60 | 0 |
2011 A Grade Finals Results
| Final | Club | Score | Club | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Semi | University | 19.9-123 | South Toowoomba | 14.9-93 |
| 2nd Semi | Warwick | 10.10-70 | Toowoomba Tigers | 5.3-33 |
| Preliminary | Toowoomba Tigers | 9.16-70 | University | 10.7-67 |
| GRAND FINAL | Toowoomba Tigers | 10.10-70 | Warwick | 7.7-49 |
Reserve Grade
The Reserve Grade competition ran from 1975 to 1999, and 2001, before player numbers for some clubs became a problem and the "Adrian Jericho Trophy" was not contested for a full decade.
In 2012, the Reserves competition will return for the first time since Kingaroy defeated Coolaroo in the 2001 Grand Final. New Club Pittsworth-Millmerran will compete in their first senior year (in Reserves), and will be aiming to finish as high as a possible, as an A Grade spot could be on the cards for the club in 2013.
South Toowoomba Longhorns are the most successful team in Reserve Grade with 10 Premierships from 14 Grand Finals. University (Institute) are the next best with 6 flags from 8 Grand Finals.