The Gold Coast SUNS’ reserves team will play in the newly created North East Australian Football League to be introduced in 2011 which brings together teams from NSW, Queensland, ACT and NT into one competition.
The league will be split into an Eastern and Northern Conference with the Gold Coast SUNS’ reserves team to compete in the league’s Northern Conference along with existing QAFL teams.
For the majority of the season the Gold Coast SUNS will play teams within their conference, but will also play a number of cross-conference interstate games.The new league will build upon the successful existing competitions of AFL Canberra and AFL Queensland.
The Northern Conference of the NEAFL will consist of four Brisbane based teams, three Gold Coast based teams, one Northern Territory team and the second tier teams of AFL clubs the Gold Coast SUNS and the Brisbane Lions.The Eastern Conference will consist of five Canberra based teams along with the second tier teams of AFL clubs the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney.
Gold Coast SUNS’ Football Manager Marcus Ashcroft welcomed the new league format which he said would give local clubs an opportunity to participate at a higher level of the game.“Our teams will be exposed to a wider audience and the local fans will get a good chance to see developing players and some good quality football in the community,” he said.
Northern Conference Teams
- Gold Coast SUNS
- Brisbane Lions
- Aspley
- Morningside
- Mt Gravatt
- Redland
- Broadbeach
- Labrador
- Southport
- NT Thunder
Eastern Conference Teams
- Sydney Swans
- Greater Western Sydney
- Ainslie
- Belconnen
- Eastlake
- Queanbeyan
- Tuggeranong
