Coorparoo Senior Australian Football Club will enter the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) in 2025.
AFL Queensland has granted the club an official licence to enter the premier men’s competition from next season, after meeting all the requirements of the provisional licence it was awarded in December last year.
The club, which boasts a proud and illustrious history, and is one of the biggest community clubs in the country, will now have a clear pathway from juniors to top level football.
Queensland Competitions Manager, Mitchell Simpson, said the inclusion of the Kings in 2025 would only further strengthen the QAFL competition.
“Coorparoo have proven themselves to be one of the best teams in the QFA Division 1 HART Sport Cup for a number of years now,” he said.
“It’s certainly been a journey to get to this point, with the club undergoing an extensive assessment piece to be ready for the step up to QAFL football.
“I congratulate everyone involved at the Coorparoo Kings who has helped make this happen, whether it be on field success sustained in the QFA Division 1 HART Sport Cup, the strong numbers coming through their junior grades to the off-field work that has gone on behind the scenes to position the club to be ready for the elevation.”
Head of AFL Queensland, Trisha Squires, said it was fantastic to see one of the country’s biggest community clubs enter the league.
“I warmly welcome the Coorparoo Kings to the QAFL and look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the premier competition,” she said.
“Their elevation into the QAFL means new opportunities for players, coaches, umpires and administrators, and importantly demonstrates a clear pathway from NAB AFL Auskick through to top level football.
“How fantastic for the hundreds of boys and girls who play NAB AFL Auskick and junior football at Coorparoo to be able to aspire to play for their club at the highest playing level in Queensland.”
Coorparoo Senior Australian Football Club President, Sam Haddad, said the club was thrilled to receive the licence after many years of hard work and persistence and noted the focus was now on bolstering their list.
“One of the hardest things over the past ten years has been losing so much talent, in young boys especially, to go to other clubs,” he said.
“We are so excited to join the QAFL and we are ready for the challenge. It’s a huge moment for our senior club, but our junior club too. This is an opportunity for young boys and girls, and the men and women already in our club, with the ability to play at the one club their entire playing career and that’s what gives me the most joy.”
The license will see the Kings field a senior, reserves and colts team in the QAFL, alongside their Bond University QAFLW teams.
Coorparoo becomes the 13th club apart of the QAFL competition.
Background
Coorparoo has a long and illustrious history in the QAFL, with the Coorparoo Roos having previously played at the top Queensland level from 1941 to 1993. During this time, they won six QAFL premierships and launched the career of Jason Dunstall, one of the greatest players the nation has ever seen. He won the Ray Hughson Medal, as the QAFL leading goal kicker, in 1984.
In more recent times, the club has enjoyed success in QFA Division 1, with both their seniors and reserves teams Premiers in 2022 and Grand Finalists in 2023. Now, both men’s teams will have the opportunity to test themselves at the next level.
Coorparoo Kings is one of the biggest community clubs in the country, with more than 900 participants. The elevation to the QAFL demonstrates a clear pathway for their players, from NAB AFL Auskick through to the highest playing level in Queensland.
Off the field, the club has invested in improving their facilities through their connections with local government.
Pictured above: Coorparoo Football Club senior and junior players, Queensland Competitions Manager Mitchell Simpson, Coorparoo Junior Australian Football Club President Tony Kinivan, Head of AFL Queensland Trisha Squires, Coorparoo Senior Australian Football Club Sam Haddad.
