Canberra AFL Team

Should we have our own AFL team? Barr says a rich GWS deal is no roadblock Canberra could eventually feature in AFL expansion discussions.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said GWS wouldn't be a roadbloack for a potential 20th licence.

'If the AFL decides to expand to 20 teams, Canberra's proven support for the game, including growing membership, sell-out crowds and infrastructure commitments, will speak for itself.'

The sooner Canberra gets a team of its own, the sooner we can be done with this tired old Giants relocation rhetoric.

Mastodon folks: Think Canberra deserves an #AFL team? Then follow @canberraaflteam.bsky.social, which has now been bridged to the Fediverse. #Auspol #Australia #Canberra #ACT #Bridge #BridgyFed #Bridgy

If it's replacing a Canberra game, that's a good sign that they're planning for a post-Canberra future.

If it's an Engie game, just pack up shop. It's clear they don't care about growing the game in Western Sydney.

It was great to have #AFLGiantsDogs at Manuka.

How good would it be to have this 11 times a year?!

Another solid crowd at Manuka.

Canberra again proving its AFL credentials.

Yes, everybody, it was an April Fool's post. Should've know you would all be too smart.

But we can dream in the meantime.

BREAKING

Ainslie Football Club has applied for the 20th #AFL and #AFLW licence.

The club will seek to enter the competitions as the Canberra Owls.

But a club official says they hope to unofficially keep the Tricolours nickname, similar to Sydney and "the Bloods".

More to come

Good to see the Giants recognise the benefit of an interstate team making way for a local team.

Canberra should def have their own team. GWS are western Sydney and once they win a premiership bring on the ACT

The below was asked on the the #AFL Sounding Board Scorecard.

Damo gave the statement 3/10, Hutchy gave it 1/10.

Clearly not fans of Canberra.

What are your thoughts?

But the clash looks great against the Eagles

Manuka an absolute picture, give us a real team, playing here every fortnight

Would absolutely love the 20th AFL team to be Canberra / Southern NSW

This is a more common sentiment than many realise.

We're happy with the Giants playing games at Manuka for the timebeing.

But if the Giants are the reason we miss out on a team of our own, there's going to be a lot of disgruntled Canberrans.

Really easy solution to the Brisbane v Geelong fixture being threatened by a cyclone - move it to Canberra, thus maintaining the northern states focus of Opening Round

Manuka hosted the second largest AAMI Series crowd this weekend.

Canberra continues to demonstrate a demand for more footy.

A capital idea? Can the AFL afford a 20th team and in Canberra? The Tasmanian Devils are now officially the Australian Football League (AFL)’s 19th team and if it can build its stadium, it will enter the league in 2028. Will there be a 20th team to make up an even...

'Enough of a population to work, and a ‘mixed market’ for football codes.

Not territory unfamiliar with Aussie Rules, or even hostile to it.

Nor an overcrowded heartland like Vic, SA or WA that already may have enough teams.

It is fitting that Canberra is the compromise candidate for the AFL.'

Time to end relationship of convenience: Canberra doesn't owe GWS anything When the topic of where to place a 20th AFL team arises, there’s one place that makes the most sense. A fast-growing population, with…

Time to end relationship of convenience: Canberra doesn't owe GWS anything.

'We can be grateful for what the Giants have brought to the capital, but we owe them no loyalty.'

www.theroar.com.au/2025/01/06/t...

It would be amazing to see an NT team, but it would just be an incredibly expensive endeavour.

The AFL would need to have a deal similar to the NRL in PNG to make it work. Leverage the social element for federal funding.

A lot of disposable income, but still a very small base. Would need more than 10% of the city rocking up every fortnight.

The NT is a tricky one though.

Darwin only has 140k people. Needs a bit of a population boom first to make the team viable.

And importantly, Canberra also gave the AFL Razor Ray 😁

I think Canberra is a great choice. Not sure they'd get the crowds in NT as they probably would in the ACT and it's a great way to grow the game in the NSW region.
Besides they did give us Jesaulenko so definitely deserve some reward for that 💙

From the AFL community on Reddit: Who should get the 20th AFL license? Explore this post and more from the AFL community

Who should get the 20th AFL license?

Canberra is a popular option on reddit.

*Canberra

True, Manuka would be bursting at the seams.

But the Giants playing Carlton has never drawn more than 11.7k in Sydney.

We'd come close to squeezing in 15k at Manuka.

And never in the regular men's season!

Sounds like a cool guy.