AFL Sydney attracts new clubs

The AFL Sydney competition structure for the 2012 season has been announced after a meeting of club delegates this week.

The competition across all grades will commence on 31 March, 2012 with an 18-game competition format implemented across the eight men’s grades.

The teams are unchanged in the Premier Division competition.

In the Premier Division competition, each team will have two byes, with a general bye being on both the Easter Long Weekend and for the Australian Country Football Championships being held on the weekend of 21st July.

There will be Premier Division matches scheduled for the Monday of the June long weekend, after the annual representative fixture.

Penrith and Holroyd-Parramatta have been promoted into Division One, with Sydney University not opting to nominate a side in the grade.

Illawarra step back into Division Two with UNSW/ES promoted after claiming the Division Three Premiership.

Division Three features a new side in the Blacktown Magic. They are joined by Division Four Premiers, Moorebank.

There will also be a new side in Division Four with the Gosford Wildcats joining the AFL Sydney competition. The competition will also feature North Shore and Southern Power.

Penrith and UNSW/ES are fielding extra sides in the Division Five competition, while Auburn drop back from Division Four.

The Under 18s competitions will be renamed Under 18s Division One (formerly Under 18s Premier Cup), and Under 18s Division Two (formerly Under 18s Challenge Cup).

After winning the Challenge Cup Premiership last season, Campbelltown’s promotion is the only change to the Under 18s Division One structure. An eleven-team competition will bring this division in line with the Premier Division competition.

In other exciting news, Nor-West and Saints afc, are new sides in the Under 18s Division Two competition.

The full competition formats can be found at www.sydneyafl.com.au.

The Premier Division Grand Finals in 2012 will feature Premier Division, Division One, Under 18 Division One, and Under 18 Division Two. These Grand Finals will be held on Saturday 22nd September, 2012.

The Lower Division Grand Finals in 2012 will feature the other grades and will be held on Saturday 15th September, 2012.

The AFL Sydney fixture will be confirmed in mid-January.