2011 will see the introduction of the new North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) which has been designed by the AFL to bring teams together from Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and the Northern Territory.

The NEAFL is built on the existing successful competitions of AFL Queensland and AFL Canberra and will incorporate 17 teams - including the Brisbane Lions Reserves - across two conferences.

The Lions Reserves will feature as one of ten teams in the Northern Conference together with the Gold Coast Suns’ feeder side and eight existing QAFL clubs including Morningside, Mt Gravatt, Southport, Aspley, Redland, Broadbeach, Labrador and the NT Thunder.

The Eastern Conference will be made up of seven sides including the Sydney Swans, GWS Giants and five existing teams from AFL Canberra.

For most of the season, NEAFL clubs will play within their respective conferences, but there will be a number of opportunities throughout the year for clubs to play cross-conference games.

For instance, the Lions Reserves will play a total of 18 matches throughout 2011 - seven times against rival AFL clubs Gold Coast, Sydney Swans and GWS with a further 11 matches being spread against the remaining eight Northern Conference sides.

The Lions Reserves will travel interstate three times in 2011 - twice to Blacktown in NSW (to play both Sydney and GWS) and once to TIO Stadium in Darwin (to play the NT Thunder).

At the completion of each season, each local competition (conference) will stage a Grand Final to decide the Conference Premier team. The two Conference Premiers will then have an additional opportunity to play off in the overall NEAFL Grand Final to decide the NEAFL premiers.

The new format will prove a greater development tool for the young Lions players who will now have the chance to play against the subsequent reserves sides from three other AFL clubs.

It establishes a higher quality second tier football competition for the developing Northern and Eastern States and effectively builds on the recent introduction of the four AFL Club Academies in these competitive markets.

AFL General Manager of National and International Development David Matthews said the creation of the NEAFL will engage all 17 clubs in a new, additional competition which will significantly enhance the pathway for players and opportunities for clubs in these areas.

“This is a unique and exciting competition and further enhances the AFL’s presence in communities in Queensland, NSW, ACT and NT,” Mr Matthews said.

“Throughout the extensive consultation process, it was at the forefront of our minds that the AFL clubs based in Queensland and NSW should play in their own backyards to stimulate further development in the regions.”

The Lions' 2011 NEAFL season fixture is provided below: 

RNDDATEOPPONENTVENUETIME
1Sunday 3 AprilMorningsideMorningside2pm
2Saturday 9 AprilLabradorLabrador2pm

BYE

3Saturday 23 AprilSouthportSherwood2pm
4Sunday 1 MayRedlandRedland2pm
5Saturday 7 MayGold Coast SunsYeronga / Gabba1pm / 3:20pm
6Saturday 14 MayGWS GiantsCoorparoo / Gabba2pm / 3:20pm
7Saturday 21 MayNT ThunderSherwood2pm
8Saturday 28 MayLabradorSherwood2pm
9Saturday 4 JuneSydney SwansCoorparoo / Gabba2pm / 3:20pm
10Saturday 11 JuneNT ThunderTIO Stadium7pm

STATE GAME

11Sunday 26 JuneMt GravattMt Gravatt2pm
12Saturday 2 JulyAspleyAspley2pm
13Saturday 9 JulyGWS GiantsBlacktownTBC
14Saturday 16 JulyBroadbeachSherwood2pm
15Saturday 23 JulyGold Coast SunsGold Coast Stadium3:20pm

BYE

16Saturday 6 AugustMorningsideSherwood2pm
17Saturday 13 AugustGold Coast SunsCoorparoo / Gabba2pm / 3:20pm
18Saturday 20 AugustSydney SwansBlacktown1pm
Start times may vary