Newcastle & Regional NSW AFL Club Bid

20/11/2025

Great to see a Newcastle product get his chance. Well done Max – wishing you every success on your AFL journey with the Swans.

With the 49th pick in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft, the have matched bid for player, Max KIng.

01/11/2025

Sydney Swans return to Newcastle this December 🤍❤️

The AFL has confirmed the Sydney Swans will head to Newcastle for a special Community Camp from 1 to 3 December.

Participation across the Hunter Central Coast is up 12 per cent this year, with more than 30 per cent of players now female, making it one of the fastest growing AFL regions.

AFLNSWACT Head Andrew Varasdi said the Hunter Central Coast is “crucial to the ongoing growth of Aussie Rules Football in New South Wales” while Swans star and Cardiff Hawks Aussie Rules Club junior Isaac Heeney said he’s looking forward to “showing the boys where I’m from” and inspiring the next generation in Newcastle.

As the game continues to grow across northern NSW, visits like this help strengthen the connection between our communities and the code.

The AFL has today confirmed the Sydney Swans will travel to Newcastle this December for a special pre-season Community Camp in the Hunter region.

01/11/2025

‘Probably playing League’ 😮

Newcastle’s Max King says he’d “probably be playing rugby league” if not for the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

A look on how the AFL is winning hearts in NSW, how the Swans Academy helped shape his journey, and how the northern academies are inspiring more kids in places like Newcastle to choose the Sherrin.

👉 bit.ly/47xVbpg

'PROBABLY PLAYING LEAGUE' 😮

If it wasn’t for the Sydney Academy, Max King might’ve been a rising rugby league player.

And that’s the serious reality for plenty of young kids in New South Wales.

He chats to Fox Footy about the AFL-NRL battlegrounds, dealing with expectation and his athletics background.

FEATURE >> bit.ly/47xVbpg

15/08/2025

Suns v Giants today. Expansion Cup. Born from bold AFL vision to grow the game. One day, we’ll be playing for it too.

Precious cargo 🏆

15/08/2025

Footy’s not just about the game.
Join a free Movember Ahead of the Game workshop in the Hunter and Central Coast on 19–20 August and learn how to support our young people on and off the field.

13/08/2025

Great opportunity for young Aussie rules players in Newcastle and across Northern NSW to trial for the 2026 QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

🦢 Trials for the 2026 QBE Sydney Swans Academy are now open to players who live within the Academy Zone.

The assessment will include:
• AFL skill drills
• Athletic testing
• Small-sided games
All participants will receive a written feedback report following the assessment period.

Players selected at the trials will join the QBE Sydney Swans Academy in 2026.

📲 Learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/7avwk4zv

09/08/2025

If you are interested in AFL expansion stories, Here Come The GIANTS is well worth a listen. It follows the early days of the GIANTS, from concept to competition. Available on major podcast platforms or via the GIANTS website. If you know of any other great podcasts on AFL history or expansion, let us know.

The GIANTS are proud to launch a new podcast detailing the creation of the GIANTS.

05/08/2025

Rugby league used to dominate the Gold Coast. Now the SUNS are rising. 🌞
AFL > NRL? It’s starting to look that way.

Fifteen years ago, the Gold Coast Suns didn’t exist and the city was rugby league heartland.
Today? The Suns are starting to shine brighter.

✅ More members
✅ Greater junior participation
✅ A growing supporter base
✅ And the most exciting academy in the country

That last point isn’t just talk. The SUNS Academy is producing serious talent and it’s about to be on full display at the 2025 AFL Draft:

- Zeke Uwland is right in the mix for pick one
- Dylan Patterson has serious wheels
- Koby Coulson is tough as nails
- Beau Addinsall, Jai Murray, Cooper Collins and Max Hudson are all catching recruiters' eyes

That draft group is just the latest in a long line of SUNS Academy talent:

AFL players:
Connor Budarick, Sam Clohesy, Alex Davies, Caleb Graham, Will Graham, Joel Jeffrey, Lloyd Johnston, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Bodhi Uwland, Jed Walter, Lachie Weller, Lachie Gulbin, Leo Lombard, Jack Bowes and Bailey Scott

AFLW players:
Lauren Bella, Kiara Bischa, Daisy D'Arcy, Sienna McMullen, Wallis Randell, Lucy Single, Nyalli Milne, Tara Harrington, Heidi Talbot, Mia Salisbury, Havana Harris, Ellie Hampson, Dee Heslop, Fleur Davies, Serene Watson, Kalinda Howarth, Jasmyn Smith, Giselle Davies and Kaylee Kimber

The SUNS are proving what’s possible with the right investment and a long-term view.

AFL can thrive beyond the Barassi Line.

📍 And that's exactly what we're hoping to build.

02/08/2025

Relocation or New Club?

People have asked whether our proposed AFL club would come through relocation or a brand-new license.

The short answer is we’d support either option.

🟥 Relocation – like the Swans, who made Sydney home
🟧 New license – like the Giants or Suns, built from the ground up

Whatever the path, we’re focused on building something we can all get behind.

25/07/2025

Sydney Derby ###I
GIANTS v Swans

Both Sydney clubs.
Both fighting for bragging rights in Sydney.

We’re just over here, representing the rest of NSW, watching, learning, stretching…
and waiting for our turn.

Pick us, coach.